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哥林多后书生命读经 · 第2篇

引言（二）

INTRODUCTION (2)
1读经：哥林多后书一章十二至十四节。在本篇信息中，我们只看三节圣经，就是林后一章十二至十四节。这三节圣经说到一件非常深的事；这件事的深，不是在道理上，而是在经历上。如果我们不曾有过这里所说的经历，就无法明白保罗在这几节圣经里所谈论的。表面看来，保罗这里的话简单易懂；然而实际上，他是题到一件又深又奥的事。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 1:12-14 In this message we shall consider just three verses, 1:12-14. In these verses there is something very deep, not in doctrine but in experience. If we have not had the experience described here, we shall not be able to understand what Paul is talking about in these verses. Apparently Paul’sword here is simple and easy to understand; actually Paul is referring to something deep and profound
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2IV. THE APOSTLES’ BOASTING OF THEIR
3肆使徒们的夸耀
3CONDUCT IN THE GRACE OF GOD
4保罗在十二节说，『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。』保罗在这里说，他们所夸的，乃是他们的良心所作的见证，就是关于他们如何生活为人的见证。我们需要有洞察力来了解保罗这句话的意思。
4In verse 12 Paul says, “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.” Here Paul says that their boasting was the testimony of their conscience regarding the way they lived and behaved themselves. We need insight to understand what Paul means
5十二节的单纯，也可译作简单。除了单纯、简单，有些古卷作，圣别。十二节深刻的思想与丰富的经历，主要与意为单纯、纯诚的这个希腊字有关。在新约里，这个字至少用过五次。不同的译文采用不同的繙法：单纯、简单、胸襟开阔、慷慨、丰富施与。如果我们的经历不彀，就很难决定这里的译文该用那一个辞。十二节一开始，在原文里有表示原因的语气，这指明本节是解释前面的经节。因此，我们要了解十二节，就必须记得保罗在前几节所说的。保罗不久前向哥林多信徒指出，他和同工们处在死亡的景况中。在十节他见证说，神曾救他们『脱离那极大的死亡』。所有的困难、难处、艰难的处境，都可用人为的力量、能力、智慧或方法加以改变。惟一的例外是死亡；没有一个人有办法处理死亡的景况。有钱的人可以签大额支票解决问题。有句谚语说，『钱能通关。』这意思是说，钱能解决一切的难处。但是甚至最富有的人也不能应付死亡的景况。当死亡临到一个百万富翁的时候，再多的钱也不能叫他免去死亡。保罗写这封书信以前，是处在死亡的景况中。就人来说，他是无法脱离那种景况的。但是对使徒和那些相信复活的人来说，有一条出路；复活的神就是这条路。
5The Greek word rendered singleness in verse 12 can also be translated simplicity. Instead of singleness or simplicity, some manuscripts read holiness. The deep thought and rich experience found in verse 12 are mainly related to the Greek word that means singleness, sincerity. In the New Testament this word is used at least five times. Different translations adopt different renderings: singleness, simplicity, liberality, generosity, bounty. Without adequate experience, it would be difficult to decide which word to use in the translation here. Verse 12 opens with the word “for,” indicating that this verse is to be an explanation of the preceding verses. Thus, in order to understand verse 12, we need to keep in mind what Paul has said in the foregoing verses. Paul has just pointed out to the Corinthian believers that he and his co-workers were in a death situation. In verse 10 he testified that God had delivered them “out of so great a death.” Every difficulty, problem, or hard situation can be changed by human power, strength, wisdom, or methods. The only exception is death. No human being has a way to handle a situation of death. Wealthy people can solve problems by writing a check for a large amount of money. There is a proverb which says, “Money goes everywhere.” This means that money can solve every problem. But not even the wealthiest person can handle a death situation. When death comes to a millionaire, no amount of money can enable him to avoid it. Before writing this Epistle, Paul was in a death situation. Humanly speaking, there was no way out of that situation. But for the apostle, and for those who believe in resurrection, there is a way out. The God of resurrection is the way.
