哥林多前书生命读经 · 第54篇

对付主的晚餐（一）

Dealing with the Lord’s supper (1)

1读经：哥林多前书11:17-34。在林前十章保罗说到主的筵席。在十六节他问：『我们所祝福的福杯，岂不是基督之血的交通么？我们所擘开的饼，岂不是基督身体的交通么？』在二十一节他继续说，『你们不能喝主的杯，又喝鬼的杯；不能有分于主的筵席，又有分于鬼的筵席。』这里，保罗已经开始说到主的筵席，为甚么他不直接继续说到主的晚餐？为甚么他说到主的筵席以后，又带进作头或蒙头的事，然后才说到主的晚餐？这似乎不合逻辑也不合理。然而，这样穿插是有原因的。

1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 11:17-34 In chapter ten of 1 Corinthians Paul speaks concerning the Lord’stable. In 10:16 he asks, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a fellowship of the body of Christ?” In verse 21 he goes on to say, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.” Since Paul has already begun to talk about the Lord’stable, why does he not go on directly to speak concerning the Lord’ss upper? Why does he bring in the matter of headship, or head covering, after his word about the Lord’stable and before that about the Lord’ss upper? This seems to be neither logical nor reasonable. However, there is a reason for this interruption

2在这封书信的前十章，保罗对付与基督徒生活有关的难处；他没有对付神的行政。但在十一章，他开始对付与神行政有关的事。在神圣的行政里，第一关切的乃是神的作头。每当神的作头受尊重，与神行政有关的一切事就都会正确。但神的作头不受尊重，这一切事就会不正确。这是保罗在继续对付主的晚餐以前，带进作头这件事的原因。主的筵席与主的晚餐

2In the first ten chapters of this Epistle Paul deals with problems related to the Christian life; he does not deal with God’sad ministration. But in chapter eleven he begins to deal with matters related to God’sad ministration. In the divine administration the first concern is God’she ad ship. Whenever God’she ad ship is honored, then all the matters related to God’sad ministration will be proper. But when God’she ad ship is dishonored, all these matters will be improper. This is the reason that Paul brings in the matter of headship before continuing to deal with the Lord’ss upper. THE LORD’STABLE AND THE LORD’SS UPPER

3关于记念主，保罗在十章二十一节用『主的筵席』一辞，在十一章二十节用『主的晚餐』。主的筵席与主的晚餐之间有重大的不同。我们不该将这些辞视为理所当然。反之，我们该问，为甚么保罗在十章说到主的筵席，在十一章说到主的晚餐。主的筵席指在交通里享受主。因此，主的筵席的意义是享受以有分，享受以交通。我们说我们吃主的筵席，意思是我们在主的交通里享受祂。这是为著我们的享受和满足。然而，主的晚餐是为著祂的满足。这是为著记念祂。关于主的筵席与主的晚餐，有相互的关系。主的筵席是为著我们的享受，但主的晚餐是为著祂的享受。有时我们也许说，『主，我们来赴你的筵席，并有分于牠。』这指明我们在享受主。另有的时候我们也许说，『我们感谢你，我们能吃你的晚餐。』这指明我们为著主的享受和满足而记念祂。

3Concerning the remembrance of the Lord, Paul uses the term “the table of the Lord” in 10:21 and “the Lord’ss upper” in 11:20. There is an important difference between the Lord’stable and the Lord’ss upper. We should not take these terms for granted. Rather, we should ask why Paul speaks of the Lord’stable in chapter ten and the Lord’ss upper in chapter eleven. The Lord’stable refers to the enjoyment of the Lord in fellowship. Hence, the significance of the Lord’s table is enjoyment for participation, enjoyment for fellowship. When we say that we take the Lord’stable, we mean that we enjoy the Lord in the fellowship of Him. This is for our enjoyment and satisfaction. The Lord’ss upper, however, is for His satisfaction. It is for the remembrance of Him. Regarding the Lord’stable and the Lord’ss upper, there is mutuality. The Lord’stable is for our enjoyment, but the Lord’ss upper is for His enjoyment. Sometimes we may say, “Lord, we come to Your table and partake of it.” This indicates that we are enjoying the Lord. At other times we may say, “We thank You that we can have Your supper.” This indicates that we are remembering the Lord for His enjoyment and satisfaction.

