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哥林多前书生命读经 · 第22篇

召会是神的耕地和建筑（一）

The Church, God’s Farm and God’s Building (1)
1读经：哥林多前书三章五至十七节。在林前三章保罗说到召会。虽然在本章找不著召会这辞，但保罗在这里所说的与召会有密切的关系。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 3:5-17 In chapter three of 1 Corinthians Paul comes to the church. Although the word church cannot be found in this chapter, what Paul covers here is very much related to the church
2本章保罗写得非常有智慧。保罗没有用肤浅的辞说到召会；他在这里用又深又奥的辞说到召会。在本章保罗用三个主要的辞指召会：耕地、建筑和殿。在九节保罗说，『你们是神的耕地，神的建筑。』本节的耕地，意即农场。在基督里得了重生，有神生命的信徒，乃是神所耕种的田地，神新造里的农场，生长基督，好为著神的建造，产生宝贵的材料。因此，我们不仅是神的耕地，也是神的建筑。就团体一面，我们是神的召会，有基督栽种在我们里面。基督必须在我们里面长大，并从我们里面长出。就这一章的意义说，不是产生果子，乃是产生金、银、宝石等贵重的材料，为著建造神在地上的居所。因此，神的建筑，神的家，召会，乃是基督的扩增，是无限基督的扩大。保罗在十六至十七节两次题到神的殿：『岂不知你们是神的殿，神的灵住在你们里面么？若有人毁坏神的那殿，神必要毁坏这人，因为神的那殿是圣的，你们就是这殿。』十六节的殿，原文指内殿。神的殿在此是指在某一个地方，如哥林多，团体的信徒；而十七节神的那殿是指普世所有的信徒。神在宇宙中惟一属灵的殿，在地上的许多地方都有显出，每一显出就是神在那地方的殿。这两节里神的殿是九节『神的建筑』的说明。殿是建筑，而建筑是由耕地上所生长的材料产生。因此，有耕地、建筑和殿。神的建筑不是普通的建筑，乃是圣别之神的圣所，神的灵所居住的殿。我们这些建造这样圣别之殿的人，都当晓得这事，好叫我们谨慎，不用木、草、禾秸等没有价值的材料建造，乃用符合神性情和经纶的金、银、宝石等贵重的材料（12）建造。
2Paul composed this chapter in a very wise way. Paul did not use superficial expressions with regard to the church; here he speaks of the church by using deep and profound expressions. In this chapter Paul uses three main terms for the church: the farm, the building, and the temple. In verse 9 Paul says, “You are God’s farm, God’s building.” The Greek word rendered farm in this verse literally means cultivated land. The believers who have been regenerated in Christ with God’s life are God’s cultivated land, a farm in God’s new creation to grow Christ, that precious materials may be produced for God’s building. Hence, we are not only God’s farm, but also God’s building. Corporately, we as the church of God have Christ planted in us. Christ must also grow in us, and out of us He must produce, in the sense of this chapter, not the fruit, but the precious materials of gold, silver, and precious stones for the building of God’s habitation on earth. Thus, the building of God, the house of God, the church, is the increase of Christ, the enlargement of Christ in His unlimitedness. In verses 16 and 17 Paul twice refers to the temple of God: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God shall destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which you are.” A temple of God in verse 16 refers to the believers collectively in a certain locality, as in Corinth, whereas the temple of God in verse 17 refers to all the believers universally. The unique, spiritual temple of God in the universe has its expressions in many localities on earth. Each expression is a temple of God in that locality. The temple of God in these verses is the explanation of God’s building in verse 9. The temple is the building, and the building is produced by the materials grown on the farm. Thus, we have the farm, the building, and the temple. God’s building is not an ordinary building; it is the sanctuary of the holy God, the temple in which the Spirit of God dwells. We, the builders of such a holy temple, should realize this so that we may be careful to build not with the worthless materials of wood, grass, and stubble, but with the precious materials of gold, silver, and precious stones (v. 12), which correspond to God’s nature and economy.
