Books
哥林多前书生命读经 · 第31篇

变化为著建造

Transformation for the building
1读经：哥林多前书三3:10-17，哥林多后书3:17-18，罗马书12:2。保罗在林前三章讲到𫗪养、吃、喝、栽种、浇灌及生长的事，这些都与生命有关。保罗在三章九节往前说到召会是神的耕地和神的建筑。耕地当然是生命的事，建筑乃是生命的结果。物质的建筑并不牵涉到生命，但本章所说属灵的建筑与生命非常有关。保罗不仅在哥林多前书，也在以弗所书、歌罗西书、及罗马书中谈到这个建筑。但这建筑的基本重点却是在哥林多前书中题到。神的建筑完全是在生命中并属于生命的建筑，因为这乃是基督身体的建造。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 3:10-17; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Rom. 12:2 In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul covers the matters of feeding, drinking, eating, planting, watering, and growing. These are all related to life. In 3:9 Paul goes on to refer to the church as God’s farm and God’s building. The farm certainly is a matter of life, and the building is the issue of life. No material building involves anything of life. But the spiritual building mentioned in this chapter has much to do with life. Paul talks about this building not only in 1 Corinthians, but also in Ephesians, Colossians, and Romans. However, the basic points regarding the building are covered in 1 Corinthians. God’s building is altogether a building in life and of life, for it is the building up of the Body of Christ
2耕地与建筑耕地与建筑之间似乎没有关联。照我们天然的观念看，耕地是生命的事，建筑却是由无生命的材料所组成的。因此，神的耕地与神的建筑这两个辞之间似乎没有合式的衔接。如果我们领会这里的建筑是生命的建筑、在生命中的建筑，我们就会看见耕地与建筑之间有直接的关联，美妙的衔接。耕地的出产不是为著耕地本身，乃是为著建筑。在耕地所生长的出产乃是为著建筑。
2THE FARM AND THE BUILDING Apparently, there is no connection between the farm and the building. According to our natural concept, a farm is a matter of life, but a building is a composition of lifeless materials. Thus, there does not seem to be a proper continuation between the expressions God’s farm and God’s building. However, if we realize that the building here is a life building, a building in life, we shall see that there is a direct connection, an excellent continuation, between the farm and the building. Whatever is produced on the farm is not for the farm itself; it is for the building. The produce grown on the farm is for the building
3虽然耕地上所生长的出产是为著建筑，但并不直接用于建筑。我们可以说，耕地的出产乃是进入召会餐馆，由众圣徒吃入、消化并吸收。经由这一个过程，耕地所长出的被圣徒吃进去，最后甚至成了他们。耕地不仅出产蔬菜─植物的生命，也出产牲畜─动物的生命。我们在召会餐馆中必须吃植物的生命和动物的生命。保罗在三章二节说，『我给你们奶喝。』奶是植物生命与动物生命的产品，是从吃草的母牛来的。奶是动物生命与植物生命调和的产品。这两种生命的调和也产生肉类。若无动物的生命，我们就不能有肉类。同样的，若无植物的生命，我们也不能有肉类，因为牛是以草为食物的。牛首先吃植物的生命，然后生产奶与肉给我们。
3Although the produce grown on the farm is for the building, it does not go into the building directly. Rather, we may say that it goes to the church restaurant to be eaten, digested, and assimilated by the saints. Through this process, what is grown on the farm is consumed by the saints and eventually even becomes them. The farm produces not only vegetables, the plant life, but also livestock, the animal life. Both the plant life and the animal life must be eaten by us in the church restaurant. In 3:2 Paul says, “I gave you milk to drink.” Milk is a product of both the plant life and the animal life. It is produced by cows, which feed on grass. Milk is a product of the mingling of the animal life with the plant life. This mingling of two lives also produces meat. Without the animal life, we cannot have meat. Likewise, without the plant life, we also cannot have meat, for cattle are dependent on the grass for their food. First they eat the vegetable life and then produce milk and meat for us.
