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The Book of Isaiah : it's interpretation and shaping

Date: 1.8.1995-31.7.1998
Code: 2352
Department: Åbo Akademi University / Faculty of Theology (TF), Dept. of Exegetics
Address: Biskopsgatan 16, FIN-20500 Åbo
Phone +358-2-2154 292
Fax +358-2-2154 835
Project leader: TD Antti Laato, forskare (1.8.1995-31.7.1998)
Type of research: 0 (0=Within duty, 1=Ordered research, 2=Co-operation)
Finnish funding organizations: Finlands Akademi () FIM 87000
Man months: Totally: 36 months
Keywords: Gamla testamentet, metodologi, Pierces semiotik, Jesaja, Amos, Vanha testamentti, metodologia, Piercen semiotiikka, Jesaja, Aamos, prophetic literature, semiotic, Isaiah, Amos,

Tha nature and extent of the connection between the proclamation of an historical prohpet and the message of the present form of the prophetic book (which bears the prophet's name) is a problem which was created much discussion in contemporary Old Testament exegesis.Scholars have attempted to solve this problem by implementing distinct, mutually-exclusive methodological approaches.In my methodologal study History and Ideology in the Old Testament Prophetic Literature: A Semiotic Approach to the Reconstruction of the Proclamation of Historical Prophets (ConBOT 41, Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International 1996) arguments are put forward for the thesis that biblical exegesis (of the Old Testament prophetic literature) is not a simple matter of interpreting texts but is also a process in which logical models or possible worlds are constructed to accommodate the validity of particular interpretations.The lack of a model-theoretical orientation to Old Testament methodological approaches has led to a situation in which criticism of particular theories rarely addresses the real points of disagreement between scholars.One theory is simply set against another even though the theories would be more effectively evaluated by discussing the validity and relevance of the different models in which they are framed.There are various plausible and relevant models available for the interpretation of Old Testament texts.In order to compare these different models a metalogical system, Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotics, has been applied.A semiotic theory for the interpretation of the Old Testament prophetic literature (based on intertextuality and empirical models) is presented.This methodological approach will be tested for the Book of Amos before it will be used for the interpretation and literary evolution of the Book of Isaiah.

Publication(s)

22.3.1996 / 10.4.1996