Abstract

The Dialogues of Three Wise Men of the East

Song, Youngmog

(Associate Prof. of the New Testament at Kosin University)

  To begin with, it is valuable to retrospect and prospect the identity and characteristics of Kosin theology in the 70th anniversary of Kosin University. This paper surveys the theological dialogues of the so-called ‘three Wise men of the East’ (Bansik Hong, Kunsam Lee, Pyengseh Oh) who played crucial roles for theological education at Kosin University, including Korea Theological Seminary, between the early 1960’s and the 1990’s. The three doctors served Kosin University right after finishing their doctoral degrees and interacted with each other more than 30 years as the same faculty members. Succeeding the theology of Prof. Yunesun Pak as the first generation of Kosin theologians, they shared common ground in terms of the conservative Reformed theology. Moreover, they stuck firmly to the organic inspiration of the Scripture as the foundation for each of their theological researches. They criticized heretic theories of theology in their time from Reformed perspectives. Even if they showed some limitations, the three doctors contributed to the development of the theology of current Kosin theologians as well as the so-called ‘third generation of Kosin theologians.’ One task of present Kosin theologians and pastors, who succeed and inherit the legacy of the doctors, is establishing independent Reformed theology not by depending but by interacting with Western theology. If sufficient time and human resources make a school, Kosin Presbyterian churches are on the verge of having her own theological school. Once Kosin school is formed, Seoul-centered phenomenon of Korean theology is going to be weakened. The Reformed heritage which the three doctors transmitted must be developed by current Kosin theologians and pastors. Practical guidelines for this development might be the following ten elements: (1) pursuing high qualitative theological academic research, (2) developing rich historical Reformed theology and heritage by surpassing evangelical conservatism, (3) research on current theological issues by concentrating on their standard sources, (4) responding and answering to the issues that are raised by Korean society, (5) open research and discussion on the topics which are not yet scrutinized academically, (6) implementation of a 6-year consistent theological curricula between undergraduate and seminary, (7) doing theology for providing Church and society with hope, (8) presentation and contribution of papers to authoritative theological journals to spread Kosin theology, (9) strengthening confessional and prepositional theology and applying it to daily live, and (10) accomplishing the Kosin Bible commentaries based on outstanding and precise exegesis and application. In addition, overcoming the dependence on Western theology and Seoul-centrism is another task. May the Lord bless the dialogues of the three doctors to be fruitful for His glory.