The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in Korea

Edited by Won W. Lee

Oxford Handbooks

Provides the first in-depth Handbook about the Bible in Korea
Explores how faith communities in Korea and Korean diaspora use the Bible in their religio-cultural, socio-political, and immigrant contexts
Includes chapters from 24 theologically and culturally diverse Korean scholars

The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in Korea

Edited by Won W. Lee

Description

The phenomenon of South Korean Christianity is, in a word, remarkable. In less than 250 years, 29% of South Korea's population adheres to Christianity, a staggering 71% of Korean Americans identify as Christian, and the powerful zeal of Korean Christians to spread the Gospel's influence in South Korea already overshadows other established religious groups (i.e. Buddhism, Confucianism).

This phenomenon-particularly the rapid growth and unique interpretation of Christianity among Koreans around the world-is intimately and inextricably tied to how Koreans appropriated the Bible in their religio-cultural and socio-political milieu from the 18th century onward. Less noted and understood, however, is the tapestry of Korean biblical interpretation that emerged from being missionized, colonized, divided, and globalized. These influences reflect a distinctive Korean-ness of biblical interpretation that relates closely to Korean perceptions of divine liberating intervention, and the Korean diaspora that seeks to move beyond oppression.

This Handbook offers a comprehensive overview on how the Bible has been used by faith communities in Korea and the Korean diaspora over two centuries. In this volume, noted theologically diverse scholars present representative thinking on creative inculturations of the Bible in Korea. Some conservatively align with received western orthodoxy. Others have a sense of complementarity that informs distinctive accents of Korean Christianity, the long-standing religious traditions of Korea, the diversity of Korea's global diaspora, and the learning of non-Koreans attentive to the impact of the Bible in Korea. Together, this volume presents an exquisite tapestry of Korean biblical interpretation in the making.

The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in Korea

Edited by Won W. Lee

Oxford Handbooks

Introduction
WON W. LEE

PART I METHOLOGICAL INQURY
1. Translation of the Bible in Hangul
MIN SUC KEE
2. The Authority of the Bible in Multi-scriptural Context of Korean Christianity
YOON KYUNG LEE
3. Scripture-logy and Scriptural Performance in Canonical Criticism and Confucian Thought
TAI-IL WANG
4. Mapping Korean Biblical Interpretation in the Shadow of Anticolonial, Liberationist, and postcolonial Powers
SUNG UK LIM

PART II INTERCUTURAL/RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENTS
5. Shamanistic Influence on Biblical Interpretation
SOO J. KIM SWEENEY
6. Confucian readings on Abraham
MYUNG SOO SUH
7. Daoist, Buddhist, and Christian Readings on Creation
EUN-KYU MICAH KIM
8. 18th Century Joseon Confucian Readings on Jesus
GUEN SEOK YANG
9. Biblical Readings on a Theology of Dao
HEUP YOUNG KIM

PART III SELF-THEOLOGIZING
10. Reception of the Bible during 18th Century
INHEE PARK
11. During Japanese Colonization (1910-1945)
JUNGSIK CHA
12. Post-Korean War (1950-53) Era (1945-1970)
SAMUEL CHEON
13. Self-theologizing in Hymnology
JAYHOON YANG
14. Self-theologizing in Preaching
SUNGGU YANG
15. Political Turmoil through Minjung Perspectives
JAE WON LEE
16. Minjung and Han
YOON JONG YOO
17 Minjung in Global Context
JISEONG KWON
18. Reunification of South and North Koreas: From Division to Unification
KYUNG TAEK HA
19. United yet Divided: Reading Judah and Israel in the Context of Two Koreas
KOOG P. HONG

PART IV DIASPORA CONTEXTS
20. Korean American Biblical Interpretation
WONGI PARK
21. 'Forever Strangers on the Margin' in the context of the United States
HYUN CHUL PAUL KIM
22. Double Marginality in the context of Southern Hemisphere
HONAM KIM
23. Triple Marginality: Korean American Feminist
JIN YOUNG CHOI
24. Diversity within Korean Diaspora
BOYUNG LEE

The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in Korea

Edited by Won W. Lee

Oxford Handbooks

Author Information

Won W. Lee is a Professor of Old Testament in the Religion Department and the Director of Asian Studies Program at Calvin University (Grand Rapids, MI). He is the author of Punishment and Forgiveness in Israel's Migratory Campaign, The Bible: A Library of Holy Writings, and a dozen articles on the Pentateuch, Prophetic books, Korean biblical interpretation.

Contributors:

Jungsik Cha, Samuel Cheon, Jin Young Choi, Kyung Taek Ha, Koog P. Hong, Min Suc Kee, Eun-Kyu Micah Kim, Heup Young Kim, Honam Kim, Hyun Chul Paul Kim, JiSeong James Kwon, Boyung Lee, Jae Won Lee, Yoon Kyung Lee, Won W. Lee, Sung Uk Lim, Inhee Park, Wongi Park, Myung Soo Shu, Soo J. Kim Sweeney, Guen Seok Yang, Jayhoon Yang, Sunggu Yang, Yoon Jong Yoo, Tai-il Wang.