物质的身体与奥秘的身体在十一章二十九节保罗用『那身体』

THE PHYSICAL BODY AND THE MYSTICAL BODY In 11:29 Paul uses the expression “the body.” In the

4一辞。在新约里，那身体指在那灵里基督奥秘的身体。然而，既然保罗在这段是说到主的晚餐，这里的身体也必是指耶稣的身体。在二十四节保罗引用主耶稣的话：『这是我的身体，为你们舍的，你们要如此行，为的是记念我。』这是指祂物质的身体还是奥秘的身体？『为你们舍的』指明，这里的身体指主物质的身体。祂物质的身体是为著我们，而基督奥秘的身体是为著祂。今天召会这奥秘的身体不是为著我们，乃是为著基督。但耶稣被钉十字架的物质身体是为著我们。所以，我们记念主时，就分受那表征祂物质身体的饼。

4New Testament the Body denotes the mystical Body of Christ in the Spirit. However, since Paul in this portion is speaking about the Lord’ss upper, the body here must also denote the body of Jesus. In verse 24 Paul quotes the word of the Lord Jesus: “This is My body, which is for you; this do for the remembrance of Me.” Does this refer to His physical body or to the mystical Body? The words “for you” indicate that the body here denotes the Lord’s physical body. His physical body is for us, whereas the mystical Body of Christ is for Him. The church today as the mystical Body is not for us— it is for Christ. But the physical body of Jesus which was crucified is for us. Therefore, in remembrance of the Lord we partake of the bread which signifies His physical body

5十一章二十五节说，『饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说，这杯是用我的血所立的新约，你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。』这里的血必是指物质的血，不是指奥秘的血。我们领受这杯，也是记念主。虽然十一章二十四节的身体指耶稣物质的身体，但保罗在二十九节用『不分辨那身体』的话，也指奥秘的身体。有些人也许争辩说，本节的分辨那身体，意思只是分辨耶稣物质的身体与普通的食物。在本节保罗题起吃喝。吃与物质的身体有关，喝与物质的血有关；然而，在二十九节末了，保罗没有说到不分辨血和身体，也没有说到不分辨身体和血。反之，他只说到不分辨那身体。所以，这分辨不是单指分辨耶稣物质的身体和血与普通的食物和饮料。这里分辨那身体的意义包含更多的事。

5First Corinthians 11:25 says, “Similarly also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood; this do, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of Me.” The blood here surely refers to the physical blood, not to the mystical blood. We partake of the cup also in remembrance of the Lord. Although the body in 11:24 denotes the physical body of Jesus, Paul uses the expression, “not discerning the body,” in verse 29 to denote also the mystical Body. Some may argue that discerning the body in this verse means to discern only the physical body of Jesus from ordinary food. In this verse Paul mentions eating and drinking. Eating is related to the physical body and drinking to physical blood; however, at the end of verse 29 Paul does not speak of not discerning the blood and the body nor of not discerning the body and the blood. Rather, he speaks only of not discerning the body. Therefore, this discernment does not refer only to the discernment of the physical body and blood of Jesus from ordinary food and drink. The meaning of discerning the body here involves something more

6耶稣物质的身体在十字架上舍了，为我们完成救赎。但那身体与神当前的行政无关。与神今天的行政有彻底、绝对关系的，乃是基督奥秘的身体。若没有基督奥秘的身体，神就没有路、没有凭藉完成祂的行政。这就是说，神的行政是藉著基督奥秘的身体才得以完成的。我们作为基督奥秘的身体，在地上作的是甚么？我们当然不是为著完成救赎而工作，因为主耶稣已经一次永远的完成了救赎。救赎藉著耶稣物质的身体在十字架上献上，就完全成就了。但今天基督有一个奥秘的身体，这身体是为著执行神的行政。

6The physical body of Jesus was given on the cross to accomplish redemption for us. But that body has nothing to do with God’sp resent administration. It is the mystical Body of Christ which is thoroughly and absolutely related to God’sad ministration today. Apart from the mystical Body of Christ, God has no way, no means, to carry out His administration. This means that God’sad ministration is being carried out through the mystical Body of Christ. What are we doing on earth as the mystical Body of Christ? We certainly are not working for the accomplishment of redemption, for redemption has been accomplished once for all by the Lord Jesus. Redemption has been fully accomplished by the offering of the physical body of Jesus on the cross. But Christ today has a mystical Body, and this Body is for the carrying out of God’sad ministration.

