[1] Notably, he was editor of the third edition of Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche from 1994–2001, working with Walter Kasper.
Steimer's most significant scholarly work was his doctoral dissertation, Vertex traditionis: die Gattung der altchristlichen Kirchenordnungen.
It examines the ancient church orders, a series of pseudepigraphic works purportedly written by Jesus's apostles but actually written centuries later, that laid down strictures and guidelines for the organization of the early Christian church.
The works already describe a church that should be very deferential to its bishops, so why not simply state its teachings according to the authority of these known leaders?
[2] Bart Ehrman also commented on the debate, and favored Schöllgen's stance over Steimer's.