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哥林多前书生命读经 · 第28篇

在惟一的根基上建造

Building on the Unique Foundation
1读经：哥林多前书三章十至十五节。在林前三章十至十一节保罗说，『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。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。』我们若要对这两节有正确并深刻的领会，就需要知道写这些经文的背景。哥林多人中间到底有怎样的情况，使保罗说除了基督以外，没有别的根基？背景乃是哥林多那些崇尚哲学的信徒，转向他们的希腊文化、哲学和智慧，却不转向基督。在实行上他们在立别的根基。不但如此，照著他们哲学的头脑，他们欣赏不同的属灵大汉。欣赏某人并且偏爱他，就是使那人成为根基顶替基督。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 3:10-15 In 3:10 and 11 Paul 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. For other foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.” If we would have the proper and deep understanding of these verses, we need to know the background against which they were written. What was the situation among the Corinthians that caused Paul to say that, apart from Christ, there is no other foundation? The background was that the philosophical believers in Corinth were turning to their Greek culture, philosophy, and wisdom instead of Christ. In practice they were laying other foundations. Furthermore, according to their philosophical mentality, they appreciated various spiritual giants. To appreciate a certain person and prefer him is to make that person a foundation in place of Christ
2受异象管治许多基督教的领头人和教师引用保罗在三章十一节关于不要在基督以外立根基的话。然而，题起这一节的人也许并不领会保罗这话的背景。他们也不领悟自己实际上也许就在立别的根基。对有些人而言，根基是医病或说方言；对有些人而言，根基是福音或差传工作。我们看今天基督徒中间的情况，就看见几乎有各种可想像得出的根基。几乎任何事物都能成为根基，顶替基督这惟一的根基。
2GOVERNED BY A VISION Many Christian leaders and teachers quote Paul’sword in 3:11 about not laying a foundation other than Christ. However, those who refer to this verse may not understand the background of Paul’sword. Neither do they realize that they themselves may actually be laying another foundation. For some, the foundation is healing or speaking in tongues; for others, it is evangelism or missionary work. As we consider the situation among Christians today, we see that there is almost every kind of foundation imaginable. Almost anything can become a foundation in place of Christ as the unique foundation
3我们若摸著三章十一节里真理的深处，并照其上下文和背景领会这一节，就会看见基督是惟一根基的异象。然后这真理，这异象，就会管治并控制我们。没有异象，民就放肆。（箴二九18。）在今天大多数的基督徒中间，并没有基督是惟一根基的管治异象。反之，许多传道人和工人『放肆』，立别的根基。一面，许多人说到保罗在林前三章十一节关于基督是根基的话；另一面，甚至他们说到这一节的时候，也在立别的根基。这该警告我们，不要仅仅在道理上领会三章十一节。
3If we touch the depths of the truth in 3:1 1 and understand this verse according to its context and background, we shall see a vision of Christ as the unique foundation. This truth, this vision, will then govern and control us. Where there is no vision, people run wild (Prov. 29:18, lit.). Among the vast majority of Christians today, there is no governing vision of Christ as the unique foundation. Rather, many ministers and workers “run wild” to lay another foundation. On the one hand, many refer to Paul’s word in 3:11 concerning Christ as the foundation; on the other hand, even while speaking of this verse, they are laying another foundation. This should warn us not to understand 3:11 merely in a doctrinal way.