7我们来赴主的筵席时，所关切的不是救赎，也不是神圣的行政；我们所关切的是我们的享受。我们众人来赴主的筵席，都是在交通里享受主。我们可能一点也没有想到神的行政。然而，主的晚餐与主的享受和满足有关。我们不该只顾自己在筵席中的享受，也该顾到主在晚餐中的享受。我们也许有心享受筵席，但不太有心记念主。我们也许顾到自己的满足，却没有顾到主的满足。所以，关于主的晚餐，我们需要从主而来更多的光。这会使我们围绕祂桌子的聚会进步。我们会赞美主，晚餐是为著记念祂，为著祂的享受和满足。我们会领悟，我们不但是为使自己满足，更是为使神藉著祂得满足。我们若要主耶稣在主的晚餐中得满足，我们不但该记念祂，也该顾到藉祂所执行神的行政。今天最叫主得满足的，乃是神圣的行政。我们若记念祂，而不顾神圣的行政，祂就不会喜乐。我们若要使祂喜乐并满足祂，就必须能说，『主，我们记念你的时候，为著藉你所执行之神的行政，分辨你的身体。我们记念你的时候，没有忘记你在诸天之上所作的。你乃是坐在诸天之上，执行神的行政。』

7When we come to the Lord’stable, our concern is neither redemption nor the divine administration; our concern is for enjoyment. We all come to the Lord’stable to enjoy the Lord in fellowship. We probably do not have any thought of God’sad ministration. The Lord’ss upper, however, is related to the Lord’s enjoyment and satisfaction. We should not only care for our enjoyment at the table, but also care for the Lord’s enjoyment at the supper. We may have a heart for our enjoyment of the table, the feast, but not have much of a heart for the Lord’s remembrance. We may care for our satisfaction, but not care for the Lord’s satisfaction. Therefore, we need more light from the Lord concerning the Lord’ss upper. This will cause our meetings around His table to be improved. We shall praise the Lord that the supper is for His remembrance, enjoyment, and satisfaction. We shall realize that we are not only for our satisfaction, but even the more for God to be satisfied by Him. If we want the Lord Jesus to be satisfied at the Lord’ss upper, we should not only remember Him, but also care for God’sad ministration carried out by Him. Today what satisfies the Lord the most is the divine administration. If we remember Him without caring for the divine administration, He will not be happy. If we want to make Him happy and satisfy Him, we must be able to say, “Lord, while we are remembering You, we discern Your Body for God’sad ministration carried out by You. As we remember You, we do not forget what You are doing in the heavens. You are seated in the heavens to carry out God’sad ministration

直等到祂来

UNTIL HE COMES

8在十章保罗没有说到有分于主的筵席，直等到祂来。但在十一章二十六节他说，『你们每逢吃这饼，喝这杯，是宣告主的死，直等到祂来。』主来是要为著神的行政带进祂的国。祂第一次来是为著救赎我们，但祂第二次来将是为著神的行政。我们吃主的筵席时，是顾到我们的享受。但我们吃主的晚餐时，是顾到对祂的记念和神的行政。主的筵席是为著我们的享受。然而，主的晚餐是为著祂的享受和满足。不但如此，祂的满足是在于祂所执行神的行政。你要给主上好的记念么？你若要，就必须顾到奥秘的身体，那是祂在地上执行神行政的凭藉。我们必须这样记念祂，直等到祂来。我们这样作，执行祂的行政，直到祂回来，并将祂的国带到地上。