4我题到这点，因为奶与肉都是基督作我们生命供应的表号。主耶稣在约翰六章四十八节说，『我就是生命的饼（另译）。』饼主要是由面粉作的，而面粉来自植物的生命。但主耶稣接著说到这饼就是祂的肉：『我所要赐的饼（另译），就是我的肉，为世人的生命所赐的。』（51。）这指明这饼不但是由植物的生命，也是由动物的生命所组成的；这乃是肉饼。因此，我们很难说，基督作我们生命的供应，到底是植物的生命，还是动物的生命。这饼是两种生命的产品与调和。我们越吃基督作我们生命的供应，就越转移到神的建筑里。我们首先是耕地为著生产食物，我们藉著吃耕地的出产，就被带进建造里。
4I mention this because both milk and meat are figures of Christ as our life supply. In John 6:48 the Lord Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” Bread is made primarily of flour, which comes from the plant life. However, the Lord goes on to speak of the bread as His flesh: “And the bread which I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). This indicates that the composition of this bread is not only of the vegetable life, but also of the animal life; it is flesh-bread. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether Christ as our life supply is of the vegetable life or the animal life. This bread is a product, a mingling, of both lives. The more we eat of Christ as our life supply, the more we shall be transferred into God’s building. First we are the farm to produce something to eat. By eating what is produced on the farm we are brought into the building
新陈代谢的过程
A METABOLIC PROCESS
5为著使我们所吃的食物成为我们的构成，就必须有新陈代谢的过程。圣经称这过程为变化。变化包含新陈代谢的改变。因此，变化完全是新陈代谢的过程。我们首先吃饭，经过一段时间之后，食物被消化并被吸收。最终，被消化、被吸收的食物成了我们这人的组织。这是新陈代谢，就是变化。
5In order for the food we eat to become our constitution, there must be the process of metabolism. In the Bible this process is called transformation. Transformation involves a metabolic change. Hence, transformation is altogether a metabolic process. First we eat a meal. After a period of time, the food is digested and assimilated. Eventually, the digested and assimilated food becomes the fibers of our being. This is metabolism, transformation
6为使七磅的婴孩长到体重一百七十磅的大人，必须有规律的吃与正常新陈代谢的过程。婴孩所吃进的食物将逐渐使他长大。最终，因著长时间新陈代谢的过程，他将成为长成的人。他这个成熟的人，就是他所吃、消化、并吸收的一切食物所产生的结果与组成。这说明属灵新陈代谢的过程。耕地的出产被我们吃进来并消化了；最终藉著新陈代谢的过程，这食物的供应就成了我们，并把我们变化成为建造基督身体的材料。
6In order for an infant of seven pounds to grow into a mature man weighing one hundred seventy pounds, there must be a regular eating and a normal process of metabolism. Gradually, the food taken in by an infant will cause him to grow. Eventually, as a result of a metabolic process over a long period of time, he will become a full-grown man. As a mature man, he is a product, a composition, of all the food he has eaten, digested, and assimilated. This illustrates the process of spiritual metabolism. The produce grown on the farm is eaten and digested by us. Eventually, through the process of metabolism, this food supply becomes us and transforms us into material for the building up of the Body of Christ
7召会是生长基督的耕地，耕地所生长的每一项出产都是基督。耕地所出产的包括基督的各方面，基督是奶、蔬菜和肉。召会长出基督，所有的圣徒吃基督。最终，藉著消化、吸收并新陈代谢，基督成为我们，我们也成为祂。这样，我们就是为著建造的正确材料。
7The church is a farm to grow Christ. Every item of the produce grown on the farm is Christ. The farm produce includes many different aspects of Christ. Christ is the milk, the vegetables, and the meat. The church grows Christ, and all the saints eat Christ. Eventually, through digestion, assimilation, and metabolism, Christ becomes us, and we become Him. Then we are the proper materials for the building.
