哥林多前书生命读经 · 第27篇

用天然的东西所建造的工程

The Building Work with Natural Things

1读经：哥林多前书3:10b,12-13,15。在前面的信息里，我们看过用变化的材料所建造的工程。这是保罗说到建造工程积极的一面。在本篇信息中，我们要来看消极的一面，就是用天然的东西所建造的工程。

1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 3:10b, 12-13, 15 In the foregoing message we considered the building work with transformed materials. This is the positive side of Paul’sword about the building work. In this message we shall consider the negative side, the building work with natural things

2我们来看用木、草、禾秸建造（林前三12）的意思以前，需要指出，在已过的年日，大多数的信徒都没有充分领会林前三章。原因乃是本章是以经历的方式写的。因著大多数读哥林多前书的人都缺少属灵的经历，他们就无法领会本章。许多人甚至对这卷书不感兴趣，而比较喜欢圣经其他的部分，如符合他们天然观念的箴言。林前三章又深又奥。保罗写本章时使用许多隐喻：奶、干粮、栽种、浇灌、神的耕地、神的建筑、根基、金、银、宝石、木、草、禾秸、火和殿。我们若没有经历，就无法正确的解释这些隐喻，或领会其中的意义。许多读本章的人只留意保罗所用的两个隐喻：根基和殿。少有人知道用金、银、宝石，或用木、草、禾秸建造是甚么意思。所以，今天对许多读者而言，这一章几乎完全是封闭的。我们许多人读圣经时有个习惯，想要仅仅在道理上或神学上领会圣经。然而，我们读圣经任何一段，都不该想要在神学上领会，乃该在经历上领会。我们该寻求认识，这段话与我们对主的经历有怎样的关系。不但如此，我们在释放信息时，需要在经历上，不仅仅在道理上陈明我们的信息。

2Before we consider what it means to build with wood, grass, and stubble (v. 12), we need to point out that over the years 1 Corinthians 3 has not been adequately understood by most believers. The reason for this is that this chapter was written in an experiential way. Since most readers of 1 Corinthians are short of spiritual experience, they are not able to understand this chapter. In many cases they are not even interested in it and prefer other portions of the Bible, such as Proverbs, which suit their natural concept. First Corinthians 3 is deep and profound. In writing this chapter Paul uses many metaphors: milk, solid food, planting, watering, God’s farm, God’s building, foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble, fire, and temple. Without experience we cannot interpret these metaphors properly or understand their significance. Many readers of this chapter pay attention only to two of the metaphors used by Paul: the foundation and the temple. Few know what it means to build with gold, silver, and precious stones or with wood, grass, and stubble. Therefore, for many readers today, this chapter is almost completely closed. In reading the Bible many of us have the habit of trying to understand it merely in a doctrinal way or in a theological way. However, when we read any portion of the Bible, we should try to understand it not theologically but experientially. We should seek to know how this portion of the Word relates to our experience with the Lord. Furthermore, in giving messages we need to present our message in an experiential way, not merely in a doctrinal way

31我们已经指出，林前一至二章又深又奥。这两章甚至启示神的深奥。（二10。）三章也非常深奥。保罗若没有以隐喻的方式写这一章，可能需要好几章来陈明他里面所有的。

3We have pointed out that chapters one and two of Corinthians are deep and profound. These chapters even reveal the depths of God (2:10). Chapter three is also very profound. If Paul had not written this chapter in a metaphorical way, he probably would have needed several more chapters to present what was within him.