4经历的真理在这些信息中，我一再劝圣徒们不要仅仅在道理上读哥林多前书。然而，许多人仍只能吃道理的奶，不能吃这卷书里所启示更深、经历、和实际之真理的干粮。倘若我们读这封书信，只照著白纸黑字领会，不在意背景，我们对这书信的领会就不会很实际，而仅仅是道理而已。
4EXPERIENTIAL TRUTHS In these messages I have urged the saints again and again not to approach 1 Corinthians merely in a doctrinal way. Nevertheless, many are still able to take only the milk of doctrine, not the solid food of the deeper, experiential, and practical truths revealed in this book. If we read this Epistle and understand it only according to the black and white letters and do not care for the background, our understanding of it will not be very practical. On the contrary, it will be merely doctrine
5保罗在哥林多前书里说到惟一的根基，而没有在其他的书信里说到这事，这是很有意义的。例如，因著这不是歌罗西书背景的一部分，在那卷书里就没有说到这事。但哥林多的信徒正在立不同的根基，那些崇尚哲学的信徒使不同的人和不同的作法成为根基。这与保罗在林前一章十二节的话有关：『我是说，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。』这指明有人立亚波罗为根基，另有的人又立矶法或保罗为他们的根基。有些哥林多人立意见或智慧为根基。因此，在哥林多的信徒中间，有许多根基。这背景使保罗说，『不要在基督以外立任何别的根基。我好像一个智慧的工头，已经立好基督作惟一的根基。我到你们那里，没有带著别的，只带著基督而去。我警告你们不要立别的根基，乃要在那已经立好的根基上建造。不但如此，你们必须谨慎怎样建造。不要用希腊文化，也不要用你们的意见、哲学，或用你们对任何人的欣赏、偏好来建造。用这些材料建造，就是用木、草、禾秸建造。』这样领会哥林多前书，就是摸著这卷书的深处。在哥林多的难处是希利尼信徒高举哲学和属灵大汉。他们这样作，就是在基督以外立别的根基。这样领会三章十一节，乃是越过仅仅的道理，来理解保罗话语实际的意义。这也是用信徒中间真实的情况说明道理。保罗知道他们的情况，他似乎在告诉他们：『不要立希腊文化或哲学为根基。你们也不该高举任何人，在基督以外使人成为根基。』我们若说我们支持受浸，或支持说方言，就是在基督以外立别的根基。但照著一章二节和九节，基督是他们的，也是我们的，我们蒙召进入了基督的交通。这位基督，神惟一的中心和我们惟一的分，乃是惟一的根基。
5It is significant that Paul speaks of the unique foundation in 1 Corinthians, but not in his other Epistles. For example, because this was not part of the background of the Epistle to the Colossians, there is no word concerning it in that book. But the believers at Corinth were laying different foundations. Those philosophical believers were making different persons and practices foundations. This is related to Paul’s word in 1:12: “Now I mean this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.” This indicates that one laid Apollos as a foundation, whereas others made Cephas or Paul their foundations. Some of the Corinthians laid a foundation of opinion or wisdom. Thus, among the believers at Corinth, there were many foundations. This background caused Paul to say, “Do not lay any foundation other than Christ. As a wise master builder, I have already laid Christ as the unique foundation. When I came to you, I came with nothing except Christ. I warn you not to lay another foundation, but to build upon the foundation already laid. Furthermore, you must take heed how you build. Do not build with Greek culture, with your opinions or philosophy or with your appreciation or preference for any persons. To build with these materials is to build with wood, grass, and stubble.” To understand 1 Corinthians in this way is to touch the depths of this book. The problem in Corinth was that the Greek believers were exalting philosophy and spiritual giants. By doing this they were laying foundations other than Christ. To understand 3:11 in this way is to go beyond mere doctrine and grasp the practical significance of Paul’sword. It is also to illustrate the doctrine by the actual situation among the believers. Knowing their situation, Paul seemed to be telling them, “Don’t lay Greek culture or philosophy as a foundation. Neither should you exalt any person and make a person a foundation other than Christ.” If we say that we are for immersion or for speaking in tongues, we are laying a foundation other than Christ. But according to 1:2 and 9, Christ is theirs and ours, and we have been called into the fellowship of Christ. This Christ, God’s unique center and our unique portion, is the unique foundation.