3在哥林多前书里保罗说到召会的时间多于说到基督。我们看过在头两章，保罗说基督说得很多。哥林多信徒中间的难处，是因著缺少经历基督所引起的。为这缘故，保罗在这封书信的开头说到基督，然后继续说到召会。基督在那里，召会也必须在那里。我们若传讲基督，也必须传讲召会。同样，我们若有基督，也应当在召会里。基督与召会无法分开，正如人的头不该与他的身体分开一样。将头与身体分开，就把死亡带给身体。所以，我们绝不该将基督与召会分开，或将召会与基督分开。
3In the Epistle of 1 Corinthians Paul spends more time to speak concerning the church than concerning Christ. We have seen that in the first two chapters Paul has much to say about Christ. The problems among the believers at Corinth were caused by their lack of experience of Christ. For this reason, Paul begins this Epistle with Christ and then continues with the church. Where Christ is, there the church must be also. If we preach Christ, we must also preach the church. Likewise, if we have Christ, we should be in the church. Christ and the church cannot be divided, just as a person’she ad should not be separated from his body. To separate the head from the body is to bring death to the body. Therefore, we should never separate Christ from the church or the church from Christ
神的耕地
GOD’S FARM
4本篇信息的题目是『召会是神的耕地和建筑』。这题目指明召会是神的耕地，也是神的建筑。我们都知道耕地的目的是要产生食物给我们吃。建筑是由一些材料造成的结构。表面看来，耕地与建筑无关，因耕地是为著食用产生食物，不是为著建筑产生材料。没有人会用耕地上所长的出产建造房屋。耕地表面看来对建筑没有用。然而，九节的耕地是为著建筑。在耕地上所出产的都是为著建筑。在九节保罗首先说到神的耕地，然后说到神的建筑。这个次序的原因乃是建筑在于耕地。若没有耕地，就无法有建筑，因为耕地为著建筑产生材料。
4The title of this message is “The Church, God’s Farm and God’s Building.” This title indicates that the church is both God’s farm and God’s building. We all know that the purpose of a farm is to produce food for us to eat. A building is a structure made of certain materials. Apparently, a farm is not related to a building, for a farm produces food for eating, not materials for building. No one would build a house with the produce grown on a farm. Farm products seemingly are not useful for building. Nevertheless, the farm in verse 9 is for the building. Whatever is produced on the farm is for the building. In verse 9 Paul speaks first of God’s farm, then of God’s building. The reason for this order is that the building depends on the farm. If there is no farm, there cannot be the building, because the farm produces materials for the building
5在神耕地上的植物召会所有的肢体都是在神耕地上的植物。他们由基督的执事，神的同工栽种了，他们由其他的执事，也是神的同工浇灌了，并且神自己叫他们得以在生命里长大。我们成为召会的肢体不是藉著加入社会组织的方式，乃是藉著被栽种。在六节保罗说，『我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。』保罗在哥林多将信徒栽种到召会，就是神的耕地里，使他们生长基督。
5PLANTS ON GOD’S FARM All the members of the church are plants on God’s farm. They have been planted by the ministers of Christ, God’s fellow-workers, they have been watered by other ministers, also God’s fellow - workers, and they are made to grow in life by God Himself. We become members of the church not by the way of joining a social organization, but by being planted. In verse 6 Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow.” Paul planted the believers at Corinth into the church, which is God’s farm, so that they might grow Christ.