4我们读这一章时，不应当只寻求领会其中的文字；我们也应当看其中所描绘的一切图画。保罗说到神的耕地，农场，这不但是隐喻，也是图画。我们思考召会是神耕地的意思时，就能想像出耕作、播种、栽种、浇灌、生长、出产和收成。这样思考这件事，就是看保罗使用隐喻所表达的图画。我们读这一章时，不该将事情视为理所当然。反之，我们该询问立别的根基是甚么意思。我们也该探求金、银、宝石是甚么意思，木、草、禾秸又是甚么意思。例如，我们在哥林多人背景的光中，读保罗所说不要立别的根基，我们就会领悟，保罗的意思是不要立希腊的哲学或文化为根基。这也含示我们不该让我们的意见、偏好、或拣选成为根基。一位弟兄也许说，他有负担到某地去。然而，那负担也许只是那位弟兄个人的口味或偏好。我们读这一章时应当严肃，并渴望领会保罗所说一切不同隐喻的意义。我们必须找著对这些表号的正确解释。

4As we read this chapter we should not only seek to understand the language; we should also look at all the pictures portrayed in it. Paul’sword about God’s farm, a cultivated land, is not only a metaphor, but also a picture. As we consider what it means for the church to be God’s farm, we can visualize plowing, sowing, planting, watering, growing, producing, and harvesting. To consider the matter in this way is to look at the picture conveyed by the metaphors used by Paul. In reading this chapter, we should not take things for granted. Rather, we should ask what it means to lay another foundation. We should also inquire what is the significance of gold, silver, and precious stones, and what is the meaning of the wood, grass, and stubble. For example, when we read Paul’sword about not laying another foundation in the light of the background of the Corinthians, we shall realize that Paul means not to lay Greek philosophy or culture as a foundation. It also implies that we should not make our opinions, preferences, or choices a foundation. A brother may say that he is burdened to go to a certain place. That burden, however, may simply be that brother’s personal taste or preference. In reading this chapter we should be serious and desire to understand what Paul means by all the different metaphors. We must find the proper interpretation of these figures.

壹用木、草、禾秸

I. WITH WOOD, GRASS, AND STUBBLE

一属肉体或属魂的天然事物

A. Natural Things, Either Fleshly or Soulish

5木、草、禾秸表征出自信徒天然背景（如犹太教或其他宗教、哲学、文化），以及天然生活方式（大多在魂里，且是天然的生命）的知识、理解和成就。木与金相对，表征人天然的性情；草与银相对，表征堕落的人，属肉体的人，（彼前一24，）未被基督救赎而重生的人；禾秸与宝石相对，表征出自属地的源头，未被圣灵变化的工作与生活。这些没有价值的材料，都是信徒天然人的产品，以及从他们背景中收集的东西。在神的经纶中，这些材料只适合于被焚烧。（林前三13。）

5Wood, grass, and stubble signify the knowledge, realization, and attainments which come from the believers’ background (such as Judaism or other religions, philosophy, or culture) and the natural way of living (which is mostly in the soul and is the natural life). Wood may be in contrast to gold, signifying the nature of the natural man; grass may be in contrast to silver, signifying the fallen man, the man of the flesh (1 Pet. 1:24), unredeemed by Christ; and stubble may be in contrast to precious stones, signifying the work and living which issues from an earthen source, without any transformation by the Holy Spirit. All these worthless materials are the product of the believers’ natural man together with what they have collected from their background. In God’secon o my these materials are fit only to be burned (v. 13

二木

B. Wood

6这里的木实际上特别指希利尼人属人的性情。希利尼人生来非常崇尚哲学。我信他们甚至用哲学研究基督。因此，木指他们的性情，他们天然的组成。同样的原则，木表明我们照著天然组成的所是。例如，中国人有伦理的性情。这是他们的『木』。我们不该用木建造召会。这就是说，我们不该用我们的性情，用我们天然的组成建造召会。

6Specifically and practically, wood here refers to the human nature of the Greeks. By nature the Greeks are very philosophical. I believe they even philosophized concerning Christ. Thus, wood refers to their nature, their natural makeup. In the same principle, wood denotes what we are according to our natural makeup. For example, the Chinese have an ethical nature. This is their “wood.” We should not build the church with wood. This means that we should not build it with our nature, with our natural makeup.

