"Parables and Justice": My Ongoing Book Project

I received peer reviewers' comments through my publisher. Of course, I don't know who they are other than they know me. Their critical feedback is indeed gratifying. There are things I missed and will improve because of their review. There are also things they love and affirm in my book. Book writing is not a solitary task. I appreciate all of them.

I am truly uplifted by the positive feedback I received on my book proposal. All four readers highlighted its strengths. The quotes below are paraphrases of the original words.

Reader 1 stated, “The book presents an interdisciplinary and unifying question that is accessible to lay readers while acknowledging the social, political, and ethical implications of Jesus's teachings.”

Reader 2 noted, “The book's relevance to students who study and interpret the parables of Jesus from a justice perspective is significant.” I am particularly encouraged to emphasize the importance of the Greek translation (e.g., Matthew 20:15) in the study of these parables.

Reader 3 commented, “The use of comparative cross-cultural materials, such as the Dao De Jing, is commendable.” Based on this feedback, I plan to include Confucianism in the discussion by drawing on the Analects, as they contain relevant insights concerning justice.

Reader 4 remarked, “The book clearly and intelligently introduces readers to Jesus’ parables, makes a strong case for the theme of justice concerning them, and persuasively advocates for the use of political philosophy in biblical interpretation.”

This feedback has been incredibly encouraging as I continue to refine my work.

Analects 13:23

君子和而不同。小人同而不和。

"The noble person seeks harmony while remaining distinct from others. In contrast, the small person desires uniformity without achieving true harmony." (Analects 13:23, trans. by Yung Suk Kim)

My commentary:
The wise individual pursues harmony or coexistence while remaining unique. Such a person embraces diversity while maintaining authenticity and striving for a greater community. On the other hand, the petty individual conforms to the majority without considering the importance of achieving deeper harmony.

Photo courtesy of Inhee Lee 2025

Analects 13:25

[13-25] 子曰。君子易事而難說也。說之不以道、不說也。及其使人也、器之。小人難事而易說也。說之雖不以道、說也。及其使人也、求備焉。

Analects 13:25: The Master said: "A noble person is easy to work for but difficult to satisfy. If you try to win their approval through questionable methods, they will not be pleased. When they assign tasks to others, they do so according to each person's abilities. In contrast, an inferior person is difficult to work for but easy to please. Even if you resort to deceitful tactics to make them happy, they will still be satisfied. When hiring others, they tend to exploit their workers to the fullest extent possible" (trans. by Yung Suk Kim). 

Pep Talk about Human Transformation and Mental Health

A sustainable transformation must involve both human and social transformation. We should not focus on either one or the other. Both are fundamental to our daily lives and maintaining our overall health. Any discussion of transformation must begin with questions about human transformation. I initially recorded my talk on my phone. Then, I combined the audio file with photos and made a video file through an app. The same episode can also be found on Spotify.

2024 Ellison-Jones Convocation

I remember speaking at the faculty panel during the annual 2024 Ellison-Jones Convocation. I felt energized as I discussed the implications of biblical studies for politics. We must approach our studies with honesty and transparency, and there are no sacred topics that we should avoid or shy away from.

My talk is entitled “The Danger of a Singular Order: Joshua’s Conquest Narrative of Canaan, Jesus’s Dealing with a Canaanite Woman, and Christian Nationalists’ Reading of the Bible.” A briefer title for publication is "The Danger of a Singular Order: Engaging with Some Controversial Texts."

One thing significantly lacking in libertarian hermeneutics and homiletics is self-criticism.
Yes, we need self-knowledge that we are precious and weak (frail).
Yes, we need social change. We can be critical of others and other things.
But we need more than anything; that is self-criticism, which is not the same as criticizing the self.
Self-criticism is a recognition that we all need continual awakening. We all need deconstruction.

Toward that goal, we must study and read various things, including books, society, and the self.

• The danger of a singular order
• Oppressors and the oppressed are everywhere: external and internal
• True liberation from everything and everywhere
• God’s effectiveness to those who change

Knowledge and Humility: A Peek into Thoughts of Jesus and Classical Philosophers

Photo courtesy of Jonghoon Jeong

Jesus exemplifies humility by acknowledging that he does not know everything. On three occasions, he demonstrates this humility and recognition of his limitations. For instance, Jesus states that he does not know about the time of the end of the world (Mark 13:32); only God knows. Additionally, when a man addresses him as "Good Teacher," Jesus replies, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except for God alone" (Mark 10:18). He also shares a parable called The Seed Growing Secretly, emphasizing that the work of God is beyond human control (Mark 4:26-29). This suggests that there are things that only God can manage, while there are other things within human capability. Overall, the Gospel of Mark showcases the essential qualities of Jesus's humanity.

Classical philosophers also recognize human limitations. Socrates believes that knowledge is inherently limited. Confucius states, "If you know something, you know it. But if you don't know something, you don't know it" (Analects 2:13). Laozi further adds, "Knowing not to know is the best. Pretending to know when you do not is the worst disease" (Dao De Jing 71). He even warns against biases with the phrase, "Taste without taste." This emphasizes the importance of an open mind approach.

The mindset of acknowledging "I don't know" is fundamental to our identity and crucial for living a healthy life. Knowledge is not static; it evolves continuously over time. Einstein notes: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the entire world" (quoted in p. 96 of Maggie Jackson's book, *Uncertain*).

Assignments for Working Preacher

Photo courtesy of Working Preacher

Again, I received an invitation to write for Working Preacher for April and May 2026 commentaries (4 pieces) on four texts in John's Gospel. Previously, I wrote on Paul's letters, Matthew, Acts, and 1 Peter (12 commentaries for this site). I was told that in the past 12 months, Working Preacher garnered more than six million visits from 200 countries. I love this kind of assignment because it is short yet deeply engaging. 

-4/2/2026: Maunday Thursday (John 13:1-17, 31b-35)
-4/3/2026: Good Friday (John 18:1-19:42)
-4/12/2026: Second Sunday of Easter (John 20:19-31)
-5/10/2026: Sixth Sunday of Easter (John 14:15-21)

Textual Criticism Matters: In the Case of John 3:18

 If you ever wonder about Christology in John's Gospel, you must first tackle John 1:18. 

Feeling Alive

I feel truly alive when I speak, teach, or preach. In these moments, I am confident and focused on the ideas I want to share, and I never hesitate to embrace these opportunities. Afterward, I take time to reflect on my experiences and continuously work on self-improvement. I study diligently and ask questions. I think deeply and reconsider my thoughts. My priority is to be sensible toward myself first. I believe that my journey of learning and engagement will continue to unfold in this way.

Lecturing in Seoul, 2024

Human Transformation

Photo credit to NASA

At the heart of human transformation lies the concept of "metanoia," which means a change of mind. In the Gospel of Mark, this change represents a radical shift toward ways of thinking and behaving based on God. Mark 1:14 states: "The time is fulfilled, and the reign of God has come near; change your mind and believe in the good news [of God]." This indicates that God's appointed time (kairos) cannot be fully realized in the present in people's lives without metanoia. The same applies to the reign of God. The task is to explore and discern what metanoia entails: what needs to change? What aspects of God's ways must be pursued? I addressed this issue in two of my books.

 

Resurrecting Jesus: 

The Renewal of New Testament Theology

A Transformative Reading of the Bible:

Explorations of Holistic Human Transformation