Rev. Eugene Eung-Chun Park, Ph.D.

David and Dana Dornsife Professor of New Testament
Graduate School of Theology

Photo of Rev. Eugene Eung-Chun Park, Ph.D.

Education

Ph.D., University of Chicago

S.T.M, Yale University Divinity School

M.Div., Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Seoul

B.A., Seoul National University

Contact

P: 415.451.2881
E: eugene_park@redlands.edu

Meet Eugene

Eung Chun Park sees himself primarily as a New Testament scholar whose engagement with the text has both historical and theological dimensions. Conscious of the inevitable fact that history is written with anything but neutrality, he is interested in discerning what existential realities, understood theologically or otherwise, influenced the perspectives of the New Testament writers, with which they interpreted, reshaped, and transmitted the faith traditions they inherited from those who preceded them.

He is the author of The Mission Discourse in Matthew's Interpretation (Tubingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 1995) and Either Jew or Gentile: Paul's Unfolding Theology of Inclusivity (Louisville & London: Westminster John Knox, 2003). He also wrote Rooted and Grounded in Love (Louisville: PCUSA, 2001), which was commissioned as the bible study material for the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2001.

Currently, he is working on a book project on the soteriology of the Gospel of Matthew, in which he explores Matthew's notion of salvation as a distinctive voice in the New Testament that is significantly different from that of Paul.

He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and also has a congenial relationship with Korean Presbyterian Churches in the US and in Korea.

Teaching Philosophy

As a Christian, I do not believe in the Platonic notion of the transmigration of the soul, but if I were given a second chance at life, I would still want to be a teacher of the Bible. Reading, studying and teaching the New Testament is my passion and mission; therefore I do it with enthusiasm, as well as with fear and trembling. I take great pleasure when I find a new way of interpreting a biblical passage, but at the same time I constantly worry whether my interpretation is on the side of the truth or not. For, even in this era of postmodernity, I still believe that there are such things as valid interpretations and fallacious ones. I want to be a responsible interpreter of the Bible, whose sole purpose of being a biblical scholar is to figure out God's will correctly as it is continually reconstrued through new readings of the Bible.

Currently, I am interested in the reconstruction of the history of tension between universalism and particularism as it is reflected in various corpora of the New Testament and early Christian literature. With soteriology as an important variable in that theological tension, I want to investigate the contours of the conflict between the two different theological tendencies in early Christian history, hoping that such a historical inquiry would shed some light on current discussions concerning the issue of inclusivity both in the intramural debate within Christianity and in the inter-faith dialogue among religions. Again, for me it is all about discerning God's will through responsible interpretations of the Words. It is exciting and I want to share it with other people.

Courses Taught

Gospel of Matthew

Advanced Greek

Gospels and Acts

Publications

“Covenantal Nomism and the Gospel of Matthew” in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 77 (2015): 668-685

Either Jew or Gentile: Paul’s Unfolding Theology of Inclusivity. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003

The Mission Discourse in Matthew's Interpretation. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament. 2. Reihe 81. Tübingen: Verlag Mohr-Siebeck, 1995

Gospel for the World: Studies in the Acts of the Apostles. Seoul: Korean Institute for Biblical Studies, 1997 (in Korean)

Rooted and Grounded in Love: A Bible Study for the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Louisville, KY: Office of the General Assembly, 2001

“Cynic Itinerant Philosophers and Galilean Wandering Missionaries in Matthew” in M. Chaney, U. Kim, and A. Schellenberg, eds. Reading A Tendentious Bible: Essays in Honor of Robert B. Coote. Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2014, 125-139

“Rachel's Cry for Her Children: Matthew's Treatment of the Infanticide by Herod” in the Catholic Biblical Quarterly 75 (2013): 473-485

Introduction and commentary for the Gospel of Matthew in the CEB Study Bible. Co-authored with Joel Green. Abingdon Press, 2013.

Exegetical articles on "Matthew 26:57-68" and "Matthew 26:69-75" in Cynthia A. Jarvis and E. Elizabeth Johnson, eds., Feasting on the Gospels. Westminster John Knox, 2013

Book review on T. Ryan Jackson, New Creation in Paul’s Letters. WUNT 2. Reihe 272. Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 2010, in Biblical Interpretation 20 (2012): 506-508

“An Unintended Reader’s Response to Matthew 22:34-40” in Sacra Scripta 9 (2011): 7-25

Book review on Mark Allan Powell, ed. Methods for Matthew, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2009, in Interpretation 65 (2011): 427

“Matthew 10:24-39,” “Matthew 10:40-42,” and “Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30” in David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds., Feasting on the Word, Year A, Volume 3: Pentecost and Season after Pentecost: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary. Westminster John Knox, 2011, pp. 164-69, 188-93, & 212-17

“Matthew 5:38-48” and “Matthew 6:24-34” in Lectionary Homiletics 22 (2011) pp. 22-23 & 30- 31