三草

C. Grass

7我们已经指出，草表征属肉体、未被救赎的人。木表征希利尼人的性情，而草表征希利尼人天然的人。用草建造召会，就是用我们在天然人里的所是建造召会。例如，我在烟台参加的弟兄会，其领头人是非常缓慢、稳重的人，他走路总是缓慢、谨慎、并从容不迫。有一次他教导圣经时说，神作事总是慢慢的。因著这领头人的影响，那个弟兄会里几乎每个人都学习要慢。他们进到会所的范围，走路就非常缓慢。不但如此，聚会里所有的祷告都是非常缓慢。那整个弟兄会都是照著领头人天然的所是。这是用草建造召会的例证。

7We have pointed out that grass signifies the unredeemed man of the flesh. Wood signifies the nature of the Greeks, whereas grass signifies the natural man of the Greeks. To build the church with grass is to build it with what we are in our natural being. For example, the leader of the Brethren assembly I attended in Chefoo was a very slow and steady person. He always walked slowly, carefully, and deliberately. Once in teaching the Bible he said that God always does things slowly. Because of the influence of this leader, almost everyone in that assembly learned to be slow. When they came into the area of the meeting hall, they walked very slowly. Furthermore, all the prayers in the meetings were offered in a very slow way. That entire Brethren assembly was according to the natural being of the leader. This is an illustration of what it means to build the church with grass

8用草建造就是用我们所是，用我们所喜欢的建造。假定某人对说方言有很强的偏好，想要提倡说方言就是用草建造。每当我们照著我们在天然人里的所是，或照著我们天然的偏好建造，我们就是用草建造。

8To build with grass is to build with what we are and with what we prefer. Suppose a particular person has a strong preference for speaking in tongues. To seek to promote tongues-speaking is to build with grass. Whenever we build according to what we are in our natural being or according to our natural preference, we build with grass

四禾秸

D. Stubble

9禾秸表征出自属地源头的工作和生活。禾秸全然没有生命。用禾秸建造，比用木、草建造更糟。嫉妒、争竞、忌恨、闲谈和批评，都是禾秸的各方面。崇尚哲学的人通常很会批评。他们越以哲学的方式思考，就越批评别人。这样的批评就是禾秸。今天在基督徒中间很难找著正确的建造材料。你在那里能找著金、银、宝石？然而，却有许多木、草、禾秸。我们到处都能看见天然的组成、天然的人，甚至嫉妒、忌恨、争竞、恼恨、怨言和牢骚等类的事。几乎在任何的基督徒团体中，你都能找著木、草、禾秸；那就是说，你能找著照著天然的组成、天然的人、和属地生活之特征而有的建造。林前三章的木、草、禾秸，尤其是指希腊性情、希腊所是、以及希腊生活方式的邪恶，特别是这些事物彰显在哥林多信徒中间的时候。

9Stubble signifies the work and living which issue from an earthen source. Stubble is altogether without life. To build with stubble is even worse than building with wood and grass. Jealousy, strife, envy, gossip, and criticism are all aspects of stubble. Philosophical people are usually very critical. The more they think in a philosophical way, the more they criticize others. Such criticism is stubble. It is very difficult among Christians today to find the proper building materials. Where can you find gold, silver, and precious stones? However, there is an abundance of wood, grass, and stubble. Everywhere we can see the natural makeup, the natural being, and even such things as jealousy, envy, strife, hatred, murmuring, and complaining. In almost any Christian group you can find wood, grass, stubble; that is, you can find the building according to the natural makeup, the natural being, and the characteristics of earthly living. In particular, in 1 Corinthians 3 wood, grass, and stubble refer to the Greek nature, the Greek being, and the evil of the Greek way of living, especially as these things were expressed among the believers in Corinth.

