A Theological Introduction to Paul's Letters: Exploring a Threefold Theology of Paul - Hardcover

Kim, Yung Suk

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1498212999 ISBN 13: 9781498212991

Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2011

Synopsis

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. For the website: Study/Discussion Questions and Sample Syllabus available at http://youaregood.com/threefoldtheology.htm ""Yung Suk Kim possesses one of the most original, refreshing, and urgent voices among the rising generation of New Testament theologians. Kim has a rare ability to synthesize various critical approaches in constructing Paul's theology: historical criticism, sociological analysis, and post-colonial interpretation interact productively. Kim's Theological Introduction to Paul's Letters invites readers to rethink crucial aspects of Paul's theology--'righteousness,' 'faith,' 'embodiment'--as avenues of subjective participation in the politics of love."" -Laurence L. Welborn Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity Fordham University Yung Suk Kim is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University, Richmond. He is the author of Christ's Body in Corinth: The Politics of a Metaphor (2008), and editor of the Journal of Bible and Human Transformation.

About this title

About the Author

Yung Suk Kim is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. He is committed to transformative teaching, accessible scholarship, and effective service. He is passionate about human transformation, rooted in self-awareness, self-criticism, and human solidarity. During his business career, he traveled to many Latin American countries, where he came to realize the importance of cultural diversity and the need for human solidarity. What does it mean to live in this world with each other (i.e., the meaning of the Other, which resonates with Emmanuel Levinas' "The Face of the Other," Paul Ricoeur's "inter-subjective narrative identity," and Jacques Derrida's "relationless relation")? How can we do theology in our thoughts and deeds while moving pointedly away from individualism? And how can we read biblical stories together when we differ?



Dr. Kim earned his Ph.D. in New Testament studies from Vanderbilt University and an M.Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary.



With a prolific output of over 20 books, Dr. Kim explores various dimensions of biblical interpretation and New Testament studies. His acclaimed works include Christ's Body in Corinth: The Politics of a Metaphor (2008), Toward Decentering the New Testament (Cascade, 2018, co-authored with Mitzi J. Smith), and How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to His Theology, Writings, and World (2021). His scholarship often offers ethical readings of biblical texts, focusing on justice, inclusion, and the voices of the marginalized. His most recent book continues with this scholarly direction: Justice and the Parables of Jesus: Interpreting the Gospel Stories through Political Philosophy (2026).







Dr. Kim's academic and public service contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards, receiving the Scott & Stringfellow Outstanding Professor Award from VUU in 2019 and the President's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. These accolades underscore his dedication to education, scholarship, and societal impact.







Dr. Kim actively participates in the academic community, inviting colleagues to contribute to monumental volumes such as At the Intersection of Hermeneutics and Homiletics: Transgressive Readings for Transformational Preaching (Pickwick, 2025) and Paul's Gospel, Empire, Race, and Ethnicity: Through the Lens of Minoritized Scholarship (Pickwick, 2023). He reaches wider audiences through lectures and publications that connect historical texts with contemporary issues, emphasizing cultural diversity and global solidarity.







Dr. Kim's well-rounded academic background, substantial scholarship, and active engagement in both academic and public circles establish him as a respected and influential authority in biblical studies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1498212999
• ISBN 13: 9781498212991
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 162