Academic interests
My name is Tobias Ålöw, and since February 2025, I am working as a postdoctoral researcher in New Testament studies at the Faculty of Theology here at UiO. Over the next four years, I will conduct a conceptual-historical investigation of how the Hebrew expression malchut shamayim (“the kingdom of heaven”) is used in rabbinic literature during Late Antiquity (ca. 200–700 CE). This project builds on my doctoral dissertation from the University of Gothenburg—The Meaning and Uses of Βασιλεία in the Gospel of Matthew: Semantic Monosemy and Pragmatic Modulation (Brill, Supplements to Novum Testamentum 192)—in which I examined the meaning and usage of the Greek term βασιλεία in the Gospel of Matthew.
More broadly, my research often operates at the intersection of the New Testament and rabbinic literature, but I also focus on modern biblical reception in sitcoms and, not least, in metal music.
Courses taught
During my years as a doctoral student and later as lecturer in Biblical Studies at the University of Gothenburg, I have taught and supervised theses at both undergraduate and advanced levels. This has included courses on the New Testament, the Old Testament, and rabbinic literature in introductory courses in Religious Studies and Theology, as well as courses on New Testament Greek, narrative texts in the Hebrew Bible, the Bible and Jewish-Christian relations, and more.
During the spring semester of 2025, I am co-teaching the course TEOL 4202 – The Synoptic Gospels at the Faculty of Theology at UiO together with Vemund Blomkvist.
Education
- 2021: PhD, New Testament (University of Gothenburg)
- 2023: MA, Jewish Studies (Lund University)
- 2012: MA, New Testament (University of Gothenburg)
- 2012: BA, Systematic Theology (University of Gothenburg)
- 2012: Studies in Practical Theology at Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm
- Ordained pastor in the Uniting Church in Sweden (Equmeniakyrkan)
Memberships
- The Swedish Exegetical Society (Svenska exegetiska sällskapet)
- The Society of Biblical Literature
Awards
- The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Seal of Excellence
Publications
- “‘Son of Abraham’ as Royal Title in the Gospel of Matthew,” Neotestamentica. Kommande, 2025.
- “Kingdom-Meshalim as Persuasive Narrative in Tannaitic Tradition and the Gospel of Matthew,” in Parables as Persuasive Devices – Towards a New Era in Parable Research (WUNT II), Tübingen: MohrSiebeck. A. Kyytsönen, A. & Thuren (ed.). Kommande 2025.
- “Clawing at the eyes of God”: Slayer’s God hates us all as Palimpsest of the Book of Job,” Biblical Interpretation. Kommande, 2025.
- “Reverberations of Revelation: Retellings of John’s Apocalypse in Thrash Metal Lyrics,” Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. Kommande, 2025.
- The Meaning and Uses of βασιλεία in the Gospel of Matthew: Semantic Monosemy and Pragmatic Modulation (NovTSup 192), Leiden: Brill, 2024.
- ”Bibelvetenskaplig forskarutbildning i Sverige: Reflektioner med avstamp i SES Exegetiska dagar 2022,” Svensk exegetisk årsbok, 2023, s. 77–90.
- ”Jesus den ende rabbin – Om ῥαββί som positiv didaktisk titel i Matteusevangeliet.”, En är er läromästare. En hyllning till Samuel Byrskog i samband med hans 65-årsdag. D. Hjort, T. Hägerland, D. Nässelqvist & G. Samuelsson (ed.), Artos, Skellefteå, 2022, s. 135–149.
- ”Den himmelske kungen och hans folk: Betydelse och användningar av βασιλεία i Matteusevangeliet,” Svensk teologisk kvartalskrift 98:1, 2022, s. 3–17.
- “Må de nu förklara…” Om bibeltexter, religion, litteratur – Festskrift till Staffan Olofsson, LIR. skrifter.varia, Lillas-Schuil R., Samuelsson G., Walser G. & Ålöv E. T. (ed.), 2018.
- “’I Rule the Midnight Air…’ The Reception of Exodus 12:31 in Metallica’s ‘Creeping Death’”, “Må de nu förklara…”, in Om bibeltexter, religion, litteratur – Festskrift till Staffan Olofsson, LIR. skrifter.varia, Lillas-Schuil R., Samuelsson G., Walser G. & Ålöv E. T. (ed.), 2018, s. 75–194.
- “Unjust Judge, parable”, in Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture, Beavis M. A. & Gilmour M. J. (ed.), Sheffield Phoenix Press, Sheffield, 2012, s. 568–569.