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哥林多前书生命读经 · 第23篇

召会是神的耕地和建筑（二）

The Church, God’s Farm and God’s Building (2)
1读经：哥林多前书三章五至十七节。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 3:5-17
栽种的两面
TWO ASPECTS OF PLANTING
2在林前三章六至七节，保罗说到栽种和浇灌：『我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』栽种是供应生命并分赐生命给在属灵上死了的人，使这人成为活的。当生命分赐给死在罪中的人，他就成为活的植物。因著保罗分赐生命给哥林多人，他在基督里就是他们的父亲。在四章十五节他说，『你们在基督里，纵有上万的导师，父亲却不多，因为是我在基督耶稣里藉著福音生了你们。』保罗到哥林多以前，哥林多人还不是『植物』；反之，他们是死了的罪人。但保罗访问他们，将生命分赐给他们，他们就成为活的植物。这是栽种的第一面。栽种的第二面是带这些活的植物接触正确的土壤，并将他们放在土壤里。毫无疑问，能让植物在其中生长的正确土壤乃是召会生活。一面，我们需要学习如何藉著在生命里传扬福音，将基督分赐到罪人里面。当基督分赐到别人里面，他们就成为活的植物。另一面，我们需要将这些植物放在正确的土壤，召会生活里。这两件事一起，就构成栽种。
2In 3:6 and 7 Paul speaks of planting and watering: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow; so that neither is the one who plants anything nor the one who waters, but the One Who makes to grow, God.” To plant is to minister life and impart life to someone who is spiritually dead so that this person may become living. When life is imparted to a person dead in sins, he becomes a living plant. Because Paul imparted life to the Corinthians, he was their father in Christ. In 4:15 he says, “For though you have ten thousand guides in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Before Paul came to Corinth, the Corinthians were not plants. On the contrary, they were dead sinners. But when Paul visited them, he imparted life to them, and they became living plants. This is the first aspect of planting. The second aspect of planting is to bring the living plants into contact with the proper soil and to place them in the soil. To be sure, the right soil in which the plants may grow is the church life. On the one hand, we need to learn how to impart Christ into sinners through the preaching of the gospel in life. When Christ is imparted into others, they become living plants. On the other hand, we need to put these plants into the proper soil, the church life. These two things together constitute the planting
生命的事
A MATTER OF LIFE
3栽种、浇灌、叫人生长，都与生命的事有关。这指明信徒是神的耕地，（三9，）为要生长基督。基督的执事只能栽种并浇灌，惟有神能叫人生长。哥林多的信徒高估栽种的和浇灌的，却忽略那叫人生长的。因此，他们没有在作他们生命的基督里长大。哥林多的信徒受了盛行的希腊哲学智慧的影响，忽略了生命，过分注意知识。保罗在本章的用意，是要把他们的注意力，从知识转到生命，指出他是𫗪养的、栽种的，亚波罗是浇灌的，而神是叫人生长的。在四章十五节，他甚至告诉他们，他是他们属灵的父亲，在基督里藉著福音生了他们。从生命的观点，神圣的观点看，他们乃是神的耕地，为要生长基督。这完全是生命的事，但那些受魂生命、天然生命管辖支配，在天然智慧影响下的信徒，却把这事完全疏漏了。
3Planting, watering, and making to grow are all related to the matter of life. This indicates clearly that the believers are God’s farm to grow Christ. The ministers of Christ can plant and water. God is the only One who can make to grow. The Corinthian believers overestimated the planter and the waterer, but neglected the One who makes to grow. Hence, they did not grow in Christ as their life. The Corinthian believers, under the influence of Greek philosophical wisdom, paid too much attention to knowledge and neglected life. In this chapter Paul’sa im is to turn their attention from knowledge to life, pointing out to them that he is a feeder and a planter, Apollos is a waterer, and God is the Giver of growth. In 4:15 he even tells them that he is their spiritual father, who begot them in Christ through the gospel. From the view of life, the divine view, they are God’s farm to grow Christ. This is totally a matter of life, a matter which is utterly missed by believers who are dominated by their soulish, natural life under the influence of their natural wisdom.
