20260609 [새벽묵상] 나를 세우지 말고 교회를 세우라 Build Up the Church, Not Yourself (고전/1Cor 14:1~12)

14:1 사랑을 추구하며 신령한 것을 사모하되 특별히 예언을 하려고 하라

14:2 방언을 말하는 자는 사람에게 하지 아니하고 하나님께 하나니 이는 알아 듣는 자가 없고 영으로 비밀을 말함이라

14:3 그러나 예언하는 자는 사람에게 말하여 덕을 세우며 권면하며 위로하는 것이요

14:4 방언을 말하는 자는 자기의 덕을 세우고 예언하는 자는 교회의 덕을 세우나니

14:5 나는 너희가 다 방언 말하기를 원하나 특별히 예언하기를 원하노라 만일 방언을 말하는 자가 통역하여 교회의 덕을 세우지 아니하면 예언하는 자만 못하니라

[Intelligibility in Worship]

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

14:6 그런즉 형제들아 내가 너희에게 나아가서 방언으로 말하고 계시나 지식이나 예언이나 가르치는 것으로 말하지 아니하면 너희에게 무엇이 유익하리요

14:7 혹 피리나 거문고와 같이 생명 없는 것이 소리를 낼 때에 그 음의 분별을 나타내지 아니하면 피리 부는 것인지 거문고 타는 것인지 어찌 알게 되리요

14:8 만일 나팔이 분명하지 못한 소리를 내면 누가 전투를 예비하리요

14:9 이와 같이 너희도 혀로서 알아 듣기 쉬운 말을 하지 아니하면 그 말하는 것을 어찌 알리요 이는 허공에다 말하는 것이라

14:10 이같이 세상에 소리의 종류가 많으나 뜻 없는 소리는 없나니

14:11 그러므로 내가 그 소리의 뜻을 알지 못하면 내가 말하는 자에게 외국인이 되고 말하는 자도 내게 외국인이 되리니

14:12 그러면 너희도 영적인 것을 사모하는 자인즉 교회의 덕을 세우기 위하여 그것이 풍성하기를 구하라

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

                  바울이 말하는 성령의 은사들은 참으로 다양합니다. 그런데 그 다양한 은사들 중에서 더 높은 은사를 사모하라고 12:31에서 말하였었죠. 바울이 제시한 가장 좋은 길, 그것은 바로 사랑이었습니다. 모든 은사는 결국 사랑이 그 밑바탕이 되어야만 의미가 있는 것이기 때문입니다. 그래서 바울은 오늘 말씀 1절에도 사랑을 추구하며 신령한 것을 사모하라고 말합니다. 신령한 은사 이전에 사랑이 먼저인 것이지요. 바울이 이렇게 말한 것은 당시 고린도교회 성도들이 신령한 은사 그 자체에 열광하며 그것을 자기 과시의 수단으로 삼았기 때문이었습니다. 특별히 방언을 많이 남용하였지요. 그렇기 때문에 바울은 성령의 은사는 자신을 세우기 위한 것이 아니라 교회를 세우기 위한 것임을 오늘 말씀을 통하여 말하고 있는 것입니다. 오늘은 “나를 세우지 말고 교회를 세우라” 는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

[Introduction: The Priority of Love]

The Apostle Paul speaks of a wide variety of spiritual gifts. Yet, in Chapter 12:31, he exhorted us to “eagerly desire the greater gifts.” He then went on to show us the most excellent way to use those gifts: love. Every spiritual gift is ultimately meaningless unless it is rooted in love. That is why Paul begins today’s passage in verse 1 by saying, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.” Love must always come before spiritual gifts.

Paul had to emphasize this because the believers in the Corinthian church were infatuated with spiritual gifts for their own sake, turning them into tools for self-display. They were heavily misusing the gift of tongues. Today, Paul reminds us that spiritual gifts are given not to elevate ourselves, but to build up the church. Today's message is titled: “Build Up the Church, Not Yourself.”

