Old Testament Studies

Th e proposed title of the catalogue to be developed within the framework of the CBM programme reads: 'Catalogue of Byzantine Manuscripts (CBM) in liturgical context: revisiting the handwritten monuments of Byzantine heritage in their present-day state of delivery' 1 . 3 Research of the Byzantine manuscripts to date, which is represented in the specialised catalogues of New Testament, Old Testament, homiletic and catena manuscripts, as well as in local library catalogues of manuscripts, provides us with a wealth of information on singular codices (containing text of one category) and composite codices (containing texts of diff erent categories) and a generally detailed, yet very eclectic picture of the biblical, patristic, liturgical and other sorts of texts contained therein. However, the catalogues do not provide us with an exact and complete insight into the actual, full content and form of the extant codices. Th e CBM programme sets out a path of catalogue (and codex) research, along new parameters, which we call codico-liturgical.

What does the Bible mean for the people actually reading it? This is the innovative question driving teaching and research in the MA track in “Contextual Biblical Interpretation.” How is the Bible a force for a more humane society? How is it used in a harmful way? By addressing these
questions, the program trains you to be an expert in the use and significance of the world’s most widely read book. Only when
scholarship understands how this book functions, it can become clear what the Bible actually is. You can be part of the exciting scholarly adventure of exploring a text that really matters to its readers. The
track is offered through the Centre for Contextual Biblical Interpretation (in cooperation with the Protestant Theological University).

The book Hebrew Texts in Jewish, Christian and Muslim Surroundings offers a new perspective on Judaism, Christianity and Islam as religions of the book. It shows that there is an intricate web of relations between the texts of these three religious traditions. On many levels, readings and interpretations intermingle and influence each other. The book is dedicated to Alberdina Houtman honouring her work as professor of Jewish-Christian relations.