Anneli Aejmelaeus

Description of research and teaching

The focus of my research is on the formative phase of sacred texts in Second Temple Judaism, that is, on the processes of copying, editing, actualizing, and translating religious texts that later became part of the authoritative collection of Scripture. A central role in this research is played by the Septuagint, the early Jewish Greek translation (iii–ii B.C.E.) of the Hebrew Bible, which was translated from a Hebrew original widely different from the later standard text, the so-called Masoretic Text (from ii C.E. onwards). Important material for this inquiry has been obtained from the Dead Sea discoveries (ii–i B.C.E.).

• Text-critical methodology "after Qumran"
• Textual criticism of the Septuagint, particularly, in the Books of Samuel in preparation of the critical edition of I Samuel/I Regnorum for the Göttingen edition
• Textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible and the use of the Septuagint in it (the Books of Samuel and Jeremiah, in particular)
• Research into the origins of the Septuagint and the emergence of "Scripture" in the late Second Temple Period
• Intertextuality within the Bible

Curriculum vitae

Research Assistant, Academy of Finland, 1.1.1981 – 31.12.1983

Appointed to Docent for Old Testament Exegesis, University of Helsinki, 26.5.1983 –

Junior Researcher, Academy of Finland, 1.1.1984 – 31.7.1986

Lecturer of Exegetics, Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, 1.8.1986 – 31.7.1992 (most of the time off duty)

Senior Researcher, Academy of Finland, 1.8.1987 – 31.7.1990

Professor of Old Testament and Septuagint Research (Altes Testament mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Septuaginta-Forschung), Faculty of Theology, University of Göttingen,   2.4.1991 –  31.7.2009

Director of the research institute „Septuaginta-Unternehmen“, Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, 1993 – 2000

Dean of the Faculty of Theology, University of Göttingen 1.4.1999 – 31.3.2000

Fellow of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, 1.8.2002 – 31.7.2006

Second Deputy Director, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, 1.2.2005 – 31.7.2006

Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Culture and Literature, Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, 1.3.2009 – 30.9.2016

Professor in Charge of the Department, Biblical Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, 1.8.2011–31.12.2013

Vice-director, Centre of Excellence "Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions," Academy of Finland/Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, 1.1.2014 –