6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.
지금은 디모데가 너희에게로부터 와서 너희 믿음과 사랑의 기쁜 소식을 우리에게 전하고 또 너희가 항상 우리를 잘 생각하여 우리가 너희를 간절히 보고자 함과 같이 너희도 우리를 간절히 보고자 한다 하니
Good news! 복음!
The reason Paul longed to see the Thessalonians so badly was because he considered them his glory and joy (2:19,20) and that they might abandon faith in the prospect of persecution (3:3,4). Now he finds out from Timothy that such longing was not one directional but mutual, meaning that the Thessalonians accept being Paul’s (and therefore of the Christ he preaches) joy and glory; and that they intend/desire to stay in faith despite persecution. It is incredible and remarkable that Paul calls this good news, gospel, at his end. He uses the word for lit 복음을 전하다, to preach the good news.
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
이러므로 형제들아 우리가 모든 궁핍과 환난 가운데서 너희 믿음으로 말미암아 너희에게 위로를 받았노라
Again, comfort and encouragement is not jut one way. The preacher himself is also encouraged by the hearer.
8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
그러므로 너희가 주 안에 굳게 선즉 우리가 이제는 살리라
The anatomy or organic nature of being one body. It is not something we are consciously aware of, but has to be true. Because one part of my body for example, the stomach, is well, another part of my body, say, the eye, is also well.
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
우리가 우리 하나님 앞에서 너희를 인하여 모든 기쁨으로 기뻐하니 너희를 위하여 능히 어떠한 감사함으로 하나님께 보답할꼬
The mutual nature of the relationship creates joy – ‘the joy with which we rejoice’ (NASB)– the Hebrew style of using the same root words repeatedly – well reflected in Korean translation 기쁨으로 기뻐하다. It (joy) also can be thought as something we have as well as something that we do because of it.
10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
주야로 심히 간구함은 너희 얼굴을 보고 너희 믿음의 부족함을 온전케 하려 함이라
As an yield of such joy that comes from the mutual relationship Paul desires to see them and serve them all the more – which will be the food for his joy again. Recycling of the fruit to produce more fruit so to speak. About ‘what is lacking in your faith’ is to follow in Ch.4.
Lord let us rejoice with all the joy even in tears. Let us hold on to the true unshakable facts of how you love us and we love you, lacking, but because of Christ. You call it the good news! – our hanging-in and struggle. Lord let others around me stand firm so that I too may live, though selfish it might sound. Let me live to offer you the thanksgiving that will make our joy even more alive and fuller. Let us Lord. Lord have mercy.
Read with Ssam 