(데살로니가전서 2:1-16)

“우리가 이같이 너희를 사모하여 하나님의 복음뿐 아니라 우리의 목숨까지도 너희에게 주기를 기뻐함은 너희가 우리의 사랑하는 자 됨이라”(8)

행 17장에 의하면 바울이 2차 전도 여행하는 동안 데살로니가 교회 개척을 위해 3주, 즉 20여일 정도 머무른 것으로 보여 집니다.  그러나 두번이나 헌금을 보내 주었다는 내용(빌 4:16) 등을 볼 때, 그 이상의 기간이지만, 그렇다고 긴 기간이 아닌 비교적 짧은 몇 달 정도로 추정됩니다. 

아뭏든 개척하여 진행하는 동안 유대인의 핍박으로 인해 그 지역을 급하게 떠나야 했던 바울로서는 데살로니가 성도님들에게 염려와 미안한 마음이 들었던 것은 당연합니다.

그러나 기간의 짧고, 긴 것에 관계 없이 ‘순수하고, 진실한’ 사역이 가장 중요함을 바울은 2장에서 설명합니다.  

자신의 사역은 ‘간사함이나 부정, 속임수’등으로 한 것이 아니고(3), 하나님께 옳게 여기심을 힘입어 사역하였고(4), 사람에게가 아니라 오직 하나님을 기쁘시게 하려 하였다고 말합니다(4).

사람에게서 영광을 구하지 아니하고(6), 유모가 자녀를 기르는 그런 심정으로 양육하였으며 (7), 목숨까지 기쁘게 주겠다는 각오로(8), 폐를 끼치지 아니하려고 자비량의 자세로 일했으며(9), 이러한 모든 사역의 진심을 데살로니가 교인들도 알 것이라고 바울은 담대하게 말합니다(10).

바울은 자신이 전한 복음이 하나님의 말씀이기에 인간적 관점으로 말씀을 대하는 유대인들로부터 오히려 핍박을 받게 된 것이고(14), 이는 오히려 그러한 복음에 대한 자세가 진리에 입각한 자세였기 때문에 핍박을 받는 것임을 강력하게 전합니다.

데살로니가 교회를 향한 바울의 복음 전파와 양육은 ‘진리’에 입각한 것이었고, 최선을 다한 ‘진실’한 사역이었고, 성도를 향한 ‘진심’의 사역이었습니다.

참된 복음은 기간, 숫자, 외형 등이 아니라, 진리/진실/진심에 있습니다.

나는 어떤 복음 전파자/양육자 입니까?

(1 Thessalonians 2:1–16)

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” (v. 8)

According to Acts 17, it appears that Paul stayed about three weeks, roughly twenty days, in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey in order to plant the church there. However, considering the record that support was sent to him twice (Phil. 4:16), it seems his stay must have been longer than that—though not very long, most likely just a relatively short span of several months.

In any case, since Paul had to leave the region in haste due to Jewish persecution while the church planting work was still in progress, it was only natural for him to feel both concern and a sense of regret toward the believers in Thessalonica.

Yet, regardless of whether the time was short or long, Paul explains in chapter 2 that what mattered most was a ministry that was pure and genuine.

He affirms that his ministry was not carried out “from error or impurity or by way of deceit” (v. 3), but that he served having been approved by God (v. 4). His aim was not to please people but to please God alone (v. 4).

He did not seek glory from people (v. 6), but nurtured them as a nursing mother cares for her children (v. 7). With a readiness even to give his own life gladly (v. 8), he worked with his own hands in order not to be a burden to anyone (v. 9). Paul boldly declares that the Thessalonians themselves could testify to the sincerity of all this (v. 10).

Paul also stresses that the persecution he faced came from Jews who regarded the message in merely human terms. But since the gospel he proclaimed was truly the Word of God (v. 13–14), their opposition was in fact proof that his stance toward the gospel was based on truth—and it was precisely because of this truth-centered stance that persecution came.

Paul’s proclamation of the gospel and his nurture of the Thessalonian church were grounded in truth, carried out with utmost integrity, and borne of sincere love for the believers.

True gospel ministry is not measured by duration, numbers, or outward form, but by truth, integrity, and sincerity.

What kind of gospel messenger and nurturer am I?

오늘 6 AM 부터 줌으로 새이침 기도회 진행됩니다.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5616249763

'줌' 주소: 패스코드 [123]