6用宝贵的材料建造在三章十节保罗劝我们，要谨慎怎样在基督这惟一的根基上建造。在哥林多的信徒不可用他们的希腊文化、哲学、或组成建造。那样建造是用木、草、禾秸建造，不是用金、银、宝石建造。用这些宝贵的材料建造是甚么意思？我们可以说，这就是用基督自己建造。但我们需要进一步看见，基督是三一神的具体化身。我们有三一神，就有父神作为金，子神的救赎作为银，灵神变化的工作作为宝石。正如我们曾指出的，在经历上，宝石是金和银的总和。这就是说，那灵是藉著神圣的性情和基督的
6BUILDING WITH PRECIOUS MATERIALS In 3:10 Paul urges us to take heed how we build upon Christ as the unique foundation. The believers in Corinth were not to build with their Greek culture, philosophy, or makeup. To build in that way is to build with wood, grass, and stubble, not with gold, silver, and precious stones. What does it mean to build with these precious materials? We may say that it is to build with Christ Himself. But we need to go further and see that Christ is the embodiment of the Triune God. With the Triune God we have God the Father as the gold, the redemption of God the Son as the silver, and the transforming work of God the Spirit as precious stones. As we have pointed out, in experience the precious stones are the totality of gold and silver. This means that the Spirit transforms us by means of the
7十字架变化我们。经历那灵变化的工作，就是藉著我们里面神圣的生命，经历新陈代谢的改变。
7divine nature and the cross of Christ. To experience the transforming work of the Spirit is to undergo a metabolic change by the divine life within us
保罗的负担我要再次指出，这卷书的一、二、
PAUL’S BURDEN Once again I wish to point out that chapters one, two
8三章非常深。这几章主要不是道理的，乃是经历的。保罗不是用道理或神学为基础写这几章。反之，他乃是照著哥林多召会真实的情况和光景写的。我们需要有深刻的印象：当地信徒的情况是，他们的生活被希腊文化、哲学、和智慧所渗透；他们全然照著希腊的生活方式而活。所以，保罗有负担给他们看见，这不是过基督徒生活、召会生活、或身体生活的路。在神的经纶里，中心必须是基督，也单单是基督。我们蒙召进入了基督的交通；基督是他们的，也是我们的。这就是说，基督是我们惟一的分，是一切相信祂并呼求祂名之人的分。基督既是我们惟一的分，我们就不该有自己的拣选或偏好。我们不该在基督以外高举任何人或任何事。基督是所赐给众圣徒惟一的分；为著我们的生活，祂是我们的一切。基督是从神给我们的智慧，我们每天的公义、圣别和救赎。这是在这几章里关于基督的中心思想。
8and three of this book are very deep. These chapters are not primarily doctrinal, but experiential. Paul did not compose these chapters with doctrine or theology as the basis. Rather, he composed them according to the actual situation and condition of the church in Corinth. We need to be deeply impressed with the fact that the situation among the believers there was that their living was pervaded by Greek culture, philosophy, and wisdom. They were altogether living according to the Greek way of life. Therefore, Paul was burdened to show them that this is not the way to have the Christian life, the church life, or the Body life. In God’secon o my the center must be Christ and Christ alone. We have been called into the fellowship of Christ, the Christ who is theirs and ours. This means that Christ is our unique portion, the portion of all those who believe in Him and call upon His name. Since Christ is our only portion, we should not have our own choices or preferences. We should not exalt anyone or anything other than Christ. Christ is the unique portion given to all the saints, and He is everything to us for our living. Christ is wisdom to us from God, our daily righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This is the central thought concerning Christ in these few chapters.
