Resisting Authority with a Contextualized Jesus: A Critical Assessment of Minjung Theology’s Rejection of Nicaea

This article critically examines the rejection of the Nicene Creed by Korean minjung theologians, arguing that their interpretation stems from a contextualized Christology rooted in sociopolitical resistance rather than historical-theological continuity. Emphasizing the Jesus of Historie over the Christ of Geschichte, minjung theology views Nicaea as a political instrument of imperial consolidation rather than a doctrinal milestone in Christian orthodoxy. Through an analysis of minjung critiques of Pauline theology, martyrdom, and ecclesial authority, this study contends that the minjung theological method risks subordinating creedal orthodoxy to political ideology. In contrast, this article defends the Nicene Creed as a doctrinal anchor that preserves the unity, catholicity, and theological integrity of the church. It concludes by affirming the legitimacy of contextual theology when grounded in Scripture while warning against approaches that relativize historical orthodoxy.