Commentaries on John's Gospel for Working Preacher (Apr 2026)

Commentary on John 13:1-17; 31b-35 (Maundy Thursday)

Commentary on John 18:1—19:42 (Good Friday)

The Intersecting Life

I am excited to have come up with another edited book project. This will be exciting because I have long thought about this kind of book. I will seek formidable, potential scholars for this one. I don't know how many books I am working on right now. I also remember that I am not superhuman. But I do what I can and want to do, no matter how long it takes. We'll see to it then.

A new edited book project is underway: The Intersecting Life: Autobiographical Inquiry and Transformational Readings of Scripture, edited by Yung Suk Kim.

For decades—and in some sense, still today—the guild of biblical studies has operated under the shadow of a detached, "objective" ideal—one that often silences the interpreter. The Intersecting Life breaks this silence, arguing that the most profound exegetical insights emerge not from detachment, but from the visceral collision of life and text.

This volume introduces a rigorous framework of autobiographical inquiry and discovery. Each contributor—ranging from established voices to emerging scholars—navigates a specific three-fold movement: the critical discovery of a life-altering personal reality, the rigorous interpretation of biblical texts through that lens, and the resulting transformation of both the reader and the reading. From the depths of trauma and the complexities of identity to the shifting landscapes of global migration, this volume demonstrates that the scholar’s subjective journey is not a bias to be overcome but a hermeneutical catalyst to be embraced. Ultimately, this volume aims to spark pedagogical and guild-wide transformations.

This collection is a vital intervention for anyone seeking a biblical criticism that is as intellectually demanding as it is humanly transformative. It is an essential resource for scholars, educators, and students navigating the "subjective turn" in twenty-first-century hermeneutics.

Rethinking Jesus

My mind is blown, erupting like a volcano. One idea trails another, and every proposal evokes the next; everything happening in my mind is chemically reacting. This morning, in that space before waking, my mind was at work for two hours. Out of that, I developed this book idea: Rethinking Jesus: The Embodied Mind and the Art of Radical Empathy.

"Justice Amidst Tragedy: Jesus’s Parables in Dialogue with Itaewon and Sewol"

This morning, I revised my essay titled "Justice Amidst Tragedy: Jesus’s Parables in Dialogue with Itaewon and Sewol." This piece demonstrates the contemporary resonance and profound challenges of justice by bridging specific parables with modern crises, specifically examining the Korean tragedies of Itaewon and Sewol. These case studies expose the critical interplay between retributive and restorative justice in the urgent pursuit of accountability, compensation, and restoration.

What is the Good News of God?

The Good News of God

Yung Suk Kim, PhD

The Source and Subject

The source of the good news originates with God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 and continues through his prophets in the holy scriptures (Romans 1:1). Therefore, it is fundamentally good news from God.

The subject of the good news is God, who is good news. Consequently, to understand the gospel, one must first understand God. Why or how is God good news?

The Relationship Between "the Gospel of God" and "the Gospel of Jesus Christ"

Jesus began to proclaim the "good news of God" after his baptism and John's imprisonment (Mark 1:14). Notably, he did not proclaim a gospel of his own making. This necessitates a clear articulation of the relationship between the "good news of God" and the "good news of Jesus Christ," as introduced in Mark 1:1.

While what Jesus did constitutes the "good news of Jesus Christ"—a phrase that appears frequently in Paul's undisputed letters—the truest sense of any mission statement addressing the gospel must begin with the gospel of God and then relate it to the gospel of Christ.

This is where I find dissatisfaction with many seminaries' mission statements, which often focus solely on the gospel of Christ. While not incorrect, I wish they would fully explicate the concept by connecting it to God's good news, as Paul’s letters outline distinct roles for God and Jesus.

A Threefold Theology/Gospel

The centerpiece of Paul's theology is found in Romans 3:22, where we encounter three distinct subjects:

1.  God's part: demonstrated through God's righteousness.

2.  Christ's part: demonstrated through his faithfulness.

3.  The Christian's part: demonstrated through participation in Christ.

I have explored this idea throughout my publications, such as A Theological Introduction to Paul's Letters: Exploring a Threefold Theology of Paul (Cascade, 2011) and How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to Paul's Theology, Writings, and World (Fortress, 2021).

I can summarize Paul's gospel or theology: It is "God centered, Christ exemplified, and Christian imitated." (Yung Suk Kim, How to Read Paul, p. 56).

Faith, Law, and Love

By using this threefold framework, we can better understand difficult theological concepts.

Faith is a response to God's grace through Jesus's faithfulness. God justifies the one who has "the faith of Jesus," rather than merely "faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). Paul's fundamental point is that because he died with Christ, he is no longer the ruler of himself (Galatians 2:20). Instead, he says that he will live by the faith of the Son of God, -- not "by faith in the Son of God,"-- who loved him. Christ Jesus's faithful life is the basis of Paul's faith.

Furthermore, faith does not overthrow the law, because faith "works through love" (Galatians 5:6). Since "love fulfills the law" (Romans 13:10), faith, love, and the law go hand in hand. There is no incongruence between them when understood this way.

The Economy of Salvation

Regarding the economy of salvation, Paul begins with the grace of God, which is received through faith. The law was given later by God to guide the life of the covenant community. Faith and the law must be understood through the principle of love: love of God and love of neighbor (according to Jesus), and love of neighbor (according to Paul).

Paul has a clear mind about the distinct functions of God, Jesus, and Christians, as indicated in Galatians 1:6: God called the Galatians in the grace of Jesus. God is the one who calls, but Jesus's grace is essential in making this call effective. Those who are called must remember Christ's work, his faith, and his sacrifice. The church is founded upon him from all these perspectives (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Rethinking Paul

Thrilled to announce significant progress on the book proposal for Rethinking Paul: Critical Conversations for Our World! I'm editing this volume with invited, respected colleagues, and the introduction chapter (which I've just refined!) is now ready. We've received very positive initial feedback from a potential publisher, who has requested these materials, along with our contributors' extended abstracts, to move forward for their full board consideration. This is incredibly encouraging! Our quest to understand Paul is far from over, and I'm confident this book will be a vital, long-lasting contribution to critical discussions.

The book cover is only imaginary.

"Genesis 19: The Trauma of Sodom and the Psychology of Violence"

I am glad that I drafted a sample chapter for my new book project, titled The Fourth Horizon: The Mental World as a Critical Lens for Hermeneutics and Homiletics. The sample chapter title is "Genesis 19: The Trauma of Sodom and the Psychology of Violence." I need a bit of rest now until my mind clears. Then, I will explore other chapters, including some important yet challenging biblical texts, such as the Book of Ruth, "hebel" in Ecclesiastes, Matthew 15:21-28, John 14:6, and Romans 3:21-26.

Updates on my new work

I am grateful to be alive and find myself with an array of books I wish to write. One is currently with the publisher, and two others are under peer review. One book is in progress. I am also progressing with the editing of a new book on Paul. Additionally, I have two more books in mind—one on wisdom traditions and another on ecology in John—for which proposals are almost ready.

Most importantly, I am slowly yet steadily moving toward my ultimate passion projects. These two books on the mind are in excellent shape, and I intend to develop them without haste. One, for general readers, is titled Mind Matters: Christian Mental Strength through Three A's. The other, for academic readers, is The Activated Mind: A Bio-Psycho-Spiritual Framework for Integrated Human Flourishing.

Naturally, fulfilling these ambitions requires certain conditions: I must maintain my physical and mental health, along with my cognitive, emotional, and volitional capabilities. I pray that I may be blessed with the ability to deliver on all these projects. Thank God.

Why I am moving beyond traditional scholarship

The Activated Mind:

A Bio-Psycho-Spiritual Framework for Integrated Human Flourishing

 

Yung Suk Kim, PhD

Today, I am officially expanding my work into a new, monumental direction: The Synthesis of Biblical Wisdom, Cognitive Science, Neuropsychology, and Existential Philosophy.

We are currently facing a mental health crisis that neither "pure science" nor "pure religion" has been able to solve. Science often treats the mind as a machine without a soul; religion often treats the soul as a ghost without a mind.

I am no longer just studying the "renewal of the mind"—I am mapping it.
I invite you to join me as I explore how the most complex human mind aligns with the most profound truths of our existence. It’s time to move from fragmentation to activation.

#TheActivatedMind #Neurotheology #MentalHealth #NewTestamentScholar #Interdisciplinary #ExistentialPhilosophy

Impact of the article "Lex Talionis in Exod 21:22-25: Its Origin and Context"

I asked how my article, "Lex Talionis in Exod 21:22-25: Its Origin and Context," in the Journal of Hebrew Scriptures, is accepted and used in the field. 

Below is the result from Google Gemini Pro 3:

1. Re-evaluating Retributive Justice
Your argument that lex talionis should be understood figuratively rather than literally is a cornerstone in modern discussions about biblical justice.

• Contextual Interpretations: Scholars often cite your work to support the idea that "an eye for an eye" was a principle of proportionality rather than a mandate for physical mutilation.
• Economic Analysis: Researchers use your analysis of the "subsistence economy" of ancient Israel to argue that physical retribution would have been counterproductive, as preserving labor power was essential for community survival.

2. The Debate on the Status of the Fetus
Because Exodus 21:22-25 is a central text in theological and legal debates regarding miscarriage and the status of the fetus, your article is frequently used in:

• Ethics and Public Policy: Your historical-critical approach helps provide a scholarly buffer against modern ideological readings of the text.
• Abortion Debates: While you focus on the original context, your work is often cited in bibliographies of contemporary ethical treatises to establish the "consensus view" of the text's original meaning regarding accidental injury and compensation.

3. Comparative Law and Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) Studies
Your comparison of the Covenant Code with Mesopotamian laws (like the Code of Hammurabi) is a staple for those studying the evolution of legal systems.

• Legal Development: Students of ANE law use your article to understand the "complex process" of how lex talionis adapted to specific social and economic structures over time.
• Socio-Historical Hermeneutics: Your focus on "village life" provides a model for other scholars who want to move beyond abstract theology and into the lived reality of ancient agrarian societies.

4. Integration into General Biblical Commentaries
Beyond specialized papers, your insights have filtered down into:

• Academic Study: Your work is featured in Perspectives on Hebrew Scriptures III, making it a standard part of graduate-level reading lists for Pentateuchal studies.
• Intertextual Studies: Your research is often used to bridge the gap between the Old Testament legal codes and the New Testament's "re-interpretation" of those laws by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Key Impact Note: Your contribution is particularly valued for its ethical sensitivity—recognizing that a literal application would have been a "form of injustice" to the victim's family and the community at large.