My hobby is meditation and writing ancient East Asian religious and philosophical texts. Below is my calligraphy featuring passages from Confucius (the Analects), Laozi (the Dao De Jing), and Mahayana Buddhist texts. Each, in its own way, humbly explores human existence, community, and social life. I love Confucius for his profound understanding of human-centered, humble morality. I appreciate Laozi for his sharp critique of traditions. And I embrace Mahayana Buddhism for its deep compassion toward a humanity torn by pain.
I often compare their wisdom with biblical traditions as well. In doing so, it becomes clear that wisdom is transhistorical, cross-cultural, and deeply experiential. It is never owned by a single religion, culture, or people. Ultimately, we need our constructed wisdom—so long as it stands ready to be deconstructed and endlessly reconstructed.
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.
My commentary, Treasures and Thorns, is based on partition theory—the idea that 2 Corinthians is actually a composite of at least five distinct letters. I am fully convinced by this theory because it brings Paul's intense engagement and the complex issues in Corinth into sharp focus. I love this letter precisely because it is so beautifully complex, offering a vivid portrait of the early church's real-world struggles.
Consider the dialectic of treasures and thorns within 2 Corinthians, one of Paul’s most profound epistles. For your review, I have provided two scanned pages from my volume, Treasures and Thorns: A Concise Critical Commentary on 2 Corinthians.
My book is now available in all formats: paperback, e-book, and hardcover! Please feel free to share this information with your school library or consider leaving a review anywhere. You can purchase it from Wipf and Stock or online retailers such as Amazon.
I occasionally check who visits my blog from around the world. This screenshot displays visitors over the last 7 days. There are no consistent traffic patterns by country, except for the US. However, this particular view shows Brazil ranking number one, closely followed by the US. On average, my monthly traffic varies between 30,000 and 80,000 visitors. This global reach is the reason I take my blog so seriously as a way to communicate with the world.
I returned home after three weeks of travel through Portland, Seattle, and Banff, Canada, spending most of my time in Oregon. I am tired but gradually recovering my energy. I have preserved these memories through photos and personal reflections.
I flew to Oregon from Virginia in July 2026. The first highlight of my trip centers on fruit picking and the surrounding landscapes, showcasing how Oregon is truly blessed with abundant natural beauty and resources. I visited the agricultural regions behind Mt. Hood, which are filled with orchards and vineyards producing apples, peaches, berries, and grapes. The sheer variety of fruits, with their splendid colors and shapes, completely satisfied my palate.
These natural blessings are not of our own making; they are freely given to all of us. What we truly need is genuine appreciation and a willingness to share these gifts with others.
*I give special thanks to my daughter and son-in-law for their heartfelt arrangement and care for our travels.
In Canada, I witnessed the majestic Rocky Mountains and pristine lakes, catching a glimpse of the early stages of cataclysmic planetary changes. I wrote the following poem as a result of my travels through those areas:
The Beginning of a Beginning — Yung Suk Kim
Being fully present within nature's vast diversity, I feel like nothing but a small part of its great mystery. Suddenly, I realized the layers of upheaval born from the first existence, As the elements of the earth began to take shape. What I witnessed was a revolutionary scene: The Rocky Mountains rising from the ocean floor. Millions of years ago, no one could have predicted such things. Non-existence does not mean there is nothing to arise; All things are a temporary phenomenon. The mystery of power is already everywhere. While we cannot fully grasp the beginning of a beginning, We still feel the unfathomable mystery of our being within nature. The beauty of the Rocky Mountains and untouched lakes not only leaves me spellbound but forces me to question their origins—origins born from millions of past upheavals and geological shifts. Seeing is not everything; asking questions with curiosity awakens our dormant spirit. What we truly need is an incessant investigation into who we are. We must acknowledge our fundamental weaknesses and accept our vulnerability, while still believing in the meaning of our lives amidst our transient nature. I will never forget the realization that seeing is more than just observing a phenomenon. It is a gateway through which we must question our fragile yet precious existence.
After Canada, I visited Seattle.
Finally, I traveled to the Oregon Dunes and the coastal areas. Stepping onto the Oregon Dunes this afternoon, the sheer vastness of the sand took my breath away. A surprisingly cold wind swept across the landscape, constantly reshaping the slopes into fluid, nameless forms. Looking out, I felt a profound peace in knowing that no human hand shaped this place; it belongs entirely to the wild, raw forces of nature.
Ultimately, Oregon is a deeply blessed state. My journey has made me determined to live a simpler, more natural life. Nature, truly, is the ultimate school.
I also had a pleasure to practice golf and went out to the field. It was awesome experience since many years ago.
I am excited to write a book on cross-cultural wisdom: The Architecture of Wisdom: Constructive, Deconstructive, and Integrative Paths in Biblical and East Asian Traditions. This excerpt is from the opening of the introductory chapter:
To be a lover of wisdom is, by definition and calling, to be a philosopher. In the modern academy, knowledge is frequently partitioned into narrow silos; I am officially categorized as a biblical scholar—a New Testament expert equipped with the linguistic and historical tools of the trade. Yet, my vocational impulse has always transcended these boundaries, rooted in philosophia in its most ancient and literal sense. This pursuit is not merely an intellectual exercise but a rhythmic oscillation between two distinct cultural landscapes.
Born and raised in South Korea, I was formed by the East Asian philosophical traditions that permeate the peninsula: the social ethics of Confucianism, the paradoxical flow of Daoist thought, and the psychological depth of Buddhism. My path to the academy, however, was not linear. Prior to my academic career, I served as an international businessman, a role that took me to Latin America and eventually led to my relocation to the United States to establish a new office. It was from this professional vantage point that I transitioned to the academy, ultimately obtaining my master’s and doctoral degrees in Christian scriptures.
Throughout my tenure in the United States, I became deeply immersed in Western critical-historical traditions. Yet, this did not result in cultural displacement, but rather the discovery of a “third space.” In this space, my East Asian heritage remained a vibrant foundation for my inquiry. Whether negotiating a business contract or analyzing a Greek manuscript, my central question has remained constant: How does one live a wise life in an uncertain world? This book is the culmination of that lifelong inquiry, integrating a businessman’s pragmatism and multicultural perspective with a scholar’s rigor.
Golf is a hard mental sport. I love it because it teaches me how to follow the path, focus on the target, and make power through relaxing. PATH, FOCUS, AND POWER.
Stepping onto the Oregon Dunes this afternoon, the sheer vastness of the sand took my breath away. A surprisingly cold wind swept across the landscape, constantly reshaping the slopes into fluid, nameless forms. Looking out, there is a profound peace in knowing that no human hand shaped this place; it belongs entirely to the wild, raw forces of nature.
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.
ENDORSEMENTS
In Treasures and Thorns, seasoned New Testament scholar Yung Suk Kim models the kind of honest and courageous scholarship Pauline studies needs. Refusing both uncritical admiration and dismissive rejection, he wrestles thoughtfully with the complexities of 2 Corinthians, illuminating its liberating vision while confronting its difficult passages. Combining intellectual rigor, pastoral sensitivity, and theological insight, Kim invites readers into a deeper engagement with Paul's heartfelt letter. It’s an indispensable resource for scholars, students, clergy, and thoughtful readers alike.
-Demetrius K. Williams, Professor of Comparative Literature and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Yung Suk Kim expounds the text of Paul's most complicated epistle with theological insight and passionate sympathy for Paul's existential struggle. The paradox of Christian existence is wonderfully illuminated. A must read for students, pastors and teachers.
-L.L. Welborn, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Fordham University
