20 Years, 20 Books: What I’ve Learned About God and Justice

Yung Suk Kim, PhD

What does it truly mean to live a life of transformation? After two decades of research, teaching, and writing, I’ve come to realize that the core of meaningful change lies in a single, complex concept: Justice.

In this video, I share my personal journey as a scholar and a follower of Jesus, exploring how the "Good News" is inextricably linked to God’s righteousness. We will dive deep into the ten different facets of justice—from distributive and social to environmental and restorative—and look at how the subversive parables of Jesus challenge our normative thinking about fairness, work, and even the "weeds" within ourselves.

If you have ever asked "What is God?", "What am I?", or "What is the right thing to do?", I invite you to join me in this reflection on the value of today and the ongoing process of transformation.

In this video, we discuss:

• The intersection of Biblical studies, cognitive science, and mental health.
• The 10 types of justice and their Hebrew/Greek roots.
• A radical re-reading of the Parables of the Laborers, the Talents, and the Wheat and the Weeds.
• Why "believing in yourself" is a prerequisite for sensing God.

Hannah's Transformative Journey

Hello. I am Yung Suk Kim. Today, I want to share a unique perspective on a well-known biblical narrative: the story of Hannah from the first book of Samuel.

The ideas I am sharing today are based on my research published in 2008 in the journal The Bible and Critical Theory, titled "The Story of Hannah (1 Sam 1:1–2:11) from a Perspective of Han: The Three-Phase Transformative Process."

In biblical scholarship, we often read Hannah’s story through spiritual, feminist, or liberation lenses. While these are valuable, they can sometimes fall into the trap of "identity politics"—a rigid "us versus them" mentality that can inadvertently exclude others. In my work, I propose an 'intercultural' reading. By using the Korean concept of Han, we can see Hannah’s experience not just as a personal struggle for a child, but as a three-phase process of holistic transformation that involves the self, the community, and society at large.

Dr. Kim's Wisdom House (new YouTube channel)

Welcome to Dr. Kim’s Wisdom House, hosted by Dr. Yung Suk Kim, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity.

This channel is an open public space dedicated to the critical and transformative study of the Bible, philosophy, ancient wisdom, and interdisciplinary topics. Moving beyond rigid dogmas, we explore how sacred texts, philosophical traditions, and critical thought intersect with modern life, justice, and culture.

Whether you are a student, a scholar, or a curious seeker, join us every week for 10-to-20-minute deep dives designed to expand your mind and reframe how you see the world.

Introduction Video to the Channel

The cover of new book "Treasures and Thorns"

So exciting to share the final cover design for my upcoming book!  

I am incredibly grateful for the warm endorsements and early support. Can't wait for you all to read it! Stay tuned for updates.

The Apostle Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians is a battlefield of theology and emotion. It is a text marked by soaring spiritual heights and raw human vulnerability, where the “treasure in jars of clay” meets the painful “thorn in the flesh.” This commentary offers a clear and accessible guide to navigating this complex epistle, structuring its analysis through the dialectic of “Treasures” (theological riches and apostolic authority) and “Thorns” (suffering, rhetorical complexity, and historical conflict).

Designed for scholars, pastors, and students alike, this volume

• clarifies Paul’s Theology, exploring the evolving nature of Paul’s leadership and the composite nature of the letters.
• embraces the paradox, refusing to sanitize the text, grappling with the “hard sayings” and historical messiness alongside the comforting theological truths.
• connects to today, bringing the gap between the fragile Corinthian community and the contemporary challenges facing the modern church.

By engaging with both the beauty and the brokenness of 2 Corinthians, readers will encounter the gospel and its full, paradoxical power. 

True Wisdom

True wisdom is experiential, evocative, and embodied. It is not merely a collection of abstract ideas, but a lived reality forged through real-world experience. It does not just inform the mind; it evokes deep reflection and inspires transformation in others. Ultimately, true wisdom must be lived out, showing up in our daily presence, choices, and actions.

— Yung Suk Kim

Case Study: Educational Dysfunction as a Global Phenomenon

-Yung Suk Kim

The following is an excerpt from my ongoing book project, Yung Suk Kim, The Architecture of Wisdom: Constructive, Deconstructive, and Integrative Paths in Biblical and East Asian Traditions.

A poignant example of the current malfunction of constructive wisdom can be seen in the contemporary educational sphere. I recently observed a South Korean production on Netflix entitled Teach You a Lesson, a series that has garnered a significant global audience. The show’s popularity across diverse cultures suggests that the crises it portrays—the breakdown of primary and secondary education (K-12)—resonate far beyond the borders of the Korean peninsula. In the drama, we see a vivid depiction of teachers who are effectively paralyzed, stripped of their authority to enforce the rules and ethics that are foundational to a thriving collective life.

Two specific phenomena within this case study illustrate the dismantling of the "Constructive" pillar in the modern world. First, we see a distorted application of the concept of relative deprivation. When a teacher attempts to prize or commend a diligent student for their hard work, the parents of other students often protest. They argue that by singling out one student’s success, the teacher causes the others to suffer a sense of relative deprivation. In this mindset, the celebration of excellence is viewed as an injury to the collective, rather than an inspiration for it.

Second, we see the weaponization of the term emotional abuse. When a teacher attempts to reprimand a student for misconduct, school violence, or blatant disruption—employing socially acceptable forms of detention or discipline—parents frequently accuse the teacher of emotional abuse. This accusation effectively silences the educator and prevents the student from learning the essential lesson that actions have consequences.

This phenomenon represents a systemic failure of constructive architecture. If a society can no longer commend good work or reprimand bad behavior, the "house" of wisdom has no foundations. While this specific narrative is framed through a Korean lens, its global reach on a platform like Netflix underscores a universal anxiety: the sense that in many modern societies, the collective structures required to help a person learn how to live together—even within competition—are being eroded. We have forgotten that reward and punishment are not merely "punitive" but are essential pedagogical tools for the formation of a person.

The Architecture of Wisdom

A NEW BOOK PROPOSAL: 

I am a lover of wisdom, and therefore a philosopher. Wisdom is ancient, modern, and cross-cultural. It is pellucid, yet elusive because people are unaccustomed to it. It lives both outside and within us. I have long envisioned a book on cross-cultural wisdom. There is a time for deep thought, and a time to bear fruit. Now is the time to write. My project is titled: The Architecture of Wisdom: Constructive, Deconstructive, and Integrative Paths in Biblical and East Asian Traditions.

The Architecture of Wisdom

Constructive, Deconstructive, and Reconstructive Paths 

in Biblical and East Asian Traditions

JUSTICE AND THE PARABLES OF JESUS

EXCERPTS: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HJesz_3_cdBnP-c8gtdjM1FtZoFfaYYB/view

SAMPLE SYLLABUS: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QPOYRQW_zghCSO4CjhtPfY7FiipBX3K_/view

METANOIA

 

FROM DUST TO MYSTERY

Just do it if you believe in something

"If you believe in something or give your word, see it through. Deliver for yourself with all your effort." 

-Yung Suk Kim