Colossians 4:7-18
7 Tychicus [ti·kuh·kuhs] will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
9 He is coming with Onesimus [OH] + [NEE] + [SI] + [MUHS], our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus [eh·ruh·staar·kuhs] sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.[baar·nuh·buhs] (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras [Ep-uh-fras], who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea [(ˌ)lā-ˌä-də-ˈsē-ə]and Hierapolis [/ˌhaɪəˈræpəlɪs/].
14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas [Dēmas] send greetings.
15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
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오늘 본문에서는 사도바울의 많은 동역자들이 나옵니다. 바울은 이 당시 로마의 감옥에 갇혀있었지만 편지를 써서 주님의 사역을 하고 있는 것을 봅니다. 인간이 생각하기엔 감옥에 갇혀있을 때는 자유롭지 못한 환경이기 때문에 할 일을 못할 것으로 예상합니다. 그러나 오히려 바울은 감옥에서 썼던 편지가 그 당시에도 이렇게 많은 일을 했지만 성경에까지 기록되어 2천년 가까이 하나님 나라의 확장에 큰 역할을 하고 있는 것을 볼 수 있습니다.
In today's passage, many fellow workers of the Apostle Paul are mentioned. Paul, despite being imprisoned in Rome at that time, is seen carrying out the Lord's ministry through his letters. It might be expected that being in prison would create an environment where one is not free and unable to do much. However, surprisingly, Paul's letters written in prison not only had a significant impact at that time but have also been recorded in the Bible, playing a crucial role in the expansion of the kingdom of God for nearly two millennia.
바울의 동역자들은 다음과 같은 일을 했습니다.
- 두기고: 골로새 교인들의 마음을 위로함
- 오네시모: 여기 일을 다 알려 줌
- 아리스다고와 바나바의 생질 마가: 문안
- 유스도: 바울의 위로가 됨
- 에바브라: 항상 기도함
- 누가, 데마: 문안
- 아킵모: 주 안에서 받은 직분을 이룸
Paul's fellow workers engaged in the following activities:
- Tychicus: Comforted the hearts of the Colossian believers.
- Onesimus: Informed everyone about the situation here.
- Aristarchus and Barnabas's cousin Mark: Sent greetings.
- Justus: Provided comfort to Paul.
- Epaphras: Always praying.
- Luke and Demas: Sent greetings.
- Archippus: Fulfilled the ministry he received in the Lord.
인간의 눈으로 보면 '위로해주고, 기도해주고, 문안해 주는 일...이게 그렇게까지 대단한 일인가' 라고 생각할 수 있습니다. 그렇게 밖에 생각 못하는 것이 우리 인간의 한계입니다. 그러나 하나님의 눈으로 보실 때 선한 것이 정말 선한 것입니다. 하나님의 최대의 관심사인 영혼구원의 사역을 위해 우리가 얼마나 진심을 다했는지를 보십니다.
When viewed through human eyes, we might think, "Encouraging, praying, and offering greetings... is it really such a remarkable thing?" That is the limit of our human perspective. However, when seen through the eyes of God, what is truly good is indeed good. God observes how sincerely we dedicate ourselves to the ministry of soul salvation, which is His ultimate concern.
우리는 우리의 일상에서 하나님이 선하게 보시는 일을 얼마나 하고 있을까요? 우리 생각에 하나님의 일을 하기 어려운 환경이라고 핑계를 대며 '나는 이래서 괜찮다'고 생각하지는 않나요? 바울이 감옥에서 편지로 여러 사람을 통해 하나님의 사역을 했던 것을 기억합시다. 내가 직접 할 수 없는 일도 동역자를 통해서 하나님이 일을 해 주시는 것을 기억합시다. 바울의 사역은 바울 한 사람의 사역이 아니었고 조직적으로 각 구성원들이 자기가 맡은 일을 잘 감당했습니다.
우리 열방교회 차세대 교회학교 여러분도 현재 해야 할 일을 생각해봅시다. 지금은 이렇게 매주 주일에 교회에 나와서 예배를 드리고, 토요 성경학교에서 말씀을 나누고, 각자 집에서 큐티하고 기도해야 합니다. 이렇게 자기 자신을 훈련하는 일이 여러분이 해야 할 일입니다. 매일 나를 훈련하면서 주님이 나에게 주시는 기회를 볼 수 있는 눈이 생길 때 그 때가 여러분이 주님의 일을 감당해야 할 시간입니다.
How much of what God sees as good are we doing in our daily lives? Do we not sometimes justify our inaction by claiming that it's difficult to do God's work in our circumstances, thinking, "I'm fine the way I am"? Let's remember the example of Paul, who carried out God's ministry through letters to various people while in prison. Let's recall that God can work through collaborators to accomplish things we may not be able to do ourselves. Paul's ministry was not just the work of one individual; it was organized, with each member handling their assigned tasks well.
Similarly, let's think about the tasks that the ANC Next Generation Church School should be undertaking. Currently, it is necessary for each of you to come to church every Sunday, participate in worship, share the Word at Saturday Bible school, engage in personal reflection and devotion at home, and pray. These are the tasks you should undertake to train yourselves. When you train yourselves daily, developing eyes to see the opportunities given by the Lord, that is the time when you should take on the Lord's work.
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