본서의 히브리어 성경의 명칭은 '코헬렛'이고, 헬라어 성경의 명칭은 '에클레시아테스'인데, 그 뜻은 '회중에게 말하는 자' 또는 '설교자’를의미한다. 우리말 성경인 개역성경에서는 '전도서'라고 이름 붙여졌는데, 이것은 전도자가 인생에 대해서 회중에게 하고자 하는 말을 기록한 책이라는 의미를 내포하고 있다.
2. 내용
본서를 통해서 전도자가 인생에 대해서 이야기하려는 것은 다음과 같다 서론 (1:1~11) : 세상만사의 허무 본론 (1:12~12:8) : 해 아래서의 인생의 허무에 대한 발견과 그에 따른 충고 결론 (12:9~14) : 허무를 극복하고 기쁘고 행복한 삶을 위한 충고
특히 본론 부분에는 공통적인 주제 두 가지가 반복되어 나타남. 첫째는'해 아래 모든 것이 헛되고 헛되니 하나님을 경외하라'는 것이다. 이러한 주제가 여러 구절에 나타난다(3:14, 5:7, 8:13, 12:1).
둘째는'할 수 있는 한 하나님의 복을 누리고 즐기라는 것'이다. 이러한 주제가 여러 구절에 나타난다(2:24~26, 3:12~15, 5:18~20, 8:15~17). 그리고 본서의 마지막 부분에서 인생의 허무함을 다시 진술(12:8)한 후, 그 허무함을 극복하고 기쁘고 행복하게 사는 삶의 비결을 가르쳐준다. 그것은 전 12:13에 나타난 것처럼 “일의 결국을 다 들었으니 하나님을 경외하고 그 명령을 지킬지어다 이것이 사람의 본분이니라”라는 말씀이다.
이처럼 전도서에는 극히 상반되는 듯한 두 가지 인생관이 나타나는데, 허무주의와 쾌락주의가 그것이다. "헛되고 헛되며 헛되고 헛되니 모든것이 헛되도다”(전 1:2)라고 시작하는 전도자는 인간의 지혜와 부와 재물, 수고와 노력과 명예, 장수와 성공 모두가 헛되다고 함으로써, 허무주의를 주장하는 것처럼 보인다. 그러나 전도자는 결코 비관주의자가 아니다. 전도서에 나오는 허무주의는 하나님이 없는 인생의 허무를 말하는 것이다. 그러므로 전도자는 하나님이 없는 인생의 무의미를 주장한 것이지, 결코 인생 그 자체의 허무성을 주장하지는 않는다. 전도자는 또한 여러 부분에서 인생을 즐길 것을 말한다 (2:24, 3:22,8:15) 그렇다고 죽으면 인생이 끝나므로 유한한 인생이 끝나기 전에 마음껏 쾌락을 즐기라는 의미는 아니다. 현세적인 즐거움이나 쾌락 그 자체가 인생의 목적으로 추구될 때, 오히려 절망과 공허만이 더해진다. 따라서, 인생을 즐기라고 하는 것은 인생이 하나님의 선물이기 때문이다. 다시 말해 주님 없는 해 아래서 사물을 바라볼 때 모든 것이 비관적으로 보이지만, 주님이 계신 해 아래서 인생을 바라볼 때 모든 것이 하나님의 선물이다.
이런 점에서 전도서에 나타난 두 인생관, 즉 허무주의와 쾌락주의, 비관주의와 낙관주의를 연결하는 중요한 고리는 하나님을 경외하는 신앙이다. 신앙인의 눈으로 볼 때, 해 아래서의 인생 (= 물질적이고 세속적인 목적을 추구하는 삶)은 허무하고, 주님 아래서의 인생 (= 오직 하나님을 경외하고 그 명령을 지키는 삶)은 참으로 가치 있고 기쁨이 넘치는 삶으로 하나님의 선물이 된다. 그러므로 전도자는 하나님을 경외하고 그 명령을 지키는 것이 사람의 본분이라고 결론을 내린다. “일의 결국을 다 들었으니 하나님을 경외하고 그 명령을 지킬지어다 이것이 사람의 본분이니라"(전12:13)
3. 적용
하나님을 떠나 인생에서 온갖 것을 다 경험해 본 솔로몬의 뼈아픈 고백과 충고를 통해, 우리의 인생을 공허한 삶을 사는 것이 아닌, 하나님을 경외하고 그 명령을 지키며 사는 즐거운 인생을 살아야 한다.
