Dancing Through Life

Conceptualizing love isn't enough; it must be expressed through actions. As James notes, "the body without the spirit is dead," and mere perceptions of love can be equally lifeless. Love is action, manifested in activities like dancing, singing, or helping others.

Once, during a Bible study, a participant asked, "How can I dance when I'm feeling low?" This resonated with our theme of dancing with God. My point was that dancing is possible in any circumstance, both physically and spiritually.

Dancing isn't just a display of joy; it's a holistic expression of our being. In Korea, the dance Hanpoori allows for expressing "Han," feelings of bitterness and pain, transforming these emotions into liberation and empowerment. This dance shows that expression isn't limited to joy but can occur at any emotional state.

Justice and the Parables of Jesus

JUSTICE AND THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Interpreting the Gospel Stories through Political Philosophy

 (T&T Clark, 2026)

 

 Key Words: parables, Jesus, political philosophy, justice, contemporary relevance, transformation

In the final stages of my nearly 80,000-word manuscript, I explore the vital theme of justice. This book examines various types of parables within their historical and literary contexts, highlighting their contemporary relevance. My goal is to illuminate the moral challenges presented in these stories and inspire dialogue about justice and its implications in today's society.

The manuscript covers ten types of justice, including distributive, restorative, and environmental justice, while addressing significant events such as the Sewol Ferry tragedy and the Itaewon Halloween crush in Korea, alongside other global issues. I engage with a diverse range of thinkers, incorporating insights from classical East Asian philosophers like Confucius, Laozi, and Mencius, as well as modern scholars.

Book Description

This book examines Jesus's parables through the lens of political philosophy, with a particular emphasis on the concept of justice. It poses the foundational question: "What is the right thing to do?" The parables reflect the life issues and complexities of justice in Jesus's time, offering a radical vision based on the reign of God that challenges the prevailing values and justice system of the Roman Empire.

The work explores the multifaceted theme of justice articulated through Jesus's parables, situating his teachings within the socio-political landscape of first-century Palestine. This approach seeks to uncover nuanced interpretations of justice and the moral intricacies inherent in these narratives. The book meticulously categorizes various forms of justice that resonate with the parabolic teachings: distributive, attributive, procedural, social, restorative, compensatory, retributive, global, racial, and environmental justice.

Readers can navigate through chapters aligned with their specific interests, each accompanied by thought-provoking discussion questions designed to foster critical dialogue and reflection. Ultimately, this volume aims to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and advocating for justice in the modern world, making it an essential resource for scholars, theologians, and anyone interested in the teachings of parables.

 

[shorter version]
This book offers a comprehensive examination of justice as depicted in the parables of Jesus, structured into ten distinct chapters, each dedicated to a specific type of justice. By employing rigorous historical-critical methods and metaphorical interpretations, the book facilitates an in-depth analysis of moral complexities while contextualizing parables within contemporary issues such as environmental, racial, and global justice.
    Readers are empowered to explore the material non-linearly, selecting chapters based on individual interests. Each chapter includes discussion questions designed to promote critical engagement and dialogue in educational settings, thereby enhancing the interpretive process.
    Addressing pressing global concerns like climate change, systemic racism, and social justice, the author asserts that these themes resonate profoundly within the parables' narratives. By situating Jesus's teachings in their historical context of first-century Palestine, the work highlights their relevance in confronting contemporary moral dilemmas. This book invites readers to reevaluate the parables through the lens of justice, encouraging scholars and general readers alike to consider their transformative potential. It positions itself not merely as a study of theological literature but as a vital framework for understanding and advocating for equity in today's multifaceted global context.

   

In this book, I introduce readers to ten theories of political philosophy:

Classical liberalism, modern libertarianism, utilitarianism, communitarianism, egalitarianism, virtue theory, the intersection of race, gender, class, and sexuality, postcolonial theories, environmentalism, and Marxist theory. 

The ten types of justice discussed in this book are as follows: Distributive, attributive, procedural, social, racial, restorative, compensatory, retributive, global, and environmental.

 

Correct understanding of justification by Paul

I wrote this statement, correcting the traditional doctrine:
"Justification by the grace of God through the faithfulness of Jesus for all who share in his faith."
(Yung Suk Kim, based on Rom 3:21-26)

I wrote extensively about Paul's theology, featuring the threefold gospel, where three elements are essential: God's righteousness, Jesus's faithfulness, and Christian participation in the faith of Jesus. 

For example, see my recent publication, How to Read Paul (Fortress, 2021). 

The more I teach, the more I am convinced about this.

