Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation Profile
The Department of Biblical Studies is a center for scientific research and teaching of the Bible. The research conducted at the department focuses both on canonical and extra-canonical materials in order to cast light on the formation of Judaism and Christianity.
The staff of the department is also participating actively in discussions concerning: the influence of the Bible on Western culture in general; its application to present Christianity; an ongoing dialogue between religions.
The department offers courses ranging from basic to post-graduate levels in its majors, Old and New Testament Studies. Its teachers are also responsible for the Greek and Hebrew courses required for the completion of the Master's degree in the Faculty of Theology.
The language of instruction is usually Finnish but courses in English are arranged every year and designed mainly for exchange students and students who are studying in Helsinki but whose native language is not Finnish or Swedish. In the field of Biblical Studies, the required intermediate and advanced level reading is mostly in English and/or German. Thus, it is also possible for non-natives to complete courses that are not based on English lectures.
The department has four permanent professorships and four lecturers. However, the actual academic community is much larger since the department also provides research facilities for several qualified docents and post-graduate students working for the Academy of Finland and Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Study.
Because many of the docents and post-graduate students are also actively involved in teaching and their specialities cover a wide range of canonical and non-canonical topics, the department is known by many students of the Bible (from young undergraduates to internationally established names in the field) as a stimulating and amiable working environment.
Fields of Science
- 614 Theology
International and National Collaboration
Profiles
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Rotem Avneri Meir
- Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (ANEE) - University Researcher
- Biblical Studies - University Researcher
Person: U3 Research and teaching staff
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Ismo Dunderberg
- Biblical Studies - Professor
- Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture, and Society - Supervisor for doctoral programme
- Doctoral Programme in Theology and Religious Studies - Supervisor for doctoral programme
Person: U4 Research and teaching staff
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Raimo Hakola
- Faculty of Theology - Title of Docent
- Biblical Studies - Senior University Lecturer
- Doctoral Programme in Theology and Religious Studies - Supervisor for doctoral programme
Person: U3 Research and teaching staff
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Jutta Jokiranta
- Faculty of Theology - Title of Docent
- Biblical Studies - Professor
- Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ)
- Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (ANEE)
- Doctoral Programme in Theology and Religious Studies - Supervisor for doctoral programme
Person: UH , U4 Research and teaching staff
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WORK-IT: Work without End: Informal Taxation and Forced Labor within Persian Southern Levantine Temple Economy and Society
Silverman, J. M. (Project manager), Cerullo, L. (Participant), Dewald, K. M. (Participant), Land, J. (Participant), Murr, Y. (Participant), Pedron, F. (Participant), Shahryari, M. (Participant) & Soares Da Silva, D. (Participant)
01/09/2024 → 31/08/2029
Project: EU Horizon Europe: European Research Council (HORIZON-ERC)
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EXPRECCE: Experimenting Early Christianity in Cultural Evolution: Martyrs, Manuscripts, and Hostility towards Outgroups
Nikki, N. (Principal Investigator), Hyytiäinen, P. (Participant) & Söderholm, H. J. (Participant)
01/09/2023 → 31/08/2026
Project: Research project
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Pipliaseura VT2028: Vanhan testamentin mobiilikäännösprojektin ohjausryhmän jäsenyys
Jokiranta, J. (Participant)
01/01/2022 → 31/12/2027
Project: Other project
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RAMÛ: Records of Ancient Migration : locating the relocated under empire
Spunaugle, A. (Project manager), Hietamäki, T. A. E. (Participant) & Sakko, M. T. (Participant)
01/01/2021 → 31/07/2025
Project: Research project
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ANEE: ANEE Team 1: Digital Humanities Approaches
Svärd, S. (Principal Investigator), Linden, K. (Participant), Bach, J. (Participant), Jauhiainen, T. (Participant), Jauhiainen, H. (Participant), Sahala, A. (Participant), Konstantopoulos, G. (Participant), Fink, S. (Participant), Zaia, S. (Participant), Luukko, M. I. (Participant), Bennett, E. R. (Participant), Alstola, T. (Participant), Vanderstraeten, E. (Participant), Autere, K. (Participant), Giessler, J. (Participant), Debourse, C. H. I. (Participant), Tambs, L. (Participant), Valk, J. (Participant), Uotila, R. (Participant) & Jones, C. W. (Participant)