6保罗在亚西亚所处的境遇，逼著他以单纯、简单来应付。富有、强壮、或有知识的人，不会以单纯来应付困难的处境。相反的，他们运用自己的知识和智慧。如果一个办法行不通，就再换一个办法。他们的心思非常复杂，极不简单。他们既有知识又能干，有许多办法来应付各种处境。有许多办法来应付各种处境的人，必定是不简单的。根据前面几节圣经所说，保罗和他的同工们处在一种境遇中，叫他们很受限制，人的办法都无济于事。他们惟一可行的路，乃是复活的神。他们不仅遭遇困难或患难，也不仅有难处；他们乃是在死亡之中。不论我们多有知识，多么能干或多么富有，我们对死亡的处境总是束手无策。对保罗和他的同工们来说，惟一逃脱的路乃是复活的神。死了的人总是简单的。但是，活著的人就不简单了，他总有办法面对任何一种处境。我们这些人实在不简单，我们都有许多不同的办法。但是，简单的人有福了。那一种人是简单的？只有死人是简单的。当保罗和他的同工们在亚西亚遭受患难的时候，他们被压到一个地步，看自己是死的。他们没有办法应付自己的处境。他们不信靠自己，只信靠那叫死人复活的神。
6The situation in which Paul found himself in Asia forced him to be single or simple in the way he dealt with it. Those who are rich, strong, or knowledgeable are not single in the way they deal with difficult situations. On the contrary, they apply their knowledge, their wisdom. If a certain method does not work, they turn to another method. Their mind is very complicated; they are far from being simple. Because they are knowledgeable and capable, they have many ways to deal with situations. A person who has many ways to deal with situations surely is not simple. According to the preceding verses, Paul and his co- workers were in a situation that restricted them to such an extent that no human way was of any help. Only one way was available to them: the God of resurrection. They were not just in difficulty or afflictions, and they did not just have problems. They were in death. No matter how knowledgeable, capable, or wealthy we may be, there is nothing we can do about a death situation. For Paul and his co-workers, the only way of escape was the God of resurrection. A dead person is always simple. A living person, however, is not simple. On the contrary, he always has a way to face a situation. We human beings are not simple. We all have many different ways. But blessed are they who are simple. What kind of person can be simple? Only a dead person. When Paul and his co-workers were suffering affliction in Asia, they were pressed to such an extent that they regarded themselves as dead. They had no way to deal with their situation. Their confidence was not in themselves; it was only in the God who raises the dead
一 他们良心的见证
A. The Testimony of Their Conscience
7保罗在十二节题到良心的见证。我们必须有清洁的良心，（提后一3，）无亏的良心，（徒二四16，）见证我们的所是和所作。保罗的良心见证他是纯诚的、忠信的、诚实的。他的良心特别见证他是单纯的，他没有用任何人的办法去应付处境。他没有运用他的知识、才干、力量或智慧。他没有运用任何计谋，也不玩弄手腕；相反的，他是单纯、简单的。他的良心为此作见证，这个见证乃是他的夸耀。因此，保罗能说，『我们只在神里面生活、为人、行动、工作，而不在我们自己的办法里。我们惟一的路乃是复活的神。叫死人复活的神乃是我们惟一的路。因此，我们不玩弄手腕，也不运用我们的智慧。我们绝对的简单，就像死了的人那样简单。我们不信靠别的，只信靠那活的人位，也就是那复活的神。这是我们的夸耀，这也是我们良心所作的见证。』
7In verse 1 2 Paul refers to the testimony of the conscience. We must have a pure conscience (2 Tim. 1:3), a conscience without offense (Acts 24:16), to bear a testimony to what we are and do. Paul’s conscience testified that he was sincere, faithful, and honest. In particular, he had the testimony of his conscience that he was single. He did not use any human way to deal with situations. He did not exercise his knowledge, ability, strength, or wisdom. He did not use any policy, and he did not play politics. Rather, he was single, simple. His conscience bore testimony concerning this. This testimony was his boast. Thus, Paul could say, “We live, behave, act, and work only in God, not in any way that is of ourselves. Our unique way is the God of resurrection. The God who raises the dead is our only way. Therefore, we did not play politics, and we did not exercise our wisdom. We were absolutely simple, as simple as those who are dead. Our confidence is in nothing other than the living Person who is the God of resurrection. This is our boast, and this is the testimony borne by our conscience.”
