Perikoppi

Perikoppi, or pericope, is a term used in biblical studies to denote a self-contained passage or unit of scripture. The word derives from Greek perikopē, meaning a cutting around or a segment, referring to a portion of a text that can be read and interpreted independently of surrounding material.

In liturgical and biblical contexts, perikopit are the units selected for public reading. They are often arranged to form readings for specific days in a church calendar, seasons, or yearly lectionaries. Pericopes can be found in the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and other biblical books, and they may be used in continuous readings or in selected non-contiguous excerpts. The choice and ordering of pericopes reflect both theological aims and practical considerations for worship, catechesis, and public proclamation.

Scholarly use of the term perikoppi focuses on textual criticism, literary structure, and transmission history. Researchers identify pericopes to study how early Christian communities organized and interpreted scriptural material, how different manuscript traditions divide the text, and how lectionaries shaped reception of the Bible in worship. The concept helps distinguish self-contained narratives or sayings from surrounding material, aiding analysis of sources, redaction, and thematic connections within the text.

In Finnish usage, perikoppi is the standard term for this unit of Scripture in both academic writing and church practice. It plays a central role in how biblical readings are planned, taught, and experienced in liturgical contexts, as well as in scholarly discussion of biblical text structure.