볼티모어 교회에서 이사 교회로 섬기는 소래선교회 이사 모임에 다녀왔습니다. 아틀란타 새교회에서 귀한 목사님들을 처음 뵙고 교제하면서 많은 부분을 배웠습니다. 하나님께서 아름답게 사용하시는 게이트신학원의 1년 사역을 돌아보고 새로운 한 해를 계획하면서, 하나님의 선하신 일들을 기대할 수 있었습니다.
이번 시간 동안 특별히 좋았던 것은, 에모리 대학에 속한 캔들러 신학교를 방문한 것입니다. 장로교 출신 목회자인 저로서는 거의 이런 기회를 가질 수가 없는데, 세계적으로 유명한 감리교 신학교에 처음으로 방문할 수 있었습니다.
* 틴데일 성경 500주년 전시회
신학교를 한번 둘러보는 정도를 예상하고 갔는데, 마침 좋은 전시회가 열리고 있었습니다. 'That the scripture should come to light': William Tyndale and 500 Years of the English New Testament, 윌리엄 틴데일의 영어 성경 번역 500주년을 기념하는 전시회였습니다.
학교의 시설과 분위기에 적잖이 놀랐습니다. 현대식 건물 안에는 섬세한 아름다움이 스며들어 있었고, 그 공간 안에 들어가는 것만으로도 영적인 분위기를 느낄 수 있었습니다. 이런 곳에서 공부한다면 더 진지하게 신학 공부를 할 수 있겠다는 생각이 저절로 들었습니다. 속으로 감탄하며 전시장으로 발걸음을 옮겼습니다.
전시 공간도 참 좋았습니다. 작은 공간이었지만 수준 높은 전시임을 한눈에 알 수 있었습니다. 그 안에는 다양한 성경 번역본들을 실제로 볼 수 있었습니다. 오래되고 낡은, 그러나 여전히 압도적 힘을 가진 과거의 성경을 보는 것만으로도 마음이 벅찼습니다.
* 루터의 번역 성경과 틴데일
그 중에서도 가장 먼저 눈이 간 것은, 루터의 번역 성경입니다. 중세의 가장 어두운 시대 속에서 목숨을 건 루터의 성경 번역이 없었다면, 종교 개혁은 완성될 수 없었을 것입니다. 교단을 떠나 이 시대의 모든 개신교 성도는 루터에게 빚을 지고 있습니다. 그리고 이러한 루터의 성경 번역은, 틴데일에게도 큰 영향을 미치게 됩니다.
* 벌게이트 성경과 틴데일
벌게이트 성경도 전시되어 있었습니다. 이것은 라틴어로 쓰여진 성경이고, 천년이 넘는 시간 동안 서방 교회의 유일한 표준 성경이었습니다. 귀한 번역 성경이지만 그럼에도 불구하고 문제는 성경 원문에서 멀어진 부분이 있었다는 것입니다. 또한 그러한 오류가 교회를 하나님으로부터 멀어지게 만들었다는 것입니다.
그리고 틴데일은 이러한 시대 속에서 벌게이트 중심의 전통을 넘어서 히브리어와 헬라어 원문에서 직접 영어 성경을 번역하며, 하나님의 말씀 자체를 회복시키기 위해 자신의 생명을 걸게 됩니다.
* 번역의 쟁점: 회개하라 vs 고해성사하라
특별히 쟁점이 되는 것은 '회개하라'의 번역입니다. 라틴어 번역은 'paenitentiam agite'라고 번역함으로써, 보속을 행하는 것, 즉 고해성사라는 참회 의식을 하라는 뜻에 가깝게 번역합니다. 그러나 이것은 내면의 진정한 돌이킴이 아니라, 교회가 정한 예식이나 행위를 수행해야 한다는 뉘앙스를 담고 있으며 그런 면에서 성도들을 잘못된 길로 이끌었습니다. 그리고 심지어 그 당시에 널리 사용되던 라틴어 신학 사전 자체가, 이러한 벌게이트 번역의 의도를 그대로 담고 있었음을 전시 자료를 통해서 확인할 수 있었습니다.
* μετανοεῖτε (회개하라)
그러므로 이 전시회가 보여주는 것은, 성경의 번역이라는 것은 단순히 단어를 옮기는 것이 아니라, 신학적인 분명한 목적을 가지는 것임을 보여준 것입니다. 성경 번역은 성경의 원문의 의미를 그대로 보존해야 하며, 하나님의 뜻을 가장 선명하게 드러내야 합니다.