4在七节保罗说，『可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』就著在生命里的长大而言，基督的众执事，不论是栽种的、浇灌的，都算不得甚么，只有神才是一切。我们的眼必须从他们转向神自己。这就拯救我们脱离因看重基督的某一个执事过于别人，而造成的分裂。
4In verse 7 Paul says, “So that neither is the one who plants anything nor the one who waters, but the One Who makes to grow, God.” As far as the growth in life is concerned, all the ministers of Christ, whether a planter or a waterer, are nothing, and God is everything. We must turn our eyes from them to God alone. This delivers us from the divisiveness which results from appreciating one minister of Christ above another
栽种、浇灌与生长
PLANTING, WATERING, AND GROWTH
5在召会生活里我们不但必须学习如何栽种，也必须学习如何浇灌。事实上，浇灌别人非常容易。假定一位圣徒带著难处到你这里来。不要想解决这人的难处。事实上，我们不能解决别人的难处。你自己岂不是有许多尚未解决的难处么？既然你没有解决自己的难处，你如何期望帮助别人解决他们的难处？因此，在浇灌圣徒上，我们该忘记想要解决他们的难处。照著我的经历，浇灌别人最好的作法就是同他们祷读几节经文。例如，一位弟兄也许题起关于工作或家庭生活的难处。不要摸难处，要同他祷读主的话。你若这样作，你们二人都会得著浇灌。藉著你自己得了浇灌的事实，你会知道到你这里来的人也得了浇灌。你感觉得了浇灌，证明你浇灌了他。我们与别人接触时，因著虚空的谈论，就浪费了许多时间。难处无法藉著谈论解决。即使你能解决人的难处，这也不会以生命供应他，或浇灌他。反之，这会杀死他。我再说，我们不该想要解决别人的难处。我们越想要解决难处，难处就会越多，别人也会越被我们的努力杀死。我们接触那些到我们这里来交通的人，不该卷入难处，只该简单。神是我们的父，至终祂会顾到所有的难处。要紧的事乃是浇灌。我们曾指出，藉著同另一位圣徒祷读，我们就能浇灌他。有时候单单同那人祷告就彀了。藉著祷告，那人就被带到主面前，我们也被更深的带到主里面。结果，双方都得著浇灌。这是在召会生活里浇灌圣徒非常实际的路。
5In the church life we must learn not only how to plant, but also how to water. Actually, watering others is very easy. Suppose a saint comes to you with a problem. Do not try to solve this person’s problem. Actually, we are not able to solve others’ problems. Do you not have many problems of your own which are not yet solved? Since you have not solved your own problems, how do you expect to help others with their problems? Thus, in watering the saints, we should forget about trying to solve their problems. According to my experience, the best way to water others is to pray - read a few verses with them. For example, a brother may present a problem concerning his job or family life. Instead of touching the problem, pray-read the Word with him. If you do this, both of you will be watered. You will know that the one who came to you has been watered by the fact that you yourself have been watered. Your consciousness of having been watered proves that you have watered him. In our contact with others a great deal of time is wasted by vain talk. Problems cannot be solved by talking. Even if you are able to solve someone’s problem, this will not supply him with life or water him. Instead, it will kill him. I repeat, we should not try to solve the problems of others. The more we try to solve problems, the more problems there will be, and the more others will be killed by our efforts. Instead of becoming involved with problems, we should be simple in our contact with those who come to us for fellowship. God is our Father, and eventually He will take care of all the problems. The crucial matter is the watering. We have pointed out that by pray-reading with another saint, we can water him. Sometimes it is sufficient simply to pray with that one. By praying the other person is brought to the Lord, and we are brought into the Lord in a deeper way. As a result, both parties are watered. This is a very practical way of watering the saints in the church life.