“A Soteriological Reading of the Great Commandment Pericope in Matthew 22:34-40” in Biblical Research 54 (2009): 61-78

"Antinomian/Antinomianism" "Pre-existence of Soul" and "New Humanity" in Katharine Sakenfeld, ed., The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. Abingdon Press, 2006-09

"Philosophical Hermeneutics" in Paul S. Wilson, ed., The New Interpreter's Handbook of Preaching. Abingdon Press, 2008, pp.53-55

“Herbert Braun” in Cilliers Breytenbach und Rudolf Hoppe (Hgg.), Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft nach 1945. Hauptverterer der deutschsprachigen Exegese in der Darstellung ihrer Schüler. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener, 2008, pp.147-54

"Baptism of the Lord: Acts 19:1-7," "Second Sunday after the Epiphany: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20," and "Third Sunday after the Epiphany: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31" in David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds., Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary. Westminster John Knox, 2008, pp.230-35, 254- 59, & 278-83

"Questions of Calamity and Justice in Luke 13:1-5" in Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, ed. The Sky Is Crying: Race, Class, And Natural Disaster. Abingdon Press, 2006, pp.89-97

“Hermeneutics of Integration: A Proposal for a Model of Biblical Interpretation” in Douglas R. McGaughey and Cornelia Cyss Crocker eds., From Biblical Interpretation to Human Transformation: Reopening the Past to Actualize New Possibilities for the Future. A Festschrift honoring Herman C. Waetjen. Salem, OR: Chora-Strangers, 2006, pp.64-75

Book review on Tet-Lim Yee, Jews, Gentiles and Ethnic Reconciliation: Paul's Jewish Identity and Ephesians. Cambridge University Press, 2005 in Review of Biblical Literature (On-line), February 2006

"The Golden Rule in Matthew’s Soteriology: A Cross-textual Reading" in S. Kim & K. Lee, eds., Theology and Higher Education in the Global Era: Festschrift for Sang Chang. Seoul: Institute for Theological Research, 2005, pp.202-17

“The Agneia as a Sublime Form of ERWS in the Acts of Paul and Thecla” in Holly E. Hearon, ed., Distant Voices Drawing Near: Essays in Honor of Antoinette Clark Wire. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2004, pp.215-26

Book review on Richard Beaton, Isaiah's Christ in Matthew's Gospel. Cambridge University Press, 2002, in The Journal of Religion 84 (2004) pp.454-55

Book review on Jesper Svartvik, Mark and Mission. Mk 7:1-23 in its Narrative and Historical Contexts. Coniectanea Biblica, New Testament Series 32. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International, 2000, in The Journal of Religion 82 (2002) pp.98-99

“The Apousia of Jesus in the Synoptic Resurrection Traditions” in Adela Yarbro Collins and Margaret M. Mitchell, eds., Antiquity and Humanity: Essays on Ancient Religion and Philosophy Presented to Hans Dieter Betz on His 70th Birthday. Tübingen: Mohr/Siebeck, 2001, pp.121-135

Book note on Mitzi Minor, The Spirituality of Mark: Responding to God. Westminster John Knox, 1996 in Theology Today 55 (1998) p.486

“The Lord’s Supper Turned into Disaster: The so-called Antioch Incident (Gal 2:11-14)” Journal for Case Teaching 9 (1997/98) pp.1-8

“The Terms of Defining Self-identity of the Early Christianity Reflected in the Areopagus Address in Acts 17:22-31” Church and Theology 26 (1995) pp.302-321

“Paul's Appropriation and Transformation of Culture” in C. B. Lim, ed., Christian Culture and Women Leadership in the Church, Seoul: Institute of the Study of Women in Korean Church, 1994, pp.15-31

“Paul's Philosophy of Ministry” in J. C. Kim, ed., Bible and Ministry, Seoul: Korean Institute of Biblical Studies, 1994, pp.35-54

“Fruit Worthy of Repentance (Matthew 3:1-12)” in Biblical Studies for Preachers and Lay persons 2 (1994,12) pp.11-16

“Jewish Particularism and Universalism in New Testament Churches” in Church and Theology 25 (1994) pp.232-256

“The Image of Rabbi in New Testament Times” in Education and Church 204 (1993,7) pp.106- 110

“The Pentecost Event through Luke's Eyes” in Biblical Ground 4 (1993) pp.5-6

“The Nicene Creed and the New Testament” in Church and Theology 24 (1993) pp.282-304

“The Canonization of the New Testament” in Light and Salt 94 (1992,12) pp.55-57

“Faith Working through Love: For a Broader Understanding of the Soteriology of Paul” in Gospel and Context 14 (1992,12) pp.104-108

Affiliations

Elected member of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS)

Member of the Society of Biblical Literature

Member of the Korean Biblical Colloquium

On Pluralism

Professor Eugene Eung-Chun Park explores the concept of Pluralism—an appreciation of diversity in all its forms, and its importance to theological education at SFTS.