그런 면에서 틴데일은, 헬라어 μετανοεῖτε (metanoeite)를 'repent'로 번역합니다. 외적 의식이 아니라 '마음의 돌이킴'이라는 뜻을 성경 원문 그대로 드러내고 강조한 것입니다. 그래서 아래 틴데일의 번역은, 마태복음 3장 2절을 'Repent, the kyndome of heuen is at honde'라고 번역합니다.
* 틴데일의 순교
틴데일이 하나님의 말씀을 그대로 보전하여 번역한 그 댓가는, 자신의 생명을 바치는 것이었습니다. 그는 1536년 10월 이단 혐의로 인해 순교합니다. 그는 기둥에 묶여 교살 당하고 불로 태워집니다. 그리고 그는 삶의 마지막에 '주여, 영국 왕의 눈을 뜨게 하소서' 라고 외쳤습니다. 그의 순교의 장면은, 전시장 한편에 펼쳐진 존 폭스의 저서 속 삽화 가운데 생생하게 증언되고 있었습니다.
* 순교 이후 틴데일의 선한 영향력
한 사람의 인생의 가치는, 어쩌면 그 사람의 죽음 이후에 분명히 드러납니다. 틴데일의 수고와 헌신, 그리고 그의 생명을 건 번역과 순교는 결코 헛되지 않았습니다.
불과 몇년 지나지 않아서, 영어 성경을 금지했던 영국의 헨리 8세가 모든 교회에 영어 성경의 비치를 명령합니다. 또한 이후 틴데일 성경은 가장 중요한 영어 번역본 중 하나인 킹 제임스 성경의 모체가 되었습니다. 하나님께서는 틴데일의 삶을 주님의 나라를 위해서 가장 아름답게 사용하셨고, 지금도 그의 업적은 주님의 교회에 큰 양분이 되고 있는 것입니다.
* 말씀을 생명처럼 여기라
전시회장을 나오는데, 잠시 시간 여행을 다녀온 듯 했습니다. 쉽게 발이 떨어지지 않았습니다. 제가 손에 들고 있는 성경이, 그리고 디지털로 편리하게 보는 그 말씀이, 누군가의 삶과 생명에 빚지고 있음에 너무나 깊이 마음에 다가왔습니다. 그리고 제 스스로에게 질문했습니다. 나는 과연 하나님의 말씀을, 그들이 소중히 여긴 것 만큼 소중히 여기고 있는가? 그 말씀 한글자 한글자를 진리로 그리고 생명으로 마음에 받고 있는가?
목회자는 본질적으로 설교하는 사람입니다. 그러나 목회자 이전에 성도로서, 하나님의 말씀 앞에 홀로 정직하게 서는 사람입니다. 그런 면에서 이번 전시회는 제 인생에 가장 깊은 영향을 남겼습니다.
인생에 여러 목표가 있을 수 있겠지만, 그저 말씀 앞에 엎드리고, 그것을 마음에 담고, 깊이 받아들이고 힘껏 묵상하고 나의 것으로 만들고 붙들고 주님과 동행할 수 있다면, 그것만으로도 제 인생 행복의 전부가 될 것입니다. 섭리 속에서 저를 인도하시고 귀한 기회를 주신 하나님께 감사드립니다.
이 찬양은 ‘Shepherd of My Soul“이라는 찬양의 한국어 번안 곡이다. 이 찬양은 시편 23편으로부터 영감을 받은 곡으로, 오직 하나님께서 나의 선한 목자가 되시며 그분은 자신의 말씀으로 나를 가장 좋은 곳으로 이끄시며, 삶의 어려운 순간에도 하나님께서 친히 인도하신다라는 성경적인 믿음의 고백을 담은 아름다운 찬양이다.
