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Book Projects (IN PROGRESS)
-Yung Suk Kim
- The Lord's Prayer through the Lens of Cognitive Science: Renewing the Mind
- Embodied Kingdom: Luke's Mindful Theology of God's Present Reign
- The Fourth Horizon: The Mental World as a Critical Lens for Hermeneutics and Homiletics
- The Double Embrace: Theological Anthropology, Cognitive Science, and Psychological Integration
- The Architecture of Wisdom: Constructive, Deconstructive, and Reconstructive Paths in Biblical and East Asian Traditions
Imaginary covers
Under Contract
EDITOR, Yung Suk Kim
RETHINKING PAUL: Critical Conversations for Our World
(Westminster John Knox, scheduled for 2028)
(The cover is only tentative)
EDITED JOURNAL VOLUME (in progress)
Guest Editor. "Reading a Samaritan Story in Luke 10 from Racialized Scholars’ Perspectives: Reclaiming People, Rebuilding Community, Pursuing Justice." Special issue, Perspectives in Religious Studies (Winter 2027). PUBLISHED BOOKS
Treasures and Thorns:
A Concise Critical Commentary on 2 Corinthians
(Cascade, 2026)
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
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
Justice and the Parables of Jesus
Interpreting the Gospel Stories through Political Philosophy
(T&T Clark, Jan 8, 2026)
-A thematic, contextual study of Jesus’s parables through the lens of political philosophy. Combining historical analysis, theological insight, and discussion questions, it offers a rigorous framework for contemporary conversations about justice—ideal for scholars, clergy, and informed readers.
Book Description (formal)
This book examines the parables of Jesus through the framework of political philosophy, focusing on the ethical question of justice: "What is the right thing to do?" It contextualizes the narratives within the socio-political landscape of first-century Palestine, highlighting how they articulate a radical vision of divine sovereignty that confronts the dominant values and juridical structures of the Roman Empire. The text offers a nuanced analysis of the multifaceted themes of justice embedded in these parables, aiming to elucidate their moral and theological complexity. Organized thematically, each chapter engages with specific parables, accompanied by analytical discussion questions designed to foster critical engagement and scholarly dialogue. Ultimately, the volume aspires to contribute to contemporary discourses on justice by providing a comprehensive interpretive framework rooted in biblical parables, serving academic audiences and informed readers interested in the ethical and political implications of Jesus’s teachings.
This book examines the parables of Jesus through the framework of political philosophy, focusing on the ethical question of justice: "What is the right thing to do?" It contextualizes the narratives within the socio-political landscape of first-century Palestine, highlighting how they articulate a radical vision of divine sovereignty that confronts the dominant values and juridical structures of the Roman Empire. The text offers a nuanced analysis of the multifaceted themes of justice embedded in these parables, aiming to elucidate their moral and theological complexity. Organized thematically, each chapter engages with specific parables, accompanied by analytical discussion questions designed to foster critical engagement and scholarly dialogue. Ultimately, the volume aspires to contribute to contemporary discourses on justice by providing a comprehensive interpretive framework rooted in biblical parables, serving academic audiences and informed readers interested in the ethical and political implications of Jesus’s teachings.
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 philosophy 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
—Chris Marshall, Emeritus Professor of Restorative Practice at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
—Jennifer Quigley, Assistant Professor of New Testament, Emory University
A twofold introduction to the Gospels featuring a critical, close reading of the Gospels and methodological approaches.
—Mitzi J. Smith, J. Davison Philips Professor of New Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
"How to Read the Gospels is well organized and clearly presents his goals and objectives. I appreciate his innovative approach by which he examines the distinctive features of each Gospel from the standpoint of several interpretive methods, which especially gives voice to perspectives not customarily included in traditional works of similar genre. In addition, providing summaries and questions at the end of each chapter facilitates the book’s use as a textbook. I would describe this book as an introduction both to traditional literary and contemporary inclusive, current cutting-edge, marginalized methodologies, and approaches to Gospel interpretation. I welcome a text like this that seeks to provide readers with a broad range of interpretive perspectives (that includes ecological, post-colonial, minoritized, literary-historical, and other approaches). It is this very feature of Kim’s book that is commendable and attractive and the basis upon which to highly recommend it to others."
