Four Saturdays, April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 2025
8am – 10am CDT
Meet via Zoom
Cost: $125
Taught by Peter Leithart
James Cook is credited with introducing the Polynesian word “taboo” into English. It’s often used disparagingly to describe the irrational fears of primitive peoples.
It’s often said that ancient Israelites also had their “taboos.” After all, several complex chapters of Leviticus are devoted to rules of impurity pertaining to food, childbirth, skin disease, and genital emissions (Leviticus 11-15).
Contrary to post-Enlightenment prejudices, these commandments and prohibitions aren’t primitive or irrational. They’re rooted in the creation and fall, and forms a critical part of Yahweh’s pedagogy as He raised Israel from childhood to maturity.
In this short online workshop, Peter J. Leithart will examine the canonical background of the purity laws, the categories of clean and unclean, their logic and practical operation, the role of priests in judging impurity.
The course will focus on the significance of these laws for understanding the ministry of Jesus, the novelty of the new covenant, and the nature of the church and sacraments.
Register below.
The course will meet for four Saturdays (April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 2025), starting at 8 am Central.
Peter Leithart is President of Theopolis.
Register NowTheopolis Institute admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies or scholarship programs.
*This requirement was added in July 2016. For those who entered the Certificate Program earlier than that date, the oral examination is voluntary.