Course Description
Romans, like Hebrews, is widely misinterpreted and misapplied. This course examines the text through its proper Ancient Near Eastern lens.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:
- Da’at (Theoria): a working understanding of Sha’ul’s Epistle to the Romans with respect to its (Jewish) contextual environment and its Hebraic expressions.
- Binah (Praxis): ability to exegete Romans and defend its meaning in context.
- Chochma (Poiesis): practical exegesis of Romans and application to the student's halakha.
Textbooks
- Nanos, Mark D. The Mystery of Romans: The Jewish Context of Paul's Letters. Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 1996. ISBN 978-0-8006-2937-3.
- Roth, Andrew Gabriel. Aramaic English New Testament. 5th Edition. Republic of Malta: Netzari Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1-934916-42-1.
Your Professor
Brian Tice was ordained as a Sephardic Rabbi (Moreh Hora'ah) by MJR in May of 2000 and by Y'sharim USA in June of 2016 (Choshen Mishpat/Dayan). He obtained his B.Sci. in Bible and Ancient Languages from Cornerstone University and his M.Sci. in Higher Education with an emphasis on Classical Hebrew Andragogy from Kaplan/Purdue Global. He also studied Music and Modern Languages at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Worship Studies at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and Middle Eastern History through Tel Aviv University.
Professor Tice has taught Hebrew, Hermeneutics, Tanakh Exegesis, and Apologetics for Cornerstone University (as a Graduate Assistant) and for Take Hold Ministry School. He also developed a number of courses for International Messianic Torah Institute and MJR Yeshiva as well as teaching homeschool music and Torah cantillation courses in the Grand Rapids area (Michigan).
Professor Tice facilitated the Torah Schul at his home synagogue for three years as well as serving as a chazzan and occasionally teaching from the bimah. He has also delivered the D’var Torah on the “Torah Foundations of Faith” radio program on Hebrew Nation Radio. Presently, he is a Hebrew and Judaica research scholar with Manuscript Research Group, working with Jewish manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Arabic and spanning nearly all nusachot and minhagim.
Professor Tice contributes to tikkun olam by working with the Willing to Wait Leadership Team, an abstinence education ministry of the Pregnancy Resource Center and ministering to the local homeless and poor. He has also volunteered with Little Mary’s Hospitality House, a woodland vacation resort for families with children battling life-threatening or terminal illnesses, for 11 years; Habitat for Humanity for 7 years; Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo for 6 years; and several homeless ministries.
Course Curriculum
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StartModule 1: Paul and the School of Hillel
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StartModule 2: Paul and the Gamaliel Traditions
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StartModule 3: Paul within Judaism: The State of the Questions
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StartModule 4: The Architecture of Contemporary Discussions on Paul
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StartModule 5: Torah Observance in the First Century
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StartModule 6: Paul's Position on Circumcision
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StartModule 7: Gentiles as Gentiles - but also Not
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StartModule 8: Gods, Pagans, and the Redemption of Israel
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StartModule 9: Paul as a Diaspora Jew under Roman Rule
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StartModule 10: Paul's Position on Gender
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StartModule 11: Pauline Studies: New Perspective vs. Jewish Perspective
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StartModule 12: Coming to a Conclusion on Paul