첫번째, 방언과 예언의 차이입니다. 방언도 성령의 은사이고 예언도 성령의 은사이지요. 그런데 1절에서 바울은 “특별히 예언을 하려고 하라” 라고 권면합니다. 그 이유가 방언보다 예언이 더 뛰어난 은사기 때문일까요? 그렇지 않지요. 바울이 말한 더 높은 은사는 사랑이었음을 앞에서도 말씀드렸었습니다. 그렇다면 방언보다 딱히 뛰어난 점이 없는 예언을 왜 특별히 하라고 권면하는 것일까요? 바로 예언이 나보다 남을 위하는 은사이기 때문입니다. 그래서 사랑, 즉, 나보다 남을 위하는 이타적인 은사이기 때문에 예언을 하려고 하라고 권면하는 것입니다. 바로 이 차이를 2절과 3절에서 말하고 있지요. 2절, 방언은 다른 사람에게 유익을 주는 은사가 아닙니다. 이것은 비밀스러운 것으로 방언을 말하는 사람조차 알아듣지 못하고 오직 하나님만이 알아들으시지요. 방언은 하나님과 나 사이의 깊은 영적 교통을 통해 개인의 덕을 세우는 은사입니다. 그러나 예언은 어떻습니까? 3절입니다. 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “그러나 예언하는 자는 사람에게 말하여 덕을 세우며 권면하며 위로하는 것이요” 자 예언의 목적은 분명하지요. 첫번째, 대상이 사람입니다. 보통은 내가 아닌 타인이겠지요. 두번째, 여기가 중요한데요. 예언은 대상의 덕을 세우기 위해, 대상을 권면하고 또 위로하기 위해 한다는 것입니다. 이것이 예언의 목적이라는 것이지요. 그래서 4절은 방언하는 사람은 자기의 덕을 세우지만 예언하는 사람은 교회의 덕을 세운다고 말하는 것입니다. 자, 이렇게 얘기하면 방언이 좀 더 열등한 은사인 것처럼 들릴 수 있습니다. 방언이 마치 나 만을 위한 이기적인 은사인 것처럼 말이지요. 그러나 바울이 말하고자 하는 것은 그런 것이 아닙니다. 5절에서 “나는 너희가 다 방언 말하기를 원한다” 라고 말하고 있지 않습니까? 바울이 방언을 중요하게 생각하지 않는다면 이런 말을 할 이유가 없지요. 다만 바울이 말하고자 하는 것은 어떤 은사이던지 교회에 유익이 되는 은사를 더욱 추구하라는 것입니다. 5절 하반절을 다르게 이야기하면 누군가 방언을 말할 때에 그것을 통역하는 사람이 있다면 방언도 교회에 덕을 세운다는 것입니다. 그러나 일반적인 경우 방언은 알아듣는 사람이 없기 때문에 공동체의 유익을 생각한다면 계시나 지식이나 예언이나 가르치는 것처럼 모두가 알아들을 수 있는 은사가 교회 전체에는 더 낫다는 것입니다.

[1. The Vital Difference Between Tongues and Prophecy (v. 1-6)]

First, let us examine the difference between tongues and prophecy. Both are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit. Yet, in verse 1, Paul specifically exhorts: “especially that you may prophesy.” Is this because prophecy is inherently superior to tongues? No. As we established, the "greater gift" Paul spoke of is love. Why then does he emphasize prophecy? Because prophecy is naturally an altruistic gift—it prioritizes others over oneself. It is driven by love.

Paul highlights this contrast in verses 2 and 3. Verse 2 tells us that speaking in tongues does not directly benefit others. It is a mystery; even the speaker does not fully comprehend it, and only God understands. Tongues are meant to edify the individual through deep, private spiritual communication with God.

But what about prophecy? Let's read verse 3 together:

“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.”

The purpose of prophecy is crystal clear: first, its target audience is people—others, not oneself. Second, and most importantly, it is used to strengthen (edify), encourage, and comfort them.

Therefore, verse 4 concludes that while the one who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, the one who prophesies edifies the church. Now, this might make tongues sound like an inferior or selfish gift, but that is not Paul's point. In verse 5, he clearly states, “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues.” If Paul looked down on tongues, he would never have said this. His point is simply that we should pursue gifts that bring the greatest benefit to the church.

The second half of verse 5 explains that if someone interprets the tongues, it can build up the church. However, under normal circumstances, since no one understands tongues, gifts that everyone can readily comprehend—like revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or word of instruction—are far better for the corporate body.