8保罗在林前三章所写的每一项之间，都有直接的关联。他首先题到𫗪养、吃与喝，然后他又题到栽种与浇灌，接著告诉我们惟有神叫人生长。之后，他在九节说我们是耕地与建筑。因此，这些项目之间有直接的关联。正如我们所看见的，耕地成了建筑。
8Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 3 has a direct connection from item to item. First he refers to feeding, drinking, and eating. Then he goes on to mention planting and watering, after which he tells us that it is God alone who gives the growth. Following this, he says in verse 9 that we are the farm and the building. Therefore, there is a direct connection between all these matters. As we have seen, the farm becomes the building
建造在惟一的根基上
BUILDING ON THE UNIQUE FOUNDATION
9保罗在十至十一节直接、明确的说到基督是根基：『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。』保罗在这里指明他已经立了基督为惟一的根基。在这宇宙中只有一个根基，我们不该另立根基。我们不可说，我们属于某人或某物，或我们偏爱某事，或我们选择某地方过召会生活。这样说就是在基督以外立别的根基。我们不可立别的根基，却需要在已经立好的根基上建造。今天的基督教有许多其他的根基，但是在已经立好的根基上，几乎没有建造。主的恢复必须完全不同。我们在恢复里绝不该立别的根基；我们应当只在一千九百余年前所立的根基上建造。我们感谢主，因著祂的怜悯，祂恢复了这惟一的根基。许多年前，我们在中国为著基督那惟一的根基刚强站立。我们必须向那些在公会里的人宣告，除了基督自己以外，我们不能有任何根基。结果，许多事必须丢在一边，惟有基督被高举。既然那惟一的根基已经立好了，我们就应当在其上建造。
9In verses 10 and 11 Paul speaks directly and explicitly concerning Christ as the foundation: “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.” Here Paul indicates that he had already laid Christ as the unique foundation. In this universe there is just one foundation, and we should not lay another. We must not say that we are of a certain person or a certain thing, that we prefer a certain matter, or that we choose a certain locality for the church life. To speak in this way is to lay another foundation in addition to Christ. Instead of laying another foundation, we need to build upon the foundation already laid. In today’s Christianity there are many other foundations, but there is virtually no building upon the foundation already laid. The Lord’s recovery must be altogether different. In the recovery we should never lay another foundation; we should simply build on the foundation which was laid more than nineteen hundred years ago. We thank the Lord that, in His mercy, He has recovered this unique foundation. Many years ago, in China, we took a strong stand for Christ as the unique foundation. We had to declare to those in the denominations that we could not have any foundation other than Christ Himself. As a result, many things had to be put aside so that Christ alone would be exalted. Now that the unique foundation has been laid, we should build upon it
10保罗在三章十节说，『只是各人要谨慎怎样在上面建造。』当我们题到怎样作一件事情时，我们通常是指方法，不是指使用的材料。我们题到材料时通常说，『你们用甚么建造？』我们不是问：『你们怎样建造？』但在圣经中这二者是一样的。我们如何在根基上建造，就相当于我们用甚么建造。换句话说，按照圣经，建造中所使用的材料就是我们建造的方法。根据我们天然的想法，材料是一回事，而方法是另一回事；材料是指一种本质，但方法是指技术或技巧。在圣经中，本质就是技术，材料就是方法。实际上，圣经很少注意技术或技巧，但圣经相当注意材料。保罗所关心的，不是我们用甚么方法或用甚么途径建造召会，他所关心的是我们用甚么材料建造。
10In 3:10 Paul says, “But let each one take heed how he builds upon it.” When we refer to how we do a certain thing, we usually mean the way, not the material used. When referring to the material, we usually say, “What are you building with?” We do not ask, “How are you building?” But in the Bible these two are the same. How we build upon the foundation is equivalent to what we build with. In other words, according to the Bible, the material used in building is the way we build. According to our natural thought, the material is one thing and the way is another. The material refers to a substance, but the way refers to skill or technique. But in the Bible the substance is the technique; the material is the way. Actually, the Bible pays little attention to skill or technique, but devotes much attention to the material. Paul’s concern is not by what way or method we build the church. His concern is what material we use in building.