3. 말씀으로 바라보기
시편 23:1 여호와는 나의 목자시니 내게 부족함이 없으리로다 2 그가 나를 푸른 풀밭에 누이시며 쉴 만한 물 가로 인도하시는도다 3 내 영혼을 소생시키시고 자기 이름을 위하여 의의 길로 인도하시는도다 4 내가 사망의 음침한 골짜기로 다닐지라도 해를 두려워하지 않을 것은 주께서 나와 함께 하심이라 주의 지팡이와 막대기가 나를 안위하시나이다 5 주께서 내 원수의 목전에서 내게 상을 차려 주시고 기름을 내 머리에 부으셨으니 내 잔이 넘치나이다 6 내 평생에 선하심과 인자하심이 반드시 나를 따르리니 내가 여호와의 집에 영원히 살리로다
다윗의 하나님은 그를 목자처럼 인도하십니다. 하나님께서 우리에게 주신 모든 것을 소유할 때, 우리는 필요한 모든 것을 가진 셈입니다. '푸른 초장'과 '쉴 만한 물가*는 영양 공급과 안식, 그리고 평화를 상징합니다. 또한 하나님은 다윗에게 당신의 법을 가르치셔서 그가 의롭게 살게 하십니다. 다윗이 순종하며 하나님의 법에 따라 백성을 다스릴 때, 하나님의 이름이 영광을 받으십니다. 풀밭과 시냇물이 사라지고 위험한 골짜기가 나타날 때라도, 하나님의 훈육이라는 '지팡이'와 보호라는 '막대기'가 다윗의 두려움을 이기게 합니다. 그의 목자는 그가 길을 잃도록 내버려 두지 않으실 것입니다.
성경 전체를 통틀어 하나님께서는 자기 백성의 목자로 불리십니다. 하나님께서는 이스라엘을 인도하도록 인간 목자들을 세우셨으나, 그들은 탐욕스러웠고 자신의 사명을 방치했습니다. 그래서 하나님께서는 양들을 위해 자기 목숨을 내어놓는 '선한 목자' 예수 그리스도를 보내셨습니다. 그 후 그리스도께서는 당신이 다시 오실 때까지, 피로 사신 하나님의 양 떼를 돌보도록 인간 목자들, 지역 교회의 장로와 목사들을 세우셨습니다
David Gundersen, “Psalms,” in The NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible, ed. R. Albert Mohler Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2021), 712.
4. 찬양에 대한 묵상
이 찬양은, 오직 하나님만이 우리의 목자가 되심을 고백하는 너무나 아름다운 곡이다. 목자는 양들을 사랑하고 보살피며, 동시에 양들이 목자를 따를 때에 그들이 자신의 생명을 지킬 수 있는 것이다. 인간 목자는 양을 버리거나 혹은 돌보는데 실패할 수 있겠지만, 그러나 하나님께서는 그들의 양을 온전히 지키신다. 그리고 실패한 인간 목자들을 대신하여 자신의 아들 예수 그리스도를 보내신 것이다.
예수님께서는 자신의 양들을 위하여 생명을 버리셨다. 그리하여 그들을 온전히 자신의 것으로 만드신 것이다. 예수 그리스도를 믿고 따르도록 그들의 마음을 바꾸셨고 주님께서 친히 그들을 지키시겠다고 약속하신 것이다. 그러므로 이 찬양은, 우리의 온전한 목자 되시는 예수 그리스도를 바라보게 하며, 우리가 얼마나 큰 사랑 가운데 살아가고 있는지를 다시 한번 깨닫게 한다.
혼란스러운 시대를 살아가면서, 우리의 목자가 과연 누구이신가를 기억하기를 원한다. 이 찬양을 부를 때에 우리의 마음이 온전히 예수님께 집중하기 원하고, 그분의 말씀에 귀를 기울이기 원하고, 그리하여 주님의 품 안에서 평안과 은혜와 또 영적인 성장을 누리시는 모든 성도님들 되시기를 기대한다.
