Memories back to 1980s

An AI-generated image representing my college years in 1980s. I like the long-hair style with a serious look.

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