Description: Teachable, student-friendly guide to the parables of Jesus through the lens of political philosophy, illuminating Jesus' radical vision of justice.
Brief description: Yung Suk Kim (PhD, Vanderbilt University) is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. He has written seventeen books in the area of biblical interpretation, Pauline studies, and the Gospels, including Monotheism, Biblical Traditions, and Race Relations (2022), How to Read Paul (2021), and Resurrecting Jesus (2015). He co-authored Toward Decentering the New Testament (2018) with Mitzi Smith. He also edited Paul's Gospel, Empire, Race, and Ethnicity (2023), among other volumes. He serves as a member of the Bible Translation and Utilization Committee (BTU) to assist in the Bible publishing activities of the National Council of Churches.
Review Quotes:
"In Justice and the Parables of Jesus, Yung Suk Kim offers a bold and refreshing reorientation of how we read the teachings of Jesus. By examining the parables within the political realities of first-century Palestine and through ten dimensions of justice-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, USA
"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." --Emerson B. Powery, Professor of Biblical Studies, Messiah University "When I teach in churches, clergy and laity regularly ask for accessible resources from biblical scholars that address the urgent concerns of the current moment while attending to the complex contexts of ancient texts. Justice and the Parables of Jesus is a book I can recommend that helps readers understand justice not as a static goal, but as a multidimensional lens through which to read both biblical texts and respond to ethical and theological concerns today. Yung Suk Kim offers fresh readings of familiar parables alongside multiple models for justice, contributing to conversations about the Bible, theology, and public life." --Jennifer Quigley, Assistant Professor of New Testament, Emory University "Recent studies of Jesus' 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