6在六、七节保罗不但说到栽种和浇灌，也说到生长。保罗强调惟有神叫人生长的事实。在神耕地上的生长，为著神的建筑产生材料。既然叫人生长的乃是神，我们就必须将生长的事交给祂。我们的责任是栽种并浇灌，不是帮助别人生长。我们若试图帮助别人生长，就越过我们的责任。使圣徒生长，是过于我们能力所及的。我们没有人能在别的信徒里面产生生长。甚至保罗也不能叫圣徒生长。他非常清楚我们能栽种并浇灌，但惟有神叫人生长。我们栽种并浇灌的时候，需要凭信有把握，神会叫人生长。我们需要信神在这里，祂会使我们所栽种并浇灌的生长。我们若有这把握，就不会想要帮助别人生长。
6In verses 6 and 7 Paul speaks not only of planting and watering, but also of growing. Paul emphasizes the fact that it is God alone who makes to grow. The growth on God’s farm produces the materials for God’s building. Since it is God who makes to grow, we must leave the matter of growth to Him. Our responsibility is to plant and water, not to help others grow. If we try to help others grow, we overstep our responsibility. It is beyond our capacity to cause the saints to grow. None of us can produce growth in other believers. Not even Paul was able to make the saints grow. He was very clear that we can plant and water, but only God gives the growth. While we are planting and watering, we need to have the assurance with faith that God will make to grow. We need to believe that God is here and that He will cause whatever we plant and water to grow. If we have this assurance, we shall not try to help others grow
7我们若想要帮助别的植物生长，也许就破坏他们，把他们拔出来。我曾读到一个故事，一个小男孩，因著他家附近的草长得不好而受困扰。他想要帮助草生长，就将许多草的叶片拔高。结果，草没有生长，反而死了。这小男孩对草所作的，说明今天有些圣徒在召会生活里所作的。有些召会里的长老不是在栽种并浇种；他们反倒努力要帮助圣徒生长，就是把他们往上拔。但长老越这样帮助，植物长得越少。我们要有充分的把握，当我们栽种并浇灌时，神会叫人生长，这是很重要的。因此，我们栽种并浇灌以后，就该安息，不该试图帮助别人生长。生长不是出于我们；这全然出于神。藉著召会生活和我们的浇灌，神会供应植物，并使他们能生长。只要圣徒留在召会生活里，并得著浇灌，神就会叫他们生长。
7If we try to help other plants grow, we may damage them and pluck them up. I once read of a little boy who was bothered by the fact that the grass near his house was not growing very well. Wanting to help the grass grow, he plucked up many blades of grass. As a result, instead of growing, the grass died. What this little boy did to the grass illustrates what some saints are doing in the church life today. The elders in some churches are not planting and watering; instead, in their efforts to help the saints to grow, they are plucking them up. But the more the elders help in this way, the less the plants grow. It is important for us to have the full assurance that when we plant and water, God will make to grow. Thus, after planting and watering, we should be at rest and not try to help others grow. Growth is not of us; it is altogether of God. Through the church life and our watering, God will supply the plants and enable them to grow. As long as the saints remain in the church life and are watered, God will make them grow.
