The Bible and the Mission: Mission of Japanese Missionaries in Korea under Japanese Imperialism,1896–1921

Abstract

This article examines the contrasting ways in which Korean Christians and Japanese missionaries interpreted the Bible during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1896–1921). Drawing on primary sources from both Japanese and Korean perspectives, the article highlights how biblical interpretation became a site of both ideological struggle and resistance. While Japanese missionaries often employed biblical narratives to legitimize Japanese imperialism and discourage Korean nationalism, Korean Christians found solace and inspiration in the Old Testament’s themes of liberation, drawing parallels between their own situation and the Israelites’ struggle for freedom. The Japanese government's prohibition on reading the Old Testament further exacerbated these contrasting interpretations, with Japanese missionaries generally supporting the ban and Korean Christians finding ways to resist it. By analysing these divergent interpretations, the article illuminates the complex interplay between mission, Bible, and imperialism in early twentieth-century colonial context of Korea. The article argues that the Korean case study offers a powerful historical example of how important it is that missionaries not only defend their own use of the Bible, but also remain open to the contextual interpretations of others.