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[German Version] This expression denotes the journeys of Paul (and his companions Barnabas, John, Titus, Silas [Paul's co-workers], Timothy, Erastus, and others; cf. Acts 20:4), usually with the addition of “so-called.” This indicates that the Lukan sequence and historicity are disputed. They are partly attributed to the Lukan narrative concept of the unceasing spread of God's word according to the program in 1:8 – with ever widening concentric circles and Antioch as the center (13:1–3; 14:21, 26;…

[German Version] I. Religious Studies – II. Old Testament – III. New Testament – IV. Church History – V. Dogmatics – VI. Judaism – VII. Islam – VIII. Buddhism – IX. Contemporary Art I. Religious Studies 1. Hell as a place of retribution in the afterlife for those who continually transgress the religiously sanctioned rules of their community is not specifically Christian or monotheistic. But it is also not an idea that springs automatically from the question of how the dead exist (Death). Although hell was long viewed as a necessary correlate of earthly justice (possibly delayed) or the conscience's internal court ( forum internum; Confession), the disappearance of belief in the reality of hell during the 19th centu…

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[German Version] I. I. New Testament – II. Missiology I. New Testament Matt. 28:16–20 is often called the Great Commission. The text is a manifesto summarizing the entire Gospel. The speaker in the narrative is “Jesus” (“Ye/Ya saves”: 1:21), “Immanuel” (“El/God is with us”: 1:23; cf. also 2:15; 11:27; 17:5; 28:18). The theocentric Christology in Matthew implies a universal understanding, including Israel. Just as El or YHWH is believed in as the God of Israel and the nations, so is the God whose epiphany is in the historical Jesus. Hence Jesus is both “son of David” (1:1; cf. 2:6) and son of Abraham (1:1). Faith (8:5–13; 15:21–28) overcomes any exclusion. “Jesus” has a d…

[German Version] I. History of Religions – II. Old Testament – III. New Testament – IV. Philosophy of Religion – V. Dogmatics – VI. Ethics – VII. Judaism I. History of Religions From the standpoint of the study of religion, evil – which is offensive, threatens order and existence, and is therefore feared and avoided – is an aspect of hidden power that is uncontrollable and unfathomable, to which human beings feel exposed and by which they are nonetheless sustained. The unfathomable is ambivalent: it promotes life and also oppresses …