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哥林多后书生命读经 · 第16篇

为著召会活基督的榜样（二）

A Pattern of Living Christ for the Church (2)
1读经：哥林多后书1:8-9,12,17-22。哥林多前书启示为著召会活基督这件事。我们若仔细读这卷书信，就会问，到底有没有一个为著召会活基督的榜样。我们读这卷书的时候也许会说，『保罗，给我们看一个榜样。我们在父母、亲戚、邻居、朋友、同事身上看过许多事，但我们从来没有看过一个为著召会活基督的人。我们想看一个榜样，因为榜样远胜过千言万语。』保罗知道需要这样一个榜样，就在哥林多后书摆出这个榜样。因此，在这卷书信里，我们看见一个活的榜样。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 1:8-9, 12, 17-22 First Corinthians reveals the matter of living Christ for the church. If we read this Epistle in a thoughtful way, we may wonder if there is a pattern of living Christ for the church. We may say as we read this book, “Paul, show us a pattern. We have seen many things in our parents, relatives, neighbors, friends, and colleagues, but we have never seen a person living Christ for the church. We would like to see a pattern, for a pattern is much better than thousands of words.” Realizing the need for such a pattern, Paul presents this pattern in 2 Corinthians. Therefore, in this Epistle we see a living pattern
个人的见证
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY
2保罗在每一卷书信的开头，写法都不一样。譬如，他写罗马书的开头就和2以弗所书不一样。哥林多后书的开头也很特别。一章一至二节是问安，以1:1及关乎恩典和平安的话；然后保罗接著说一些话，不是讲道理或启示，而是说到个人的见证。他在一章八节说，『弟兄们，关于我们在亚西亚所遭遇的患难，我们不愿意你们不知道，就是我们被压太重，力不能胜，甚至连活命的指望都绝了。』保罗的意思是说，『哥林多信徒阿，我要向你们作见证，说到我怎样为著召会活基督。当我们在亚西亚的时候，我们被压太重，力不能胜。压力重到一个地步，超过我们能力所能忍受的，甚至连活命的指望都绝了。我们非常清楚自己就要死了。』在这里没有一点道理。相反的，保罗乃是作见证；这个见证就是榜样的一部分。
2Paul opens each of his Epistles in a different way. For example, the way he opens Romans is different from the way he begins Ephesians. The Epistle of Corinthians also begins in a particular way. After the greetings and the word about grace and peace in and 2, Paul goes on to speak, not in a doctrinal way or in the way of revelation, but in the way of giving a personal testimony. In 1:8 he says, “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, as to our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were excessively burdened, beyond our power, so that we despaired even of living.” It seems as if Paul is saying, “Corinthian believers, I want to give you my testimony concerning how I live Christ for the church. When we were in Asia, we were excessively burdened, heavily pressed. We were pressed beyond our power, beyond our ability to withstand pressure, so that we despaired even of living. It was very clear to us that we were dying.” There is nothing doctrinal here. On the contrary, Paul is giving a testimony. This testimony is part of the pattern.
复活的神
THE GOD OF RESURRECTION
3保罗在一章九节继续说，『自己里面也断定是必死的，叫我们不信靠自己，只信靠那叫死人复活的神。』使徒们知道自己是必死的，所以他们不信靠自己，只信靠神。他们所信靠的神不仅仅是创造天地的那一位。他们所信靠的乃是复活的神，叫死人复活的神。保罗在这里并不是说，『我呼求创造天地的神给我作见证。』保罗在九节所题到的不是创造的神，而是复活的神。
3In 1:9 Paul continues, “But we ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not have confidence in ourselves, but in God, Who raises the dead.” Because they realized they were dying, the apostles did not have any confidence in themselves. Their confidence was in God. The God in whom they were confident was not simply the One who created the heavens and the earth. Rather, their confidence was in the God of resurrection, in the God who raises the dead. Here Paul does not say, “I call upon the God who created heaven and earth to witness for me.” In verse 9 Paul refers not to the God of creation, but to the God of resurrection.
