Revd Dr MiJa Wi

Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Global Mission
Research Degree Chair
Director of Bridging Worlds: Centre for Asian Christianities

Meet MiJa

Originally from South Korea, my journey as an academic and mission practitioner has taken me through Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the UK. Living as a ‘resident alien’ across these diverse cultures has profoundly shaped my identity, my faith, and how I read the Scriptures. Whether pastoring a house church in a Manila slum, living with a Bengali family, or leading Korean diaspora churches in the UK, these cross and inter-cultural experiences directly inspire my scholarship.

Hence, my research and teaching sit at the vital intersection of the Bible, global mission, and identity. My doctoral work, published as The Path to Salvation in Luke’s Gospel: What Must We Do? (T&T Clark, 2019), explores the scriptural meaning of ‘good news to the poor’ within both its ancient context and our contemporary world.

As an East Asian woman, minister, and educator in the UK, I am passionate about helping others navigate complex, hyphenated identities. To support this, I direct Bridging Worlds, a centre at NTC dedicated to those seeking home and community in Christ across cultures.
Alongside teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses on the New Testament and Mission, I supervise a diverse range of PhD projects in a wide range of NT studies and contextual readings of the Bible. My research interests include wealth and poverty in the NT, Diaspora and global Christianities, intersection of Bible and Mission, and various Asian approaches to biblical interpretation.
I am also an active church pastor and planter. After serving Manchester YeDam Church of the Nazarene for eight years with my husband, Eun Ho, we started Warwick YeDam Church of the Nazarene in Leamington Spa in June 2025, where we currently minister to this new congregation.

Email MiJa

Education, teaching and research

Revd Dr MiJa Wi has been involved in teaching a variety of courses at Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK, focusing on Biblical Studies and Global Mission. Here is a detailed list of the courses she has taught, categorised by educational level:

Undergraduate Courses

Jesus and the Gospels: This course likely covers the life, teachings, and significance of Jesus as depicted in the four Gospels.
Paul and His Epistles: Focuses on the letters written by Paul, exploring his theology, missionary journeys, and impact on early Christianity.
Missional Readings of Luke-Acts: Examines the books of Luke and Acts with an emphasis on mission and the spread of the early church.
Missional Readings of John: Looks at the Gospel of John with a focus on its unique perspective on Jesus’ mission.
Corinthian Correspondence: Studies Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, addressing issues within the early church and providing pastoral guidance.
Studies in Luke-Acts: A deeper dive into these texts, likely exploring theological themes and historical context.
Cross-Cultural Ministry in Biblical Perspective: Discusses principles of ministry and mission work across different cultures, grounded in biblical teachings.

Postgraduate Courses

Christian Holiness in Biblical Perspective: Explores the concept of holiness
throughout the Bible, its theological foundations, and practical applications
Contemporary Missiology & Culture: Mapping the Landscape: Explores the
constantly changing landscape of 21st century global missiology, its missional
patterns and paradigm shifts that shape and inform the development of missional
theology and practice.
Biblical Hermeneutics in Asia: Explores a variety of reading strategies among Asian
biblical scholars within their specific Asian and diaspora contexts in dialogue with
biblical interpretation around the world.
Contextualising Scripture: Examines the historical, literary, and cultural contexts of the Scripture to shed light on one’s interpretation of the Bible.

PhD Supervision (current PhD students’ research projects)

Ravi Gopal, ‘Itinerant Teachers and Inhospitality: Reading the Epistles of Johnthrough a Dalit Hermeneutical Perspective’
Caleb Daniels, ‘The Ethiopian Eunuch of Acts 8:26-40 as the Implied Reader of Acts’
Andrew Bennett, ‘Re-reading of Luke 4:16-30: A Jamaican-American Diasporic
Perspective’

Books

2024: The Holy People of God: Identity, Contexts, Challenges. Edited by Svetlana Khobnya, Arseny Ermakov, Deirdre Brower Latz, Peter Rae, and MiJa Wi. Eugene, OR: Pickwick.
2019: The Path to Salvation in Luke’s Gospel. LNTS (JNTS) 607. London: T&T Clark.

Book Chapters

2025: “Intercultural Church as a Direction of Travel: Exploring the Journey of a Korean Diaspora Church (KDC).” In Polyphonic God: Exploration of Intercultural Theology, Church and Justice, Edited by Israel Oluwole Olofinjana, David Wise, and Usha Reifsnider. London: SCM.

2024: “Wealth and Poverty” in Behind the Scenes of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts, Edited by Bruce Longenecker, T.J. Lang, and Elizabeth E. Shively. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

2024: “Embracing the Ongoing Challenges of Intersectional Identities and Identifying: A Re-reading of Acts 16:16-18.” The Holy People of God: Identity, Contexts, Challenges. Edited by Svetlana Khobnya, Arseny Ermakov, Deirdre Brower Latz, Peter Rae, and MiJa Wi. Eugene, OR: Pickwick.

2021: “‘On earth as it is in heaven’: The Vocation of Holiness in Scripture” in All Things Needed for Godliness: A Portrait of Holiness Among Christian Traditions, Edited by Al Truesdale. Kansas City, MO: Foundry.

2020: “Asian Hermeneutics” in The Global Wesleyan Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

Journal Articles

2025: “Who is Our Neighbor.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2025: “What is a Beatitude?.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2024: “Paul’s Collection for the Poor.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2023: “A Response Paper to ‘Hope of New Creation’ by Scott Daniels and Ivelisse Valentín-Vera.” Didache 23.2.

2023: “Commentary on Luke 1-2.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.
2022: “Class and Economic Differences in the First Century.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2021: “The Purpose of Parables.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2020: “You Shall Receive Power to Cross the Boundaries (Acts 1:8): The Holy Spirit as the Boundary Crosser and the Boundary Marker.” Didache 19.1.

2019: “Tax Collectors and Sinners” in Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2018: “Justice in the Ancient World” in Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

Selected Book Reviews

2026: Review of Chinese Heritage in British Christianity: More than Foreigners by Alexander Chow, ed.

2024: Review of The Politics of Salvation: Lukan Soteriology, Atonement, and the Victory of Christ by Timothy Reardon. RBL.

2024: Review of Luke the Chronicler: The Narrative Arc of Samuel–Kings and Chronicles in Luke–Acts by Mark S. Giacobbe.

2024: Review of Women and the Gender of God by Amy Peeler.

2023: Review of Gospel Reading and Reception in Early Christian Literature by Madison N. Pierce, Andrew J. Byers & Simon Gathercole, eds.

2022: Review of Constructing Ethnic Identity in 1 Peter: Who You are No Longer by Janette H. Ok.

2021: Review of Minoritized Women Reading Race and Ethnicity: Intersectional Approaches to Constructed Identity and Early Christian Texts by Mitzi J. Smith & Jin Young Choi, eds.

2020: Review of T&T Clark Handbook of Asian American Biblical Hermeneutics by Uriah Y. Kim & Seung Ai Yang, eds.

2019: Review of Colonialism and the Bible: Contemporary Reflections from the Global South by Tat-siong Benny Liew & Fernando F. Segovia, eds.
2018: Review of Sacramental Charity, Creditor Christology, and the Economy of Salvation in Luke’s Gospel by Anthony Giambrone.

Forthcoming Publications

2027: “A History of Compassion in Christianity.” Illustrated Bible Life. Kansas City, MO: WordAction.

2027: “Reading the Bible in Fresh Ways.” ROOTS Worship Together. London.