European Journal of Theology Issue 29.2 (October 2020)

This is the first issue of the European Journal of Theology which has been produced by the new publisher, Amsterdam University Press (AUP). The journal looks very different indeed, both inside and outside, yet the editorial board, aims and objectives are unchanged.

The issue opens with a guest editorial by the Ukrainian scholar Oleg Tsymbalyuk. The renowned archaeologist Alan Millard (UK) then presents an overview over inscriptions and other texts from ancient Israel, arguing that there is enough evidence for the existence of writing during the period of the monarchy. The German Siegbert Riecker follows with a withering criticism of the historical-critical approach to the Pentateuch, calling for a real paradigm change. On the basis of his experience of teaching the Old Testament in Lithuania, Benjamin Giffone calls for a reconsideration of the position of the Septuagint by Protestants; he uses the Book of Jeremiah as a test case.

Frank Hinkelmann present the first-ever research on the Congress for World Evangelization which Youth for Christ organised in the Swiss resort of Beatenberg in 1948, concluding that its results were mixed. Billy Kristanto, a pastor in Germany, analyses the theological aspects of some cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach which have exile and religious identity as their subject. The Russian-German Johannes Reimer argues that the arts, especially music, have a large role to play in reconciliation between people. Finally the German Roland Deines offers English-language readers a lengthy introduction to the important new book on the New Testament by the leading scholar Armin Baum.

Of course the issue concludes with a large number of book reviews, prepared under the responsibility of review author Hans Burger.

AUP is offering a much reduced price for many countries. The normal rate below is charged to subscribers in Western and Northern Europa, the USA and Canada; the reduced rate in the rest of the world.