Ask Their Husbands at Home? The Absurdity of 1 Corinthians 14:35

It is fascinating to find such impractical advice in the biblical text. In 1 Corinthians 14:35, we find this instruction: "If there is something they want to learn, let them ask their husbands at home." This verse, along with the broader passage of 1 Cor 14:33b–36, is widely considered by scholars to be a post-Pauline interpolation, meaning Paul himself likely did not write it. Whether written by a later editor or an early scribe, the advice is simply logically untenable, and I cannot help but smile at its absurdity every time I read it. First, the instruction completely ignores social reality: not all women in the community had husbands, as many were widows or unmarried. Second, even for those who did, it assumes an impossible epistemic authority: how could every husband inherently know the answers to whatever theological questions their wives might ask? 

The Body of Christ and the Body of Empire: Historical and Philosophical Contexts of Oneness in 1 Corinthians

When we state that we are one, it does not necessarily imply absolute ideological uniformity or an organic unity that reinforces hegemonic structures, such as a traditional head-to-body relationship. Instead, oneness can signify a mutually beneficial relationship that sustains diversity and individual differences. When Paul speaks of being united with Christ, he does not mean that believers are merely structural components of a conventional social body; rather, they are ethically and spiritually aligned with Jesus, embodying his spirit and faith. Thus, when Paul tells the Corinthians, "you are the body of Christ and individually members of it," he rejects the contemporary "social body" model found in Stoicism and Roman imperial ideology. Instead, he conceptualizes Christ's body as a "real body" or a living site—a somatic metaphor for an active way of life, echoing his appeals to "Glorify God in your body" and recognizing that "you are the temple of the Spirit" (1 Cor 6:12–20). Ultimately, it is this shared Christic lifestyle and common faith that constitutes the true oneness of the community.

For more about the Christic body, see my books: (1) Christ's Body in Corinth: The Politics of a Metaphor (Fortress, 2008); (2) How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to His Theology, Writings, and World (Fortress, 2021).

"The Danger of a Singular Order"

Check out the new issue of Currents in Theology and Mission: Vol. 53, No. 4 (2026), titled "Telling Messiah Stories in Times Like These." My article is featured in this issue: Yung Suk Kim, "The Danger of a Singular Order: Engaging with Controversial Texts," Currents in Theology and Mission 53, no. 4 (2026): 35–38. 

Abstract
Some biblical narratives involve challenges and controversies because of their complexities about ethnic conflict and oppression. The movement of Christian nationalism is a growing threat not only to democracy but also to critical, transformative biblical interpretation. Their ideology represents some aspects of ideology met in Joshua’s conquest narrative and Jesus’ conversation with a Canaanite woman. Oppressors are external and also found internally within the community, often masquerading with a cause of liberation. Revealing their ideology is essential to biblical interpretation. True liberation and transformation may happen when one faces opacities of enemies all around oneself—from outside, within, and even within oneself—not by defeating others or feeling superior to them, but through accepting human weakness and embracing God’s impartial grace.

New book proposal (The Architecture of Wisdom)

I submitted a book proposal titled The Architecture of Wisdom: Constructive, Deconstructive, and Integrative Paths in Biblical and East Asian Traditions.

This project is designed as a concise, highly focused intervention in the field of comparative religion and theological psychology. I aim to provide a sharp, accessible, and theoretically dense argument that functions as both a scholarly bridge for experts and a pedagogical tool for graduate seminars. Rather than simple parallel-hunting, the book provides a structural hermeneutic that brings biblical literature (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes) into dialogue with East Asian sacred texts (the Analects, Dao De Jing, Four Noble Truths, Heart Sutra) through the lens of human development.

To provide some background, I am a Full Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. My research explores the intersections of Scripture, justice, faith, and human transformation. I have authored and edited over twenty books, including Treasures and Thorns (2026), Justice and the Parables of Jesus (2026), and How to Read the Gospels (2024). In addition to my academic work, I hold a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and bring a global perspective shaped by a prior decade-long corporate career with LG in Seoul, Panama, and Miami.