시편 119:33 여호와여 주의 율례들의 도를 내게 가르치소서 내가 끝까지 지키리이다 119:34 나로 하여금 깨닫게 하여 주소서 내가 주의 법을 준행하며 전심으로 지키리이다
시편 119:133 나의 발걸음을 주의 말씀에 굳게 세우시고 어떤 죄악도 나를 주관하지 못하게 하소서
야고보서 1:22 너희는 말씀을 행하는 자가 되고 듣기만 하여 자신을 속이는 자가 되지 말라
로마서 12:1 그러므로 형제들아 내가 하나님의 모든 자비하심으로 너희를 권하노니 너희 몸을 하나님이 기뻐하시는 거룩한 산 제물로 드리라 이는 너희가 드릴 영적 예배니라
골로새서 3:16 그리스도의 말씀이 너희 속에 풍성히 거하여 모든 지혜로 피차 가르치며 권면하고 시와 찬송과 신령한 노래를 부르며 감사하는 마음으로 하나님을 찬양하고
그리스도의 말씀이라는 것은, 성경, 즉 성령의 감동으로 된 성경, 즉 예수 그리스도께서 세상에 가져오신 계시의 말씀을 가리키는 것입니다. 풍성히라는 것은 ‘넘치도록 또는 호화로울 정도로 풍부하게’ 라고 더 충분하게 번역될 수 있습니다. 거하다라는 것은 ‘살다’ 또는 ‘집처럼 편안하게 머물다’ 라는 의미입니다. 성경은 신자의 삶의 모든 측면에 스며들어야 하며, 모든 생각, 말, 그리고 행동을 다스려야 하는 것입니다.
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Col 3:16.
4. 찬양에 대한 묵상
이 찬양은, 말씀이 풍성하게 거하는 성도의 내면과 삶을 탁월하게 묘사하고 있다. 주님의 말씀으로 자신을 비추는 사람은, 하나님 앞에서 겸손해지고 감사하게 되며, 그분을 예배하게 되고, 또한 주님이 주신 진리의 말씀을 따라서 순종하며 살아가게 되는 것이다. 그런 면에서 이 찬양은, 성도의 인생 전체를 담아내고 있다고 말해도 과언이 아닌 것이다.
성경은 말씀하시기를, 주님의 말씀이 우리 속에 풍성히 거하도록 하라고 명령하시는 것이다. 그런 면에서 하나님을 가까이 하고 싶다라는 막연한 소망이 아니라, 하나님의 말씀을 스스로 읽고 묵상하고 그것을 삶 가운데 적용하는 가장 실제적인 변화가 모든 성도에게 필요한 것이다.
그러므로 간절히 바라기는, 이 아름다운 찬양을 통해서 말씀을 사모하는 우리의 마음이 더욱 간절해 지기를 원한다. 우리의 마음이 말씀으로 온전히 채워지고 다스려지는 복되고 성숙한 수준으로 힘써 나아가기를 원한다. 우리의 평생의 삶 가운데 존귀한 하나님의 말씀을 통하여, 참된 행복과 넘치는 기쁨을 누리시는 모든 성도님들 되시기를 기대한다.
Under the title “Scripture Alone,” I will proclaim God’s Word. Have you ever looked at your family genealogy? I once visited an elder’s home and saw his family register. He was a descendant of a well-known noble line in Korea, and though he lives in America now, he carried a deep pride in his lineage. Listening to his stories overflowing with that pride, my own heart felt enriched, because he clearly knew where his family belonged and what he could rightly boast in. Have you heard of the actor Samuel L. Jackson? He is a famous Black actor in Hollywood, and in the 1990s he even appeared as Bruce Willis’s partner in the third Die Hard film.
* Restoring Identity
This man appeared on a documentary program called Finding Your Roots—literally, “finding your roots.” As the title suggests, the show traces a person’s family line and roots through genealogy and DNA.
Through this program Samuel L. Jackson discovered many things he had never known about his past and origins: on his father’s side, his lineage traces back to the Benga people in Gabon, Africa, and he even learned that he is directly connected to a patriarchal clan. He also found that his great-great-grandfather, Elias Jackson, escaped slavery, joined the Union Army, and fought for Black freedom. Moreover, his great-great-grandparents founded Mount Zion Baptist Church, which became a center of the Black community.
In short, through this program he was almost remade into a new person. In his own eyes, he was no longer just an actor of unknown origin; looking back through his ancestors, he belonged to a proud tribe, descended from those who fought for liberty, and came from a family that lived with deep purpose. For the first time in his life, by tracing his past, he gained a new identity and a confident pride.
* Where Did Protestantism Come From? (1)
Then let us ask this question: where did Baltimore Church come from? From a modern point of view, our church belongs to the KAPC denomination—the Korean American Presbyterian Church. This denomination was founded by pastors who came from the conservative Hapdong branch of the Presbyterian Church in Korea. They established it to uphold and spread conservative, Reformed, biblical theology here in the United States. Tracing this back, the roots of our denomination go to Presbyterianism itself.