8In chapter ten Paul does not say anything about participating in the Lord’stable until He comes. But in 11:26 he says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you declare the Lord’s death until He comes.” The Lord’s coming will bring in God’s kingdom for His administration. His first coming was for our redemption, but His second coming will be for God’sad ministration. When we take of the Lord’stable, we care for our enjoyment. But when we take of the Lord’s supper, we care for His remembrance and God’s ad ministration. The Lord’s table is for our enjoyment. However, the Lord’s supper is for His enjoyment and satisfaction. Furthermore, His satisfaction is dependent on God’s ad ministration carried out by Him. Do you intend to give the Lord the best remembrance? If you do, then you must take care of the mystical Body, the means for Him to carry out God’s ad ministration on earth. We must remember Him in this way until He comes. We do this to carry out His administration until He comes back and brings His kingdom to earth.

为著神的行政分辨那身体

discerning the body for God’sad ministration

9我们强调过一个事实，我们吃主的筵席时，我们就享受祂；我们吃主的晚餐时，就藉著记念祂并顾到神的行政而使祂满足。但我们怎样顾到这行政？乃是藉著分辨那身体。许多基督徒对分辨那身体的意思没有概念。要分辨那身体，首先要领悟基督只有一个奥秘的身体。但看看今天基督徒中间的情况。有多少分裂！每个公会和团体都有自己的饼。有些人甚至坚持，你若没有在他们的水里由他们施浸，就不得有分于他们的饼。我们来吃主的晚餐时，必须分辨那身体，断定桌子上的饼是否代表基督惟一奥秘的身体。这是非常重要的事。

9We have emphasized the fact that when we take the Lord’stable we enjoy Him, and when we eat the Lord’ss upper we satisfy Him by remembering Him and caring for God’sad ministration. But in what way do we take care of this administration? It is by discerning the Body. Many Christians have no idea what it means to discern the Body. To discern the Body is first to realize that Christ has only one mystical Body. But look at the situation among Christians today. How many divisions there are! Each denomination and group has its own bread. Some even go so far as to insist that if you have not been baptized by them in their water, you will not be allowed to participate in their bread. When we come to the Lord’ss upper, we must discern the Body to determine whether the bread on the table represents the unique mystical Body of Christ. This is a matter of great importance

10基督惟一奥秘的身体，乃是神执行祂行政的凭藉。神永远的定旨是要得著一班得拯救、蒙救赎、得重生的人；他们成为一，作生机的身体，执行祂的行政。但撒但狡猾的诡计是要使那身体支离破碎。这阻挠神的行政。只要我们在分裂中，我们对神的行政就了了。为这缘故，就著完成神圣的行政而论，今天的基督教成了无用的。基督徒也许传扬福音，拯救灵魂，或教导圣经，帮助别人认识主的话。但这绝对不足以执行神的行政。执行神圣的行政需要惟一的身体，奥秘的身体。因为我们领悟这点，我们就恨恶分裂，并绝对反对分裂。

10The unique mystical Body of Christ is the means for God to carry out His administration. God’s eternal purpose is to have a group of saved, redeemed, and regenerated people who have become one to be an organic Body to carry out His administration. But Sat an’s subtle device is to cut the Body into pieces. This frustrates God’s ad ministration. As long as we are in a division, we are through with God’s ad ministration. For this reason, today’s Christianity has become useless as far as the carrying out of the divine administration is concerned. Christians may preach the gospel to save souls or teach the Bible to help others know the Word. But this is absolutely not adequate to carry out God’sad ministration. The carrying out of the divine administration needs the unique Body, the mystical Body. Because we realize this, we hate division and are absolutely opposed to it.