10在三章保罗嘱咐圣徒，不要在基督这惟一的根基以外，立任何事或任何人为根基。这就是说，我们不可高举任何人或任何事以顶替基督。我们若高举某人或某事以顶替基督，就是立别的根基。保罗也嘱咐我们要谨慎怎样在基督这惟一的根基上建造。哥林多人不可用他们的希腊性情，希腊的己、或希腊的嫉妒、争竞、和批评来建造。换句话说，他们不可用任何希腊的事物建造召会。大约五十年前，在中国许多基督徒中间有一种盛行的趋势，要从基督的众召会中除去西方文化的影响。这运动里的人渴望召会里的一切，都照著中国本地的文化。他们甚至要把礼拜堂和教堂建筑成中国的样子，而不是西方的样子。这运动里的基督徒珍赏圣经，但他们拒绝传教士所带来的文化。他们的目标是要使召会在各面成为中国的。然而，召会不该是西方的，也不该是中国的。召会只该是基督的。这就是说，无论以那一种方式，在那一方面，召会都应当用基督建造。与召会有关的一切都必须是基督。虽然召会该用基督，并且单单用基督建造，但实际上每个公会和基督徒团体都设法在某一面成为『本土的』或天然的。要建立本土化的公会或团体，就是要用我们的组成和所是（不管是甚么）来建造。有些人也许渴望召会照著德国的性情，有些人渴望照著法国的组成，还有些人渴望照著中国的构成。这就是照著我们在天然生命、天然组成、和天然人里的所是与所作建造召会。

10In chapter three Paul charges the saints not to lay anything or anyone other than Christ as the unique foundation. This means that we must not exalt anyone or anything in place of Christ. If we exalt someone or something instead of Christ, we lay another foundation. Paul also charges us to take heed how we build upon Christ as the unique foundation. The Corinthians were not to build with their Greek nature, their Greek self, or their Greek jealousy, strife, and criticism. In other words, they were not to build the church with anything Greek. About fifty years ago there was a prevailing trend among many Christians in China to remove from the Christian churches there any trace of Western culture. The desire of those in this movement was to have everything in the church according to native Chinese culture. They even wanted the chapels and church buildings to be constructed in a native way instead of in a Western way. The Christians in this movement appreciated the Bible, but they rejected the culture brought over by the missionaries. Their goal was to make their church Chinese in every way. The church, however, should be neither Western nor Chinese. It should simply be Christian. This means that the church should be built with Christ in every way and in every aspect. Everything related to the church must be Christ. Although the church should be built with Christ and Christ alone, virtually every denomination and Christian group seeks to be “native” or natural in some way. To have a native denomination or group is to build with our natural makeup and being, no matter what these may be. Some may desire a church according to the German nature, others according to the French makeup, and still others according to the Chinese constitution. This is to build the church according to what we are and what we do in our natural life, makeup, and being

11许多年前，我应邀访问英国一个在当地人中间以属灵闻名的地方。我停留一个月，的确发觉有些真实的属灵。然而，我看见更多的是他们强调英国人作事的方法。他们不知不觉就想要使别人英国化，甚至还想控制遥远的地方。这团体的领头人两次应我们的邀请来台湾供应我们。他第一次的访问很好，也非常有益处。然而，他第二次的访问相当破坏人，因他想要把一些英国的习惯和风俗加在圣徒身上。例如，他在一次交通中评论：『为甚么你们的军人弟兄还在会所里就戴上帽子？聚会一散，还没有出到会所外面，你们就戴上帽子了。』照著他的意见，弟兄在室内戴帽子是错误的。一位弟兄试著解释在远东军人中间的习惯，军人无论在室内或室外都不脱帽；然而，军人弟兄在聚会中总是脱帽。但聚会一散，不管在会所里外，他们就戴上帽子。然而，这位弟兄非常强硬，并且问：『你们是跟从人的风俗，还是跟从圣经？』他这样回应以后，我对自己说，『弟兄，你不公平。我们确实跟从圣经。照著圣经，弟兄在召会聚会里祷告，不该蒙著头。但他还在会所里，把帽子戴在头上，的确没有错。主张军人必须等到在会所外面才戴上帽子，是照著你们西方的风俗。在英国这也许是你们的作法。因为我们在这事上不照著你们的风俗，你就指责我们不跟从圣经，这乃是不公平的。』我领悟用天然的事物建造召会的严肃，就凭著主的怜悯，尽心竭力不要把中国的事物带进主在美国的恢复。不仅如此，我的确不要我所是的任何事物，影响召会的建造。我们没有人该照著我们在天然人里的所是建造召会。我们不该允许天然人的任何事物被摆在召会里。关于这点，我们都需要仰望主的怜悯。愿主怜悯我们，使我们不用自己天然的所是建造召会。召会若彰显领头人天然的组成或天然的所是，这至少在某种程度上指明召会是用草建造的；有出于未被救赎、天然之人的东西被摆在召会里，这乃是没有被基督救赎、了结、并顶替的元素。虽然我生为中国人，但我能见证，我的愿望是被了结并顶替。我不要用草，用我天然人里的所是建造召会。我们没有人该用木或草建造，更不该用嫉妒、争竞、和批评等禾秸建造。

