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From ‘justification by faith’ to ‘justification by love’ - on the theology of love of K.H.Ting

  • The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
  • Abbr : 기사윤
  • 2018, (40), pp.49-77
  • DOI : 10.21050/CSE.2018.40.02
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : February 28, 2018
  • Accepted : April 6, 2018

Seol Choongsoo 1

1숭실대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This research aims to understand how to accept and develop the doctrine of ‘justification’ which is the core doctrine of the Reformation, in the East Asian culture during the early of 20th century as it commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In particular, this study concentrates on the theology of love of K.H. Ting, a representative theologian out of Chinese theologians, as it delves into the process of transformation from ‘justification by faith’ to ‘justification by love.’ This is the main agenda of Chinese Christianity at that period. During the Reformation period, Luther supported human justification that he was saved by faith, not by law against the idea of salvation by human merits by the medieval Roman Catholic church. As Christianity expanded into the world, however, the distinction between faith and unbelief was strengthened, and the emphasis on individual salvation made the character of social salvation lessened. With this condition, this research demonstrates how K.H. Ting developed his theology of love, especially the idea of ‘justification by love.’ as he was pursuing the unity of Christianity and communism during the period of 1930’s when Chinese Christians joined into the anti-Japanese movement as they tried to be in solidarity with the materialists. This theology of love suggests a way of salvation that overcomes the theology that emphasizes only individual salvation, and that saves the whole nation and the world through love, that is, the way of the social salvation. Thus, this research examines what attitude Christianity should have in this contemporary world in terms of the doctrine of justification.

Citation status

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