11分裂在执行神行政的事上，破坏基督奥秘的身体。基督徒虽然能传扬福音，教导圣经，但顾到基督奥秘的身体，好在地上执行神行政的却不多。假定所有的基督徒都顾到这点，这情况将是何等美妙！神在地上会有何等的行政！但基督徒中间的分裂不但使基督的身体瘫痪，甚至使身体支离破碎。这使神极难在地上成就任何事，以执行祂的行政。历世纪以来，神一直无法执行祂的行政，因为这事惟一的凭藉─基督奥秘的身体─由于分裂已经支离破碎了。历年来，我们对主筵席的意义有深刻的印象。我们知道耶稣物质的身体舍了，以完成救赎，使我们得在交通里享受祂。所以，我们常祷告：『主，为著你救赎的血感谢你，感谢你藉著流出你的血救赎我们。主，我们也感谢你，在十字架上舍了你的身体，担当我们的罪，为我们而死，并了结旧造。主，现今我们在这里享受你的筵席。你藉著死舍了自己，如今在复活里，你在筵席上作我们的享受。』现今，我们也必须对吃主的晚餐就是满足祂，有深刻的印象；这是我们对祂的记念。这含示我们在这里，是要执行神的行政。为了使神的行政得以执行，我们必须顾到基督惟一奥秘身体的一。有这样的关切，会保守我们在身体里，并使我们免于任何分裂。我们对主的晚餐若有这种领会，就不会因著任何事被分裂。反之，我们会留在惟一奥秘的身体里，这身体乃是基督尽祂天上的职事，以完成神圣行政的凭藉。

11Divisions damage the mystical Body of Christ with respect to the carrying out of God’sad ministration. Although Christians can preach the gospel and teach the Bible, there are few who care for the mystical Body of Christ for the carrying out of God’sad ministration on earth. Suppose all Christians would care for this. How marvelous this situation would be! What an administration God could have on earth! But the divisions among Christians not only paralyze the Body of Christ; they even cause the Body to be cut in pieces. This makes it extremely difficult for God to accomplish anything on earth for the carrying out of His administration. For centuries God has not been able to carry out His administration because the unique means for this—the mystical Body of Christ—has been cut into pieces through division. Throughout the years we have been deeply impressed with the significance of the Lord’stable. We know that Jesus’ physical body was given for the accomplishment of our redemption so that we may enjoy Him in fellowship. Therefore, we often pray, “Lord, thank You for Your redeeming blood. Thank You for redeeming us by shedding Your blood. Lord, we also thank You that you have given Your body on the cross to bear our sins, to die for us, and to terminate the old creation. Lord, now we are here enjoying Your table. You gave Yourself through death and now, in resurrection, You are on the table for our enjoyment.” Now we must also be impressed that to eat the Lord’ss upper is to satisfy Him. It is to give Him our remembrance. This implies that we are here for the carrying out of God’sad ministration. In order that God’sad ministration may be carried out, we must care for the oneness of the unique mystical Body of Christ. Having such a concern will preserve us in the Body and keep us from any division. If we have this understanding of the Lord’ss upper, we shall not be divided by anything. Rather, we shall remain in the unique mystical Body, the means for Christ to carry out His heavenly ministry for the accomplishment of the divine administration

察验与分辨

PROVING AND DISCERNING

12关于主的晚餐，保罗用了两个重要的辞：察验与分辨。二十八节说，『人应当察验自己，然后吃这饼，喝这杯。』察验自己，就是核对我们配不配吃饼喝杯。保罗写这封书信时，有些在哥林多的信徒不配的吃主的晚餐，不领悟杯和饼是不寻常的，与普通的食物不同。我们必须领悟，杯表征主在十字架上为我们的罪所流的血。因此，我们不该以凡俗、普通的方式喝这杯；我们的喝杯，该表明我们领悟这与普通的饮料不同。我们吃饼，也该这样。

12Regarding the Lord’ss upper, Paul uses two crucial words: prove and discern. Verse 28 says, “But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” To prove ourselves is to check whether we are eating the bread and drinking the cup in a way that is worthy or in a way that is unworthy. When Paul wrote this Epistle, some of the believers at Corinth ate the Lord’ss upper in an unworthy way, not realizing that the cup and the bread were uncommon and different from ordinary food. We must realize that the cup signifies the blood the Lord shed on the cross for our sins. Thus, we should not drink it in a common, ordinary way, but drink it in a way which shows that we realize that it is different from ordinary drink. We should take the bread in the same manner