8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
8:20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
8:21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
8:33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
4:15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
4:17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
4:20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
4:21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
4:22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.
4:23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
4:24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
4:25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.
4:26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.
4:27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-- only Naaman the Syrian."
4:28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
4:29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
4:30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
4:16 예수께서 그 자라나신 곳 나사렛에 이르사 안식일에 늘 하시던 대로 회당에 들어가사 성경을 읽으려고 서시매
4:17 선지자 이사야의 글을 드리거늘 책을 펴서 이렇게 기록된 데를 찾으시니 곧
4:18 주의 성령이 내게 임하셨으니 이는 가난한 자에게 복음을 전하게 하시려고 내게 기름을 부으시고 나를 보내사 포로 된 자에게 자유를, 눈 먼 자에게 다시 보게 함을 전파하며 눌린 자를 자유롭게 하고
4:19 주의 은혜의 해를 전파하게 하려 하심이라 하였더라
4:20 책을 덮어 그 맡은 자에게 주시고 앉으시니 회당에 있는 자들이 다 주목하여 보더라
4:21 이에 예수께서 그들에게 말씀하시되 이 글이 오늘 너희 귀에 응하였느니라 하시니
4:22 그들이 다 그를 증언하고 그 입으로 나오는 바 은혜로운 말을 놀랍게 여겨 이르되 이 사람이 요셉의 아들이 아니냐
4:23 예수께서 그들에게 이르시되 너희가 반드시 의사야 너 자신을 고치라 하는 속담을 인용하여 내게 말하기를 우리가 들은 바 가버나움에서 행한 일을 네 고향 여기서도 행하라 하리라
4:24 또 이르시되 내가 진실로 너희에게 이르노니 선지자가 고향에서는 환영을 받는 자가 없느니라
4:25 내가 참으로 너희에게 이르노니 엘리야 시대에 하늘이 삼 년 육 개월간 닫히어 온 땅에 큰 흉년이 들었을 때에 이스라엘에 많은 과부가 있었으되
4:26 엘리야가 그 중 한 사람에게도 보내심을 받지 않고 오직 시돈 땅에 있는 사렙다의 한 과부에게 뿐이었으며
4:27 또 선지자 엘리사 때에 이스라엘에 많은 나병환자가 있었으되 그 중의 한 사람도 깨끗함을 얻지 못하고 오직 수리아 사람 나아만뿐이었느니라
4:28 회당에 있는 자들이 이것을 듣고 다 크게 화가 나서
4:29 일어나 동네 밖으로 쫓아내어 그 동네가 건설된 산 낭떠러지까지 끌고 가서 밀쳐 떨어뜨리고자 하되
4:30 예수께서 그들 가운데로 지나서 가시니라
2. NIV
4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
4:15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
4:17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
4:20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
4:21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
4:22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.
4:23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
4:24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
4:25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.
4:26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.
4:27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian."
4:28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
4:29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
4:30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
5:5 젊은 자들아 이와 같이 장로들에게 순종하고 다 서로 겸손으로 허리를 동이라 하나님은
교만한 자를 대적하시되 겸손한 자들에게는 은혜를 주시느니라
5:6 그러므로 하나님의 능하신 손 아래에서 겸손하라 때가 되면 너희를 높이시리라
5:7 너희 염려를 다 주께 맡기라 이는 그가 너희를 돌보심이라
5:8 근신하라 깨어라 너희 대적 마귀가 우는 사자 같이 두루 다니며 삼킬 자를 찾나니
5:9 너희는 믿음을 굳건하게 하여 그를 대적하라 이는 세상에 있는 너희 형제들도 동일한
고난을 당하는 줄을 앎이라
5:10 모든 은혜의 하나님 곧 그리스도 안에서 너희를 부르사 자기의 영원한 영광에
들어가게 하신 이가 잠깐 고난을 당한 너희를 친히 온전하게 하시며 굳건하게 하시며
강하게 하시며 터를 견고하게 하시리라
5:11 권능이 세세무궁하도록 그에게 있을지어다 아멘
2. NIV
5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's
sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
5:2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;
not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
5:3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that will never fade away.
5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time.
5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers
throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong,