His primary departure lies in how he interprets the "genitives" (the "of" phrases) in Paul’s letters, reading them as subjective (describing the subject's action) rather than objective (describing the object of a person's belief).
1. The Righteousness of God (Dikaiosyne tou Theou)
-Traditional Protestant View: Often seen as a forensic status—a legal declaration by God that a sinner is "not guilty" based on faith alone.
-Kim’s Interpretation: He argues for God's participatory righteousness. It is not just a gift given to humans, but God’s own saving activity and justice that believers are invited to participate in.
2. The Faith of Christ (Pistis Christou)
-Traditional Protestant View: Usually translated as "faith in Christ"—the individual's act of believing in Jesus as Savior to receive justification.
-Kim’s Interpretation: He translates this as the "faithfulness of Christ". The focus shifts from the believer's mental assent to Christ’s own faithful obedience to God, which serves as the model and foundation for the believer's life.
3. The Body of Christ (Soma Christou)
-Traditional Protestant View: Typically understood as an organism metaphor emphasizing church unity and harmony among different members.
-Kim’s Interpretation: Kim views it as a political and ethical metaphor. He argues it was a critique of the "body politic" of the Roman Empire and powerful in-groups in Corinth. Instead of a call for uniform unity, he sees it as a mandate for solidarity with the marginalized and a celebration of diversity.
-Kim’s Interpretation: He translates this as the "faithfulness of Christ". The focus shifts from the believer's mental assent to Christ’s own faithful obedience to God, which serves as the model and foundation for the believer's life.
3. The Body of Christ (Soma Christou)
-Traditional Protestant View: Typically understood as an organism metaphor emphasizing church unity and harmony among different members.
-Kim’s Interpretation: Kim views it as a political and ethical metaphor. He argues it was a critique of the "body politic" of the Roman Empire and powerful in-groups in Corinth. Instead of a call for uniform unity, he sees it as a mandate for solidarity with the marginalized and a celebration of diversity.
For a deeper dive into how he applies these concepts to modern social issues and the "politics of love": "Jesus and Paul within Judaism: The Good News of God."