二 在世为人
B. Conducting Themselves in the World
1 凭著神的单纯和纯诚
1. In the Singleness and Sincerity of God
8保罗为甚么对哥林多人说到单纯？因为哥林多人非常复杂，他们有许多不同的办法。这就是为甚么他们有些人比较喜欢亚波罗，有些人比较喜欢矶法或保罗。实际上，哥林多前书这卷书，乃是对付哥林多信徒的复杂。今天基督徒中间混乱与分裂的根源，乃是信徒里面的复杂。如果基督徒个个简单，他们中间就不会有甚么难处。一个地方召会的难处，总是从复杂产生的。如果你所在的地方有了难处，那个难处必定是出于一个不简单、很复杂的人。为这缘故，我总是尽量避免和复杂的人有牵连。每当你遇到一个复杂的人，你不该想要和他辩论或改正他。只要你想去辩论或改正，那就会叫你落入复杂的陷阱里。
8Why did Paul speak to the Corinthians about singleness? It was because the Corinthians were very complicated. They had many different ways. This was the reason some preferred Apollos, and others preferred Cephas or Paul. Actually, 1 Corinthians is a book which deals with the complications of the believers at Corinth. The source of confusion and division among Christians today is the complications that are within the believers. If all Christians became simple, there would be no problems among them. The problems in a local church always come from complications. If there is a problem in your locality, that problem comes from someone who is not simple, but who is complicated. For this reason, I always try to avoid being involved with a complicated person. Whenever you meet a complicated person, you should not try to argue with him or correct him. Any attempts at argument or correction will cause you to become trapped in complications
9保罗在林后一章十二节说到神的单纯和纯诚。神的纯诚是一种神圣的美德，神之所是的美德。凭这样的美德为人，意即经历神自己。因此，凭这样的美德为人，等于本节下半『靠神的恩典』。神是智慧的，又是全能的。但一面来说，神也是单纯的，祂非常简单。当主耶稣在地上的时候，祂很有智慧；但祂也是简单而单纯的。我接触主耶稣的时候非常有享受，因为祂是单纯而简单的。但是，当你跟某些弟兄谈话的时候，你发现他们非常复杂。但我们的神是简单的；每当我们与祂交谈，会发现祂并不复杂。当祂说是，祂就真是；当祂说不，就真的是不。照样，当祂说白色或黑色的时候，就是指白色或黑色，而不是指灰色。不论神在那一个时刻对我们有甚么感觉，祂总是单纯的。祂对我们也许满意，也许不满意，但祂自己总是简单的。
9In verse 12 Paul speaks of the singleness and sincerity of God. The sincerity of God is a divine virtue, a virtue of what God is. To conduct ourselves in such a virtue means to experience God Himself. Hence, it equals “in the grace of God” also mentioned in this verse. God is wise and almighty. But in a sense He is also single; He is very simple. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was wise; yet He was also simple and single. I very much enjoy having contact with the Lord Jesus because of His singleness and simplicity. However, when you talk to certain brothers, you find that they are extremely complicated. But our God is simple. Whenever we talk to Him, we find that He is not full of complications. When He says yes, He means yes, and when He says no, He means no. Likewise, when He says white or black, He means white or black, not gray. No matter how God may feel about us at a particular time, He is always single. He may be unhappy with us or He may be happy, but He Himself is simple.
10从经历中我们知道，一个简单而单纯的人也是慷慨且宽宏大量的。简单的人是慷慨施与的人。比方说，一位弟兄到一个单纯的人跟前，告诉他没有钱付房租。那位单纯的人会立刻愿意供应那位弟兄所需用的。但是复杂的人就不会那么宽大。他们不愿意慷慨的给与，却从复杂的角度来看这件事，于是所给的就少于所需要的。这说明了简单就是慷慨的事实。保罗是单纯、简单的，也是慷慨的。只有单纯的人才是慷慨的人。如果你不彀单纯，你对别人就绝不会慷慨、丰富的施与。神对我们是丰富施与的，因为祂是单纯的。如果神不单纯，如果神对我们的想法复杂，想想看我们会有甚么样的遭遇；祂也许就不管我们了。你愿意让神考量你的光景，细细的察验你么？你愿意神把你从头看到脚，考量你里里外外的所是么？如果神这样来察验我们，没有一个人能蒙神的恩眷。但是因著神的单纯和慷慨，我们就从祂领受了许多的福分。我请你们把保罗和哥林多人比较一下。保罗就像简单的神，哥林多人却极其复杂。如果保罗不单纯，也不简单，他也许就不管哥林多人，也不愿再在他们中间尽职了。保罗的良心见证，他和他的同工们向著哥林多人的为人，乃是凭著神的单纯。因此，他们向著哥林多人是慷慨的，愿意把一切都给他们。保罗和他的同工们，向著那些信徒是慷慨且丰富施与的。
10From experience we have learned that a person who is simple and single is also generous and full of liberality. Those who are simple are those who give freely. For example, suppose a brother approaches a person so single and tells him that he is short of money to pay his rent. Immediately the one who is simple will be willing to give that brother whatever he needs. This illustrates the fact that to be simple is to be generous. But those who are complicated are not generous. Instead of being willing to give freely, they may consider the matter in a complicated way and then give an amount that falls short of the need. Paul was single, simple, and generous. Only a person so single is a generous person. If you lack singleness, you will never be generous or bountiful toward others. Our God is bountiful toward us because He is single. Imagine what would happen to us if God were not single and if He thought about us in a complicated way. Probably He would not care for us. Would you like God to consider your situation and examine you in detail? Would you like Him to look at you from head to toe and consider what you are inwardly and outwardly? None of us would be favored by God if He examined us in this way. But because of God’s singleness and generosity, we have received blessing from Him. I would ask you to compare Paul to the Corinthians. Paul was like the simple God, but the Corinthians were extremely complicated. If Paul had not been single and simple, he probably would have forgotten about the Corinthians and would no longer have been willing to minister among them. Paul’s conscience testified that toward the Corinthians he and his co- workers conducted themselves in the singleness of God. Therefore, they could be generous toward the Corinthians and be willing to give them anything. Toward those believers, Paul and his co-workers were generous and full of bounty
11单纯，原文的意思很丰富。这字繙作单纯或简单，还不彀达意。原文这字含示慷慨、宽宏、丰富施与、乐意施与。如果一位已婚的弟兄是简单的，不论他的妻子作甚么，或怎样对待他，他对妻子总是非常的慷慨。但是，如果一位弟兄是复杂的，他就会严厉的对待他的妻子。
11The Greek word rendered singleness is rich in meaning. The words singleness or simplicity are not an adequate translation. This word implies generosity, liberality, bounty, and willingness to give. If a married brother is simple, he will be very generous toward his wife, no matter what she does or how she treats him. However, if a brother is complicated, he will deal with his wife in a strict way.