8神的建筑是神永远的目标召会不但是神的耕地，也是神的建筑。我们在耕地上生长，就产生宝贵的材料，以建造神在地上的居所。神永远的目标乃是这个建筑，就是用宝贵的材料在基督这惟一的根基上建造的殿。建造的工作不但藉著保罗、亚波罗、和矶法这样的人完成，也藉著身体的每个肢体完成，如以弗所四章
8THE BUILDING, GOD’S ETERNAL GOAL The church is not only God’s farm, but also God’s building. As we grow on the farm, we produce precious materials for the building of God’s habitation on earth. God’s eternal goal is the building, the temple built with precious materials on Christ as the unique foundation. The work of building is accomplished not only through those such as Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, but also through every member of the Body, as revealed in
9十六节所启示的。
9Ephesians 4:16
10关于这个建筑，保罗在林前三章十一至十二节说，『因为除了那已经立好的根基，就是耶稣基督以外，没有人能立别的根基。然而，若有人用金、银、宝石，木、草、禾秸，在这根基上建造。』根基是惟一的，但由于不同的工人，使用不同的材料，就有不同的建筑。哥林多的信徒都接受了基督作根基；然而，他们中间有些犹太信徒，想要用犹太教的成就建造召会；也有些希利尼信徒，想要用他们哲学的智慧建造召会。他们不像使徒们，用对基督超越的认识和丰富的经历，建造召会。使徒写本书的用意，是警告他们不要用天然背景的东西建造召会。他们必须学习像使徒一样，用客观认识并主观经历里的基督建造。我们曾指出，十六节的殿是指在某一个地方团体的信徒，而十七节的那殿是指普世所有的信徒。神在宇宙中惟一属灵的殿，在地上的不同地方都有显出，每一显出就是神在那地方的殿。不但如此，十六节的殿是九节『神的建筑』的说明。神的建筑乃是神的圣所，神的灵所居住的殿。哥林多崇尚哲学的希利尼信徒没有正确的领悟，神永远的目标是要得著殿。他们不关心这目标，却关心他们的哲学、文化和智慧。他们也关心个人的兴趣、偏好、拣选和口味。这由保罗在一章十二节指出的事实所证明：『你们各人说，我是属保罗的，我是属亚波罗的，我是属矶法的，我是属基督的。』这指明对有些人而言，保罗是他们的偏好；对有些人而言，亚波罗是他们的拣选；对另一些人而言，矶法合乎他们的口味。哥林多的信徒关心各种个人、个别的事，却忽略神的建筑是祂永远的目标。
10Concerning the building, Paul says in 3:11 and 12, “For other foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble.” The foundation of the building is unique, but the building may differ due to different builders with different materials. All the Corinthian believers had accepted Christ as the foundation. However, some Jewish believers among them attempted to build the church with their Judaistic attainments, and some Greek believers attempted to use their philosophical wisdom. They were not like the apostles, who built with their excellent knowledge and rich experiences of Christ. The intention of the apostle in this Epistle is to warn the believers not to build the church with the things of their natural background. They must learn to build with Christ, both in objective knowledge and subjective experience, as Paul did. We have pointed out that in verse 16 a temple refers to the believers collectively in a certain locality, but in verse 17 the temple refers to all the believers universally. The unique spiritual temple of God in the universe has its expressions in various localities on earth. Each expression is a temple of God in that locality. Furthermore, the temple in verse 16 is the explanation of God’s building in verse 9. God’s building is the sanctuary of God, the temple in which the Spirit of God dwells. The philosophical Greek believers at Corinth did not have the proper realization that God’s eternal goal is to have a temple. Instead of caring for this goal, they cared for their philosophy, culture, and wisdom. They also cared for their personal interests, preferences, choices, and tastes. This is proved by the fact that in 1:12 Paul points out that “each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.” This indicates that for some, Paul was their preference; for others, Apollos was their choice; and for still others, Cephas was according to their taste. The believers at Corinth cared for various personal and individual matters, but neglected God’s building as His eternal goal.