11Many years ago I was invited to visit a place in England which was famous for the spirituality among the people there. I stayed for a month, and I did find some genuine spirituality. However, what I saw more was their emphasis on the British way of doing things. They unconsciously intended to make others British and even exerted control over places far away. On two occasions the leader of this group came to Taiwan at our invitation to minister to us. His first visit was wonderful and very profitable. However, his second visit was quite damaging, for he sought to impose on the saints certain British habits and customs. For example, during a time of fellowship he remarked, “Why do you brothers who are servicemen put on your caps when you are still in the meeting hall? As soon as the meeting is dismissed, you put on your caps, even before you are outside the building.” According to his opinion, the brothers were wrong in wearing their caps indoors. A certain brother tried to explain the custom among military personnel in the Far East, that it is not the practice for a soldier to remove his cap whether inside or outside. Nevertheless, the military brothers always remove their caps during a meeting. But as soon as the meeting is over, they put on their caps, not caring whether they are inside or outside the meeting hall. Nevertheless, this brother was very strong and asked, “Do you follow human customs, or do you follow the Bible?” After he responded in this way, I said to myself, “Brother, you are not fair. We definitely follow the Bible. According to the Bible, when a brother prays in a church meeting, he should not have any covering on his head. But there certainly is nothing wrong with putting a cap on one’she ad when he is still in the meeting hall. To claim that a soldier must wait until he is outside the hall is to follow your Western custom. In Britain this may be your practice. But it is unfair to accuse us of not following the Bible because we do not keep your custom in this matter.” Realizing the seriousness of using natural things to build up the church, I have earnestly endeavored, by the Lord’s mercy, not to bring Chinese things into the Lord’s recovery in this country. Moreover, I certainly do not want anything of what I am to influence the building of the church. None of us should build the church according to what we are in our natural being. We should not allow anything of our natural being to be put into the church. Concerning this we all need to look to the Lord for His mercy. May the Lord have mercy on us that we will not build the church with what we are by nature. If the church expresses the natural makeup or natural being of the leading ones, this indicates that, at least to some extent, the church has been built with grass. Something of the unredeemed natural man has been put into the church. This is an element which has not been redeemed, terminated, and replaced by Christ. Although I was born a Chinese, I can testify that my desire is to be terminated and replaced. I do not want to build the church with grass, with what I am in my natural being. None of us should build with wood or grass, much less with the stubble of jealousy, strife, and criticism.

12我们若看今天基督徒中间的情况，就会领悟保罗论到木、草、禾秸的话不仅是道理。我们都必须运用我们的灵，仰望主，并祷告：『主阿，怜悯我，使我不用我天然的组成，用我天然的人，或用任何出于嫉妒、争竞、或忌恨的东西建造你的召会。主，我要用父性情的金，用救赎、了结、并顶替我的十字架的银，且用圣灵变化的工作，建造你的召会。我要在调和的灵里建造召会，在这灵里我经历父的性情和子的救赎，至终还有那灵的变化。主，我渴望这样建造召会。』现在我们能领会保罗关于建造召会所用正确材料的观念。在三章保罗实际上是告诉哥林多的信徒：『你们是神耕地上的植物。现在你们需要生长基督。你们越长大，就越成为为著神建筑的金、银、宝石。不要在基督以外立任何根基。不要高举任何事、任何人、或任何道理、作法。只要在包罗万有的基督这已经立好的惟一根基上建造。但你们要谨慎，不要用任何希腊的事物在这位基督上面建造；乃要用会带进那灵变化之父的性情和子的救赎来建造。然后召会就会是金的，并且满了银和宝石。』

