출애굽기 38장 21절 이하를 보면 성막을 세우는데 사용한 금속 목록을 다 작성하도록 모세는 명령합니다. 질서의 하나님께서 성막을 만든 후에는 모세를 통해서 깔끔한 정리를 명하고 있는 것 같습니다. 아주 세밀하고 구체적으로 성막을 설계하시고, 단계단계 일들의 진행을 살피시고, 마침내 성막을 완성하는 것으로 끝내지 아니하시고 총정리를 명하시는 것을 보면서 배웁니다. “다음은 성막 곧 증거판을 간직한 성막 공사의 명세서로서, 제사장 아론의 아들 이다말이 모세의 명령을 받아, 레위 사람들을 시켜서 계산한 것이다.”(출 38:21) 새번역에는 <성막공사의 명세서>라고 한 것을, 개역개정 번역은 <성막 곧 증거막을 위하여 레위 사람이 쓴 재료의 물목>, 현대어성경은 <성막을 세우는데 든 물자>, 쉬운성경에는 성막을 세우는데 <사용한 금속목록>, 우리말성경에는 <성막, 곧 증거막에 사용한 재료들의 양> 등으로 번역되어 있습니다.
구주대망 2022년도 입학생 수시지원은 지난 월요일(10월 25일)로 마감되었습니다. 총장의 직무를 올해 새롭게 시작한 사람으로서는 모든 것이 낯설고 새롭습니다. 성소를 만드는데 금, 은, 동이 얼마나 들어갔으며 어디에 무엇을 만드는데 사용되었는지를 밝힌 기록을 본받아 에스라성경대학원대학교의 그동안 입학생을 살펴보고 싶습니다. 우선 지난 10년간(2012년~2021년)의 통계를 펼쳐놓고 보니 일단 학생모집의 종류가 다양하다는 사실부터 배워가고 있습니다. 해마다 학생 모집을 위해 가을이 되면 1)수시 2)정시 3)추가 모집이 있고, 여름에는 4)후학기 모집이라고 불리는 일도 있습니다. 2013년 한 해는 예외적으로 수시와 정시 모집으로 끝내고 추가모집도 후학기 모집도 없이 끝났습니다. 그 이유는 수시와 정시 모집으로도 55명이 지원했기 때문으로 추측됩니다. 지난 10년간 평균 지원자는 44.4명이고 이는 우리 학교의 석사과정 입학정원 44명을 하나님께서 정확하게 아시고 신실하게 보내주신 것으로 보여서 놀랐습니다.
그리고 그 통계를 좀 더 들어가서 살펴보면 대한민국 유수한 신대원 출신들로 구성되어 있습니다. 이 톱 7에 속하는 학교를 (가나다 순으로 말하면) 고신, 서울 신대, 성결교신대원, 장신, 총신, 침신, 합신이고 지난 10년 동안 72%의 학생이 위의 학교 출신들이 지원했습니다. 그리고 또 다른 큰 그룹이 있다면 선교사님들이 10% 이상을 차지했다는 사실입니다. 모두 신학대학원을 졸업했지만 성경대학원을 지원한 것을 보면 신학대학원과 성경대학원에서 배우는 과정이 다르기 때문입니다. 에스라성경대학원 대학교에서는 신구약 66권을 다 가르치는 것을 목표로 커리큘럼이 준비되어 있습니다. 다만 첫 1학년은 기숙사에서 월~금요일을 지내야 하는 것이 선뜻 결단하기 쉽지 않습니다. 하지만 결단에 대한 보상은 충분합니다. 출신학교와 상관없이 우리학교의 문을 두드리는 경우는 대부분이 에스라 동문(또는 에스라를 아는 지인)의 추천인 것을 보면 확인됩니다. 아침 6시 반부터 말씀 묵상으로 시작하고 오전의 강의가 끝나면, 점심을 먹고나서 지도교수와의 교제나 팀별의 봉사가 있습니다. 그러고 나면 각자가 자기 시간을 들여서 공부에 집중하며 과제물을 작성하는 과정에 대한 졸업생들의 만족도라고 생각합니다.
이제 지난 10월 25일, 수시모집이 마감됨으로 이제 내년 구주대망 2022년 학생모집이 시작되었습니다. 현재 석사과정 8명, 박사과정1명 모두 9명이 며칠 후에 면접을 기다리고 있습니다. 이전 수시지원에 비해서 많은 숫자는 아니지만 의미 있는 변화가 있었습니다. 그동안 우리 학교를 눈여겨 본 신대원 가운데는 비슷한 과정을 작년에 개설해서 그 해 졸업생이 하나도 지원하지 않은 이변이 있었습니다. 그 교단은 사실 지난 10년 동안 우리 학교의 지원생의 32%를 차지했는데 ㅠㅠ 하지만 감사하게도 올해 지원생 9명 가운데 5명이 그 교단에서 왔으니 변화의 시작이라고 믿습니다. 빨갛게 물든 나뭇잎 하나를 보며 천하에 가을이 오는 것을 바라보는 눈으로^^ 11월 22일부터 시작되는 정시 모집에 하나님의 긍휼하심이 나타나길 기도합니다. 여러분 모두가 아는대로 대학원대학교뿐 아니라 신학대학원조차도 학생모집에 어려움을 겪는 가운데, 우린 그래도, 그동안 에스라 교수님들의 신실한 강의에 만족한 동문들이 학생들을 추천해 주셔서 선방하고 있으니 감사합니다.