* Where Did Protestantism Come From? (2)
And where do the roots of Presbyterianism lead? They go back to sixteenth-century Scotland, where the theologian John Knox, who had studied under John Calvin in Geneva, built a system of church government that centered on God’s Word and the rule of elders. That is why our church is called “Presbyterian.” The theological foundation of Presbyterianism, then, goes back to John Knox’s teacher, John Calvin. Calvin wrote The Institutes of the Christian Religion, a monumental work that contains the core of Reformed faith and became the foundation of Presbyterian belief.
If we trace our history still further back, we reach the time when the Protestant Church was not yet separate from the Roman Catholic Church but eventually walked a different path. The event that divided them was the Reformation, through which believers came to hold a biblical faith. The term “Protestant” comes from a combination of Chinese characters meaning “newly reformed faith.”
* What Is Our Identity?
As I talk with church members, I sometimes sense that some people carry a subtle feeling of inferiority about belonging to the Protestant Church—especially when they compare it with Catholicism. Think about our time now: how does the media portray the Catholic Church? It often appears dignified and respected in society. So, many believers unconsciously assume that Protestantism somehow branched off from Catholicism, and even many Catholics believe this as well. Then what, really, is our identity? What kind of tradition do we belong to? What kind of faith do we hold? And can we be proud of this faith? That is the very question we will explore together throughout this revival series.
* The Core Spirit of the Reformation
During this revival, we will deeply explore the five “solas.” The Latin word sola means “alone” or “only.” The reason the Reformers used Latin is that it was the scholarly language of Europe and the official language of Rome, both during and after the Reformation. The Reformers and their successors used these five solas to express the core spirit of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone). These five are not mere slogans—they represent the very essence of our Protestant faith.
* From the Early Church to Rome’s State Religion
To understand the essence of our faith, we must look briefly at the historical background of that time. Broadly speaking, after Jesus ascended to heaven, the early church began to grow rapidly through the preaching of the apostles and believers. Churches were established beyond Jerusalem—in Antioch to the north, in Asia Minor to the northwest, and further west in Greece and Rome. Yet the early church faced fierce persecution from the Roman Empire, lasting about 250 years—from Emperor Nero in the late first century to Emperor Diocletian at the end of the third. Many believers were martyred for their faith, but their sacrifice only made the church stronger.
During this period of persecution, spiritual leaders arose in each region to care for local churches. These leaders were called bishops. The first bishops were established in four major centers: Rome, Antioch, Alexandria in Egypt, and Jerusalem. Later, something astonishing happened.
Through the passionate evangelism and steadfast faith of Christians, the grace of God was revealed—Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, granting freedom of religion throughout the empire. And even more remarkably, in A.D. 380 under Emperor Theodosius, Christianity was declared the official religion of Rome. In other words, the empire that once persecuted Christians now became a Christian nation that professed faith in Jesus Christ.
* The Flow of the Middle Ages
From that point on, Christianity spread across Europe and throughout the Roman Empire. As the church gained strength and influence, the bishop of Rome came to hold the highest authority and began to be called the Pope. The English word Pope means “father.” Originally, it was simply a title of respect given to spiritual leaders. But the Roman Church began to claim that it inherited the authority of the apostle Peter, and thus only the bishop of Rome could be called Pope. In other words, they sought to make one man the supreme head of the entire church—and eventually, they succeeded.
Over time, the pope not only held spiritual authority but also wielded immense political power. At times he even deposed emperors or influenced who would take the throne. Because of this, the period from roughly the fifth to the sixteenth century is called the Middle Ages—a thousand years during which the church stood at the center of nearly all worldly power.
* Corruption and the Reformation
Yet the greatest problem of the Middle Ages was that the church, holding nearly all earthly power, became deeply corrupted. Church offices were openly bought and sold; with enough money, anyone could obtain a high clerical position. The church began to act like a political empire—collecting heavy taxes and amassing vast wealth. Many priests neglected their spiritual duties, and some even kept mistresses and lived worldly lives. But worse than all of this, the church no longer taught the true gospel based on Scripture.
At that time, the Bible was written only in Latin, so ordinary believers could not even read it. The church also taught that believers could not approach God directly but only through priests or through the intercession of officially recognized saints. Thus, the church chose a few people who had lived “heroic” spiritual lives, called them saints, and taught that the faithful must venerate them to reach God. Naturally, ordinary people were filled with fear and despair, asking, “Can someone like me ever go to heaven?” It was in this darkness and corruption that the Reformation arose—to restore the essence of the church and the true gospel.
