물과 기독교 (Water and Protestantism)

2013. 11. 30. 13:53 책과 글, 그리고 시/작문(作文)



Q. What is the meaning of water in Protestant Bible?

 

First of all, Water is connected to life. Author of the Bible mentioned Jesus as living water in New Testament. Those who are spiritual thirsty should drink water for soul as it is natural for those who feel physical thirsty to need water.

 

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I gave him will never thirsty. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13- 14)

 

Second, water is used as symbol of cleansing sins. Water baptism as a one of various baptisms has meaning of becoming ceremonially cleansed of sin in accordance with Old Testament Law.



 

Q. How is water described in Protestant Bible?

 

The Protestant Bible was written in 2 parts, the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books).  The books are divided into Chapters. The Chapters are divided into Verses. There are many Verses that contain water.

 

Water is mentioned first when God create earth. Before there was any element; air, light, sun and fire, there was only water. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2) And God commanded the water to bring out an abundance of living souls. God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” (Genesis 1:20-21)

In some verses the element is similar to characteristics of God. God is compared with the rainwater. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:3)


Water also brings life. For example, in Old Testament when the Israelites out of Egypt were dying of thirsty in desert, God saved them by giving water came out of the rock.  (cf. Exodus 15:23-35; 17:2-7; Isaiah 35:6-7; 58:11)


Water is a powerful purifying element (Ezekiel 36:25) and can destroy evil and enemies as in the stories of the Flood (Genesis 7:1-12) and the flight of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 14:15-31). According to Old Testament Law, it cleanses defilement (Leviticus 11:32; 14:8, 9; 22:6), and is used in sacrifices (Leviticus 1:9, 13; 6:28) Water as a healing element can be seen from the stories of Naaman the Syrian cured from his leprosy in the waters of Jordan (2 Kings 5:1-14), and the annual miracles at Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1-4). Finally, as I said earlier John the Baptist used the waters of the Jordan to cleanse people’s sins. (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:16; John 1:26-33).

 


Q. What is the tradition related to water?

 

Almost all of Churches use Baptism for a Christian rite of adaption and admission. Baptism may be mainly divided into two. One is water baptism by immersion; the other is baptism through laying on of hands with little water.



 Fig. 1 Baptism by immersion           

Fig. 2 Baptism through laying on of hands






Reference

 

BibleGateway (n.d.). “John 7 - IVP New Testament Commentaries” from http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/Jesus-Source-Living-Water-All

KENNETH COPELAND (n.d.) “UNDERSTAING WATER BAPTISM” From http://www.kcm.org/real-help/article/understanding-water-baptism

OrthodoxyToday (n.d.). “The Meaning of Water in Christianity” from

https://sites.google.com/site/waterinchristianity/

 

김성화 (1999), “성경에 쓰인의 구체적 의미와 비유적 의미”, 어문학교육v 21, pp. 45-96 1225-1704

 

장동일 (2004), “요한복음의 물의 의미와 기능”, 총신대학교 일반대학원 석사학위논문

 

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