Looking at Exodus 38:21 and following, we see Moses commanding that a complete inventory be made of the metals used in erecting the tabernacle. It seems that the God of order, having built the tabernacle, commanded a neat and orderly accounting through Moses. We learn so much seeing how He did not merely design the tabernacle in fine and concrete detail, watch over the work step by step, and bring it to completion, but also commanded a final reckoning. “This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which was counted according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.” (Ex. 38:21). What the New Korean Revised Version translates as "the inventory of the tabernacle construction," other versions render as "the list of materials used by the Levites for the tabernacle, the tent of testimony," "the materials used in building the tabernacle," "the list of metals used" in erecting the tabernacle, or "the amount of materials used for the tabernacle, that is, the tent of testimony."
Early admissions for the year of our Lord 2022 closed this past Monday, October 25. Having begun my duties as university president afresh this year, everything feels both unfamiliar and new. Following the example of the record detailing how much gold, silver, and bronze were used to construct the sanctuary and where each was applied, I wished to examine the student enrollment history of Ezra Bible Graduate University. Looking at the statistics of the past ten years (2012–2021), I am first of all learning that student recruitment takes many forms. Every year, when autumn arrives, we have 1) Early Admissions, 2) Regular Admissions, and 3) Supplementary Admissions; and in the summer, there is also what is called 4) Second Semester Admissions. The year 2013 was an exceptional year: it concluded with only Early and Regular admissions, without needing any supplementary or second semester recruitment. I presume this was because 55 applicants had already applied through the early and regular rounds alone. Over the past ten years, the average number of applicants was 44.4 per year, which amazed me, as it reflects how God accurately knew our master’s degree quota of 44 students and faithfully sent them our way.
Delving further into those statistics, our student body consists of graduates from prominent theological seminaries throughout Korea. The schools belonging to the "Top 7" (in Korean alphabetical order) are Kosin, Seoul Theological University, Sungkyul University, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary (PUTS), Chongshin, Korea Baptist Theological Seminary, and Hapdong Theological Seminary. Over the past decade, 72% of our applicants came from these institutions. Another significant group is that missionaries accounted for more than 10%. Seeing that they all graduated from theological seminaries yet still applied to our Bible graduate university shows that the curriculum at a theological seminary differs from that of a Bible graduate university. At Ezra Bible Graduate University, the curriculum is designed with the goal of teaching all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. However, spending Monday through Friday of the first year living in the dormitory is not an easy decision to make. Yet the reward for that commitment is more than sufficient. Regardless of their alma mater, the vast majority of those knocking on our door do so through the recommendation of Ezra alumni (or acquaintances who know Ezra well). From 6:30 in the morning, the day begins with scripture meditation; after morning lectures and lunch, there is fellowship with academic advisors or team service. After that, each student devotes personal time to focused study and assignments. I believe this reflects our alumni’s deep satisfaction with such a rigorous journey.
With early admissions closing on October 25, student recruitment for the year of our Lord 2022 has now commenced. Currently, a total of nine applicants—eight for the master’s program and one for the doctoral program—are awaiting their interviews in a few days. While the number is modest compared to past early admissions, there has been a meaningful change. One of the seminaries that had long observed our school launched a similar program last year, resulting in an unprecedented anomaly where not a single graduate from that seminary applied to our school that year. In fact, that denomination had accounted for 32% of our applicants over the past decade! ㅠㅠ Yet thankfully, out of the nine applicants this year, five came from that very denomination, which I believe marks the beginning of a turnaround. With eyes that see autumn descending upon the whole world through a single crimson leaf, ^^ I pray that God's tender mercy will be manifested in the regular admissions period starting November 22. As everyone well knows, not only specialized graduate universities but even traditional theological seminaries are experiencing severe difficulties in student recruitment. Yet we are profoundly grateful that we are holding our ground, thanks to our alumni who, well satisfied with the faithful teaching of Ezra's faculty, continue to recommend new students to us.
As ons kyk na Eksodus 38:21 en verder, beveel Moses dat ’n volledige opgawe gemaak word van die metale wat gebruik is om die tabernakel op te rig. Dit lyk asof die God van orde, nadat die tabernakel voltooi is, deur Moses ’n netjiese en ordelike rekenskap beveel het. ’n Mens leer soveel daaruit wanneer jy sien hoe Hy die tabernakel nie net uiters fyn en konkreet ontwerp het, stap vir stap oor die vordering van die werk gewaak het en dit voltooi het nie, maar ook ’n finale afrekening beveel het. “Dit is die opgawe van die tabernakel, die tabernakel van die getuienis, wat bereken is op bevel van Moses, vir die diens van die Leviete, deur die hand van Itamar, die seun van die priester Aäron” (Eks. 38:21). Wat die Nuwe Koreaanse Vertaling “die spesifikasies van die tabernakelbou” noem, word in ander vertalings weergegee as “die voorraadlys van materiale wat die Leviete vir die tabernakel gebruik het,” “die voorrade vir die oprigting van die tabernakel,” of “die lys van metale wat gebruik is.”