11两种建造的方法保罗在十二节说到两种建造的方法：『然而，若有人用金、银、宝石，木、草、禾秸，在这根基上建造。』第一种方法是用金、银、宝石建造；第二种方法是用木、草、禾秸建造。这里有两种建造的材料。金、银、宝石是矿物。木、草、禾秸与植物生命有关。我们在主的恢复里都在作建造的工程。因此，我们必须谨慎怎样建造。我们是用金、银、宝石建造，还是用木、草、禾秸建造？
11TWO WAYS OF BUILDING In verse 12 Paul refers to two ways of building: “But if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble.” The first way is to build with gold, silver, and precious stones; the second way is to build with wood, grass, and stubble. Here we have two categories of building materials. Gold, silver, and precious stones are minerals. Wood, grass, and stubble are related to the plant life. We in the Lord’s recovery all are doing the work of building. Thus, we must take heed how we build. Are we building with gold, silver, and precious stones, or with wood, grass, and stubble
12保罗在三章十二节的话不仅是为著长老或同工。相反的，他是写给每一位信徒。这句话是包含在写给哥林多召会，同著所有在各处呼求我们主耶稣基督之名的人的书信里。因此，这一节是要给我们每一个人的，是要应用在你身上，也在我身上。我们建造召会，乃是用自己作材料。我们既是建造的材料，就需要问我们是甚么材料？我们是木，还是金？是银，还是草？是宝石，还是禾秸？对这问题，也许我们许多人会回答说，我们正在变化的过程中。因此，就一面说，我们是木也是金，是草也是银，是禾秸也是宝石。以昆虫界为例，我们可以把自己比作在茧里的毛毛虫，正在变成蝴蝶的过程中。一面，我们还是毛毛虫；另一面，我们也有成为蝴蝶的形迹。变化的过程已经开始，但还没有完成。我们都在变化的路上，都在变化的过程中。
12Paul’s word in 3:12 is not only for elders or co - workers. On the contrary, it is written to every believer. This is included in an Epistle addressed to the church in Corinth, with all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place. Thus, this verse is intended for all of us. It applies to you and also to me. In the building of the church we ourselves are used as material. Since we are the building material, we need to ask what kind of material we are. Are we wood or gold, silver or grass, precious stones or stubble? Many of us may answer this question by saying that we are in the process of transformation. Therefore, in a sense we are both wood and gold, grass and silver, stubble and precious stones. Using an example from the insect world, we may compare ourselves to a caterpillar in a cocoon in the process of becoming a butterfly. On the one hand, we are still a caterpillar; on the other hand, there are signs that we are becoming a butterfly. The process of transformation has begun, but it is not yet complete. We are all on the way of transformation; we are in the process of being transformed.
