View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Birmingham Research Archive, E-theses Repository AN ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL IDENTITY OF THE KOREAN BAPTIST CONVENTION: AN INDIGENOUS CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT By Kun Jae Yu A Thesis Submitted to The University of Birmingham For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham July 2014 i University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT This research is a fulfilment of the author’s long-standing desire to furnish the Korea Baptist convention with its complete history. Particular emphasis has been given to the ideological development of the denomination from its origin in 1889 to present. It is hoped that this research will provided intellectual guidance for the convention and serve as a credible chapter in the historical and theological development of Korean Christianity especially Baptists and Pentecostals-Charismatics. Being the first attempt in compiling a comprehensive, scientific history of the denomination, this work based largely upon primary sources, many of them are unpublished. The methodology utilized by the author incorporated both documentary study and observation or interview. Accordingly, Korean documents are extensively used, while English sources comprise equally important grounds of information. Proper names have been trans-literate as closely to their original sound as possible. In pursuing the study the author has followed a strictly objective method. Any deficiency that might be found in this undertaking belongs solely to the realm of his judgment. As a foreigner the author is well aware of the lack of his rhetorical subtlety in English language. The writer hopes that this research will give a momentum for both Korea Baptist Convention and Pentecostals-Charismatics within Korean Christianity to reflect on the efforts which had been made for the expansion of Christianity in Korea, and to catch a vision for the future work, which God will reveal through his word and His Spirit. ii Dedication To Jesus Christ My Lord and Saviour iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted this work to many people who have supported me all the way through. I would like to thank my supervisor, Prof. Allan Anderson, for his guidance and support from the outset. I am also most grateful to some prayer and financial supports. Rev. Kim Jong-sun and Rev. Yoon Seok-jeon, (my mother in law and father in law) without their great concern and sacrifices, I could not finish this thesis. Most of all, my warmest thanks goes to both my parents and my family. During my study, both families have supported the thesis with encouragement, finance and prayer. I am especially thankful to my beloved father, Dr. Yu Eui-yeon who has prayed for my studies and my mother, Rev. Yang Bok-sil who have prayed for me to finish the thesis. In addition, I have to give many thanks to my wife, Yoon Kyung-woon, and my son Tae-jong, and my daughter, Seo-kyung, always gave me encouragement even though they did not know what I was doing every day sitting on the chair. Finally, I want to thank the Almighty God for making it all possible. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................................iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ⅠINTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 1.1 The Korea Baptist Convention: Historical and Social Contexts................................ 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Purpose of the Study................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Background of Thesis .............................................................................................. 5 1.5 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Previous Studies and Literature Review. .................................................................. 9 1.6.1 The Pentecostal and Charismatic Movement in Korea................................... 9 1.6.2 History of Korea Baptist Convention........................................................... 10 1.6.3 Malcolm C. Fenwick and the Church of Christ in Corea.............................. 12 1.6.4 Baptist Origins and Theology. ..................................................................... 12 1.7 Terminology .......................................................................................................... 14 1.7.1 Pentecostal and Charismatic........................................................................ 14 1.7.2 Fundamentalism.......................................................................................... 15 1.7.3 Dispensationalism....................................................................................... 17 1.7.4 Evangelicalism............................................................................................ 17 1.7.5 Baptist......................................................................................................... 18 1.8 Structure of the Work............................................................................................. 20 v CHAPTER Ⅱ KOREA’S PREPARATION FOR THE GOSPEL......................................... 23 2.1 The Geographical and Historical Setting of Korea ................................................. 23 2.2 The Religious Setting of Korea.............................................................................. 24 2.2.1 Shamanism ................................................................................................. 29 2.2.2. Buddhism................................................................................................... 33 2.2.3. Confucianism............................................................................................. 34 2.2.4 Other Religions and Ideologies ................................................................... 37 2.2.4.1 Ancestral worship............................................................................. 37 2.2.4.2 Taoism ............................................................................................. 39 2.2.4.3 Other Basic Ideologies...................................................................... 40 2.3 Political Situation in Korea just after the Protestant Western Missions. .................. 44 2.4 Brief History of the Korean Church ....................................................................... 45 2.5 Western Missionary work in Korea ........................................................................ 50 2.5.1 The First Western Missionary Martyr .......................................................... 50 2.5.2 Translation of the Korean Bible................................................................... 52 2.6 Baptists in Korea ................................................................................................... 54 2.7 Korean Pentecostals/Charismatics.......................................................................... 55 2.7.1 History of the Korean Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements......................... 55 2.7.1.1 Beginnings ....................................................................................... 56 2.7.1.2 Dark Age: Japanese Occupation Period (1910-1945) ........................ 59 2.7.1.3 Expansion, 1945-1973...................................................................... 59 2.7.1.4 The 1947 Quickening in Korea......................................................... 60 2.7.1.5 The Billy Graham Evangelistic Rally in Seoul.................................. 62 vi 2.7.1.6 Progress and Explosion, 1974-1984.................................................. 62 2.7.1.7 Awakening (1985 to the Present)...................................................... 64 2.7.2 Character of the Korea Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches........................... 65 2.7.3 Theological Character of the Korea Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches ....... 67 2.7.4 Yoido Full Gospel Church and Rev. David Yong Gi Cho............................. 68 2.7.5 Korean Baptists and the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement....................... 71 2.8 The Charismatic Tendency in the Mentality of the Korean People.......................... 72 2.9 Christian Identity in Korea Today .......................................................................... 74 CHAPTER Ⅲ THE ORIGINS OF THE KOREA BAPTIST CHURCH: PRE- CONVENTION PERIOD AS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN COREA (1889-1944)......... 77 3.1 The Origins and