Vroeë aansoeke vir die jaar van onse Here 2022 het verlede Maandag (25 Oktober) gesluit. As iemand wat vanjaar eers met die verantwoordelikheid as rektor begin het, voel alles vir my nog nuut en ongewoon. In navolging van die Bybelse verslag wat presies uiteensit hoeveel goud, silwer en brons gebruik is en waarvoor dit aangewend is, wou ek graag die toelatingsgeskiedenis van Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit nagaan. Toe ek die statistieke van die afgelope tien jaar (2012–2021) oopvou, het ek allereers begin leer hoe uiteenlopend ons werwingsprosesse werklik is. Elke jaar met die koms van die herfs is daar 1) Vroeë Toelating, 2) Gewone Toelating en 3) Aanvullende Toelating; en in die somer is daar ook wat genoem word 4) Tweede Semester-toelating. Die jaar 2013 was ’n uitsondering wat slegs met vroeë en gewone toelatings afgesluit is, sonder enige aanvullende of tweede semester-inname. Ek vermoed dit was omdat daar reeds 55 aansoekers in die vroeë en gewone rondes was. Oor die afgelope tien jaar was die gemiddelde getal aansoekers 44,4 per jaar. Dit het my met verwondering vervul, want dit wys hoe die Here ons meestersgraad-kwota van 44 studente presies geken en hulle getrou na ons toe gestuur het.
As ’n mens dieper in daardie statistieke delf, sien jy dat ons studente afkomstig is van vooraanstaande teologiese kweekskole regoor Korea. Die instellings wat tot die topsewe behoort (in Koreaanse alfabetiese volgorde), is Kosin, Seoul Teologiese Universiteit, Sungkyul, Presbiteriaanse Universiteit en Teologiese Seminarium (PUTS), Chongshin, Baptiste Teologiese Seminarium, en Hapsin. Oor die afgelope tien jaar het 72% van ons aansoekers van hierdie skole gekom. Nog ’n noemenswaardige groep is ons sendelinge, wat meer as 10% uitgemaak het. Dat hulle almal reeds aan ’n teologiese kweekskool gegradueer het en tog by ’n Bybelse nagraadse universiteit aansoek doen, toon dat die leerplan van ’n teologiese kweekskool verskil van dié van ’n Bybelse nagraadse universiteit. By Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit is die kurrikulum ingerig met die doel om al 66 boeke van die Ou en Nuwe Testament grondig te onderrig. Weliswaar is dit nie ’n maklike besluit om gedurende die eerste jaar van Maandag tot Vrydag in die koshuis te woon nie. Maar die beloning vir daardie toewyding is oorvloedig. Ongeag van watter instelling hulle kom, klop die oorgrote meerderheid aan ons deur op aanbeveling van Ezra-alumni (of kennisse wat Ezra goed ken). Die dag begin reeds om 06:30 met Skrifoordenking; ná die oggendlesings en middagete is daar gemeenskap met studieleiers of spanbediening. Daarna wy elkeen sy eie tyd aan gefokusde studie en werkopdragte. Ek glo dit getuig van ons gegradueerdes se diepe tevredenheid met hierdie vormende reis.
Noudat die vroeë aansoeke op 25 Oktober gesluit het, het die werwing vir die jaar van onse Here 2022 amptelik begin. Tans wag altesaam nege aansoekers—agt vir die meestersgraad en een vir die doktorsgraad—oor ’n paar dae op hul onderhoude. Hoewel dit nie ’n groot getal is in vergelyking met vorige vroeë toelatings nie, was daar ’n betekenisvolle wending. Een van die kweekskole wat ons universiteit jarelank fyn dopgehou het, het verlede jaar self ’n soortgelyke kursus begin, met die ongekende gevolg dat nie ’n enkele gegradueerde van daardie instelling verlede jaar by ons aansoek gedoen het nie. Daardie denominasie het immers oor die afgelope tien jaar 32% van ons aansoekers uitgemaak! ㅠㅠ Maar genadiglik het vyf van vanjaar se nege aansoekers juis uit daardie denominasie gekom, wat ek glo die begin van ’n ommekeer is. Soos ’n mens met ’n enkele bloedrooi herfsblaar die koms van die herfs oor die hele skepping gewaar, ^^ bid ek dat die Here se ontferming duidelik sigbaar sal wees in die gewone toelatings wat op 22 November begin. Soos almal weet, beleef nie net nagraadse universiteite nie maar selfs gevestigde teologiese kweekskole groot uitdagings met studentewerwing. Tog is ons innig dankbaar dat ons staande bly, danksy ons alumni wat—verryk en tevrede met die getroue onderrig van Ezra se dosente—steeds nuwe studente na ons toe aanbeveel.