6成为在神耕地上的植物是非常有意义的事。在耕地上不需要教师教导植物。植物不需要任何人告诉牠作甚么或怎么长。然而，今天在基督徒中间，给了植物许多教训。事实上，信徒不是被看作植物，乃是被看作学生，学习者。在我进入召会生活以前，我是弟兄会里的『学生』。虽然我学了许多关于圣经的事，却因著缺少生命而垂死。我不是像植物那样活著，乃是像学生。我担心甚至在一些地方召会里，只有学校，而没有耕地。也许有教导，却少有对植物的浇灌。我们都该以耕种的方式，以栽种、浇灌、栽培、并修剪的方式，实行召会生活。我们必须学习何时浇灌圣徒，何时𫗪养他们，何时修剪他们。
6It is a very significant matter to be a plant on God’s farm. There is no need on the farm for a teacher to instruct the plants. A plant does not need anyone to tell it what to do or how to grow. However, among Christians today a great deal of teaching is given to the plants. Actually, the believers are regarded not as plants, but as students, as learners. Before I came into the church life, I was a “student” in the Brethren assembly. Although I learned a great deal about the Bible, I was dying for the lack of life. Instead of living like a plant, I was living like a student. I am even concerned that in some local churches there is a school instead of a farm. There may be teaching, but very little watering of the plants. We all should practice the church life in the way of farming, in the way of planting, watering, cultivating, and trimming. We must learn when to water the saints, when to feed them, and when to trim them
为著神的建筑生长材料
GROWING MATERIALS FOR GOD’S BUILDING
7栽种、浇灌、叫人生长，（6，）都与生命的事有关。这指明信徒是神的耕地，（9，）为要生长基督。我们是神耕地（召会）上的植物，我们需要生长。没有生长，我们就没有用。在我家的花园里有些植物是活的，却不生长。同样，今天有许多信徒在属灵上是活的，却不生长。当然，活著比死了好。只要我们是活的，我们就有机会生长。我盼望在主的恢复里没有人满意于活而不长。我们都必须生长以产生基督。所有在主恢复里的圣徒都必须渴望生长。我们该祷告：『主，使我生长。』我们在神的耕地上生长，目的是要产生基督。正如葡萄园的目标是要产生葡萄，神耕地的目标乃是要产生基督。这几篇关于林前三章的信息，中心点乃是生长以产生基督。我们需要一再的看一、二章，来帮助我们生长基督。你若读并祷读这两章，就会得著浇灌并滋养。基督的元素和本质会分赐到你这人里面。然后，你会自然而然的生长并产生基督。你生长的结果就是基督。
7Planted, watered, and made to grow (v. 6) are all related to the matter of life. This indicates that the believers are God’s farm to grow Christ. As plants on God’s farm, the church, we need to grow. Without growth, we are useless. Some of the plants in my garden at home are living, but they do not grow. In like manner, there are many believers today who are alive spiritually, but they do not grow. Of course, it is better to live than to die. As long as we are alive, we have the opportunity to grow. I hope that no one in the Lord’s recovery will be content to live without growing. We all must grow to produce Christ. All the saints in the Lord’s recovery must be desperate to grow. We should pray, “Lord, grant me the growth.” The purpose of our growth on God’s farm is to produce Christ. Just as it is the goal of a vineyard to produce grapes, it is the goal of God’s farm to produce Christ. The central point of these messages on 1 Corinthians 3 is growing to produce Christ. As a help in growing Christ, we need to consider chapters one and two again and again. If you read and pray-read these chapters, you will be watered and nourished. The very element and substance of Christ will be imparted into your being. Then spontaneously you will grow and produce Christ. The issue of your growth will be Christ.