* The Indulgence Scandal
What, then, was the decisive event that sparked the Reformation? It was the selling of indulgences. The Roman papacy began selling indulgences to raise funds for constructing the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. An indulgence was a certificate that supposedly released a person—or even someone already dead—from punishment for sin, in exchange for money. Although indulgences had existed before, they had never been used on such a massive scale. But when the pope became desperate for funds, he began promoting them aggressively.
The leading salesman was a man named Johann Tetzel. He preached to the crowds, saying, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” The idea of purgatory, however, does not exist in Scripture. The medieval church taught that those who believed in God but were not yet pure enough for heaven could be cleansed in purgatory, and that the prayers—or payments—of the living could shorten their suffering there. This deception spread rapidly throughout Europe, enslaving the people’s faith to fear and money.
* Luther Opposes the Sale of Indulgences
While this absurd teaching was sweeping across Europe and deceiving the masses, Martin Luther emerged as the central figure of the Reformation. Luther had originally studied law but later became a monk and priest. As a priest, he was required to preach about indulgences to the people, but he knew in his heart that they were utterly wrong. He protested, writing letters to church leaders and urging them to stop the practice, but his pleas were ignored.
At first, Luther did not intend to oppose the pope directly or start a great movement of reform. Yet under God’s guidance, he became fully convinced that the indulgence system was contrary to Scripture and the gospel of grace. On October 31, 1517, Luther wrote ninety-five theses against indulgences and nailed them to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Some of the key statements included:
21. “Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error who say that by the pope’s indulgences a man is freed from every penalty and saved.”
22. “The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God.”
36. “Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters.”
37. “Every true Christian, living or dead, has a share in all the benefits of Christ and of the Church, given by God even without letters of indulgence.”
54. “Injury is done to the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or larger amount of time is devoted to indulgences than to the Word.”
86. “Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the riches of the richest, not build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with that of poor believers?”
Luther’s bold act directly challenged both the church and the pope. Within two weeks, his theses had spread throughout Germany; within six weeks, all of Europe knew his name.
* Luther Stands on the Word Alone
Naturally, Luther soon received an official notice of excommunication from the pope. It meant that he was formally expelled from the church—that his life as a priest was over. In April 1521, he was summoned to the Diet of Worms, where he stood before the emperor and high-ranking church officials, accused of heresy. His writings were laid before him, and he was commanded to recant. The pressure was enormous.
Imagine the weight of that moment: Luther stood alone against the entire power of the church and empire, simply because he had opposed indulgences based on the Word of God. Overwhelmed by the tension, he asked for one night to think and pray. The next day, he returned to the same hall and spoke these immortal words:
“I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
When the crowd heard his words, a great cheer rose up. Through this event, Luther showed the world that he was completely held captive by God’s Word. What mattered to him was not his emotions, position, or future, but obedience to Scripture and the will of God. Thus he became a man who changed the course of Christian history.
The Reformers called this conviction Sola Scriptura—“Scripture Alone.” In other words, the Word of the Lord stands above every human authority and is the only truth worthy of our full trust. This is not only how the Protestant Church began; it is the very core of our identity as God’s people.
* The Story of King Josiah
In that sense, it is truly fascinating that this kind of reform—centered on the Word of God—is a recurring pattern throughout Scripture. The passage we read today describes one such reform in the days of the kings. If Luther’s Reformation took place in the 1500s, then King Josiah ruled around 640 B.C.—more than two thousand years earlier.
At that time, the nation of Israel had been divided after Solomon’s reign into two kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Josiah was the sixteenth king of Judah, remembered as one who faithfully served the Lord. According to 2 Kings 22:1, he ascended the throne at only eight years old. Eighteen years later, he gave a remarkable order. Verse 5 says, “Let them give it to the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them repair the house.”
What does this tell us? The temple of God still stood, but it had been neglected and left in ruins. Under Josiah’s predecessors—Manasseh and Amon—the kingdom had fallen into its darkest days. Manasseh even set up altars to idols in the temple courts, an act of terrible blasphemy. His son Amon followed his father’s evil ways, worshiping idols as well. For fifty-seven long years, the temple lay abandoned, and true worship ceased. But now, Josiah began a reformation.