9在二章十节保罗说，『但神藉著那灵向我们启示了，因为那灵参透万事，甚至神的深奥也参透了。』基督是神的深奥，神所是的深奥。这些深奥无法藉著我们哲学的心思领悟并看透，只能藉著我们由神的灵内住之重生的灵领悟并看透。惟有藉著调和的灵，我们才能看透神的深奥，就是基督不同的方面作我们的分，给我们享受。
9In 2:10 Paul says, “For God has revealed them to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” Christ is God’s depths, the depths of God’s being. These depths can be realized and discerned not by our philosophical mind, but only by our regenerated spirit indwelt by the Spirit of God. By means of the mingled spirit alone can we discern the depths of God, the different aspects of Christ as our portion for our enjoyment
长大并建造
GROWING AND BUILDING
10基于一至二章里所给的启示，保罗在三章向哥林多人指出，神的目标是要得著一个建筑，就是殿，作祂的居所。神的心意不是要得著一班智慧人或哲学家。神的目标是要得著召会。这召会必须是一个建筑，称为殿，作神的居所。神要达到这目标，首先必须得著召会作耕地，为著建筑来生长材料。藉著在耕地上生长的过程，就有了建筑；这建筑就是神的殿。在三章保罗似乎在说，『你们哥林多的信徒不该再寻求智慧。你们该是在神耕地上生长的植物。你们不需要用哲学研究那么多。你们该简单，不知道别的，只知道基督。然后你们会在祂里面并凭祂长大，你们甚至会生长祂。至终，在你们的生长中，你们会被变化，成为金、银、宝石，作为材料，以建造神的殿。今天你们急切的需要，不是用哲学研究，而是长大。不要过于运用你们的心思，乃要不断停留在你们的灵里，就是神的灵居住的地方。在灵里，你们会吸取基督。然后基督会成为你们的滋养，你们就会凭祂长大，并成为为著神建筑的宝贵材料。你们不需要用哲学研究─你们只需要长大并建造。但你们建造时，不要立别的根基。基督这惟一的根基已经立好了。你们不该使保罗、矶法、亚波罗，或希腊文化、哲学的任何方面，成为你们的根基。要把这一切人事物放在一边，只在基督这惟一的根基上建造。我已将基督供应你们，现今你们需要在祂上面建造。但你们需要用金、银、宝石建造，不可用你们的性情、你们的所是、或你们的所作建造。』
10Based upon the revelation given in chapters one and two, Paul in chapter three points out to the Corinthians that God’s goal is to have a building, the temple, for His habitation. It is not God’sin tent i on to have a group of wise men or philosophers. God’s goal is to have the church. This church must be a building, called the temple, for God’s habitation. In order to reach this goal, God must have the church first as a farm to grow the materials for the building. Through the process of growth on the farm, the building comes into existence. This building is God’stem ple. In chapter three Paul seems to be saying, “You Corinthian believers should no longer seek to be wise. Instead, you should be plants growing on God’s farm. There is no need for you to philosophize so much. You should be simple and know nothing except Christ. Then you will grow in Him and with Him, and you will even grow Him. Eventually, in your growth, you will be transformed and become the gold, silver, and precious stones as the materials for the building up of God’s temple. Your urgent need today is not to philosophize—it is to grow. It is not to exercise your mind so much, but to remain continually in your spirit, where the Spirit of God dwells. Here, in the spirit, you will absorb Christ. Christ will then become your nourishment, and you will grow with Him and become precious materials for God’s building. You don’t need to philosophize—you simply need to grow and build. But when you build, do not lay another foundation. Christ, the unique foundation, has already been laid. You should not make Paul, Cephas, or Apollos or any aspect of Greek culture or philosophy your foundation. Put all these persons and things aside, and simply build on Christ as the unique foundation. I have ministered Christ to you, and now you need to build upon Him. But you need to build with gold, silver, and precious stones, not with your nature, your being, or your doings.”
