The basic structure of research and teaching results from the classical differentiation of the Institute into the five theological disciplines of Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Systematic Theology and Religious Education.

On an equal footing, two research fields bundle the Institute's common interests:

1. The research focus "Religion and Culture - Ecumenism and Interreligious Theology".
2. The focus "Biblical Studies, Early Judaism and Biblical Archaeology" with its focus on 1) the origin, theology and hermeneutics of the Bible (Hebrew Bible as well as Old and New Testament), as well as 2) the religious and cultural history of early Judaism and 3) biblical archaeology.

Both Biblical Studies (i.e. the Chairs of Old and New Testament) and the Institute's specialisation "Religion and Culture - Ecumenism and Interreligious Theology" (in particular in the form of the Chairs of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism, Religious Education and Church History) participate in individual research as well as through interdisciplinary, national and international co-operation in the University's specialisation "Diversity and Participation".

These focal points of the Oldenburg Institute serve to enable students to position themselves in a sustainable, informative and future-oriented manner with regard to the opportunities and challenges of current (Protestant) religious education as well as the planned "Christian Religious Education" (CRU) in historical, religious, social and cultural discourse. The background and effects of latent or manifest anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism are inextricably linked to these perspectives.

1 "Religion and Culture - Ecumenism and Interreligious Theology"

The research focus "Religion and Culture - Ecumenism and Interreligious Theology" brings together various research and teaching perspectives of the Institute and individual researchers. One focus of the disciplines of systematic theology, religious education and church history is on capturing these processes early on in the present. From a cultural and religious studies perspective, special attention is paid to the interdependencies between German and European modernity and Jewish culture.

Jewish studies at the Oldenburg Institute have a structural location with the "Intercultural Jewish Studies" centre. Founded in 1995 and conceptually realigned in 2011, the Centre is an interdisciplinary institution of School IV - School of Humanities and Social Sciences and is supported by the Institutes of Theology and Religious Education, History and Philosophy. Since 2018, there has also been the Transcultural Interreligious Studies Centre. The main objective of the centre is also to make the contribution of Judaism to European culture understandable as a historical condition and integrative component of our contemporary society: The centre's research and teaching activities therefore focus on the history of Christian-Jewish relations and interrelationships and intercultural relations with Islam. The website of the research centre can be found here.

2 "Biblical Studies, Early Judaism and Biblical Archaeology"

The Oldenburg Institute of Theology and Religious Education has a special research focus on the subjects Old Testament and New Testament, including the associated biblical languages Hebrew and Greek. The question of how the (Jewish) Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible as Old and New Testaments can be appropriately understood in modern times in literary, historical and theological terms is at the centre of research and teaching. In view of the constantly changing conditions of understanding, this question is posed anew to each generation.

The study of the origin and interpretation of biblical texts enables us to adequately grasp and further develop current historical, socio-political and socio-political perceptions of reality and interpretations. A central focus of Oldenburg's biblical studies is also the emergence and (religious) and cultural history of early Judaism from the Persian to the pre-rabbinic period. The Department of Old Testament Studies in particular conducts research on this in several international, externally funded projects. In addition, the research focus of the Old Testament is on Biblical Archaeology, which includes research projects on the history of Israel and Judah as well as the excavation management of Prof. Dr Benedikt Hensel in Hazor (Israel) and the annual Israel Summer School programme offered in the Old Testament ( click here for the Biblical Archaeology website; click here for the Oldenburg Israel Summer School).

Despite all the careful philological, historical and religious-historical work, the aim of such research is ultimately a theological and hermeneutical one: the biblical texts are to be made accessible for the present, not least as an essential point of reference for Christian-Jewish and interreligious dialogue in general. They thus bear witness to processes of religious transformation and identity formation that extend into the modern age - but they also reflect, react and generate religious diversity and cultural plurality.

The broad positioning of biblical studies in Oldenburg thus also takes into account the future requirements of Christian Religious Education (CRU), because (according to the "Position Paper Christian Religious Education") "(j)every endeavour to achieve a growing ecumenism has its foundation in the Bible, the writings of the Old and New Testaments." (p. 14). (p. 14) And especially in view of competing interpretations and traditions of interpretation, it is always clear "[...] that the biblical text always requires interpretation" (p. 16).

3 The biblical languages in Oldenburg: Hebrew - Greek - Latin

In line with the orientation of the Oldenburg Institute, the biblical languages(Hebrew, Greek, Latin) are of particular importance. For students of Protestant theology/religion (teacher training), Hebrew is the alternative to compulsory Greek in the module plan and is therefore a unique feature of the Oldenburg Protestant religion degree programme. This offers UOL students the opportunity to acquire an additional qualification that goes beyond the usual level and to study the world and environment of the Old Testament and ancient Judaism in greater depth. The Hebrew course also provides a foundation for these Jewish studies, which can be deepened across disciplines and institutes in the further course of study. There is also the opportunity to learn Modern Hebrew (Ivrith) in co-operation with the Jewish Community of Oldenburg.