"At the Intersection of Hermeneutics and Homiletics"

book link 

“This carefully crated 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

editorial board

I am thrilled to be part of the editorial board of Perspectives in Religious Studies, a renowned journal with a rich history rooted in Baptist schools, and I am grateful for the Nominating Committee's invitation to join this esteemed group. My term begins in July 2025 and ends in 2029 (a 4-year term).

1 Cor 6:17 (ὁ δὲ κολλώμενος τῷ Κυρίῳ ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστιν)

1 Cor 6:17

ὁ δὲ κολλώμενος τῷ Κυρίῳ ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστιν.

"But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him" (NRSVue).

Paul argues that Christians should cleave to Jesus and his way of life, remembering his grace and faithfulness. Then, a Christian's spirit will be united with the spirit of Christ, which means there is one mind, one will, and one action that seeks God's will on earth: all people's deliverance from evil and their sanctification.

Otherwise, Paul does not seek a mere unity of the community like the hierarchical conception of a society based on homonoia (unity or concord) that does not advocate for the weak members. Rather, he envisions a new community of God based on Christly examples. This vision will be realized only when people share in the spirit of Jesus, following his way of life. 

Likewise, in 1 Cor 12:27 ("You are the body of Christ, and individually members of it"), his argument is not to establish a unified community based on an organism model but to emphasize Christ-ruled living and community. That is, Christ-followers must embody his spirit. The Corinthians are a Christic body, a Christ-ruled community. Individually and communally, they must follow the way of Jesus. The sense of the body Paul uses here is not an organism but a site of living (cf, 1 Cor 6:20: "For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body").  

For more about this argument, you may want to read my recent book How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to His Theology, Writings, and World and other articles, including “Reclaiming Christ’s Body (soma christou): Embodiment of God’s Gospel in Paul’s Letters,” Interpretation 67.1 (2013): 20-29.

The above point began with my doctoral dissertation, which led to the publication of my debut book, Christ's Body in Corinth: The Politics of a Metaphor, in 2008.

BOOK REVIEW OF "HOW TO READ PAUL"

I just discovered my book review in RBL (Review of Biblical Literature).

"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, in RBL Feb 2025

"It’s Not Your Faith: Why Paul Relied on the Faithfulness of Jesus"

"It’s Not Your Faith: Why Paul Relied on the Faithfulness of Jesus"

—Crucified with Christ: Living by His Faithfulness, Not Ours—

I am now more convinced than ever that when Paul writes of "faith" in Galatians 2:20, he is emphasizing his relationship with Jesus through the lens of Christ’s faithfulness. While traditional translations often support the doctrine of justification by human faith—as seen in the NIV’s phrasing, "I live by faith in the Son of God"—this misses the nuance of Paul’s argument.

Paul’s central point is existential: the "I" who is living is no longer Paul himself, but Christ. Therefore, logically, the life he lives must be sustained by Christ's own faithfulness, not Paul’s belief.

This reading is supported by modern translations like the NRSVue, which reads: "... I live by the faith of the Son of God." Similarly, the CEB and NET adopt this subjective genitive translation, rendering it as "by the faithfulness of God's Son" and "because of the faithfulness of the Son of God," respectively.

My hope is that more readers will grasp what Paul actually means in this passage. He is not highlighting his own faith in Jesus because theologically, the old Paul no longer exists. Instead, he refers to Jesus' faithfulness, which serves as the true driving force of his new life.

(For more on my perspective, see my latest book, How to Read Paul.. Other key verses regarding the pistis Christou debate include Romans 3:21-22, 3:26; Galatians 2:16; and Philippians 3:9.)

See also related posts:

• A brief analysis of Gal 2:20
• Pistis Christou Texts 
• A Bone of Contention
• Sanders's book review
• Pistis Christou video. 

Truth Telling about the Cross

Truth telling is essential to my vocation. I don’t claim to know everything, but I dare to speak the truth based on my understanding. I convey my scholarly insights through speaking, writing, and engaging with others. One topic I am particularly passionate about is the discussion surrounding the cross of Jesus.

Confusion about the Cross: True Meaning of the Good News

"The Cross of Christ in African American Christian Religious Experience"

 

I want to bring your attention to a book by one of my colleagues, Dr. Demetrius K. Williams: The Cross of Christ in African American Christian Religious Experience: Piety, Politics, and Protest (Lexington Books, 2023).

I reviewed his book, which will be published in the April 2025 issue of Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology (79.1). My understanding of African American religious experience has become deeper now because of this provocative, transformative, deeply spiritual, and insightful book. Simply put, it is a soulful book.

Dr. Williams engaged in an extensive discussion about his book in an interview with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.