1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
종말로 형제들아 우리가 주 예수 안에서 너희에게 구하고 권면하노니 너희가 마땅히 어떻게 행하며 하나님께 기쁘시게 할 것을 우리에게 받았으니 곧 너희 행하는 바라 더욱 많이 힘쓰라
종말로 meaning ‘lastly’, ‘as for the remaining matters’. (개역개정에는 ‘그러므로.. 끝으로’.) This section is an appendix, if you like. Things illustrated here we pursue actively and positively but at the same time they are things that naturally, logically follow, if you know God and our Christ explained and preached so far, when God who fulfils his own command and promise that he makes us ‘walk before him and be blameless’ (Gen 17:1) by clothing us with Christ through the stitching work of the Holy Spirit (v.13). Therefore Paul says that you are already doing it.
2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
우리가 주 예수로 말미암아 너희에게 무슨 명령으로 준 것을 너희가 아느니라
By the authority of the Lord Jesus. Jesus did not add any extra on, but purely reflected and carried out the character and action of God the Master as they are. This is the true authority of Jesus. The authority above all things obtained through sheer obedience, filled with the Spirit.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
하나님의 뜻은 이것이니 너희의 거룩함이라 곧 음란을 버리고
Such sheer God’s will who clothe us with himself only and with nothing else, with no impurity at all – is to make us come close to him, make us be filled with His Spirit in other words, make us holy, be sanctified. – isn’t this just so natural and logical? So, I dare say, any action itself e.g. sexual dignity, be it premarital or extramarital purity, is never a goal for a believer. Rather it is something, a desire, that follows if you know God fully well.
4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable,
각각 거룩함과 존귀함으로 자기의 아내 취할 줄을 알고
Therefore by learning God, we come to learn to display him and his nature toward us by pursuing what most closely describe him out of sheer reverence and respect for him, willingly and gladly, with ‘obedience’ as that of Christ. Which do you think is more supreme or powerful: morality or free obedience?
5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
하나님을 모르는 이방인과 같이 색욕을 좇지 말고
If anyone stays lustful or ‘greedy for money’, they are so because they do not yet have God whom they desire to devout themselves in displaying.
6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
이 일에 분수를 넘어서 형제를 해하지 말라 이는 우리가 너희에게 미리 말하고 증거한 것과 같이 이 모든 일에 주께서 신원하여 주심이니라
Paul asserts these are not to be pushes into people’s faces as if to ‘control’ them as you wish – thus ironically exercising ‘immorality’ or ‘greed for money’ yourself – because these things belong to (knowing) God. Leave it to the Lord.
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
하나님이 우리를 부르심은 부정케 하심이 아니요 거룩케 하심이니
‘Not for impurity but in holiness/sanctification’ (ESV, NASB). By means of holiness. Because of holiness. It is not just for seeming end results of so called holiness God calls us. ‘Holiness’ ( = God-ness) is also the way and the ground.
8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 그러므로 저버리는 자는 사람을 저버림이 아니요 너희에게 그의 성령을 주신 하나님을 저버림이니라
Therefore anyone who make it look like some do’s and don’ts is deserting God who has made himself known to us by giving us his Spirit. All the more reason we need to have patience over others. Because God has done and is doing so with us, waiting for us to come to know him fully.
Lord, thank you for these humbling words. How many times do we think within ourselves ‘why is he/she not (so holy) like me’? Whenever our greed for money or immortality come into play Lord please brake us and let us repent! Let us think the way you do it to give us your holiness. You give us your Spirit, Yourself. If we are not prepared to share and give ourselves before judging others, let us humbly repent, turn our hearts and come to the place of learning you more. Fill us with your Spirit Lord that will drive away from us any immorality that does not agree with you. Let us be in line with your will. Let us live today your will and the way your will works by not judging others according to my own judgement. Watch me O Lord.
Read with Ssam 