8保罗写林前一、二章的用意，是要陈明基督是我们的分、享受、生命、生活、内容和一切。基督该是我们惟一的拣选、爱好、口味和享受。我们该享受基督到这样的地步，不在意任何一种文化。我们不活文化，乃活基督。基督在我们的日常生活中成为我们的一切─我们的文化、我们的伦理、和我们的道德。我们生长得正确，基督就会在我们里面产生。然后凡我们所生长的基督，都会成为神建筑的材料。召会惟有用基督才得著建造。然而，召会不是用客观的基督，那在诸天之上或忽然从诸天降临的基督来建造。反之，召会是用我们所经历，甚至是我们所生长之出产的基督来建造。因此，为著召会的建造，我们必须有藉著我们在生命里长大所产生的基督。在出埃及记生命读经里我们指出，建造帐幕所用的材料称为举祭。这就是说，神所创造的材料必须为神所救赎的人得著、占有、享受并宝贵。然后人要将这些材料带来，并将其献给神作举祭。惟有这样被得著、占有、并献上的材料，才能成为建造帐幕的正确材料。这表征我们需要得著、占有、并享受基督的丰富，直到这些丰富成为我们的珍宝。然后我们需要将我们所经历的基督带到召会的聚会中，并将这位基督献给主作举祭。这位基督就会成为建造召会所用的材料。
8Paul’sin tent i on in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 is to present Christ as our portion, enjoyment, life, living, content, and everything. Christ should be our one choice, preference, taste, and enjoyment. We should enjoy Christ to such an extent that we do not care for culture of any kind. Instead of living culture, we live Christ. Christ becomes everything to us in our daily living—our culture, our ethics, and our morality. When we grow properly, Christ will be produced in us. Then whatever we grow of Christ will become the materials for God’s building. The church is built only with Christ. However, the church is not built with the objective Christ, with a Christ who is in the heavens or who suddenly descends from the heavens. On the contrary, the church is built with the Christ we experience and who is even the produce grown by us. Thus, for the building of the church, we must have the Christ who is produced through our growth in life. In the Life-study of Exodus we pointed out that the materials used for the building of the tabernacle were called heave offerings. This means that the materials created by God had to be gained, possessed, enjoyed, and treasured by God’s redeemed people. Then the people were to bring these materials and present them to God as heave offerings. Only materials gained, possessed, and offered in this way could be the proper materials for the building of the tabernacle. This signifies that we need to gain, possess, and enjoy the riches of Christ until they become our treasure. Then we need to bring what we have experienced of Christ to the church meetings and offer this Christ to the Lord as a heave offering. This Christ will then become the materials used for the building up of the church
9因著今天基督徒没有经历基督并产生基督，他们中间就没有建造。建造召会不仅是传扬福音，拯救罪人，并将这些新得救的人带到所谓的召会里。这不是召会的建造；这是原料的堆积。在今天大多数的信徒中间所能看见的，顶好的就是这样一种建筑材料的堆积。但真正的建造在那里？没有建造，因为没有经历基督，没有生长基督作神建筑的材料。我们既看见我们是神的耕地，就必须在神圣的生命里长大，以产生基督。
9Because today’s Christians do not experience Christ and produce Christ, there is no building among them. Building the church is not merely a matter of preaching the gospel, saving sinners, and bringing these newly saved ones into a so-called church. This is not the building up of the church; it is the piling up of raw materials. Among most believers today the best that can be seen is such a piling up of building materials. But where is the genuine building? There is no building because there is no experience of Christ, no growing of Christ as the material for God’s building. Now that we have seen that we are God’s farm, we must grow in the divine life to produce Christ.
10栽种并浇灌在六节保罗说，『我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。』我们若要在神的耕地上生长基督，就需要栽种并浇灌。然而，我们不该以为只有像保罗和亚波罗这样的人才有责任栽种并浇灌。召会中所有的弟兄姊妹都该执行这工作。然而，我们没有这观念。反之，当我们发现一位圣徒在某些事上软弱时，我们也许将他交给长老。若有一位弟兄到你这里来，而你晓得他软弱，你就该浇灌他。你不该请长老来，而该𫗪养他并滋养他。我们众人都要学习这点，这是很要紧的。
10PLANTING AND WATERING In verse 6 Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow.” If we would grow Christ on God’s farm, we need the planting and the watering. However, we should not think that only those such as Paul and Apollos are responsible for planting and watering. All the brothers and sisters in the church should carry out this work. However, we do not have this concept. Instead, when we discover that a saint is weak in certain matters, we may refer this one to the elders. If a brother comes to you and you realize that he is weak, you should water him. Instead of calling for the elders, you should feed him and nourish him. It is crucial for us all to learn this.