11木指我们的性情，我们天然的组成；草指我们的所是；禾秸指我们的所作。我们绝不该用我们的性情、我们的所是、或我们的所作建造召会。反之，我们必须弃绝并拒绝这一切事物。为著正确的建筑，我们需要享受、经历、并据有父神的性情，和子救赎的工作。我们这样经历父和子，就会在我们的灵里，有神的灵。自然而然，结果、结局将会是宝石。我们若用金、银、宝石建造，就是用正确的材料在基督这惟一的根基上建造。
11Wood refers to our nature, our natural makeup, grass to our being, and stubble to our doings. We should never use our nature, our being, or our doings to build the church. Instead, we must renounce all these things and reject them. For the proper building we need to enjoy, experience, and possess the nature of God the Father and the redemptive work of the Son. As we experience the Father and the Son in this way, we shall be in our spirit with the Spirit of God. Spontaneously the outcome, the issue, will be precious stones. If we build with gold, silver, and precious stones, we shall build with the proper materials on Christ as the only foundation
我们的工程被火试验
OUR WORK TO BE TESTED BY FIRE
12在三章十三至十五节保罗说，『各人的工程必然显露，因为那日子要将牠指明出来；牠要在火中被揭露，这火要试验各人的工程是那一种的。人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得赏赐。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。』主耶稣回来时，我们建造的工程要被祂圣别的火试验。惟有金、银、宝石能耐火，并通过这试验。任何木、草、禾秸的东西都要被烧毁。我们的工程若能通过火的试验，我们就要得赏赐。照著新约的教导，这赏赐将是享受要来的国。主耶稣要对忠信的人说，『好，良善又忠信的奴仆，你在不多的事上既是忠信的，我要把许多事派你管理；进来享受你主人的快乐。』（太二五21，23。）然而，我们的工程若被火烧毁，我们就要受亏损。这的确不是说，我们要失去救恩。我们的救恩是永远的，不会失去。但这些经文指明我们可能失去赏赐，却要经过火而得救。这是一个严肃的警告。
12In 3:13-15 Paul says, “The work of each shall become manifest; for the day shall make it known, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built upon it shall remain, he shall receive a reward. If anyone’s work shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” When the Lord Jesus comes back, our building work will be tested by His holy fire. Only the gold, silver, and precious stones will be able to withstand the fire and pass this test. Anything of wood, grass, or stubble will be consumed. If our work is able to pass the test of fire, we shall receive a reward. According to the teaching of the New Testament, this reward will be the enjoyment of the coming kingdom. To the faithful ones the Lord Jesus will say, “Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25:21, 23). However, if our work is consumed by the fire, we shall suffer loss. This definitely does not mean that we shall lose our salvation. Our salvation is eternal and cannot be lost. But these verses indicate that we may lose the reward and yet be saved through fire. This is a serious warning
13应用保罗的话我们需要将保罗关于要谨慎怎样在惟一的根基上建造的话，应用于今天基督徒的情况。基督徒常常作以下的两件事：立别的根基顶替基督，或用木、草、禾秸，就是用他们的性情、他们的所是、和他们的所作来建造。基督徒立了数以千计
13APPLYING PAUL’SWORD We need to apply Paul’sword about taking heed how we build on the unique foundation to the situation among Christians today. It is very common to find Christians doing one of two things: laying another foundation in place of Christ, or building with wood, grass, and stubble, that is, with their nature, their being, and their doings. Thousands of foundations
14的根基。几乎每个基督徒团体都有自己那种根基。基督教工人立别的根基，是非常普遍的。例如，一位领头人和他的同工，也许会形成特别的组织；他们这样作，就是立别的根基。
14have been laid by Christians. Virtually every Christian group has its own kind of foundation. It is very common for Christian workers to lay other foundations. For example, a certain leader and his co- workers may form a particular organization. In doing so they are laying another foundation