4保罗不信靠自己，却信靠使人复活的神，就是叫死人复活的神。信靠复活的神，不信靠自己，这就是活基督。我们若信靠自己，就必定是活自己，而不是活基督。但是这里有一位使徒不信靠自己，而完全信靠那位叫死人复活的神。在这件事上，他是活基督的榜样。
4Paul’s confidence was not in himself; it was in the resurrecting God, the God who raises the dead. To have confidence in the God of resurrection and have no confidence in ourselves is to live Christ. If I have confidence in myself, then surely I am living myself. I am not living Christ. But here is an apostle who had no confidence in himself. His confidence was fully in the very God who raises the dead. In this matter he is a pattern of living Christ
神的单纯和纯诚
THE SINGLENESS AND SINCERITY OF GOD
5保罗在十二节接著说，『我们所夸的，是我们的良心见证我们凭著神的单纯和纯诚，在世为人，不靠属肉体的智慧，乃靠神的恩典，对你们更是这样。』这个见证与为著召会活基督的榜样有关。保罗的良心见证他凭单纯活著；耍手腕不是他的生活态度。保罗不耍手腕，相反的，他是单纯的。然而，保罗并不是活他自己的单纯和纯诚，乃是活神的单纯和纯诚。『神的单纯』这个说法，含示神自己就是这单纯。照样，『神的纯诚』这辞实际的意思是说，这纯诚就是神自己。保罗在一章十二节并不是说到他属人的单纯或纯诚；他的单纯和纯诚就是神自己。
5In verse 12 Paul goes on to say, “For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in singleness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.” This testimony is related to the pattern of living Christ for the church. Paul’s conscience testified that he lived in singleness; being political was not his manner of living. With Paul there was no politics. On the contrary, he was single. However, Paul did not live his own singleness and sincerity; he lived the singleness and sincerity of God. The expression “the singleness of God” implies that God Himself is this singleness. Likewise, the phrase “the sincerity of God” actually means that this sincerity is God Himself. In 1:12 Paul does not speak of his human singleness or sincerity. His singleness and sincerity were God Himself
神的恩典
the grace of God
6保罗在一章十二节也说到他在世为人不靠属肉体的智慧，乃靠神的恩典。恩典就是经过过程的三一神。哥林多前书启示，三一神已经经过了过程，成了赐生命的灵，为要给我们享受。这种对经过过程之三一神的享受，就是恩典。保罗在林前十五章十节说，『然而因著神的恩，我成了我今天这个人，并且神的恩临到我，不是徒然的；反而我比众使徒格外劳苦，但这不是我，2乃是神的恩与我同在。』这一节和林后一章十二节里『神的恩典』，实际上指明恩典就是神自己。神的恩典就是神。因此，恩典不是甚么属于神的事物，恩典就是神自己。
6In 1:12 Paul also says that he conducted himself not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God. Grace is the processed Triune God. First Corinthians reveals that the Triune God has been processed to become the life- giving Spirit for us to enjoy. This enjoyment of the processed Triune God is grace. In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” The expression “the grace of God” in this verse and in Corinthians 1:12 actually indicates that grace is God Himself. The grace of God is the very God. Hence, grace is not something which belongs to God; grace is God Himself.
7不仅如此，神若没有经过过程，祂还不是恩典。恩典乃是在复活里的三一神。恩典不仅仅是指创世记一章所启示的神，恩典乃是保罗书信里所启示的神。保罗职事里的神不仅是创造的神，更是在复活里的神。复活包括成为肉体、人性生活、钉十字架等过程。三一神经过了这些过程，就进到复活里。因此，当我们说到神是复活的神，就含示祂所经过的过程。基督经过了成为肉体，经过了三十三年半的人性生活，也经过了六小时之久的钉十字架。祂死了以后，被摆在坟墓里。然后祂进入阴间，游历了死的范围。在此之后，祂在复活里出来。现今祂不仅是创造的神，也是复活的神。这位经过过程的神，现今乃是我们的恩典。我在祂里面太喜乐了！祂是我的享受、我的筵席、我的安息、我的力量。这就是我的神。
7Furthermore, the unprocessed God is not grace. Rather, grace is the Triune God in resurrection. It is not God only as He is revealed in Genesis 1; it is the God revealed in the Epistles of Paul. The God in Paul’s ministry is not merely the God of creation, but He is the God in resurrection. Resurrection involves the processes of incarnation, human living, and crucifixion. After passing through this process, the Triune God entered into resurrection. Therefore, when we speak of God as the God of resurrection, we imply the process through which He has passed. Christ passed through incarnation, through thirty- three and a half years of human living, and through crucifixion, which lasted six hours. After he died, He was placed in a tomb. Then He went into Hades and had a tour of the realm of death. Following that, He came forth in resurrection. Now He is the God not only of creation, but also of resurrection. This processed God is now our grace. How happy I am in Him! He is my enjoyment, my feast, my rest, my strength. This is my God
