During Japanese Colonization (1910–1945)

Abstract

Biblical interpretation in Korea during the Japanese colonial period was conducted primarily by pastors and seminary teachers who had been influenced by Western missionaries. In particular, American missionaries equipped with theological fundamentalism and dispensationalism influenced the earliest biblical interpreters, who were equally enthusiastic evangelicals. Historical critical methods, however, were gradually introduced to liberal Korean biblical interpreters. This led to a serious collision with the conservative denominational authorities in the Korean Church in the 1930s. Consequently, the Abingdon Commentary Incident became a later turning point of theological division. Nevertheless, outsiders helped generate a new dimension of biblical interpretation in Korea. In particular, the diverse perspectives of Kim Gyo-Shin, Yu Young-Mo, Ham Seok-Heon, Lee Yong-Do, and Lee Se-Jong are noteworthy for their search for Korean subjectivity in interpreting the Bible. Some of them sought to illuminate the biblical messages in light of Korean indigenous cultural soil. Still others were focused on practicing a radical message in the historical reality of Japanese persecution.