—Demetrius K. Williams, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
—Demetrius K. Williams, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
"Dr. Yung Suk Kim's How to Read the Gospels offers informative, in-depth, and inclusive guidance on each Gospel. Dr. Kim invites readers to engage with and interpret the Gospels through close, careful, and critical reading. This well-organized and well-balanced book will enrich any discussion on the Gospels, whether in seminary or parish."
—Jeehei Park, Assistant Professor of New Testament, Seminary of the Southwest
"Yung Suk Kim has gifted us with a much-needed resource for studying the Gospels. Thanks to his exceptionally lucid writing style, this book presents the complex textual and historical issues around the Gospels, as well as their diverse interpretations, in an easy-to-follow way. Students and teachers of the New Testament will find this book useful and insightful."
—Ekaputra Tupamahu, Assistant Professor of New Testament, Portland Seminary"With How to Read the Gospels, Yung Suk Kim has once again written a comprehensive and accessible primer for the study of the New Testament. The introduction to each gospel, a diverse array of interpretive methodologies presented, and insightful bibliographical references will make this an essential resource for any class engaging the gospels."
—Nicholas Elder, Associate Professor of New Testament, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
“In the age where academic biblical studies was catapulted into a vortex of diverse methods, readers, contexts, and concerns, Yung Suk Kim’s How to Read the Gospels is a rare jewel, for it is research-intensive, reader-friendly, and thorough-going in its faithfulness to the ancient context and content of the Gospels, while exposing the student reader to various ways of interpreting the Gospels. This book does not only showcase diverse ways of reading the Gospels, but it also makes the work of biblical teachers much easier without sacrificing quality. I highly recommend this book for all beginning readers of the Gospels and their teachers.”
"Kim has given instructors another tool to introduce Paul and his theology to introductory students. There is a lot packed into this book, and that means there is a lot that can be unpacked productively from it. Thanks to Kim for his effort to bring Paul and his theology alive for a new generation of students." -James W. Aaegeson, RBL Feb 2025
This book answers the following questions one way or another:
-Is Paul a systematic theologian who paves a new way of salvation based on "faith in Christ"?
-Is he a social conservative or a challenger to the Roman Empire?
-What is his view of the law and Israel?
-What is his view of Jesus and his death?
-What are his views of God, the Abrahamic covenant, and the children of God?
-What is his view of faith and the law?
-What does he mean by "the righteousness of God"?
-How can one be justified by God? By one's faith in Christ or through Christ's faith?
-What kind of gospel does he proclaim to the Gentiles?
-What are his views on community, gender, class, or ethnicity?
-What is his view of society or the governing authorities?
-What is his relationship with the Jerusalem church?
-What is his primary identity after following Jesus?
-How does his diaspora experience affect his gospel?
This book combines critical New Testament scholarship with homiletic concerns. Kim unravels complexities of the most prominent themes in the New Testament such as faith, freedom, and transformation, and brings them into dialogue with modern preaching contexts, ranging from personal identity to social justice to global issues. This book invites readers to reinterpret the most familiar themes that have not been thoroughly explored in scholarship and to make an informed choice about what to preach to whom in what context.
"Yung Suk Kim's book is much needed by present-day preachers. By definition, preaching is bringing to congregations a Word, which is a living Word only insofar as it is contextualized - addressing the needs of their hearers in specific contextual situations. But most often, preachers are paralyzed and prevented to do so, because they unduly "believe" that their duty is to remain "faithful" to "THE orthodox" understanding of basic biblical themes - anchored in conceptions of "faith," "freedom," and "transformation" - whatever might be the way they acquired this understanding. This book frees preachers and would-be-preachers from this trap by bringing together well-established results of critical biblical scholarship regarding key themes in the New Testament. Of course, according to the needs of particular contextual situations, preachers are free to use one or the other of a multiplicity of plausible but very different (and at times contradictory) conceptions of "faith," "freedom," and "transformation," while remaining truthful to the Bible.”
--Daniel Patte, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, New Testament and Christianity, Vanderbilt University
Investigating various contexts of the "I am" sayings in Jewish and Hellenistic traditions, including the immediate context of the Johannine community, Kim seeks to explore the themes and structure of the "I am" sayings of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. In doing so, Kim demonstrates how the "I am" sayings of Jesus can be understood as Jesus' embodiment of God's presence--the Logos of God in the world and how such a language can help transform the struggling community into a loving community for all through a new vision of the Logos.
