The Preface Prayer in Finnish Lutheran Worship Books 1549–2000

From Theology to Language and from Language to Theology

Authors

• Kati Pirttimaa Helsingin yliopisto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62442/ta.145768

Keywords:

prefaatiorukous, liturginen kieli, messu, jumalanpalvelus, kirkkokäsikirja

Abstract

In this article, I explore the liturgical preface in Finnish Lutheran worship books from 1549 to 2000. The preface can be found in all Finnish worship books. The article aims to answer the following questions: 1. How has the structure of the preface changed as part of the Eucharistic prayer? 2. How has its language evolved from the 16th century to the present day? 3. What theological emphases can be observed behind these changes?

The article examines both the overall structure of the Eucharistic prayer and the structure of the preface. The analysis employs a systematic approach to assess concepts and theological frameworks, as well as syntactic and lexical analysis to examine the structure. Additionally, synoptic comparison and the historical-comparative method are used.

The article shows that religious language evolves more slowly than common language, reflecting an effort to preserve correct doctrine. The most significant structural changes in the preface occurred in the late 19th century, when theological emphases began to play a larger role.