“두 세 사람이 내 이름으로…” (마18:20)에 나타난 교회론적 함의: 웨스트민스터 총회에서의 교회정치 논의를 중심으로 = Ecclesiastical Implication of Matthew 18:20: Discussions on Matthew 18:20 in Westminster Assembly

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Traditional church government and offices are being challenged by a Free-church perspective. A slogan, “we are the church,” is spreading in all churches including Roman Catholic, Protestant and even in presbyterian churches. Such phenomenon is steadily growing and “congregationalizing” churches. Matthew 18:20 is a favorite Scriptural passage congregational churches use to support their arguments. The same passage was the center of discussion in the Westminster Assembly-Korean presbyterian churches which make up more than 70% of Korean Protestant churches and liberal congregational churches find their roots in the Westminster Assembly. In the Assembly, Matthew 18:20 was understood in connection with the keys of heaven in Matthew 16:19 and 18:18, evkklhsi,a in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17, and with the discussions of church discipline and assemblies. Presbyterians which made up the majority of the Westminster Assembly perceived that the keys of heaven were given to church office-bearers but the independents understood church office-bearers were not direct recipients of the keys. Instead, the keys of heaven were given to church office-bearers through the church and with the church. Both sides held fast to their own interpretations of evkklhsi,a. The presbyterians interpreted evkklhsi,a as the church office-bearers and the independents limited it to a particular congregation. Resultingly, for the presbyterians, “where two or three are gathered in my name” was understood as “gathering of church office-bearers for church discipline.” But the independents perceived it as a particular congregation (coetus fidelium) where the gospel is preached and church discipline is faithfully exercised. It seems that making an argument for presbyterian church government from Matthew 18:20 and other related passages (Matt. 16:18-19, 18:15-18), perceiving the gathering of church office-bearers such as presbytery and general assembly as the church, is a bit forced. On the other hand, by limiting the interpretation to a congregation, independents can be neglectful of the view that the authority of Christ who is ascended can be realized “through” the church office-bearers binding the congregation to Christ.

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