In A Transformative Reading of the Bible, Yung Suk Kim raises critical questions about human transformation in biblical studies. What is transformation? How are we transformed when we read biblical stories? Are all transformative aspects equally valid? What kind of relationships exists between self, neighbor, and God if transformation is involved in these three? Who or what is being changed, or who or what are we changing? What degree of change might be considered "transformative"? Kim explores a dynamic, cyclical process of human transformation and argues that healthy transformation involves three kinds of transformation: psycho-theological, ontological-theological, and political-theological transformation. With insights gained from phenomenological studies, political theology, and psychotheology, Kim proposes a new model for how to read the Bible transformatively, as he dares to read Hannah, Psalm 13, the Gospel of Mark, and Paul as stories of transformation. The author invites Christian readers, theological educators, and scholars to reexamine the idea of transformation and to engage biblical stories from the perspective of holistic human transformation.
In this study, Kim explores a new way of reading Paul's letters and understanding his theology with a focus on three aspects of Paul's gospel: "the righteousness of God," "faith of Christ," and "the body of Christ." Kim argues that Paul's thought can be best understood by reading these genitives as the subjective or attributive genitives, rather than as the objective genitives. The subjective or attributive reading places an emphasis on the subject's participation: God's participatory righteousness, Christ's faithful obedience to God, and the believer's living of Christ's body. Using this approach, Kim investigates the root of Paul's theology in a wide array of texts and contexts: in the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, the Greco-Roman world, and Paul's canonical letters. In doing so, Kim synthesizes Paul's theology and ethics seamlessly, balancing the roles of God, Christ, and believers in Paul's gospel.
Yung Suk Kim asks important questions in Biblical Interpretation: Why do we care about the Bible and biblical interpretation? How do we know which interpretation is better? He expertly brings to the fore the essential elements of interpretation--the reader, the text, and the reading lens--and attempts to explore a set of criteria for solid interpretation. While celebrating the diversity of biblical interpretation, Kim warns that not all interpretations are valid, legitimate, or healthy because interpretation involves the complex process of what he calls critical contextual biblical interpretation. He suggests that readers engage with the text by asking important questions of their own: Why do we read? How do we read? and What do we read?
Yung Suk Kim takes up the language of "body" that infuses 1 Corinthians, Paul's most complicated letter, and the letter that provides us the most information, and poses the sharpest questions, about social realities in the early church. Kim argues against the view that in speaking of the church as Christ's body Paul seeks to emphasize unity and the social boundary. Against the conventional rhetoric of the "body politic" in Greco-Roman philosophy, Kim argues that Paul seeks rather to nourish the vitality of a diverse community and to criticize the ideology of a powerful in-group in Corinth, a message of particular importance for contemporary global Christianity.
This book is ideal for those who don't appreciate the same old approach to traditional interpretation or preaching that fails to consider alternative readings while pushing for a hegemonic perspective. The most salient feature of this edited volume is that multiple, diversely seasoned scholars read the same text from their critical, contextual perspectives. Sometimes, their readings converge; at other times, they diverge, often creating tension or conflict. The book includes three homiletical introductory chapters and ten transgressive readings aimed at transformational preaching.
“In this impressive volume edited by Yung Suk Kim, minoritized scholars make key Pauline texts come alive by placing them in conversation with some of the major issues of our time: race/ethnicity, empire, and diaspora. Contributors deftly challenge traditional, spiritualized readings of Paul and reclaim Paul for liberative purposes without essentializing or idealizing him. Paul’s gospel emerges as a powerful paradigm for resisting empire and affirming dignity and diversity. A brilliant and timely volume.”
—Raj Nadella, associate professor of New Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
“The essays in this volume are full of powerful exegetical and theological possibilities for reading Paul. In a corner of the discipline so in need of more diverse voices and perspectives, this collection of essays is an important intervention as we are invited anew to ponder how the pressing realities of empire, race, and ethnicity shape not just how Paul’s letters were written and read in antiquity but also how their interpretation today is so deeply inflected by these powerful social and cultural forces.”
—Eric D. Barreto, associate professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary
“The essays in this volume are valuable contributions from some of the important voices in biblical studies today. These scholars demonstrate why the discipline of biblical scholarship, particularly Pauline studies, needs to be in dialogue with pressing contemporary concerns. Each essay, in its own way, provides insight into the critical connection between Scripture and social justice.”
—Lisa M. Bowens, associate professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary
This edited volume brings Ahn Byung-Mu's minjung theology into dialogue with twenty-first-century readers. Ahn Byung-Mu was one of the pioneers of Korean minjung theology. The centerpiece of his minjung theology is focused on the Greek word ochlos, understood as the divested, marginalized, powerless people. Part 1 introduces readers to his life and theological legacy. Part 2 includes four important writings of Ahn Byung-Mu: "Jesus and Minjung in the Gospel of Mark" "Minjung Theology in the Gospel of Mark" "The Transmitters of Jesus Event Tradition" and "Minjok, Minjung, and Church" Part 3 contains a collection of articles from international scholars who evaluate and engage Ahn's ochlos/minjung theology in their own fields and formulate critical readings of minjung theology. Responses include postcolonial, black theology, and feminist perspectives.
The Texts @ Contexts series gathers scholarly voices from diverse contexts and social locations to bring new or unfamiliar facets of biblical texts to light. In 1 and 2 Corinthians, scholars from a variety of cultural and social locations shed new light on themes and dynamics in Paul's most intriguing letters to a complex church. Subjects include race, identity, and privilege; ritual, food, and power; community, culture, and love. These essays de-center the often homogeneous first-world orientation of much biblical scholarship and open up new possibilities for discovery.
—Musa W. Dube, William Ragsdale Cannon Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Emory University
From the author (me):
"The gospel narratives reflect us and speak to us. We need to respond to them variously, reading closely and diversely. In so doing, we may touch on our contemporary issues and lives as widely as possible, including the social, economic, and political arena, personal identity, cultural, communal crisis, mental health challenges, and climate crisis. I am not saying the Gospels provide needed solutions to our problems. But the point is that we need to revisit the stories of Jesus from our modern-day context and tell our stories in response to them. As such, interpretation of the Gospels or the stories of Jesus cannot be dominated or domesticated by one group or school. All readers can interpret them carefully from their context and discern what is good. In doing so, we must avoid biblicism in all our efforts. The Gospels are neither a weapon that tramples other religions or cultures nor knowledge books that subsume all other books. The Gospels are ongoing stories inviting us to read them through our stories. The purpose is never to be triumphant toward others but to respond to the good news that Jesus and the early Christian communities proclaimed."Cambridge University Press, Feb 2022
In the Hebrew Bible, various aspects of theism exist though monotheistic faith stands out, and the New Testament largely continues with Jewish monotheism. This Element examines diverse aspects of monotheism in the Hebrew Bible and their implications to others or race relations. Also, it investigates monotheistic faith in the New Testament writings and its impact on race relations, including the work of Jesus and Paul's apostolic mission. While inclusive monotheism fosters race relations, exclusive monotheism harms race relations. This Element also engages contemporary biblical interpretations about the Bible, monotheistic faith, and race/ethnicity.
How to Read Paul:
A Brief Introduction to His Theology, Writings, and World
A Brief Introduction to His Theology, Writings, and World
(Fortress, 2021)
This book is ideal for the classroom, pastor study, and advanced adult bible study since it comes with a user-friendly format of 2 introductory chapters (on Paul and his writings) and 7 key themes with questions for reflection (Gospel, Righteousness/Justification, Faithfulness, Freedom, New Life/New Creation, the Body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit). Professors may adopt this book as a text for their teaching or use it for a special seminar on Paul, and pastors may preach Pauline themes in a series of seven sermons. Teachers may use this book to prepare for their Bible study. Learned laity may engage with this book for their deeper understanding of Paul.
-Is Paul a systematic theologian who paves a new way of salvation based on "faith in Christ"?
-Is he a social conservative or a challenger to the Roman Empire?
-What is his view of the law and Israel?
-What is his view of Jesus and his death?
-What are his views of God, the Abrahamic covenant, and the children of God?
-What is his view of faith and the law?
-What does he mean by "the righteousness of God"?
-How can one be justified by God? By one's faith in Christ or through Christ's faith?
-What kind of gospel does he proclaim to the Gentiles?
-What are his views on community, gender, class, or ethnicity?
-What is his view of society or the governing authorities?
-What is his relationship with the Jerusalem church?
-What is his primary identity after following Jesus?
-How does his diaspora experience affect his gospel?
A Literary and Theological Commentary
Yung Suk Kim (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2019) press kit
Galatians has often been read from a rhetorical perspective, with an emphasis on justification by faith, Paul’s autobiographical experience, proofs of the gospel, and exhortations to the Galatians. However, it can be read as a “letter” of which the main theme is the gospel—an umbrella term that covers many other topics, including faith, righteousness, freedom, and new creation. Paul writes Galatians not to argue for an individual justification by faith (understood from a forensic salvation perspective), but to make explicit his gospel that all can become children of God through faith. In Paul’s logic, what comes first is God’s promise, faith is a response to it through Christ, and the law can be fulfilled through faith. The gospel that Paul proclaimed to the Galatians is based on God, who called them in the grace of Christ (1:6). Kim challenges the traditional reading of Galatians, exploring different dimensions of the gospel: (1) God as the origin and root of the gospel; (2) Christ as the exemplifier of God’s gospel through faithfulness; (3) the followers of Jesus as the children of God who participate in Christ’s faithfulness and continue to proclaim the good news of God through Jesus.
Romans and Galatians can be best understood from the perspective of Paul’s Gospel, which features three aspects of the gospel: “the gospel of God,” “the gospel of Christ,” and “the gospel that Jesus’s followers proclaim.” [Flyer]
A Literary and Theological Commentary (Resource, 2019)
A Literary and Theological Commentary
Paul did not write a systematic theology or specific church doctrines when he wrote Romans. His audience was Roman Christians, and his last will was to preach the gospel to all, especially gentiles in Spain. Through this letter, Paul wants to pave the way for a visit to Rome and expects their support on his mission trip to Spain. The question is this: What kind of gospel does he want to share with them? Traditionally, the letter has been read from the perspective of forensic salvation that an individual justification occurs once and for all by faith in Christ. This view remains with the so-called New Perspective on Paul, and Christ's faithfulness has not been explored. Rereading the letter with a renewed concept of the good news in the letter, this book challenges the traditional reading of Romans and explores Paul's threefold gospel that features the gospel that is God-centered, Christ-exemplified, and Christian-imitated. His main concern is how gentiles can become children of God, as well as how Jews may live faithfully in Christ. In Romans, the good news is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith. It is not a set of knowledge about God or Jesus. Paul is eager to share this gospel of faith with the Roman Christians and to correct some misunderstandings about him, since his gospel is viewed as anti-Jewish or antinomian.
In View of Paul's Gospel (Resource, 2019)
This book questions all familiar readings of the body of Christ in Paul's letters and helps readers rethink the context and the purpose of this phrase. Against the view that Paul's body of Christ metaphor mainly has to do with a metaphorical organism that emphasizes unity, Kim argues that the body of Christ has more to do with the embodiment of God's gospel through Christ. While Deutero-Pauline and pastoral letters use this body metaphor mainly as an organism, Paul's undisputed letters--in particular, 1 Corinthians and Romans--treat it differently, with a focus on Christlike embodiment. Reexamining the diverse use of the body of Christ in Paul's undisputed letters, this book argues that Paul's body of Christ metaphor has to do with the proclamation of God's gospel.
"Yung Suk Kim's book is much needed by present-day preachers. By definition, preaching is bringing to congregations a Word, which is a living Word only insofar as it is contextualized - addressing the needs of their hearers in specific contextual situations. But most often, preachers are paralyzed and prevented to do so, because they unduly "believe" that their duty is to remain "faithful" to "THE orthodox" understanding of basic biblical themes - anchored in conceptions of "faith," "freedom," and "transformation" - whatever might be the way they acquired this understanding. This book frees preachers and would-be-preachers from this trap by bringing together well-established results of critical biblical scholarship regarding key themes in the New Testament. Of course, according to the needs of particular contextual situations, preachers are free to use one or the other of a multiplicity of plausible but very different (and at times contradictory) conceptions of "faith," "freedom," and "transformation," while remaining truthful to the Bible.”
--Daniel Patte, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, New Testament and Christianity, Vanderbilt University
A Reintroduction (Cascade, 2018)
Toward Decentering the New Testament is the first introductory text to the New Testament written by an African American woman biblical scholar and an Asian-American male biblical scholar. This text privileges the voices, scholarship, and concerns of minoritized nonwhite peoples and communities. It is written from the perspectives of minoritized voices. The first few chapters cover issues such as biblical interpretation, immigration, Roman slavery, intersectionality, and other topics. Questions raised throughout the text focus readers on relevant contemporary issues and encourage critical reflection and dialogue between student-teachers and teacher-students.