13然而，我们拒绝迷信的天主教变质论的教训。照著这异端的教训，饼和杯中的酒真正变成基督的身体和血。虽然我们拒绝变质论，但我们必须领悟，我们喝杯吃饼时，这些乃是严肃、圣别、神圣的表记。杯表征我们亲爱的主在十字架上为我们的罪所流的宝血，饼表征祂在十字架上为我们所舍的身体。所以，我们不该轻率的对待这些表记。我们若轻率的吃喝，就是不配的有分于主的晚餐。我们需要察验自己，确定自己并非不配的有分于主的晚餐。这样察验自己，使我们配记念主。

13However, we reject the superstitious Catholic teaching of transubstantiation. According to this heretical teaching, the bread and the wine in the cup actually become the body and blood of Christ. Although we reject transubstantiation, we must realize as we drink the cup and eat the bread that these are solemn, holy, and divine signs. The cup signifies the precious blood our dear Lord shed on the cross for our sins, and the bread signifies the body He gave for us on the cross. Therefore, we should not treat these signs in a careless manner. If we eat and drink carelessly, then we partake of the Lord’ss upper in an unworthy way. We need to prove ourselves to be sure that we are not unworthy to partake of the Lord’ss upper. This proving ourselves is that we may be worthy to remember the Lord

14保罗所用第二个重要的辞是分辨。二十九节说，『因为那吃喝的，若不分辨那身体，就是给自己吃喝审判了。』我们已经指出，这是分辨主物质的身体，也是分辨奥秘的身体，以执行神的行政。察验自己是为著记念主；分辨那身体主要的是为著执行神的行政。每当我们来赴主的筵席时，我们不该只享受主，也该藉著察验自己而记念祂。我们必须问，我们的生活方式是否使我们配吃主的晚餐。我们绝不该轻率的领受主的血和身体。反之，我们该领悟，桌子上的表记是表征主的宝血和身体。然后我们必须问自己，我们的生活行动是否使我们配吃这晚餐。这是记念主。同时我们必须分辨桌子上的饼，是表征基督惟一奥秘的身体，还是表征分裂。饼若表征某种分裂的团体或公会，我们就不该吃，因我们分辨那身体。这样分辨那身体，就是承认这身体与任何分裂的事全然有别。我们这样分辨那身体，是要执行神的行政。

14The second crucial word used by Paul is discern. Verse 29 says, “For he who is eating and drinking, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body.” We have pointed out that this is the discerning both of the Lord’s physical body and also of the mystical Body for the carrying out of God’s ad ministration. Proving ourselves is for the remembrance of the Lord; discerning the Body is mainly for the carrying out of God’s ad ministration. Whenever we come to the Lord’s table, we should not just enjoy the Lord; we should also remember Him by proving ourselves. We must ask if we are living in a way that is worthy for us to eat the Lord’ss upper. We should never take the Lord’s blood and body in a careless manner. Instead, we should realize that the signs on the table signify the precious blood and body of the Lord. Then we must ask ourselves if we live and behave in a way that is worthy of our eating this supper. This is to remember the Lord. At the same time we must discern whether the bread on the table signifies the unique mystical Body of Christ or if it signifies a division. If the bread signifies a certain divisive group or denomination, we should not take it, for we discern the Body. To discern the Body in this way is to recognize that it is utterly distinct from anything divisive. We discern the Body in such a way for the carrying out of God’sad ministration.

15我们人数虽然还少，但天使和鬼知道我们的立场与分裂的基督教不同。不但如此，我们里面深处有把握，我们在分辨那身体，以执行神在地上的行政。我们也是属天的电视，在地上返照基督在诸天之上为著神的行政所作的。别人也许反对我们，与我们争辩，并表白自己。但在他们良心深处，他们没有把握自己是在分辨惟一奥秘的身体。赞美主，我们有这把握！

15Although we are still small in number, the angels and demons know that our standing is different from that of divisive Christianity. Furthermore, deep within we have the assurance that we are discerning the Body for the carrying out of God’sad ministration on earth. We are also the heavenly television reflecting on earth what Christ is doing in the heavens for the divine administration. Others may oppose us, argue with us, and vindicate themselves. But deep within their conscience they do not have the assurance that they are discerning the unique mystical Body. Praise the Lord, we have this assurance