Earticle

The purpose of this study is to review and analyse the ideas and development of John Knox’s prophetic consciousness of his calling as “the trumpeter of God” in the historical context of the sixteenth-century reformation in Scotland, England and continental Europe. For this purpose, this study focuses the historical events, important figures, and Knox’s writings concerning his prophetic self-consciousness according to the two periods until 1559 when the Scottish reformation was established in the national level. The first part examines the historical background, the start of his self-consciousness as “God’s prophet”, and his ministry in England from Knox’s birth to 1553 when he had to flee from Mary’s persecution. The second part deals with Knox’s experience and works during the time of his exile in the continental Europe from 1554 to 1559, which can be considered as the training period to be a mature prophet for the scottish reformation. This examination tries to illustrate the significance of Knox’s reformation thoughts and works in particular, and to provide useful information for understanding the historical and theological characteristics of the sixteenth-century European Reformation in general. In conclusion, it is argued that Knox’s self-consciousness as “God’s prophet” which was formed through many afflictions in his life led him to devote himself to the divine calling of reforming the church and society of Scotland.

이 글의 목적은 네로 황제의 박해 기간 동안 터키의 수신자들을 위해 기 록된 베드로전서와 요한계시록에 나타난 소통, 화해, 공존을 차례대로 살피고 한국의 현실에 적용하는 것이다. 이를 위해서 소통, 화해, 공존 에 관한 본문의 역사적-의미론적-신학적 메시지를 연구하는 방법을 사 용한다. 베드로와 요한이 밝히는 긍정적인 소통이란 삼위 하나님과 교 회, 지역 교회와 지역 교회, 교회 안의 성도, 두 저자/수신자와 구약 간 의 소통이며, (계시록이 보여주는) 부정적인 소통은 네로 황제의 강압적이 며 니골라당의 기만적인 소통이다. 두 사도가 말하는 화해란 근본적으 로 어린양 예수님을 통한 화목인데, 결국 세상 속에서 성도의 재창조 사 역으로 발전한다. 두 사도가 말하는 공존이란 삼위 하나님에게서 완벽 한 모델을 찾을 수 있지만, 성도는 폭력과 박해가 만연한 세상 속에 살 면서도 거류민과 나그네라는 성도의 정체성의 경계선을 강화하면서 세 상 변혁을 추구해야 함을 밝힌다. 경계선 강화는 결국 경계선 확장으로 이어진다. 이 글의 마지막에 소통, 화해, 공존을 한국 교회가 어떻게 실 현할 수 있는지 논의한다. 한국 교회가 베드로와 요한이 가르치는 소통, 화해, 공존을 지혜롭게 적용한다면, 기독교인의 감소와 안티 기독교 세 력의 장벽에 부딪힌 현실을 타개하는 기회가 될 것이다.

The aim of this paper is to delve into communication, reconciliation and coexistence in 1 Peter and the book of Revelation which were written under the Neronian persecution for the recipients in Turkey. To achieve this aim, the method of historical-semantic-theological interpretation is employed. According to Peter and John, a true communication is seen among the triune God, among the local churches, among the groups in a congregation, and between the two authors/readers and the Old Testament. But a negative communication is displayed in the Neronian policy and in the Nicolaitans’ heretical activity. Peter and John maintain that the reconciliation takes place by the mediatorial works of Christ, on which the recreational work of the saints should firmly stand. Peter and John propose a perfect model of coexistence which is realized in the co-work of the triune God. Christians, as the provisional residents and sojourners, should keep their identity boundary in the persecuting world for the sake of transforming the antichristian society into the kingdom of God. Strengthening the boundary ultimately leads broadening the boundary. Lastly, the present researcher discusses some methods the Church can use for actualizing communication, reconciliation and coexistence in the Korean context. Facing both the decline of Christians and the negative power of anti-christians, the Korean church can take a chance to reverse these undesirable phenomena if she wisely applies the teachings of Peter and John regarding communication, reconciliation, coexistence into the Korean context.