In English

Who am I? Pirkko’s husband and father of three adult children  – also one wonderful grandchild. I am working as Bible teacher in Finland and abroad. Have been as a missionary in Tanzania and lecturing in several countries. My hobbies are writing and running. Several books written and several marathons run.

Below short official cv.

Educational background

  • Doctor of Theology, Åbo Akademi, 2006
  • Ordinated as pastor, 27 October 1976
  • Master of Theology, University of Helsinki, 1976

Employment history

  • Finnish Bible Institute, Teacher 2012-2013
  • Tumaini University, Iringa College, Tanzania, Lecturer 2008-2011
  • Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, Consultant in Biblical Studies, 2006-2008
  • Theological Institute of Finland, Secretary General, 1988-2005
  • Finnish Bible Institute, Teacher 1976-1983, Principal 1983-1987

Other noteworthy assignments

  • Field supervisor of archaeological excavations in Israel, 1984 – 2003
  • Visiting lecturer: lectures on the Bible and Biblical Archaeology
    • Tallinn Theological Institute, Tallinn, Estonia
    • Latvian Christian Academy, Riga, Latvia
    • Theological Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria, Keltto, Russia
    • Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, Israel
    • China Lutheran Seminary, Hsinchu, Taiwan
    • Tumaini University, Iringa University College, Tanzania
    • Theological seminaries of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Hossana and Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
    • Woodpecker Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gaborone, Botswana
    • Luther Seminary, Bangkok, Thailand
    • Nepal Ebenezer Bible College, Kathmandu, Nepal

Positions of trust

  • General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, member, 1996-2004
  • OPKO, IFES Finland, board member, 1996-2001
  • Finnish Institute in the Middle East, board member, 1994-1999
  • Lausanne Committee in Finland, board member, 1993-
  • The Friends of Israel Association in Finland, Helsinki Chapter, chairman of the board of directors, 1991-1995
  • Scripture Union in Finland, chairman of the Finnish Council, 1985-1992
  • Nordic Inner Mission Councel, chairman of the Finnish Council, 1980-1987

Publications

  • 51 books: several dealing with biblical archaeology and the history of Israel; commentaries on the books of Joshua and Judges; several devotional books;
  • most of them in Finnish, three in English: the Doctoral dissertation (below) and Introduction to the Old Testament – with African perspectives (pdf) and Introduction to the New Testament – with African perspectives (pdf); both published by Tumaini University, Iringa College, Tanzania.

Doctoral dissertation

Archaeological excavations

  • Field supervisor of archaeological excavations in Israel,1984 – 2003, a few weeks each summer (Aphek-Antipatris, Yiftahel, Palmachim, the Land of Geshur in Golan, Emmaus-Nicopolis, and Modi’in) in collaboration with Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority.