Research Output per year
Personal profile
Description of research and teaching
Martti Nissinen (born 1959 in Kuopio, Finland) is Doctor of Theology (1992) and Professor of Old Testament studies at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Theology (2007–). He is also the leader of the Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence “Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions” (2014–19). Earlier, Nissinen has served the University of Helsinki as Professor of Bible and the Ancient Near East (2002–2007), as research fellow of the Academy of Finland (1994–2002), and as Assistant Professor of Old Testament studies (1985–1994). He also served as translator of the Finnish Bible Translation Commission for two years in the late 1980’s, and as the leader of the Finnish Doctoral Programme of Theology in 2009–14.
Nissinen is known as an expert of the prophetic phenomenon in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean, and his research interests include also gender issues (love poetry, homoeroticism, masculinity) in the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean. His books include Ancient Prophecy (2017), Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East (2003), Homoeroticism in the Biblical World: A Historical Perspective (1998), References to Prophecy in Neo-Assyrian Sources (1998), and Prophetie, Redaktion und Fortschreibung im Hoseabuch (Diss., 1991). He has edited several volumes and published a significant number of articles on topics related to prophecy, gender, and history of ancient Near Eastern religion.
Nissinen was member of the Institute of Advanced Study in 2008–9 and 2016, visitor in 2011, and member in 2016. He has lectured in ca. 40 European and North American universities and has several positions of trust in academic communities, for example, Society of Biblical Literature, OTSEM network, and Finnish Exegetical Society. He is Honorary Member of the Society for Old Testament Study, member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, Chairman of the Foundation for the Finnish Institute in the Middle East, and the Inspector of the Savonian Student Nation.
Fields of Science
- 614 Theology
- Old Testament Studies
International and National Collaboration
Publications and projects within past five years.
Publications
Magic in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
Nissinen, M., 2021, (Accepted/In press) The Bible and Magic. Valkama, K. & Nikki, N. (eds.). Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht , (Mundus Orientis).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
An Acrostic Prayer to Nabû
Nissinen, M., 2020, (Accepted/In press) Neuere Forschung zu Psalmen und Weisheit in Israel und dem Alten Orient. Körting, C. & Kratz, R. G. (eds.). Mohr Siebeck, (Forschungen zum Alten Testament).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Assyrian and Babylonian Sources
Nissinen, M., 2020, (Accepted/In press) The Oxford Handbook of the Historical Books of the Hebrew Bible. Strawn, B. A. & Kelle, B. E. (eds.). New York: Oxford University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Ištar of Arbela
Nissinen, M., 2020, (Accepted/In press) Arbela antiqua: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Pre-Islamic Archaeology & History of Erbil / Actes du congrès international d’archéologie et histoire d´Erbil pré-islamic. Alpi, F., Bradosty, Z., Giraud, J., MacGinnis, J. & Mattila, R. (eds.). Beirut: Presses de l'IFPO, (Bibliothèque archéologique et historique).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Male Agency and Masculine Performance in the Baal Cycle
Nissinen, M., 2020, Mighty Baal: Essays in Honor of Mark S. Smith. Hamori, E. & Russell, S. (eds.). Leiden: Brill, p. 47–71 25 p. (Harvard Semitic Studies; vol. 66).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Projects
Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions (CSTT)
Aejmelaeus, A., Jokiranta, J., Nissinen, M., Pakkala, J., Sollamo, R., Latvus, K., Weissenberg von, H., Voitila, A., Saukkonen, J. M., Alanne, M., Borchardt, F., Kauhanen, T., Kilkkinen, H. P., Liljeström, M., Pajunen, M., Perttilä, E., Saarelainen, K., Seppänen, C., Tenhunen, K., Tervanotko, H., Tynjä, T., Uusimäki, E., Valkama, K. & Vanonen, H.
24/02/2011 → …
Project: Research Evaluation 2011
Society and Religion in the Ancient Near East
Nissinen, M., Kletter, R., Mattila, R., de Hulster, I., Silverman, J. M., Svärd, S., Valkama, K., Alstola, T., Saarelainen, K., Saari, S., Tapiola, E., Tynjä, T., Töyräänvuori, J., Dixon, H. & Ito, S.
01/01/2014 → 31/12/2019
Project: Research project
CSTT: Centre of Excellence in Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions
Nissinen, M., Aejmelaeus, A., Weissenberg von, H., Pakkala, J., Jokiranta, J., Kletter, R., Mattila, R., de Hulster, I., Silverman, J. M., Svärd, S., Valkama, K., Alstola, T., Saarelainen, K., Saari, S., Tapiola, E., Tynjä, T., Töyräänvuori, J., Perttilä, E., Kujanpää, K., Liljeström, M., Orpana, J., Pulkkinen, M., Seppänen, C., Tucker, M., Müller, R., Voitila, A., Borchardt, F., Kauhanen, T., Pajunen, M., Hakola, R., Latvus, K., Bonnie, R., Tervanotko, H., Uusimäki, E., Antin, K., Vanonen, H., Mäkipelto, V., Nommik, U., Yli-Karjanmaa, S., Penner, J., Longacre, D., Silverman, J. M., Tekoniemi, T., Dixon, H., Ito, S., Huotari, P., Keady, J., Fink, S., Konstantopoulos, G., Zaia, S., Nõmmik, A. & Laine, L.
01/01/2014 → 31/12/2019
Project: Research project
Galilee in the Iron Age: Archaeology, Texts and History
Nissinen, M., Kletter, R., Pakkala, J., Lavento, M., Valkama, K., Saarelainen, K., Tynjä, T., Alanne, M. & Tapiola, E.
01/08/2012 → 31/08/2016
Project: Research project
Prizes
Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Cross of Finland
Martti Nissinen (Recipient), 6 Dec 2016
Prize: Prizes and awards
Activities
Tieteiden yö
Martti Nissinen (Speaker: Presenter)16 Jan 2020
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
Construction of Identities and late Mesopotamian archives (after 539 BCE)
Martti Nissinen (Speaker: Presenter)12 Mar 2020 → Dec 2020
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
University of Haifa
Martti Nissinen (Visiting lecturer)11 May 2020
Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Academic visit to other institution
Suomen teologinen instituutti
Martti Nissinen (Speaker: Opponent/discussant)15 Jan 2020
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Public Talks
Imatran seurakunnan yleisöluento
Martti Nissinen (Speaker: Keynote)23 Jan 2020
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Public Talks
Press / Media
Raamattu syntyi urbaanin maatalouden keskellä
15/05/2020
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Kysymykset sukupuolesta ja seksuaalisuudesta polarisoivat raamatuntulkinnan
09/12/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
MTV Uutiset listasi kymmenen erityislaatuista adressia.
22/10/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media