11在三章保罗竭力要给哥林多人看见，神永远的目标乃是祂的建筑。这就是说，神不要信徒单独。祂确实不要圣徒对保罗、亚波罗和矶法，甚或对有限的基督，有个人、个别的偏好。神关心祂的建筑，祂渴望地方上所有的信徒同被建造成为祂的殿。不仅如此，我们若要同被建造成为神的居所，我们就需要生长；要生长，我们就需要浇灌。因此，栽种浇灌与生长，都是为著神的目标，就是神的建筑。保罗对神的目标有清楚的领会。他也清楚领悟，哥林多的希利尼信徒在观念和实行上太个人主义了。神的目标不仅仅是要得著许多个别的信徒，祂的目标乃是要得著会生长材料的耕地，以建造圣殿作祂的居所。关心团体的召会生活
11In chapter three Paul was endeavoring to show the Corinthians that God’s eternal goal is the building. This means that God does not want the believers to be individualistic. He definitely does not want the saints to have personal, individualistic preferences for Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or even for a limited Christ. God cares for the building, and He desires that all the believers in a locality be built together as His temple. Moreover, if we would be built up together to become God’s dwelling place, we need to grow, and in order to grow, we need the watering. Thus, the planting, the watering, and the growth are all for God’s goal, the building. Paul had a clear understanding of God’s goal. He also realized clearly that the Greek believers at Corinth were too individualistic in their concept and practice. It is not God’s goal merely to have many individual believers. His goal is to have a farm that will grow materials for the building up of the holy temple as His dwelling place. CARING FOR THE CORPORATE CHURCH LIFE
12我们需要来看这封书信的背景，好领会保罗对神的耕地和神的建筑这些辞的使用。在哥林多的希利尼信徒不关心团体的召会生活，却关心个人、个别的兴趣。这就产生了分裂。每当有分裂的时候，就无法有神的殿。所以，保罗在一、二章说了一些要紧的事以后，在三章就指明，哥林多人关心自己个别的兴趣，不关心神的殿，神团体的建筑，乃是完全错误的。在三章十七节保罗特别指出，神的建筑，神的那殿是圣的。这殿不是世俗、属世或希腊的。事实上，本节的圣字与任何希腊的事物相对。神的圣殿有别于任何属人、世俗、和属世的事物；尤其是有别于任何希腊的事物。
12We need to consider the background of this Epistle to understand Paul’su se of the expressions God’s farm and God’s building. The Greek believers at Corinth did not care for the corporate church life, but cared instead for their personal and individual interests. This produced division. Whenever there are divisions there cannot be the temple of God. Therefore, after covering certain crucial matters in chapters one and two, Paul indicates in chapter three that the Corinthians are completely wrong in caring for their individual interests and not for God’stem ple, God’s corporate building. In 3:17 Paul specifically points out that God’s building, the temple, is holy. It is not secular, worldly, or Greek. Actually, the word holy in this verse stands in contrast to anything Greek. God’sho ly temple is separate from anything human, secular, and worldly; in particular, it is separated from anything Greek
13我们若思想这卷书头三章的上下文，就会领悟保罗的心意是要使哥林多的信徒有深刻的印象，神的建筑有别于任何希腊的事物。希利尼信徒仍宝贵他们的智慧、哲学、文化和生活方式。他们认为希腊文化是最好的。但保罗说神的殿是圣的，有别于任何属世的事物，尤其是有别于任何希腊的事物。
13If we consider the context of the first three chapters of this book, we shall realize that Paul’sin tent i on was to impress the believers at Corinth that God’s building is separate from anything Greek. The Greek believers still valued their wisdom, philosophy, culture, and way of living. They regarded Greek culture as the best. But Paul says that God’stem ple is holy, separate from anything worldly and particularly from anything Greek
14在十六节保罗强调，神的灵住在那些作祂团体圣殿的信徒里面。但只要哥林多的信徒有个人主义，只要他们关心个人的兴趣，尤其关心他们希腊的哲学和生活方式，他们就不是圣的，也不是团体的。那么他们就无法经历多少那灵的内住，或享受那灵的内住。我们若没有正确的团体召会生活，就无法享受多少那灵的内住。不错，那灵住在我们的灵里。但那灵团体的住在召会里面，比祂个别的住在信徒里面更丰富、更有功效。我们若思想这一切的事，就会领悟保罗的观念很深。他的思想是要折服所有抱个人主义的希利尼信徒，叫他们必须关心团体的召会生活，不要在意自己个别的兴趣、偏好和拣选。