11你也许觉得你很软弱，在生命里非常低浅。然而，别的圣徒比你更软弱、更低浅。倘若这些比你软弱的人中，有一位来接触你，你就需要浇灌他。这样，你也会得著浇灌。但这不是说，我们该特意浇灌别人。反之，浇灌应当自然而然，甚至不知不觉的进行。每当较软弱的人到你这里来，不要定意浇灌他。这是表演，不是真正的浇灌。你若自然而然，甚至无意之间浇灌别的圣徒，主会主宰的差遣别人到你这里，使你浇灌他们。至终你会发现，藉著浇灌别人，你自己就得著浇灌。这是真正的复兴。在召会生活里，我们都该彼此浇灌。这样，我们就会生长以产生基督。我们缺少浇灌别人的实行，原因是我们仍在基督教的影响之下。当然，我们没有圣品阶级和平信徒的名辞，但我们也许仍有这实行。即使我们已将宗教的背景丢在背后，这背景的影响却仍随著我们，使我们不浇灌别人。例如，一位弟兄也许对自己说，『我是谁？我算不得甚么。让长老和更老练的人照顾别人。我只是召会里的小弟兄。我怎能帮助人？』这种思想必须从我们连根拔除。没有一位弟兄或姊妹该持守这观念，以为自己太软弱或在生命里太低浅，不能浇灌别人。你可能软弱，但你没有死去。即使你觉得自己死了，但你仍在召会生活里，这事实证明你没有完全死了。既然你仍是活的，你就能浇灌别人。不要认为自己没有用。正如我们肉身所有的肢体都是有用的，同样，召会没有一个肢体是无用的，是不能藉著浇灌别人而顾到别人的。
11You may feel that you are weak and very low in life. However, other saints are even weaker and lower than you are. Should one of these weaker ones contact you, you need to water him. Then you will be watered also. But this does not mean that we should water others purposely. Rather, the watering should be done spontaneously and even unconsciously. Whenever a weaker one comes to you, do not make up your mind to water him. This is a performance, not genuine watering. If you water another saint spontaneously, even unintentionally, the Lord will sovereignly send others to you that you may water them. Eventually you will discover that by watering others, you yourself are watered. This is true revival. In the church life, we all should water one another. Then we shall grow to produce Christ. The reason we lack the practice of watering others is that we are still under the influence of Christianity. We, of course, do not have the term clergy-laity, but we may still have this practice. Even though we have left our religious background behind, the influence of this background still follows us and keeps us from watering others. For example, a brother may say to himself, “Who am I? I am nothing. Let the elders and the more experienced ones take care of others. I am just a little brother in the church. How can I help anyone?” This thought must be rooted out of us. No brother or sister should hold the concept that they are too weak or too low in life to water others. Perhaps you are weak, but you are not dead. Even though you may feel dead, the fact that you are still in the church life proves that you are not completely dead. Since you are still alive, you are able to water others. Do not consider yourself useless. Just as all the members of our physical bodies are useful, so there is not one member of the church who is useless and who cannot care for others by watering them
12因著我们宗教的背景，我们很容易只将保罗的话应用在像保罗和亚波罗这样的人身上。我们也许认为只有一些人能栽种并浇灌，但我们自己不能执行这工作。有些圣徒也许认为他们所在地的长老或领头人该作一切浇灌的事。有些人也许只留意自己需要被别人浇灌，却不留意浇灌别人的重要。我再说，这观念需要连根拔除。我们都能浇灌别人。让我们不再继续今天基督教的实行。召会是基督的身体。在身体里每个肢体都是有用的，并且都能尽功用。但愿圣品阶级和平信徒实行的毒素完全除去！我盼望所有的圣徒都看见他们能栽种并浇灌。从现在起，我们不该认为只有长老和更老练的人能帮助别人。反之，我们都必须晓得，我们该是帮助别人的人。我鼓励你们祷告：『主，怜悯我，并给我恩典，使我活你以浇灌别人。每当圣徒带著难处到我这里来的时候，求你题醒我拿起负担帮助那人并浇灌他。』有些人也许害怕，他们若试著去栽种并浇灌，可能会犯错误。可能你会作错事；但要受鼓励，真正的学习是从作、从实行来的。你也许作错一些事，但至终你会从你的错误中学习，并成为熟练栽种并浇灌的人。在某些事上，你甚至可能成为比长老更能帮助人的。地方召会里的长老人数不多。他们怎能顾到这么多弟兄姊妹？不要指望长老作一切，要拿起负担顾到别人，浇灌他们。我们在主的恢复里，是为著召会生活的实行。要正确的实行召会生活，我们都应当栽种并浇灌。