与不变的基督是一
ONE WITH THE UNCHANGING CHRIST
8保罗在林后一章十七节说，『我有这样的意思，难道是行事轻浮么？还是我所定的意是按著肉体定的，以致在我有忽是忽非么？』保罗不耍手腕，也不行事轻浮。他不是那种一会儿说是，过一会儿又说不是的人。保罗说是就是，说不就不。凡他所定的意，都是藉著与信实之神那不变的基督是一，而定意的。
8In verse 17 Paul says, “This therefore intending, did I then use fickleness? Or the things which I resolve, do I resolve according to the flesh, that with me there should be yes, yes and no, no?” Paul was neither political nor fickle. He was not the kind of person who would say yes at one time and then shortly afterward change his answer and say no. With Paul, yes was yes, and no was no. Whatever he resolved, he resolved by being one with the unchanging Christ of the faithful God
9保罗与基督，神的受膏者，绝对是一，所以他能说，『但神既是信实的，我们对你们所说的话，就没有是而又非的，因为藉著我和西拉并提摩太，在你们中间所传神的儿子耶稣基督，并不是是而又非的，在祂只有一是。』（18～19。）保罗在二十至二十一节继续说，『因为神的应许，不论有多少，在基督里都是是的，所以藉著祂，对神也都是阿们的，好叫荣耀藉著我们归与神。然而那把我们同你们，坚固的联于基督，并且膏了我们的，就是神。』基督是神的受膏者，保罗坚固的联于这一位。这一位乃是信实之神那不变的基督。保罗是个活基督的人，他与信实之神那不变的基督是一。我们若要活基督，也必须保守自己与基督是一。
9Paul was absolutely one with Christ, with God’s anointed One. This was the reason he could say, “But God is faithful, that our word toward you is not yes and no; for the Son of God, Christ Jesus, Who was preached among you through us, through me and Sylvanus and Timothy, did not become yes and no, but in Him is yes” (vv. 18-19). In verses 20 and 21 Paul continues, “For whatever promises of God there are, in Him is the Yes; wherefore also through Him is the Amen to God, for glory through us. But He Who firmly attaches us with you unto Christ and has anointed us is God.” Christ is God’san o in ted One, and Paul was firmly attached to this One. This One is the unchanging Christ of the faithful God. As a person who lived Christ, Paul was one with the unchanging Christ of the faithful God. If we would live Christ, we must also keep ourselves one with Him.
10保罗可以这样说自己：『我是个一直与基督是一的人。基督并不是是而又非的，在祂只有一是。如果你说的话是而又非，你就不是活基督。在基督只有一是。每当基督说是，就永远是；在祂并没有改变。我与这位不变的基督是一。我定意去看望你们的时候，是与祂一同定意的。我不是在自己里面或凭自己作这事，我与基督是一，而坚决定意要到你们那里去。祂是受膏者，我坚固的联于祂。』这也是为著召会活基督之榜样的一部分。
10Paul could say of himself, “I am a person who is always one with Christ. Christ is not yes and no, but in Him is yes. If you say yes and no, you are not living Christ. In Christ is the yes. Whenever He says yes, it is yes forever. With Him there is no change. I am one with this unchanging Christ. When I resolved to come to visit you, I resolved with Him. I did not do this in myself or by myself. In oneness with Christ, I made a strong decision to come to you. He is the anointed One, and I am firmly attached to Him.” This also is part of the pattern of living Christ for the church
活的榜样
a living pattern
11我在本篇信息中的负担是要指出，保罗在哥林多后书的引言里，把自己摆给哥林多信徒看，他就是为召会活基督之人的榜样。保罗的意思是说，『哥林多人哪，我给你们的第一封书信启示了为著召会活基督的意义。现在我知道你们还需要一个这种生活的榜样。在我第二封书信里，我把自己当作这个活的榜样摆给你们看。我请求你们注意看我，你们就看见我不信靠自己。我所信靠的完全是复活的神。因为我信靠神，所以我活基督。不仅如此，每当我有所定意时，都是以基督作我的人位而有的定意。我是一个坚固的联于基督这位神的受膏者的人。祂是信实之神的基督，在神并没有转动的影儿。因此，我保罗与三一神乃是一。』这是一个为著召会活基督的人。保罗活基督的目的，是要让神的行政藉著召会得以执行。我们若要知道怎样为著召会活基督，就需要来看保罗的生活，并且跟他学。他是我们的模型、榜样。在保罗所写的书信中，哥林多后书是独特的。这卷书信一开始就是保罗个人的见证。这个见证不是简略的，乃是详尽的。保罗告诉哥林多人，他不愿意他们不知道，使徒们在亚西亚所遭遇的患难。他要哥林多的信徒知道使徒们被压太重，力不能胜，甚至连活命的指望都绝了，自己里面也断定是必死的。照他们的感觉和领会，他们是死定了。神为甚么把他们摆在这样的处境中？神这样作是因为神要他们被了结。因此，保罗能说，『神的心意是要了结我们。祂不要我们再活著，祂乃是要基督在我们里面活著。』