14In verse 16 Paul emphasizes the fact that the Spirit of God dwells in the believers as His corporate temple. But as long as the believers at Corinth were individualistic and as long as they cared for their personal interests, especially for their Greek philosophy and way of living, they were neither holy nor corporate. Then they could not experience very much of the indwelling of the Spirit or enjoy the Spirit’sin dwelling. If we do not have a proper corporate church life, we cannot have much enjoyment of the indwelling of the Spirit. Yes, the Spirit dwells within our spirit. But the Spirit’sin dwelling in the church corporately is much richer and is more prevailing than His indwelling in the believers individually. If we consider all these matters, we shall realize that Paul’s concept is deep. His thought is to convince all the individualistic Greek believers that they must care for the corporate church life and not for their individualistic interests, preferences, and choices
惟一的根基
the unique foundation
15我们由三章十一节知道，基督是召会神的建筑─惟一的根基。没有人能立别的根基。然而，有些哥林多的信徒以保罗、亚波罗、或矶法为他们的根基。他们宣告他们是属保罗、亚波罗或矶法的，就是说这些是他们的根基和立场。在一章十三节保罗问他们：『保罗为你们钉了十字架么？或者你们是浸入保罗的名里么？』藉著问这些问题，保罗指出他不是惟一的根基。反之，保罗在三章十节说，『我照神所给我的恩典，好像一个智慧的工头，立好了根基。』惟一的根基不是保罗、亚波罗、矶法、或神的儿子耶稣基督以外的任何人。哥林多人中间的难处，乃是他们想要立许多别的根基。我们在十四章看见，对有些人而言，说方言是根基。这指明某种实行可能成为根基。所以，保罗要哥林多的信徒领悟，他已经立好了惟一的根基，就是耶稣基督。
15We know from 3:1 1 that Christ is the unique foundation for the church as God’s building. No one ─ can lay any other foundation. Nevertheless, certain of the believers at Corinth were taking Paul, Apollos, or Cephas as their foundation. When they were declaring that they were of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, they were saying that these were their foundation and standing. In 1:13 Paul asks them, “Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?” By asking these questions Paul was pointing out that he is not the unique foundation. On the contrary, Paul says in 3:10, “According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation.” The unique foundation is not Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or anyone other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The problem among the Corinthians is that they were trying to lay many other foundations. We see in chapter fourteen that for some, speaking in tongues was a foundation. This indicates that it is possible for a particular practice to become a foundation. Therefore, Paul wanted the believers at Corinth to realize that he had already laid the unique foundation, Jesus Christ.
16林前三章十节说，『我照神所给我的恩典，好像一个智慧的工头，立好了根基，有别人在上面建造，只是各人要谨慎怎样在上面建造。』本节指明召会不但藉著像保罗、亚波罗、和矶法这些基督的执事来建造，也是藉著身体的每个肢体建造的。我们每一个人都必须是建造者。我们不但该领悟我们是建造者，也该领悟我们必须谨慎怎样在基督这惟一的根基上建造。我们将要看见，召会，神的居所，必须用金、银、宝石，就是由基督在我们里面生长所产生的材料来建造。然而，如十二节所指明的，我们有可能用木、草、禾秸，就是我们在肉体和天然生命里所产生的材料来建造。因此，我们各人，身体的每个肢体，必须谨慎怎样建造；那就是说，我们必须谨慎用甚么材料建造。我们必须用金、银、宝石建造，不可用木、草、禾秸建造。
16First Corinthians 3:10 says, “According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each one take heed how he builds upon it.” This verse indicates that the church is built not only by ministers of Christ such as Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, but by every member of the Body. Every one of us must be a builder. We should realize not only that we are builders, but also that we must take heed how we build upon Christ as the unique foundation. As we shall see, the church, the house of God, must be built with gold, silver, and precious stones, materials produced from Christ’s growing in us. Yet, as verse 12 indicates, there is the possibility that we may build with wood, grass, and stubble, materials produced by us in the flesh and in the natural life. Hence, each of us, every member of the Body, must take heed how we build; that is, we must take heed with what material we build. We must build with gold, silver, and precious stones, not with wood, grass, and stubble.