Lutheran theologian and church music composer, born in Ljungby, Sweden. Professor of systematic theology at Lund (1913--33) and Bishop of Strängnaumäs (1933--52), he was a leading representative of the Scandinavian school of theology. His most famous study, Christus victor (1931), presented the death of Christ as a triumph over the powers of evil. He was also president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music (1944--50).