How to Read the Gospels

This book, How to Read the Gospels, truly reflects my passion for the study of the Gospels. It is structured into two main parts: a critical introduction to each Gospel and a section on methodological diversity.

The Gospel narratives are not static; they reflect us and speak to us. To truly understand them, we must read closely and diversely, engaging with contemporary issues ranging from mental health and the climate crisis to political and economic justice.

The Gospels do not necessarily provide technical solutions to modern problems, but they do demand that we revisit the stories of Jesus from our current contexts. Interpretation should never be dominated by one school of thought; rather, every reader can discern what is good from their unique perspective. We must avoid using the Bible as a weapon against other cultures or as a replacement for all other knowledge. Instead, we should view the Gospels as an open invitation: a call to weave our stories into the ongoing story of Jesus, not to triumph over others, but to respond to the good news.

How to Read Paul

Paul is a controversial yet crucial apostle who deeply impacted subsequent generations of Christians. While he is often the object of both love and hatred, it is essential to examine him with a fair and reasonable mind. Believing him to be greatly misrepresented, I have spent years digging into his letters—first in my dissertation and later acting almost like a lawyer on his behalf.

This research culminated in my 2021 textbook: How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to His Writings, Theology, and World. I hope many will understand him better through this book, which tackles the most pressing questions about his life and theology, such as:

• Is he a systematic theologian paving a way of salvation based on "faith in Christ"?
• Is he a social conservative or a challenger to the Roman Empire?
• How can one be justified by God—by one's faith in Christ, or through Christ's faith?
• What are his views on the law, Israel, and the Abrahamic covenant?
• What does he mean by "the righteousness of God"?
• How do his views on community intersect with gender, class, and ethnicity?
• How did his diaspora experience and his relationship with the Jerusalem church shape his gospel?

Submission of a new book manuscript

I am about to submit my new book manuscript, titled Treasures and Thorns: A Concise Critical Commentary on 2 Corinthians. If things go well, I assume it will be released sometime in the fall of this year. 

It feels like one book after another right now! Please don't think I have done all this work in one day or overnight; I have been working on this for some years. Metaphorically speaking, I run a writing factory and warehouse containing many potential projects, ranging from fully developed manuscripts to inchoate ideas. It is my habit to work daily in this factory, keeping it constantly updated.

 

(tentative imaginary book cover)

New binding style

Thanks to the publisher, I just received a hardcover copy of my new book! I discovered that it uses a binding style I hadn't seen before. I learned it's a method called "Case Laminate" (or "Casewrap"), where the cover design is printed directly on the surface and sealed with a laminate for protection. It’s quite different from the traditional "Paper-over-Board" (POB) style I was used to.

 

Enhance your teaching

Looking to deepen your group's understanding of the parables? Justice and the Parables of Jesus is the ideal guide for pastors and teachers. This book unpacks ten specific types of justice found in the stories of Jesus, providing a rich, ten-week framework for discussion. Check out the sample syllabus to explore the topics covered.

Chris Marshall's endorsement of the book "Justice and the Parables of Jesus" by Yung Suk Kim

The Manifesto of the Sovereign Nomad

Yung Suk Kim

I. The Great Refusal
We acknowledge the ache to belong, yet we refuse the price of entry. To belong entirely to a place, a person, or a dogma is to stop growing. We reject the comfort of the "Total Identity." We are not puzzles to be solved or slots to be filled. We are a process, and a process cannot be anchored.

II. The Sanctity of the Threshold
Our home is the Threshold. We exist in the doorway—half-in and half-out. From the threshold, we see more clearly than those deep inside the room. We claim the right to stand at the edge of every circle, participating with our whole hearts but keeping our feet ready to move.

III. Radical Presence, Zero Attachment
We believe in "The Deep Visit." When we are with you, we are fully there. We offer a presence that is rare because it is not obligated. We do not stay because we have nowhere else to go; we stay because we choose to. Our loyalty is to the moment, not to the institution.

IV. The Power of the "Outsider’s Eye"
By belonging nowhere, we become the bridge for everywhere. We speak the languages of many tribes but swear allegiance to none. This is our gift to the world: we see the patterns that those "inside" are too close to recognize. We are the critics, the witnesses, and the wanderers.

V. The Architecture of the Self
We do not seek a roof over our heads; we build a fire in our hearts. We realize that the "place" we have been looking for is not a coordinate on a map, but the internal space we carry with us. We are our own destination.

VI. The Vow
I will love the world, but I will not be owned by it.
I will seek my kin, but I will not lose my name.
I will belong to the journey, and the journey alone.

Emerson Powery's endorsement

Author's words

Most of us were taught that the parables are simple moral lessons. But what if they are actually radical blueprints for a just society? In this book, I challenge the stories we think we know to uncover the ten dimensions of justice Jesus was truly teaching. Whether you are a theology student, a social advocate, or simply seeking deeper meaning in scripture, this book, Justice and the Parables of Jesus, offers a transformative new perspective.

Endorsement by Jennifer Quigley