13灌注与变化保罗在林后三章十八节说，『但我们众人既然以没有帕子遮蔽的脸，好像镜子观看并返照主的荣光，就渐渐变化成为与祂同样的形像，从荣耀到荣耀，乃是从主灵变化成的。』我们要观看主并且被变化，就需要没有帕子蔽的脸。我们与主之间不应该有帕子。就经历说，帕子是指一种隔绝说的。无论我们与主何等接近，如果我们被帕子隔绝，主就无法把祂自己注入到我们里面。绝缘是电学常用的辞。使某样东西绝缘，就是将其遮盖，使其无法充电。甚至一张单薄的纸也能成为绝缘体。电器用品可能功能正常，房间也安装了电，但若有绝缘体阻隔直接的流通，电力就不能输进电器里。
13TRANSFUSION AND TRANSFORMATION In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul says, “But we all, with unveiled face beholding and reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit” (lit.). In order to behold the Lord and be transformed, we need an unveiled face. There should not be a veil between us and the Lord. Experientially speaking, a veil refers to some kind of insulation. No matter how close we may be to the Lord, if we are insulated by a veil, He cannot infuse Himself into us. Insulation is a term often used with respect to electricity. To insulate something is to cover it so that it cannot receive an electrical charge. Even a thin piece of paper can be an insulator. An electrical appliance may be in working order, and electricity may be installed in the room, but electrical power cannot be transfused into the appliance if there is insulation blocking a direct connection
14这说明今天在许多基督徒生活中所发生的事。信徒可能认为他们若爱主，与主接近，并与主同行，一切就都好了。然而，他们可能不领会他们还在某些帕子之下，而这些帕子使他们与主的灌注隔绝。照保罗的话来看，我们需要以没有帕子遮蔽的脸观看主。我们与主之间不该有任何帕子。我们若没有帕子遮蔽，就会成为观看并返照主荣耀形像的镜子。每当我们直接观看祂而没有帕子，没有绝缘体时，我们就经历祂的灌注，接受神圣电流的注入。吃主与接受祂的灌注非常有关系。实际上，吃主耶稣就是让祂藉著灌注进到我们里面。这清楚的启示在新约中。按照新约，我们与主的关系完全是属灵生命的事。因为这是属灵的事，所以人的话语无法充分的加以形容。为这缘故，保罗使用隐喻。林前三章的𫗪养、奶、喝、及干粮等辞都是隐喻。主耶稣在教训时也用隐喻和比喻，例如祂说，『我就是生命的粮。』（约六35。）接著主说，祂所要赐的粮就是祂的肉。犹太人『彼此争论说，这个人怎能把祂的肉给我们吃？』（52。）吃主耶稣就是接受祂进入我们里面，并让祂将自己加给我们。
14This illustrates what takes place in the lives of many Christians today. Believers may think that if they love the Lord, are close to the Lord, and walk with the Lord, then everything is all right. They may not realize, however, that they are still under certain veils, and that these veils insulate them from the Lord’s transfusion. According to Paul’sword, we need to behold the Lord with an unveiled face. There should not be any veils between us and the Lord. If we are unveiled we shall be a mirror beholding and reflecting the glorious image of the Lord. Whenever we behold Him in a direct way without any veil, without any insulation, we experience His transfusion. We are infused with the divine electricity. Eating the Lord has much to do with being transfused with Him. Actually, to eat the Lord Jesus is to allow Him to get into us by the way of transfusion. This is clearly revealed in the New Testament. According to the New Testament, our relationship with the Lord is altogether a matter of spiritual life. Because it is a spiritual thing, human language cannot describe it adequately. For this reason, Paul uses metaphors. In 1 Corinthians 3 the words feeding, milk, drinking, and solid food are metaphors. The Lord Jesus also used metaphors and parables in His teaching, for example, when He said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). The Lord went on to say that the bread which He gives is His flesh. The Jews “contended with one another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v. 52). To eat the Lord Jesus is to receive Him into us and allow Him to add Himself to us.