15今天基督徒用木、草、禾秸建造，也是很普遍的。结果，主没有得著正确的建筑；因此，祂就无法回来。然而，有一天，祂要回来。你认为主耶稣回来时，大多数的信徒会有大量的金、银、宝石么？我不信。毫无疑问，宝贵的材料不会很多。但必定会有大量的木、草、禾秸。在今天的基督徒中间有许多天然的东西，却少有适合神建筑的宝贵材料。所以，主回来试验我们的工程时，许多人要受亏损。然而，有些人要得赏赐。我真切盼望你们不会仅仅在道理上接受这些信息。学了一切要点，然后照说一遍，这是不彀的。我们需要消化这些信息，让我们的眼睛得著开启，看见这几章里的启示。然后我们就能以经历和实际的方式有所发表。我们迫切需要看见，神的目标是要得著召会。首先召会必须是神的耕地，有众信徒作为植物，在生命里长大，以产生基督。至终，藉著在生命里长大，我们要被变化，成为为著神建筑的宝贵材料─金、银、宝石。我们都必须留意不要立别的根基的警告。基督这惟一的根基已经立好了。在主的恢复里，我们已经有正确的根基。因此，不需要发起任何事情，或有新的起头。不但如此，我们不该高举任何人或对任何事物有偏好。反之，我们必须接受基督这包罗万有的一位作根基，并在祂上面建造，不要用我们的性情、所是或所作，乃要用神的性情、子救赎的工作、和神的灵变化的工作来建造。我们若藉著调和的灵，用这些宝贵的材料建造，我们就会为著主的恢复进行正确的工程。结果，主回来时，我们的工程会通过试验，并且我们会得赏赐，享受要来的国。倘若我们的工程是在基督里，凭著基督，为著基督作的，甚至就是基督自己，这工程就会通过火的试验。否则，我们若用能被烧毁的材料建造，就会失去赏赐。哦，愿我们都看见这真理！这会将我们带进主恢复的深处。这会使我们领悟我们在那里，并知道这恢复不是普通的基督教工作，或基督教历史的重演。主的恢复是要带我们归向基督，就是神的深奥，使神能得著祂的建筑。让我们都仰望主，使我们受怜悯，看见这奇妙的异象。
15It is also common for Christians today to build with wood, grass, and stubble. The result is that the Lord does not get the proper building. Thus, there is no way for Him to come back. Nevertheless, one day He will come back. Do you think that when the Lord Jesus comes back most believers will have a large amount of gold, silver, and precious stones? I do not believe this. The precious materials will, no doubt, be small in quantity. But there will certainly be a vast amount of wood, grass, and stubble. Among today’s Christians there is an abundance of natural things, but very little of the precious materials suitable for God’s building. Therefore, at the time of the Lord’s coming back to test our work, many will suffer loss. Some, however, will be rewarded. I earnestly hope that you will not take these messages merely in a doctrinal way. It is not adequate to learn all the points and then repeat them. What is needed is that we digest the messages and have our eyes opened to see the revelation in these chapters. Then we shall be able to utter something in a way that is experiential and practical. We desperately need to see that God’s goal is to have the church. First the church must be God’s farm with all the believers as plants growing in life to produce Christ. Eventually, by the growth in life we shall be transformed and become precious materials— gold, silver, and precious stones—for God’s building. We all must heed the warning of not to lay another foundation. Christ, the unique foundation, has already been laid. In the Lord’s recovery we already have the proper foundation. Hence, there is no need to initiate anything or to have a new start. Furthermore, we should not exalt anyone or have a preference for anything. Instead, we must take Christ, the all - inclusive One, as the foundation and build on Him, not with our nature, being, or doings, but with the nature of God, the redemptive work of the Son, and the transforming work of the Spirit of God. If by the mingled spirit we build with these precious materials, we shall be carrying on a proper work for the Lord’s recovery. As a result, when the Lord comes back, our work will pass the test, and we shall receive the reward to enjoy the coming kingdom. If our work is done in Christ, with Christ, for Christ, and is even Christ Himself, it will pass the test of fire. Otherwise, if we build with material that can be consumed, we shall lose the reward. Oh, may we all see this truth! This will bring us into the depths of the Lord’s recovery. It will cause us to realize where we are and to know that the recovery is not an ordinary Christian work or a repetition of the history of Christianity. The Lord’s recovery is to bring us back to Christ, the depths of God, that God may have the building. Let us all look to the Lord that we may receive mercy to see this marvelous vision.