12If we look at the situation among Christians today, we shall realize that Paul’sword about wood, grass, and stubble is not a mere doctrine. We all must exercise our spirit, look to the Lord, and pray, “O Lord, have mercy on me that I would not build Your church with my natural makeup, with my natural being, or with anything of jealousy, strife, or envy. Lord, I want to build Your church with the gold of the Father’s nature, with the silver of the cross which redeems, terminates, and replaces me, and with the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. I want to build the church in the mingled spirit where I experience the Father’s nature and the Son’s redemption, and eventually have the Spirit’s transformation. Lord, I desire to build the church in this way.” Now we can understand Paul’s concept concerning the proper materials used in building the church. In chapter three Paul was actually telling the Corinthian believers, “You are plants on God’s farm. Now you need to grow Christ. The more you grow, the more you will become gold, silver, and precious stones for God’s building. Do not lay any foundation other than Christ. Do not exalt anything, anyone, or any doctrine or practice. Simply build upon the all-inclusive Christ as the unique foundation already laid. But take heed not to build upon this Christ with anything Greek; rather build with the Father’s nature and the Son’s redemption which will result in the Spirit’s transformation. Then the church will be golden and full of silver and precious stones

贰被烧毁

II. TO BE CONSUMED

13在十五节保罗发出警告的话：『人的工程若被烧毁，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；只是这样得救，要像从火里经过的一样。』木、草、禾秸的工程，只适合于被焚烧。这是主回来时，要被祂审判的火烧毁的工程。

13In verse 15 Paul issues a word of warning: “If anyone’s work shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” The work of wood, grass, and stubble is fit only to be burned. This is the work which shall be consumed by the Lord’s judging fire a tHis return

参受亏损

III. TO SUFFER LOSS

14保罗说，『他就要受亏损』，意指失去赏赐，不是指失去救恩。这里的受亏损，不是指沉沦说的。我们在基督里所接受的救恩，不是凭我们的行为，（多三5，）在本质上是永远的、不变的。（来五9，约十28～29。）因此，信徒若在他基督徒的工作上，不蒙审判的主称许而受到亏损，失去赏赐，他仍然要得救。神给所有信徒的救恩，乃是白白的恩赐，是直到永远的；而主给那些在基督徒的工作上蒙祂称许之信徒的赏赐，是为著国度时代的。这赏赐是对他们基督徒工作的一个激励，不是给全部信徒的。

14When Paul says, “he shall suffer loss,” he means loss of reward, not loss of salvation. To suffer loss here absolutely does not mean to perish. The salvation which we have received in Christ is not by our works (Titus 3:5) and is eternal, unchangeable in nature (Heb. 5:9; John 1 0:2 8-2 9). Hence, those believers whose Christian works will not be approved by the judging Lord and who will suffer the loss of reward will still be saved. God’ss alvation to all believers as a free gift is for eternity, whereas the Lord’s reward to those whose Christian works are approved by Him is for the Kingdom age. The reward is an incentive for their Christian work, and it is not given to all believers.

15那些基督徒工作在主回来时不蒙称许的信徒，他们虽然仍要得救，却像从火里经过的一样。从火里经过必定是指惩治。然而，这绝不是炼狱，炼狱是天主教迷信而曲解本节的话，所教导的异端。虽然如此，这话今天对于我们基督徒的工作，该是一个严肃的警告。

15Although those believers whose Christian works will not be approved by the Lord at His coming back will be saved, they will be saved so as through fire. Through fire surely indicates punishment. However, it is altogether not the purgatory heretically taught by Catholicism in its superstitious quoting of this verse. Nevertheless, this word should be a solemn warning to us today concerning our Christian works