자 그런데 바울이 특별히 방언에 대해서 비판적인 자세를 취하는 것처럼 보이는 것은 또 다른 이유가 있습니다. 그것은 바로 이들이 방언을 자기 과시의 수단으로 삼아 남용했기 때문입니다. 원래 처음 오순절 성령강림으로 방언이 터졌을 때에 그 방언은 말 그대로 방언, 즉 다른 지역의 언어였습니다. 그래서 사도행전 2:11을 보면 각 지역의 사람들이 “우리가 다 우리의 각 언어로 하나님의 큰 일을 말함을 듣는도다” 라고 놀라며 당황하는 장면이 나오지요. 그러나 오늘 사도 바울이 2절에서 말하였던 것처럼 초대교회에서 방언은 하나님께 영으로 비밀을 말하는 것으로 그 의미가 확장되었습니다. 비밀이기 때문에 일반적인 경우 알아듣는 사람이 없습니다. 하지만 방언을 하는 것을 들으면 누구나 “아, 방언을 하고 있구나” 하고 직관적으로 알 수 있지요. 초자연적이고 신비한 은사. 그래서 모두가 갖고 싶어하지만 아무도 알아들을 수 없는 은사. 남용하기가 참 좋지요. 그래서 아마도 이들은 아무도 알아들을 수 없는 불분명한 소리를 내면서 자신이 마치 방언을 받은 사람인 것처럼 꾸몄던 것이 아닌가 싶습니다. 어차피 아무도 알아듣지 못하니까요. 그래서 바울은 7절과 8절에서 이런 이들의 분명하지 않은 소리가 무슨 의미가 있냐 반문하는 것입니다. 그것을 요약한 것이 9절 말씀이지요. 혀로서, 즉 방언한다고 하면서 알아듣기 쉬운 말, 즉 분명한 소리를 내지 않으면 누가 그 말하는 것을 알아듣겠냐는 것입니다. 10절, 세상에 언어의 종류가 많지만 뜻이 없는 소리가 없다. 즉, 방언을 말한다고 하면서 그저 아무 뜻 없는 소리를 반복하는 것은 영적인 언어인 방언이 아니라는 것이지요. 그러므로 이들의 방언은 은사의 원래 목적인 자신의 덕을 세우고 교회의 덕을 세우는 것이 아니라 오히려 서로를 유리시켜 분리하고 이해할 수 없는 야만인으로 만든다는 것입니다. 자신의 영성을 과시하기 위해 했던 행동이 도리어 교회를 해체하고 있다는 것이지요. 그러나 사도 바울은 이들의 이 영적인 열심을 다른 방향으로 이끕니다. 12절, 함께 읽겠습니다. “그러므로 너희도 영적인 것을 사모하는 자인즉 교회의 덕을 세우기 위하여 그것이 풍성하기를 구하라” 너희들의 영적인 열심을 자신을 위해 사용하지 말고 교회의 덕을 세워 풍성하게 하는 데에 사용하라는 것입니다.

[2. Clear Speech vs. Self-Display (v. 7-12)]

There is another reason Paul takes a seemingly critical stance toward tongues: the Corinthians were abusing this gift to show off their spirituality. When the gift of tongues was first poured out at Pentecost, it manifested as recognizable foreign languages. In Acts 2:11, crowds from various nations were astonished, saying, “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

However, as Paul notes in verse 2, the usage of tongues in the early church expanded into speaking mysteries to God in the spirit. Because it was a mystery, no one could understand it. Yet, whenever someone spoke in tongues, it was immediately and intuitively obvious that something supernatural was happening. It was a highly mystical, supernatural gift—something everyone wanted, but no one could decode.

This made it incredibly easy to abuse. It is highly likely that some people were making random, unintelligible noises just to look like they had received a powerful spiritual gift, knowing that nobody could check them anyway. This is why Paul challenges them in verses 7 and 8, asking what value there is in an indistinct sound from a flute, a harp, or a trumpet.

He summarizes this in verse 9: if you do not utter intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air! Verse 10 reminds us that while there are all kinds of languages in the world, none of them is without meaning. Therefore, making meaningless sounds in the name of "tongues" is not true spiritual language. Instead of edifying the self and the church, it alienates people, turning brothers and sisters into incomprehensible barbarians to one another. What was meant to be an act of spirituality was actually dismantling the unity of the church.

Paul gracefully redirects their spiritual zeal in verse 12. Let's read it together:

“So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.”

He tells them: "Do not waste your spiritual passion on self-exaltation. Redirect that energy to abundantly build up the church."

말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘의 말씀은 다시 한 번 은사 가운데에 사랑이 얼마나 중요한지 생각하게 합니다. 사랑은 자랑하지 아니하고 교만하지 아니하고 자기의 유익을 구하지 아니한다는 말씀이 다시 한 번 생각납니다. 그 말씀은 은사에도 적용되는 것 같습니다. 하나님께서 우리에게 주신 선물, 우리는 그 선물을 서로를 함께 세워가는데 사용해야 할 것입니다. 나를 세우는 것이 아니라 교회를 세우는 그래서 하나님의 사랑을 이루는 여러분 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

[Conclusion: Gifted to Build One Another Up]

Today’s text forcefully reminds us how vital love is when exercising any spiritual gift. We are reminded of the famous words from Chapter 13: “Love does not boast, it is not proud, it is not self-seeking.” This standard applies directly to how we use our gifts.

The talents and manifestations God has given us are not medals to wear for our own pride, but tools to build one another up. I pray that you will focus not on elevating yourself, but on building up the church, thereby fulfilling the perfect love of God.

Amen.