Antti Laato

Johannes Cornelis Moor

In this volume experts from many disciplines explore the origins of the theodicy problem in ancient Near Eastern, biblical and early Jewish literature.

Theodicy in the World of the Bible

Understanding the Spiritual Meaning of Jerusalem in Three Abrahamic Religions analyses spiritual images and theological constructions related to Jerusalem in Christian, Islamic and Jewish literature, including the Bible, Qur’an, and Second Temple Jewish writings.

Understanding the Spiritual Meaning of Jerusalem in Three Abrahamic Religions

In this examination of Zion theology and how it arises in the book of Psalms Antti Laato's starting-point is that the Hebrew Bible is the product of the exilic and postexilic times, which nonetheless contains older traditions that have played a significant role in the development of the text. Laato seeks out these older mythical traditions related to Zion using a comparative methodology and looking at Biblical traditions alongside Ugaritic texts and other ancient Near Eastern material. As such Laato provides a historical background for Zion theology which he can apply more broadly to the Psalms. In addition, Laato argues that Zion-related theology in the Psalms is closely related to two events recounted in the Hebrew Bible. First, the architectural details of the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6-7), which can be compared with older mythical Zion-related traditions. Second, the religious traditions related to the reigns of David and Solomon such as the Ark Narrative, which ends with David's transfer of the Ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6). From this Laato builds an argument for a possible setting in Jerusalem at the time of David and Solomon for the Zion theology that emerges in the Psalms.

The Origin of Israelite Zion Theology

Lotta Valve

In August 2014, a conference was organized in Turku with the topic "Where are you, Adam? A New Understanding of Adam in Jewish-Christian-Muslim Context." The conference was a part of a research project that was funded by the Academy of Finland during the years 2013-2017. Almost 30 papers were presented in the conference and they, together with two other papers, are published in the volumes SRB 7 and 8. This volume, SRB 7--The Adam and Eve Story in the Hebrew Bible and in Ancient Jewish Writings Including the New Testament-- consists of the papers that are related to the interpretation of the Adam and Eve story in biblical texts, including its ancient Near Eastern background, as well as in early Jewish reception tradition during the Second Temple period including the New Testament.

Antti Laato

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