Editorial introduction Birger Olsson, born 1938, is professor of exegetics of New Testament Exegesis at the University of Lund since 1992. He has argued for a modern interpretation of the message of the angel choir in the Christmas gospel (Luke 2:14).

I imagine that the interpretation of basic traditions of the Bible – and presumably the Koran – requires the same creative curiosity as the "reading" of a patient in her/his clinical context or the reading of physical signs in biological sciences.

The Greek text of Luke 2:14 provides a poor prose text with a strong Semitic flavor. Thus, it is possible to smell a lapidary original in Hebrew, a beautiful poetry without articles or verbs. A translation of such a working hypothesis into English could run as follows:

The scientific reasons for the suggested interpretation are reviewed in more detail in a scientific paper (1). On a layman level, I could allude to Eph 2:14, which states that Jesus from Nazareth is our peace with God.

The scene of Luke 2:14 corresponds to the launching of a project. In the highest, the Chief receives the ovations of his co-workers. The rescue plan, oreoared long ago (Gen 3:15) has passed a critical stage. In spite of reminder advertisement in the medium of the opponent (satan, in Hebrew), the peace of God is now transplanted to earth. Later, the opponent tries a groping military action, resulting in the killing of 10-20 infant boys (Matt 2.16).

The core message of the basic traditions, the Bible, has implications on art, culture, life (cf 2). The mission of the exegetes is to approach as close to the truth as possible, in order to influence ideas and acts of open minds.

1. Olsson B. The canticle of the heavenly host (Luke 2:14) in history and culture. New Test Stud 2004; 50:147-66
2. Norberg B.. Artificial aborigines – a threat to democracy and human rights [health]. Rondel 2004; 19. URL: http://www.rondellen.net/health19_eng.htm

Published December 31, 2004