Griechische Inschriften als Verstehenshilfe für Klage- und Dankpsalmen

Abstract Greek inscriptions from Asia Minor (2nd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.) offer opportunities for understanding the Psalms despite the great distance. No literary influences are to be assumed, but analogous life situations. While the texts of the Psalms can be changed by updating them, the unchangeable Asia Minor inscriptions show the original situation undistorted. The following are interesting for the understanding of the Psalms: more concrete naming of the human offence, illness as divine punishment, vows, consequences of reconciliation for the social environment, votive tablet or votive scroll, στηλογραφία and מכתם / מכתב.