15吃并不是一劳永逸的，乃是必须天天重复的。我们多年来吃各种食物，到今天还是需要吃。我们每次把食物吃进来，里面就得著灌注。藉著吃与灌注，基督就加到我们里面。吃与变化有关。当食物经过吃、消化、并吸收之后，新的本质就加到我们里面，顶替并排除旧的本质。这是新陈代谢的变化过程。吃的意义乃是：新的本质加到我们里面，排除旧的本质以产生新陈代谢的变化。今天的基督徒非常忽略这件要紧的事。假如有一个人的脸色非常苍白。使用化妆品改变脸色，与接受适当的营养，经过新陈代谢而使脸色改变是不同的。用化妆品就像替死人装扮的工作。一个替死人打扮的人，只能在死人的脸上化妆，因为不能有任何生命里新陈代谢的改变。在我们的基督徒生活中，我们不该想要用属灵的化妆品为自己加点颜色。反之，我们应该吃主。保罗的工作不是为死人装扮的工作；他不为哥林多人化妆，乃是𫗪养他们。他晓得他们若正确的吃喝，就会被变化而有健康的属灵脸色。
15Eating is not once for all; it must be repeated day by day. We have been eating various foodstuffs for years, but we still need to eat today. Each time we take food into us, transfusion occurs within us. By eating and by transfusion Christ is added into our being. Eating is related to transformation. When food is eaten, digested, and assimilated, a new substance is added into our being to replace and discharge the old substance. This is the metabolic process of transformation. The significance of eating is that a new substance is added into us to discharge the old substance in order to produce a metabolic transformation. This crucial matter is very much neglected by Christians today. Suppose a person’s face is very pale. There is a great difference between applying makeup to change the color of his complexion and having his complexion changed as a result of proper nourishment and metabolism. To apply makeup is to do the work of a mortician. A mortician adds makeup to the face of a dead person because there cannot be any metabolic change in life. In our Christian life, we should not try to color ourselves with spiritual makeup. Instead, we should eat the Lord. Paul’s work was not the work of a mortician. He did not apply makeup to the Corinthians. Instead, he fed them. He knew that if they would eat and drink properly, they would be transformed and have a healthy spiritual complexion
16保罗的工作与今天许多基督教工人的工作迥然不同。有许多人在作『替死人装扮』的工作，而保罗以基督𫗪养众圣徒。同样的，召会不该是人买化妆品的地方，乃该是主的餐馆，使祂的子民可以在其中吃喝。我们越吃基督，就越被变化。变化会使我们成为荣耀的，使我们有主的形像、祂显出的样子、祂荣耀的彰显。主灌注到我们里面，也可以用电流传输到儿童的玩具里说明。有些玩具通了电，发动起来，就能移动、蹦跳、甚至跳舞。我们就好比这种由电发动的玩具。当基督灌注到我们里面时，我们就开始行动，甚至觉得自己好像可以跳跃或在空中飞翔。我们基督徒的生活是一种灌注的生活，是一种不断让主把祂自己注入我们里面的生活。
16Paul’s work was very different from that of many Christian workers today. Whereas many carry on the work of “morticians,” Paul fed the saints with Christ. Likewise, the church should not be a place where people buy cosmetics; on the contrary, it must be the Lord’s restaurant where His people can eat. The more we eat of Christ, the more we shall be transformed. Transformation will make us glorious. It will cause us to bear the Lord’sim age, His appearance, His glorious expression. The transfusion of the Lord into us can also be illustrated by the transmission of electricity into a child’s toy. Certain toys move, jump, and even dance when they are powered by electricity. We can be compared to such an electrically powered toy. When Christ is transfused into us, we begin to move. We may even feel as if we could jump or soar in the air. Our Christian life is a life of transfusion; it is a life of continually having the Lord infuse Himself into us.
17变化与灌注使我们成为神建造的活的材料。我们是活的材料，正在生长、改变。我可以观察到许多圣徒，特别是已有一段时间没有见面的圣徒们，他们的生命有改变、有变化。赞美主，我们正在变化！我们正在成为金、银、宝石，为著神的建造。召会不是组织或社团；召会乃是生机的实体─基督的身体。只有变化过的人才能构成身体。因著基督的身体是生机的，我们越长大、越变化，就越建造成为身体。这生机身体的建造就是主今天所寻求的。
17Transformation and transfusion make us living materials for God’s building. As living materials, we are growing and changing. I can observe a change, a transformation, in the lives of many saints, especially in the lives of those whom I have not seen for a period of time. Praise the Lord that we are being transformed! We are becoming gold, silver, and precious stones for God’s building. The church is not an organization or society; the church is an organic entity—the Body of Christ. Only transformed persons can be constituted into the Body. Because the Body of Christ is organic, the more we grow and are transformed, the more we are built up as the Body. This building of an organic Body is what the Lord is seeking today