READING JESUS' PARABLES WITH DAO DE JING:
Appendix: A New Translation of the Dao De Jing (Resource, 2018)
Appendix: A New Translation of the Dao De Jing (Resource, 2018)
Dao De Jing is an ancient wisdom book, purportedly written by Laozi, who flourished in the sixth century BCE according to the Chinese tradition. It is comprised of eighty-one short poems of which the source is diverse, ranging from personal life to communal and political life. It uses abundant metaphors taken from nature such as water, dust, river, wood, and valley. Laozi reminds his readers to rethink their worldview and purpose in life. Parables of Jesus also are life stories, ranging from personal identity to social justice. Laozi and Jesus lived in different places at different times. Yet they share a passion and vision to make a better world, full of mercy, justice, and peace. Laozi asks his audience to appreciate the power of smallness in their perspectives. Likewise, in the Mustard Seed, Jesus also helps his audience to see the potential of a small seed that may grow miraculously to several feet tall. This book reads Jesus’ parables from the perspective of the Dao De Jing. There is a new translation of the Dao De Jing in the Appendix.
(Resource, 2018)
Parables of Jesus are stories about everyday life, ranging from a person's worldview to economic justice in society. This book examines most parables of Jesus from a critical literary perspective. Twenty-three narrative parables in the Synoptic Gospels are rearranged by their source: Markan parables, Q parables, Matthean unique parables, and Lukan unique parables. Each parable invites readers to reengage Jesus's stories in the contemporary world.
A Portrait of Jesus from the Perspective of the Dispossessed (Cascade, 2016)
Kim raises a perennial question about Jesus: How can we approach the historical Jesus? Kim proposes to interpret him from the perspective of the dispossessed--through the eyes of weakness. Exploring Jesus' experience, interpretation, and enactment of weakness, understanding weakness as both human condition and virtue, Kim offers a new portrait of Jesus who is weak and strong, and empowered to bring God's rule, replete with mercy, in the here and now. Arguing against the grain of tradition that the strong Jesus identifies with the weak, Kim demonstrates that it is the weak Jesus who identifies with the weak. The paradoxical truth with Jesus is: "Because he is weak, he is strong." In the end, Jesus dies a death of paradox that reveals both his ultimate weakness that demands divine justice, and his unyielding spirit of love for the world and truth of God. PowerPoint Presentation
The Renewal of New Testament Theology (Cascade, 2015)
Jesus cannot be domesticated! In Resurrecting Jesus Kim asks the fundamental two-prong question, "What, then, can we learn from Jesus, and how can we build on the significance of his life and work as we do theology for our day in the here and now?" Kim abandons the traditional divide between criticism and theology and argues that a solid New Testament theology can be reconstructed from a critical study of the historical Jesus. Jesus is put back into the context of first-century Judaism in Palestine. Resurrecting Jesus reexamines Jesus' life, work, death, and resurrection, giving readers a better, clearer understanding about the historical Jesus and the New Testament writings that refer to him; an exploration into the significance of Jesus' life, teaching, and death, based not on doctrine but on his work of God in first-century Judaism and Palestine; and a redefinition of New Testament theology that is a process of discerning and engaging the historical Jesus and the New Testament writings.
Book Review: RBL 06/2018
Book Review: RBL 12/2018
A Study of "I am" Sayings of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel (Cascade, 2014)
Investigating various contexts of the "I am" sayings in Jewish and Hellenistic traditions, including the immediate context of the Johannine community, Kim seeks to explore the themes and structure of the "I am" sayings of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. In doing so, Kim demonstrates how the "I am" sayings of Jesus can be understood as Jesus' embodiment of God's presence--the Logos of God in the world and how such a language can help transform the struggling community into a loving community for all through a new vision of the Logos.
Explorations of Holistic Transformation (Cascade, 2013)
In A Transformative Reading of the Bible, Yung Suk Kim raises critical questions about human transformation in biblical studies. What is transformation? How are we transformed when we read biblical stories? Are all transformative aspects equally valid? What kind of relationships exists between self, neighbor, and God if transformation is involved in these three? Who or what is being changed, or who or what are we changing? What degree of change might be considered "transformative"? Kim explores a dynamic, cyclical process of human transformation and argues that healthy transformation involves three kinds of transformation: psycho-theological, ontological-theological, and political-theological transformation. With insights gained from phenomenological studies, political theology, and psychotheology, Kim proposes a new model for how to read the Bible transformatively, as he dares to read Hannah, Psalm 13, the Gospel of Mark, and Paul as stories of transformation. The author invites Christian readers, theological educators, and scholars to reexamine the idea of transformation and to engage biblical stories from the perspective of holistic human transformation.
