Organization 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.

International and National Collaboration Publications and projects within past five years.

Profiles

Anneli Aejmelaeus

anneli.aejmelaeus@helsinki.fi

Centre of Excellence Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions (CSTT)
Faculty of Theology Common Matters - Prof. emer.
Biblical Studies - Professor Emerita

Person: UH

Alex Ilari Aissaoui

alex.aissaoui@helsinki.fi

Person

Merja Alanne

Person: Extern

Tero Alstola

tero.alstola@helsinki.fi

Department of Digital Humanities - Postdoctoral Researcher
Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (ANEE)
Centre of Excellence Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions (CSTT)

Person: UH, Teaching and research personnel

Katri Antin

katri.antin@helsinki.fi

Person: UH

Research Units

Centre of Excellence Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions (CSTT)

Biblical Studies

Organisational unit: Research Group

Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (ANEE)

Department of Cultures, Biblical Studies

Organisational unit: Research Group

Projects 2007 2025

25 Finished
27 Active

Religious Responses to Climate Change in the Southern Levant: Understanding the rise and fall of Jewish ritual purification baths in the Hasmonean-Roman period

Bonnie, R.

Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, University of Helsinki

01/01/2019 → 31/12/2021

Project: University of Helsinki Three-Year Research Project

Conceptions of Virtue in Early Judaism

Uusimäki, E., Rafael, A. & Yli-Karjanmaa, S.

01/12/2018 → 31/12/2020

Project: University of Helsinki Three-Year Research Project

Lived Scriptures: Ascetics, Martyrs, and Miracle Workers in Late Antiquity

Lehtipuu, O., Alanko, V., Asikainen, S. & Rafael, A.

SUOMEN AKATEMIA

01/09/2018 → 31/08/2022

Project: Research project

Book project : Museology - A Synergetic Bridge Between Theory and Practice

Robbins, N., Thomas, S., Wessman, A. & Tuominen, M.

01/06/2018 → 31/12/2020

Project: Other project

ANEE: Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires

Silverman, J. M., Svärd, S., Lahelma, A., Nikki, N., Töyräänvuori, J., Jokiranta, J., Laine, L., Kletter, R., Bonnie, R., Thomas, S., Holmqvist-Sipilä, E., Kouki, P., Wasmuth, M., Wallis, C., Lorenzon, M., Jauhiainen, H., Jauhiainen, T., Alstola, T., Bach, J., Fink, S., Konstantopoulos, G., Zaia, S., Sahala, A. & Miettunen, P. H.

01/01/2018 → 31/12/2025

Project: Research project

Publications 1983 2020

Gods in the Margins: Religion, Kingship, and the Fictionalized Frontier.

Konstantopoulos, G. V., 2020, (Accepted/In press) As Above, So Below: Religion and Geography – Proceedings following a Workshop Conducted during the 62nd Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Philadelphia, July 11-15, 2016. Eisenbrauns