11My burden in this message is to point out that in the introductory word to 2 Corinthians Paul presents himself to the believers at Corinth as a pattern of a person who lives Christ for the church. Paul seems to be saying, “Corinthians, in my first Epistle I gave you a revelation of what it means to live Christ for the church. Now I know that you also need a pattern of such a living. In my second Epistle, I present myself to you as this living pattern. I ask you to look at me and see that I have no confidence in myself. My confidence is fully in the God of resurrection. Because I have confidence in Him, I live Christ. Furthermore, whenever I decide something, I make a decision by taking Christ as my person. I am one who is firmly attached to Christ, to God’sAn o in ted. He is the Christ of the faithful God, the God with whom there is no shadow due to change. Therefore, I, Paul, am one with the Triune God.” This is a person living Christ for the church. Paul’s purpose in living Christ was that God’s ad ministration may be carried out through the church. If we want to know how to live Christ for the church, we need to consider the life of Paul and learn of him. He is our pattern, our example. Among the Epistles written by Paul, 2 Corinthians is unique. This Epistle opens with Paul’s personal testimony. This testimony is not given in a brief way. Rather, it is presented in a detailed way. Paul tells the Corinthians that he did not want them to be ignorant of the afflictions they experienced in Asia. He wanted the believers at Corinth to know that the apostles were heavily pressed, that the pressure was so heavy that it was beyond their capacity to endure. They even despaired of life and had the sentence of death within themselves. According to their feeling and realization, they were dying. Why did God put them into such a situation? God did this because He wanted them to be terminated. Therefore, Paul could say, “God’sin tent i on is to terminate us. He does not want us to live any longer. Instead, He wants Christ to live in us.”
12被了结而活基督谈论了结是很容易的，但我们若真要被了结，就必须经历许多苦难。譬如，主会用你的丈夫、你的妻子、以及你的儿女来了结你。如果你是作妻子的，主会用你的丈夫来了结你。如果你是作丈夫的，主会用你的妻子把你切成一块一块。不仅如此，你的孩子也会帮助神来了结你，好使基督在你里面活著。
12TERMINATED TO LIVE CHRIST It is easy to talk about termination. But for us to actually be terminated we need to experience a great deal of suffering. For example, the Lord will use your husband or wife and your children to terminate you. If you are a wife, the Lord will use your husband to terminate you. If you are a husband, the Lord will use your wife to cut you to pieces. Furthermore, your children will also be helpful to Him in bringing you to an end so that Christ may live in you
13我们已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活著的不再是我们，乃是基督在我们里面活著；这些道理说来容易，但对我们来说也许不过是教训。我们可能一直这样说了许多年日，一再引用加拉太二章二十节，但我们仍然没有为著召会活基督。我们都必须实际的经历内里的切割，我们才会被了结。主甚至用召会生活中的圣徒来为我们成就这件事。就著一面的意义说，召会生活是被杀死、被了结的生活。赞美主！我们愿意被杀死，因为我们的心愿乃是活基督。我们若活基督，就会信靠复活的神，信靠那叫死人复活的神。这样，我们行事为人就靠神的恩典，我们就会与信实之神那不变的基督是一；这位基督是那独一的『是的』。感谢主，林后一章这些经文给我们看见，保罗是为著召会活基督的榜样。
13It is easy to say in a doctrinal way that we have been crucified with Christ, that we no longer live, and that Christ lives in us. This may be nothing more than a teaching. It is possible to go on speaking like this for years, quoting Galatians 2:20 again and again, but still not live Christ for the church. We all need to experience the inward cutting in a practical way so that we may be terminated. The Lord will even use the saints in the church life to accomplish this for us. In a sense, the church life is a life of slaughter, a life of termination. Praise the Lord that we are willing to be slaughtered because our desire is to live Christ. If we live Christ, our confidence will be in the God of resurrection, in the God who raises the dead. Then we shall conduct ourselves in the grace of God, and we shall be one with the unchanging Christ of the faithful God, the Christ who is the unique yes. Thank the Lord that in all these verses in 2 Corinthians 1 we see that Paul was a pattern of living Christ for the church