The time evolution of quantum many body systems in the relativistic quantum field theory is studied. We use Shibata-Hashitsume’s projection operator method which gives a systematic expansion of the Heisenberg equation of motion in terms of the interaction Hamiltonian. We calculate the time evolution of expectation values of creation and annihilation operators in a renormalizable model with unstable particles in a vacuum and in a medium. It is shown how to renormalize the ultraviolet divergences appearing in the equation of motion and calculate the medium effects on the time evolution. The mass and the wavefunction renormalizations are carried out in the lowest order. We find that the results coincide with the on-mass-shell values of the self-energy and its derivative which are calculated by the usual Feynman rule. We also discuss the initial divergence which remains at the initial time after mass renormalization. It is suggested that the projection operator method can be applied to the relativistic quantum field theory. ©2001 American Institute of Physics.