AT THE INTERSECTION OF HERMENEUTICS AND HOMILETICS

 

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.

Embrace Change

"Change is inherent to being human; the key lies in understanding and embracing it. A creative life emerges from a vortex of change."
-Yung Suk Kim

The Lord's Prayer

My passion for creative research has always driven me to venture into less-traveled areas. Recently, I focused on the Lord's Prayer, which is practiced and prayed a lot, yet still needs a fresh reading that has not been argued for before. My focus is resilience and spirituality. I have developed an analytical theory that interprets this profound prayer tradition and immersed myself in scholarly literature. Gradually, I am working toward crafting a book proposal. This endeavor is my summer project.

  

My Rose

This is my rose! I water it every day. It soothes me with gentle beauty.  

My heart blooms with a deep affection for flowers, and at its center stands my cherished rose.
I cradle its tender beauty each day,
watering it with devotion and gentle hands.
It is more than a plant; it is my love incarnate,
a soothing balm that heals my soul,
whispering secrets of hope as its floral leaves unfurl
in the embrace of each new dawn.

Finally, the manuscript was submitted

I am pleased to have submitted the manuscript on the parables today. What's done is done. Until I hear from my editor at the publisher, I will put this behind me and move on to another project.

[tentative cover]

JUSTICE AND PARABLES

Reading Jesus's Parables through Political Philosophy

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.

 

Below is an excerpt from the last paragraph of the concluding section.

Diversity characterizes how nature survives and thrives. It is crucial for understanding a world where various people and cultures coexist. This implies that no race, culture, tradition, or religion should dominate others. Truth can be discovered across multiple aspects of human life and through diverse perspectives, even when they are difficult to express. Mere differences between cultures do not automatically constitute diversity. We must learn to think collectively, respect one another, and collaborate to create a just society and a better world. Differences in cultures or religions should not be perceived as threats or taboo; instead, they should be viewed as opportunities for mutual engagement and shared learning experiences. Otherwise, cultural or religious arrogance may dominate our social and political landscapes. Ultimately, we need critically engaged diversity to foster global solidarity. While we are different, we also share a common humanity: our honor and duty to uphold and pass on to future generations.

Justice and Parables

My love for parables reaches its apex with the publication of my upcoming book, Justice and Parables, which is expected next year. I have completed the manuscript well in advance and have gone through several rounds of revision, refining it to near submission quality. Despite the ups and downs of my teaching, research, and publications, I have remained dedicated to this topic, resulting in a clearer vision for the book's content.

This book offers a unique perspective on the parables by exploring them through the lens of political philosophy and examining the various forms of justice they articulate. Enough is enough, and now I move on to my next book endeavor.

 

 

Poetry is life

I love poetry, as it reveals profound truths about myself and the world around me. Through the artistry of poetic imagination, I connect with my inner self and engage meaningfully with my environment. Poetry provides comfort; it invigorates my spirit and equips me to navigate each day with resilience. Poets unearth hidden treasures amidst chaos, finding glimmers of hope even in the darkest moments of despair.

   

Beautiful Afternoon

I enjoyed strolling along the boardwalk in my neighborhood on a beautiful afternoon. The steady wind made the trees and plants sway gracefully, as if they were dancing. The sky was a brilliant blue, adorned with drifting white and gray clouds. Everything felt perfectly in harmony, creating a lovely blend of vibrant and subtle colors, both large and small.

academic and practical

I got word that my small essay “The Light Yoke: A Paradox of Yoke, Rest, and Self-Love (Matthew 11:28–30)” will be published in the October issue of Lectionary in the Journal of Currents in Theology and Mission. In my research and writing, I love the academic taste with practical insights.

NEW EDITED BOOK

At the Intersection of Hermeneutics and Homiletics

Transgressive Readings for Transformational Preaching

Edited by Yung Suk Kim (Pickwick, 2025)

The list of contributors

Sample

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 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