What We Do

ICJS Spring Mini-Course

Rescuing Romans 9-11

A course taught by Janis L. Koch,
ICJS Associate Scholar

For the past two thousand years, the Apostle Paul and his letters, particularly the letter to the Romans, have been interpreted in accordance with a paradigm that originated with Augustine and was brought to full development by Martin Luther. While the traditional interpretation provided spiritual comfort for many Chris-tians over the centuries, its inherent theological anti-Judaism helped to lay the foundations on which the Nazi death camps were built. In recent decades a new paradigm, constructed on the basis of a far greater understanding of Paul's first-century Jewish and Hellen-istic contexts, has yielded a significantly different reading of the Roman letter and its author.

Several years ago, the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies presented a mini-course called "Rescuing Paul." The course introduced participants to the Paul of the emerging interpretive paradigm. Part of that course was devoted to a close reading of the first three chapters of Romans. This year the Institute is pleased to present the sequel to "Rescuing Paul." The new course will pick up where the old one left off. Its goal will be to rescue Romans 9-11, those all-important chapters in which Paul turned his theological genius to a direct examination of how his gospel and the gentiles were related to the people of Israel.

Participation in the course is not limited to those who attended "Rescuing Paul," although reading through Romans 1-3 before the first session would help ease everyone into the study of the text. The course will begin with a review of the most important concepts in the first three chapters, and then continue with a study of chapters 4-11. We invite you to join us in our study of Paul's most important contribution to Jewish and gen-tile relations in his day, and Jewish and Christian relations in our own.

Janis L. Koch worked professionally as a linguist and grammarian. She holds an M.A. in Theology, specializing in Jewish-Christian Relations, and has been affiliated with the ICJS for the past fifteen years. Rescuing Paul and his letters has been her passion for even longer than that.

When:
Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2005
7:00-9:00 PM

Where:
The Church of the Redeemer, Parish Hall
5603 North Charles Street, Baltimore
(corner of Charles and Melrose)

Directions:
Rt. 695 to Exit 25 (south), drive 4 miles, turn left on Melrose Avenue.
From the city, take Charles Steet north, turn right on Melrose Avenue.

Cost:
$40 for members (membership is valid for 12 months from date of your last annual fund gift of $50 or more).

Members may register an additional guest or family member for $25.

If you wish to become a member of the ICJS, please include your $50 tax-deductible donation and take advantage of members' registration fees ($40 registra-tion and an additional guest or family member for $25).

$60 for non-members.

To secure a space, please return the registration form with your check made out to the ICJS at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions, please call Karen at 410-523-7227.

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The Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies
956 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, MD 21204
410.494.7161 / fax: 410.494.7169
email: Info@icjs.org