12Because of our religious background, it is easy for us to apply Paul’sword only to such persons as Paul and Apollos. We may think that only certain ones can plant and water, but that we ourselves are not able to carry out this work. Some saints may think that the elders or the leading ones in their locality should do all the watering. Others may concentrate on their own need to be watered by others, not on the importance of watering others. Again I say that this concept needs to be rooted out. We all are able to water others. Let us not carry on the practice of today’s Christianity. The church is the Body of Christ. In the Body every member is useful and can function. May the poison of the clergy-laity practice be completely eliminated! I hope that all the saints will see that they are able to plant and water. From now on, we should not consider that only the elders and the more experienced ones can help others. Instead, we all must realize that we should be the ones to help others. I encourage you to pray, “Lord, have mercy on me and grant me grace that I may live You in order to water others. Whenever a saint comes to me with a problem, remind me to take up the burden to help that one and to water him.” Some may fear that if they try to plant and water, they will make mistakes. Perhaps you will do something wrong. But be encouraged that true learning comes from doing, from practicing. You may do certain things wrong, but eventually you will learn from your mistakes and become skillful at planting and watering. In certain matters you may even become more helpful than the elders. The number of elders in a local church is few. How can they care for so many brothers and sisters? Instead of looking to the elders to do everything, take up the burden to care for others, to water them. We in the Lord’s recovery are here for the practice of the church life. In order to practice the church life in a proper way, we all should plant and water
13不要因著保罗说他栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，就以为保罗只对栽种有用，亚波罗只对浇灌有用。不，在耕地上劳苦的人不但栽种或浇灌；他们作所需要的一切─栽种、浇灌、施肥、甚至修剪并修理植物。藉著操练，我们就会在召会生活里学习作这一切的事。不要说你只要栽种或浇灌，而不作其他的事，那是不对的。反之，我们都必须学习作所需要的一切，好在神的耕地上生长基督。这甚至包括学习杀死搅扰植物生长的『害虫』。较软弱的圣徒也许接触你，你也许晓得他被某种害虫所困扰。自然而然，你也许晓得你也被这种害虫所苦恼，你们都需要同样的药。
13Because Paul says that he planted and Apollos watered, do not think that Paul is useful only for planting and Apollos only for watering. No, those who labor on the farm do not only plant or water; they do whatever is necessary—plant, water, supply fertilizer, and even cut and trim the plants. Through practice we shall learn to do all these things in the church life. It is not true that you should only plant or water and not be involved in the other things. Rather, we all must learn to do whatever is needed to produce the growth of Christ on God’s farm. This even includes learning to kill the “bugs” that trouble the growing plants. A weaker saint may contact you, and you may realize that he is bothered by a particular bug. Spontaneously, you may realize that you also are plagued by this bug and that you both need the same medicine.
14我盼望所有在主恢复里的圣徒都会摸著本篇信息中的负担，也会进入本篇信息的灵里。这样，我们就会得著帮助，在神的耕地上生长以产生基督，我们也会学习照顾别人。
14I hope that all the saints in the Lord’s recovery will touch the burden in this message and also enter into the spirit in which it is given. Then we shall be helped to grow on God’s farm to produce Christ, and we shall also learn to take care of others