Exploring a Threefold Theology of Paul (Cascade, 2011)
In this study, Kim explores a new way of reading Paul's letters and understanding his theology with a focus on three aspects of Paul's gospel: "the righteousness of God," "faith of Christ," and "the body of Christ." Kim argues that Paul's thought can be best understood by reading these genitives as the subjective or attributive genitives, rather than as the objective genitives. The subjective or attributive reading places an emphasis on the subject's participation: God's participatory righteousness, Christ's faithful obedience to God, and the believer's living of Christ's body. Using this approach, Kim investigates the root of Paul's theology in a wide array of texts and contexts: in the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, the Greco-Roman world, and Paul's canonical letters. In doing so, Kim synthesizes Paul's theology and ethics seamlessly, balancing the roles of God, Christ, and believers in Paul's gospel.
[my debut book]
The Politics of a Metaphor (Fortress, 2008)
Yung Suk Kim takes up the language of "body" that infuses 1 Corinthians, Paul's most complicated letter, and the letter that provides us the most information, and poses the sharpest questions, about social realities in the early church. Kim argues against the view that in speaking of the church as Christ's body Paul seeks to emphasize unity and the social boundary. Against the conventional rhetoric of the "body politic" in Greco-Roman philosophy, Kim argues that Paul seeks rather to nourish the vitality of a diverse community and to criticize the ideology of a powerful in-group in Corinth, a message of particular importance for contemporary global Christianity.
EDITED VOLUMES
Transgressive Readings for Transformational Preaching (Pickwick, 2025)
While hermeneutics involves a comprehensive study of the text, ranging from historical to literary to reader-focused approaches, homiletics is concerned with a selected theme/message and composition and delivery of sermonic discourse set toward a particular audience. However, the border between hermeneutics and homiletics is blurred because both require readers to engage the text from their own contexts.
This collected volume deals with the intersection of hermeneutics and homiletics by exploring two revelatory texts—one from the Hebrew Bible and the other from the New Testament: the book of Ruth and Matthew 15:21–28 (a Canaanite woman’s encounter with Jesus), which reflect still-agonizing issues readers must tackle: (im)migration, family/community, identity/agency, race/ethnicity, gender, class, culture, economy, and religion, among others. A diverse group of scholars brings their transgressive perspectives to the above texts.
Unfolding uncharted areas of interest, inquiry, or insight, they will transgress against the authoritative reading of texts, fashion hermeneutic horizon in dialogue with the text, and forge homiletic trajectories toward contemporary audiences. Without limiting interpretation to a box, this volume looks to register bold voices to perennial issues in our day. Homiletic transformation occurs through the relentless, resistant reading of the text and reimagining our world.“This carefully crafted volume is more than an ‘intersection.’ It is an enlivening, collaborative dialogue between exegetes and preachers exploring together certain biblical texts from a variety of interpretive lenses. Transgressive texts in their own right, the book of Ruth and the story of Jesus’s encounter with the Canaanite woman provide a perfect pairing for readings that challenge traditional assumptions while offering fresh insights for the work of transformation. This volume heralds the future of biblical interpretation for communities of faith.”
—William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia
“Yung Suk Kim has pursued the question of human transformation in his scholarship. In this edited volume, he invites thirteen distinguished scholars to create a creative space where transformation can occur through preaching—enacted and emboldened by transgressive readings of the Scriptures. Readers will be surprised by the surplus of meanings that flow through the art of embodied interpretation and proclamation, which profoundly engage with current sociopolitical and communal contexts. I highly recommend this book.”
—Jin Young Choi, Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Rochester, New York
—William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia
“Yung Suk Kim has pursued the question of human transformation in his scholarship. In this edited volume, he invites thirteen distinguished scholars to create a creative space where transformation can occur through preaching—enacted and emboldened by transgressive readings of the Scriptures. Readers will be surprised by the surplus of meanings that flow through the art of embodied interpretation and proclamation, which profoundly engage with current sociopolitical and communal contexts. I highly recommend this book.”