* The Discovery of the Lost Book of the Law
During the restoration of the temple, something extraordinary happened: the Book of the Law of the Lord was found. Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly where, but it must have been hidden in some forgotten corner of the decaying temple. For nearly fifty years, no one had cared for or even remembered God’s Word—until now, when it reappeared before His people.
The scribe Shaphan brought the book before the king and read it aloud. Verses 10 and 11 record, “Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.”
Which part of this moves your heart most? For me, the phrase “he tore his clothes” deeply touches my spirit. In those days, tearing one’s garments was a sign of deep anguish and repentance. Think about this: what do Luther’s Reformation and Josiah’s renewal have in common? Both men encountered God’s Word with sincerity and were broken before it.
Another similarity is this—those who revered the Word in their times were a small minority. In Josiah’s day, the entire nation had forgotten where the Book of the Law even was. Likewise, in Luther’s day, the Bible had been silenced under the weight of human authority. Yet through a few faithful servants who stood upon the Word alone, God brought revival and reform.
This is what the Reformers meant by Sola Scriptura—Scripture Alone. It is the conviction that the Word of God alone surpasses every human opinion and stands as the ultimate authority in life and faith.
* The People Renew the Covenant Together
In 2 Kings 23:1–2, the story continues: “Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord.”
What an astonishing moment! When Josiah heard the Word of God and the warnings of judgment, he did not keep them to himself. He went to the temple, gathered all the people—young and old, leaders and citizens—and had the Word read aloud so that everyone could hear it.
Verse 3 continues: “And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.”
This “covenant” simply means a promise. Together, before the Lord, the entire nation promised to obey God and to keep His commandments. After fifty long years, the people of God experienced a true revival—a renewal of heart and community centered on the Word.
In other words, the essence of the Christian faith is that we realize our sin through the Word and are transformed by it. But this transformation does not stop with an individual—it spreads throughout the entire community of God’s people. That is what true revival is.
* Luther Translates the Bible for God’s People
Now let us return to Luther. After he declared that he would stand on God’s Word alone, what happened next? On his way home from the Diet of Worms, Luther was suddenly seized by a group of armed horsemen and taken away. Many thought he had been kidnapped by enemies—but in fact, the soldiers were acting under the orders of Frederick the Wise, a prince who admired Luther and sought to protect him.
Hidden away in Wartburg Castle, Luther began a new and remarkable task: translating the Bible. In the Middle Ages, Scripture existed only in Latin, a language ordinary believers could not read. Luther, however, wanted every person to have access to the Word of God. During ten months in seclusion, he translated the entire New Testament into German. By 1534, the complete Bible was published.
Why did Luther labor so passionately to translate Scripture? Because he understood, more than anyone, the necessity of Sola Scriptura—Scripture Alone. The greatest tragedy of the Middle Ages was that the Bible had been ignored and forgotten, allowing human greed and pride to rule the church. The only way to restore truth was to return to the Word of God.
In the end, both history and faith show the same truth: people are changed by the Word of God, and communities are renewed through it. This is the most powerful spiritual principle that runs through all of Christian history.
* The Servant of the Lord Desires His Word
Psalm 19:9–12 beautifully describes the power of God’s Word:“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults!”
These are the words of David. How does he describe the Word of the Lord? He says it is perfect, pure, and more precious than the finest gold—sweeter than honey itself. Two expressions especially move me: “more to be desired” and “your servant.” David shows that reading the Word is not about intellectual understanding alone. What matters is his attitude toward it—his longing, his love, his humility. He says, “Your servant is warned by them,” confessing that even as a king, he stands before God as nothing more than a servant who listens to his Master’s Word.
* Do You Humbly Desire the Word?
When I was in seminary, I had a wonderful professor of homiletics who had studied preaching in England and came to teach his first class at our school. He said to his students, “If you meditate on the meaning of God’s Word with deep longing, the truth will rise before you like the sun breaking over a dark horizon.”
At first, I honestly didn’t understand what he meant. But through years of training and prayer, I came to realize that such a level of insight truly exists. A preacher must be utterly humble before the Word—never relying on his own ideas or experience, but praying, meditating, and longing to understand until the Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth and gives inspiration.
