스코틀랜드 『제1치리서』에 나타난 장로교회 정치체제의 근간

Abstract

This paper reveals what are the important principles of the Presbyterian polity that appeared in the Scottish First Book of Discipline submitted by John Knox and other reformers in 1560. To this end, I looked at the central subjects of the First Book of Discipline in Scotland: the offices of minister, elder, deacon, and superintendent, the exercise meetings for biblical study, the practice of church discipline, the use of church finance, and education in detail. I am interested in this topic because of the hope that I could discover insights that can overcome the political turmoil and divisions that Korean churches face today in the First Book of Discipline, the first ecclesiastical ordinances of the Presbyterian Church. Descriptions of the sincerity of those in charge of the pastoral duties, emphasis on the importance of exercise meetings and church discipline, priority consideration for the poor, arguments for equal opportunity in education, and principles for rational and transparent use of church finance have played a decisive role in the Protestant religious reform movement and still provide useful insight for church reform today. There are, of course, differences between the times of the 16th and 21st centuries, but nevertheless, one must know clearly what constitutes the foundation of the Presbyterian Church so that one can continue the spirit in a format that suits this era.