Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Endorsements of the book "Justice and the Parables of Jesus"

 

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ENDORSEMENTS
"In Justice and the Parables of Jesus, Yung Suk Kim offers a bold and refreshing reorientation of how we read the teachings of Jesus. Moving beyond traditional theological and historical interpretations, Kim invites readers to engage the parables through the lens of political philosophy—where questions of liberty, rights, and above all, justice, come to the fore. By examining the parables within the political realities of first-century Palestine and through ten dimensions of justice—distributive, procedural, restorative, global, and more—Kim bridges ancient text and modern context with remarkable clarity and moral urgency. His work challenges readers not merely to decode Jesus’s stories, but to discern their ethical implications for our own fractured world. This book is a vital contribution to contemporary biblical scholarship and to the ongoing dialogue between theology and social ethics. For pastors, students, and scholars who believe that faith must wrestle with the demands of justice, Justice and the Parables of Jesus is essential reading—insightful, provocative, and deeply relevant for our times."
—Demetrius K. Williams, Professor of Comparative Literature and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee

"Drawing on the interpretive traditions of Howard Thurman, Walter Wink, and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Professor Kim offers a socio-political reading of Jesus’s parables as incisive critiques of systemic injustice within the Roman imperial order. Integrating political philosophy and biblical exegesis, this work illuminates how these narratives expose the moral structure of hierarchical societies—ancient and modern—inviting readers to reconsider the ethical and political dimensions of parable discourse."
—Emerson Powery, Dean for the School of Arts, Culture & Society at Messiah University

"Recent studies of Jesus's parables have made clear the importance of situating them within the political and economic realities of his time. In this innovative book, Yung Suk Kim takes things further by approaching them with questions and insights from political theology in mind. Kim also brings ancient thinkers and sources like Confucius and Laozi into the conversation. The result is a volume that creates a conversation between the New Testament and pressing concerns of our own time." 
—James F. McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language & Literature, Butler University

“This book goes beyond the general claim that Jesus was a prophet of God’s justice—articulated, among other ways, in his narrative parables—to explore the diverse ways that this justice unfolds in human affairs.”
—Chris Marshall, Emeritus Professor of Restorative Practice at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
 
"When I teach in churches, clergy and laity regularly ask for accessible resources from biblical scholars that address the urgent concerns of the current moment while attending to the complex contexts of ancient texts. Justice and the Parables of Jesus is a book I can recommend that helps readers understand justice not as a static goal, but as a multidimensional lens through which to read both biblical text and respond to ethical and theological concerns today. Yung Suk Kim offers fresh readings of familiar parables alongside multiple models for justice, contributing to conversations about the Bible, theology, and public life."
—Jennifer Quigley, Assistant Professor of New Testament, Emory University
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