Registration About the course About the leader

Paul’s Letter to the Romans has been given a privileged and unique place in Western Christianity. First Augustine, then Luther, and finally Karl Barth have all written highly influential interpretations of Romans. When you walk into almost any Christian church on a Sunday morning, it is likely that you will hear a sermon that has been influenced by this tradition. How can we see this letter with fresh eyes?

Over the last 30-40 years, the same explosion of scholarship that has led to a re-evaluation of the historical Jesus has developed a new approach to reading Romans. It has sought to understand Paul in his own context, rather than through layers of Christian history. This “New Perspective” on Paul is far less about individual salvation and the condemnation of Judaism. Instead, Romans develops a theology that explains God’s fairness and loving desire to extend God’s promises beyond the Jews in order to include all the nations.

In this course you will encounter this new approach to Romans. And you will have an opportunity to explore your own response to Paul’s understanding of God’s universal salvation in Romans. Basic familiarily with Paul and the Epistles is assumed. You can expect 2 to 3 hours of work (reading, writing responses to Andrew's questions, reading and possibly replying to the responses of other students) each week, spread over several days.


Andrew Wright (picture)


Andrew Wright has led many Quaker Studies programs both on Bible studies and on Quaker history. New England Friends got to know him while he and his family sojourned at Lawrence Meeting in Massachusetts. Andrew is currently studying at Earlham School of Religion. (Durham Friends Meeting, North Carolina YM Conservative)





About Online courses: We use Moodle: an online program that organizes information and your responses to it so that you will find learning easy.

For the full experience, you will need: a speedy internet connection and a recent browser - Firefox 3 or later; Safari 3 or later; Google Chrome 4 or later; Opera 9 or later; MS Internet Explorer 7.

Please read the "Course expectations" to the right for more information on what participation entails.


tuition $60

Sign up here using PayPal Clicking this button will take you to the PayPal secure payment site.


If you want to pay by check or apply for financial aid, click this button to go to our secure online registration form:
complete the form and send your check in the mail. Instructions for financial aid are on the form.

Or, to register by mail, download the flier here print it, fill out the form and mail it in! Download extras and get friends to sign up.

Course expectations:
  • 90 minutes to 2 hours of work per week (reading and forum posts.)
  • Online interaction is part of the course. You support the learning of everyone else by your participation. You will be expected to contribute something to the discussion forums (if only “I have no answer to this question...”) at least twice a week.
  • If you will be absent for more than 3 days or must drop the course, you are expected to post a message in the community forum letting the other course members know.
Problems or questions about this page email the qsp coordinator
Copyright 2009. Beacon Hill Friends House, Boston, MA.
Last update: November 2009.