01/01/2018 → 31/12/2025
Project: Research project
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A Historiographical Survey of the Use of the Ancient Near East in Social Scientific Theories
Pfoh, E., 1 Feb 2025, (Accepted/In press) Routledge Handbook of the Ancient Near East and the Social Sciences. Silverman, J. M. & Pfoh, E. (eds.). London: RoutledgeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific
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Anthropology in Assyriology: An Historiographical Overview from the Periphery
Pfoh, E., 11 Feb 2025, (Accepted/In press) Assyriology, Anthropology and Theory: Analytical Perspectives and Interpretive Prospects . Pfoh, E. & Verderame, L. (eds.). Münster: Zaphon, (wEdge).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
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Archaeology, History and Heritage of the Southern Levant
Pfoh, E. (Editor) & Niesiolowski-Spanò, L. (Editor), 1 Feb 2025, (In preparation) London: Bloomsbury. 300 p. (Library of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament Studies)Research output: Book/Report › Anthology or special issue › Scientific › peer-review
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Assyriology, Anthropology and Theory: Analytical Perspectives and Interpretive Prospects
Pfoh, E. (Editor) & Verderame, L. (Editor), 11 Feb 2025, (Accepted/In press) Münster: Zaphon. 170 p. (wEdge)Research output: Book/Report › Anthology or special issue › Scientific › peer-review
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Book Review of Emerging Sectarianism in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Jokiranta, J., 2025, (Submitted) In: Revue de Qumran.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › Professional
File
Activities
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International Consultation on Understanding Christian Zionism and Its Effects on Christians in the Middle East
Nissinen, M. (Speaker: Chair)
23 Jan 2025 → 26 Jan 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
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Haukiputaan lukion vierailu
Jokiranta, J. (Participant)
31 Jan 2025Activity: Other activity types › Types for other activities - External teaching and subject coordination
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Brill (Publisher)
Nissinen, M. (Reviewer)
20 Feb 2025Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts
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Rakkausrunoutta Egyptissä ja muinaisessa Lähi-idässä.
Nissinen, M. (Speaker)
28 Jan 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Prizes
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Alfred Kordelinin säätiön tunnustuspalkinto
Sollamo, R. (Recipient), 6 Nov 2014
Prize: Prizes and awards
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Association of Ancient Historians Subvention Award
Avneri Meir, R. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prizes and awards
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EABS Student Paper Prize 2015: The Best Student Paper in New Testament Studies
Kujanpää, K. (Recipient), 12 Jul 2015
Prize: Prizes and awards
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European Association of Biblical Studies Student Prize
Avneri Meir, R. (Recipient), 11 Aug 2019
Prize: Prizes and awards
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Datasets
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Fear in Akkadian Texts
Svärd, S. (Creator), Alstola, T. (Creator), Jauhiainen, H. (Creator), Sahala, A. (Creator) & Linden, K. (Creator), Zenodo, 2020
Dataset
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Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus, Korp Version, May 2019
Jauhiainen, H. (Creator), Sahala, A. (Creator) & Alstola, T. (Creator), Kielipankki, Jun 2019
http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:lb-2019060602
Dataset
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Aššur and His Friends: A Statistical Analysis of Neo-Assyrian Texts
Alstola, T. (Creator), Zaia, S. (Creator), Sahala, A. (Creator), Jauhiainen, H. (Creator), Svärd, S. (Creator) & Linden, K. (Creator), Zenodo, 2019
Dataset
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Chronological Distribution of the Documents from Yahudu and Its Surroundings
Alstola, T. (Creator), Zenodo, 2019
Dataset
Press/Media
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Kirkko päättää, saako sateenkaaripareja vihkiä
07/05/2025
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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The Customs Rebellion that started the American Revolution
16/04/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Huutava ääni erämaassa - kuka oli Johannes Kastaja?
22/06/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Psalmeista viis -podcast, toinen tuotantokausi
19/06/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media