The Fourth Gospel and Ecology

As I refine and evaluate sample chapters for my new book project, I address a central question: Is it possible to read the Gospel of John ecologically? The answer is a qualified yes. It must be carefully thought out, bypassing simple binaries. My book, The World God Loves, uncovers the profound potential of an ecological reading when the Fourth Gospel is interpreted with care, while simultaneously warning that the text is not an ecological blueprint. Ultimately, the critical issue hinges on hermeneutics—the reader must take a decisive stand. #TheGospelofJohn #Ecology #Yungsukkim

Ongoing Book Projects

 

In my "writing warehouse," six books are waiting to see the light of day. Two are currently under review by a publisher, two have been proposed, one is almost finished, and another is solidly structured and just needs the final details. It feels like it's time for me to turn the page and move on to new projects.

My book project: The World God Loves: The Gospel of John and Ecological Discipleship

I am happy to finally have a well-structured, insightful, and appealing 10-page book proposal focused on John’s Gospel and ecology. I first started thinking about this book years ago when I applied for a grant that ultimately failed. Since then, it has been sitting in my writing factory for a long time. A month ago, I restarted working on it, and it has truly been revived—it is so much better now than when I first began. There is a time of sowing, but there is also a time of waiting and reworking. I also have strong sample chapters that I will take my time refining. No matter what, my work continues. No one can stop me, and nothing can block my path. #GospelOfJohn #BiblicalInterpretation

Shareable wisdom

"The desire to live and the desire to die always coexist. However, whether living or dying, I simply let go of greed, humble myself, and live each day with gratitude; what more could I greedily crave? Knowing this is wisdom."

(Yung Suk Kim)

"Without a heaven in the present, tomorrow merely inherits yesterday's hell. Peace and spirituality are not distant destinations, but immediate realities forged in how we live, love, and coexist. We cannot expect a sacred future to bloom from a present we leave barren."

(Yung Suk Kim)

  

Faith and Politics in South Korea

In this video, we take a deep dive into the complex intersection of faith and politics in South Korea. We explore the historical roots of protest and the shifting religious landscape that has led to the current sociopolitical paradoxes. Join me as we analyze these critical issues from a scholarly perspective, examining how enduring political structures continue to shape and be shaped by the nation's faith.

Key topics:
The history of protest movements in South Korea
The evolution of religious influence on political life
Analyzing the "paradox" of contemporary Korean society
Future implications for faith and justice in the region

[특강] 예수의 비유속에 나타난 다양한 정의의 개념

 

한신대학교 신학대학원에서 진행된 김영석 교수의 특별 강연입니다. 23년 만에 한국을 방문하여 신학생들과 함께 '예수의 비유와 정의의 문제'를 심도 있게 고찰하다. 

우리가 흔히 알고 있는 달란트 비유, 포도원 주인의 비유, 그리고 과부와 불의한 재판관의 비유를 통해 성서가 말하는 귀속적, 배분적, 보복적 정의의 다양한 층위를 탐구한다. 단순히 종교적인 교훈을 넘어, 작금의 한국 사회와 신학이 마주한 정의의 과제는 무엇인지 함께 생각해보는 시간이 되길 바라며. 

#예수비유 #정의론 #한신대특강 #김영석교수 #성서해석 #신학강의 #달란트비유 #사회정의

Timestamps 

00:00 23년 만의 한국 방문, 역사적인 첫 강연의 감동 

03:13 오늘 강연의 주제: 예수의 비유와 정의의 문제 

04:12 정의란 무엇인가? 다양한 정의의 개념들 (귀속적, 보복적, 배분적 정의) 

08:38 성서에서 찾는 정의의 기준: 하나님과 예수의 '오름' 

11:41 예수 비유의 진정한 목적: 청중을 놀라게 하고 도전하라 

13:52 [비유 1] 달란트 비유와 귀속적 정의: 노력과 책임의 문제 

20:08 [비유 2] 포도원 주인의 비유와 배분적 정의: 균등한 기회와 선함 

29:35 [비유 3] 과부와 불의한 재판관: 기도가 아닌 '법적 정의'의 회복 

34:42 용서와 처벌: 세월호 참사와 보복적 정의에 대한 단상 

37:43 맺음말: 정의가 살아있는 사회와 진정한 행복