—Jin Young Choi, Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Rochester, New York
This edited volume promises to be remarkable due to its thought-provoking nature. In addition to introductory chapters written by homiletics professors, the ten biblical scholars examine the same stories—the book of Ruth and the encounter between the Canaanite woman and Jesus—each from a different perspective and context. Five contributors focus on the book of Ruth, while the other five analyze the New Testament text. They provide multiple layers of unconventional, incisive, and powerful interpretations that lead to transformational preaching. Biblical texts are not monolithic; they do not remain isolated or stagnant. Instead, they require innovative, transgressive perspectives that allow readers to engage with the texts in ever-evolving contexts. See the list of contributors.
Through the Lens of Minoritized Scholarship
Contributors to this volume, who represent diverse cultures and perspectives of Asian descent, African American heritage, and Latin American culture, explore Paul’s gospel in critical contexts and its implications for race/ethnicity. Key questions include: What is Paul’s gospel? Is it for or against the Roman imperial order? Does Paul’s message foster true diversity and race relations? Or does it implicate a racial hierarchy or racism? This volume engages readers in conversation with the politics of interpretation in Paul’s gospel. How much is it political? Which Paul do we read? This collective volume is the clarion call that biblical interpretation is not an arcane genre in the ivory tower but engages current issues in the real world of America, where we must tackle racism, the Western imperial gospel, and the rigid body politic.
“In this impressive volume edited by Yung Suk Kim, minoritized scholars make key Pauline texts come alive by placing them in conversation with some of the major issues of our time: race/ethnicity, empire, and diaspora. Contributors deftly challenge traditional, spiritualized readings of Paul and reclaim Paul for liberative purposes without essentializing or idealizing him. Paul’s gospel emerges as a powerful paradigm for resisting empire and affirming dignity and diversity. A brilliant and timely volume.”
—Raj Nadella, associate professor of New Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
“The essays in this volume are full of powerful exegetical and theological possibilities for reading Paul. In a corner of the discipline so in need of more diverse voices and perspectives, this collection of essays is an important intervention as we are invited anew to ponder how the pressing realities of empire, race, and ethnicity shape not just how Paul’s letters were written and read in antiquity but also how their interpretation today is so deeply inflected by these powerful social and cultural forces.”
—Eric D. Barreto, associate professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary
“The essays in this volume are valuable contributions from some of the important voices in biblical studies today. These scholars demonstrate why the discipline of biblical scholarship, particularly Pauline studies, needs to be in dialogue with pressing contemporary concerns. Each essay, in its own way, provides insight into the critical connection between Scripture and social justice.”
—Lisa M. Bowens, associate professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary
Reading Minjung Theology in the Twenty-first Century:
Selected Writings by Ahn Byung-mu and Modern Critical Responses (Pickwick, 2013)
1 and 2 Corinthians (Texts at Contexts)
(Fortress, 2013)
The Texts @ Contexts series gathers scholarly voices from diverse contexts and social locations to bring new or unfamiliar facets of biblical texts to light. In 1 and 2 Corinthians, scholars from a variety of cultural and social locations shed new light on themes and dynamics in Paul's most intriguing letters to a complex church. Subjects include race, identity, and privilege; ritual, food, and power; community, culture, and love. These essays de-center the often homogeneous first-world orientation of much biblical scholarship and open up new possibilities for discovery.
KOREAN BOOKS
성서에 던지는 물음표 (동연출판사, 2014)
QUESTION MARKS TO THE BIBLE
Korean Poetry:
너는 먼지다 You Are Dust (Poetry in Korean) 2012
Korean Edition [ebook] 문화비평적 성서읽기와 오늘 (2008)
Translated into Korean
by Jin Seong Woo
바울의 삼중신학 (2015)
Translated into Korean
21세기 민중신학
세계 신학자들, 안병무를 말하다 (2013)
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FUTURE BOOK IDEAS- The Intersecting Life: Autobiographical Inquiry and Biblical Interpretation
- The Fourth Gospel and the Fragile Earth: Incarnation, Salvation, and Ecological Responsibility
- Mind Matters: Cultivating Resilience through Acknowledgment, Acceptance, and Assurance
- A Fourfold Approach to Mental Health: Biological, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual
- Rethinking Jesus: The Embodied Mind and the Art of Radical Empathy
Just imaginary covers