And I have learned through ministry that this principle applies not only to preachers but to all believers. God grants His grace to anyone who sincerely loves and longs for His Word. The key is earnestness and sincerity. If we read Scripture carelessly—like glancing at a road sign—our hearts will not change. But when we love God’s Word, long for it deeply, and seek to meet Him through it, God Himself meets us, fills our hearts with grace, and transforms our lives and communities.
Therefore, a humble heart that bows before the Word and follows it alone is the true spirit of the Reformation—the faith of Sola Scriptura that we must continue to live by.
* Conclusion
As we trace the roots of our church, where do we ultimately arrive? We arrive at Luther’s Reformation. When the medieval church lost the power of God’s Word and was overtaken by human greed, confusion, and darkness, God raised up Luther and the Reformers to restore His church. The Reformation was not merely a division from the Catholic Church—it was the greatest renewal in human history, restoring the church to a biblical foundation.
And the driving force behind that great movement was none other than the Word of God. Therefore, my earnest desire is that we, too, hold firmly to this precious identity. May each of us draw near to the Word, be transformed by it, and allow it to renew our lives. And may the Word of the Lord govern and shape our community, so that together we may move forward, holding fast to Scripture Alone.
In the name of our Lord, I bless you all. Let us pray.
기록된 말씀 힘이
있어서 진리로 우릴 거룩케 하며 거룩한 말씀 세세
영원히 복음이 되어 말씀하시네
하나님 말씀에 두려워
떠는 자 그 말씀에 생명을
거는 자 한 사람 찾으시는
주님의 약속을 믿어
하나님 말씀에 운명을
거는 자 순종하며 주 따라가는
자 영원한 하나님나라
이뤄갈 주의 교회여 일어나라
주 말씀은 우리를
구원에 이르는 지혜이니 목숨과 네 뜻 다해
그 말씀에 복종하라
2. 곡 소개
이 곡은
withGod 워십팀의 ‘모든 것이 은혜입니다’ 앨범에 수록된 곡이다. 이 곡은,
진리이신 하나님의 말씀의 능력에 대한 고백과, 말씀에 대한 순종의 결단을 담은 곡이다. 그리고 주의 교회는 오직 주님의 말씀에만 의지하고 믿고 일어서야 한다라는 담대한 선포를 담고 있는 곡이다.
3. 말씀으로 바라보기
이사야 66:2 나
여호와가 말하노라 내 손이 이 모든 것을 지었으므로 그들이 생겼느니라 무릇 마음이 가난하고 심령에 통회하며 내 말을 듣고 떠는 자 그 사람은 내가
돌보려니와
예수님을 따르는 사람은 하나님의 말씀을 믿고 순종함으로써 순결하고 거룩하게 됩니다. 우리는 이미 예수님의 희생적인
죽음을 통해 용서를 받았지만, 하나님의 말씀을 매일 적용하는 것은 우리의 생각과 마음을 정결하게 하는
효과를 가져옵니다. 성경은 죄를 지적하고, 우리가 죄를 고백하도록
동기를 부여하며, 예수님과의 관계를 새롭게 하고, 올바른
길로 다시 인도합니다.
이 곡은, 하나님의 말씀의 중요성을
탁월하게 드러낸 곡이다. 성도는 하나님의 말씀을 통해서 거듭났고, 말씀을
통해서 주님을 만나며, 그 말씀을 읽을 때에 성령께서 말씀 가운데 우리 안에서 역사하시며, 우리가 그 말씀에 순종할 때에 우리가 더욱 거룩한 모습으로 변해가는 것이다.
이 말씀은, 개인적인 진리를 뛰어 넘어
교회 공동체를 하나되게 하는 유일한 진리이다. 하나님께서는 진리의 말씀을 교회에 주셨고, 교회가 할 일은 그 말씀만을 의지하여 함께 순종하는 것이며, 그것이
바로 교회의 진정한 부흥인 것이다.
세상은 날로 악해져 가고 있고 신앙 생활을 하는 것이 쉽지 않지만, 이러한 때에 오히려 더 진리인 말씀에 대한 확신을 가져야 하는 것이다. 주님의
말씀을 붙들고 그 말씀을 따라갈 때에, 성령의 충만함과 교회의 회복과 부흥을 경험할 수 있음을 확신하면서, 주님의 말씀에 한걸음 씩 더 가까이 다가가고 말씀을 더욱 견고하게 붙드는 삶을 살아가시는 모든 성도님들 되시기를
기대한다.