12保罗的为人乃是凭著神的单纯。他是一个真正效法神并且活神的人。神是简单的，保罗也是简单的。神是慷慨的，保罗也是慷慨的。他乃是凭著神的单纯为人。当我们有了单纯和慷慨时，我们也会是纯诚的。一般英文信件末了总要写『sincerelyyours（纯诚敬禀）』。实际上，这个意思通常是说『politically（圆滑致意）』，或者至多不过是说，『politelyyours（敬谨启禀）』。一个人也许写一封十分复杂的长信，末了却写上『纯诚敬禀』；那不是纯诚。惟有当你凭著单纯与慷慨对待别人的时候，才真能彀说『纯诚敬禀』。因为保罗凭著神的单纯为人，又因为
12Paul was one who conducted himself in the singleness of God. He was a true imitator of God and one who lived God. God is simple, and Paul also was simple. God is generous, and Paul also was generous. He behaved himself in the singleness of God. When we have singleness and generosity, we shall also be sincere. It is a common practice to close a letter with the words “sincerely yours.” Actually, this usually means “politically yours,” or, at best, “politely yours.” A person may write a long letter full yours of complications, and then at the end say “sincerely yours.” That is not sincerity. Only when you treat others in a single way and with generosity can you truly say “sincerely yours.” Because Paul conducted himself in the singleness of God and because he was generous, he was truly sincere.
13他是慷慨的，所以他真是纯诚的。
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14我当然不是说自己是个绝对且忠信效法保罗的人。但是我能见证，多年来靠著主的怜悯和恩典，我一直受训练、受教导、得帮助，要凭著简单、单纯、纯诚和慷慨来行事为人。我能在主面前向你们见证，我不玩弄手腕。不仅如此，我能在祂面前说，我是个简单的人。我说是就是，说不是就不是。
14I certainly would not claim to be an absolute and faithful imitator of Paul. But I can testify that throughout the years, we have been trained, taught, and helped by the Lord’s mercy and grace to be have ourselves in simplicity, singleness, sincerity, and generosity. I can testify to you before the Lord that I do not play politics. Furthermore I can say before Him that I am a simple person. My yes is yes, and my no is no
2 不靠属肉体的智慧，乃靠神的恩典
2. Not in Fleshly Wisdom but in the Grace of God
15保罗在十二节题到属肉体的智慧和神的恩典。属肉体的智慧就是在肉体里属人的智慧。这等于我们自己，正如神的恩典等于神自己。神的恩典就是给我们享受的神。十二节的恩典就是十一节的恩赐，这是使徒所领受的，为著在苦难中经历复活。
15In verse 12 Paul refers to fleshly wisdom and the grace of God. Fleshly wisdom is human wisdom in the flesh. This equals ourselves, just as the grace of God equals God Himself. The grace of God is God for our enjoyment. The grace in verse 12 is the gift in verse 11, which the apostles received for the experience of resurrection in their sufferings
16简单与单纯是复活生命一方面的彰显。惟有当我们在复活里，不凭著自己而凭著复活的神生活时，我们才是简单的。当我们在复活里生活，我们就是效法神的人。别人虽然会跟我们玩弄手腕，我们却不照样对待他们。我们要尽全力使自己脱开复杂的网罗。我要效法保罗，凭著神的单纯和纯诚为人。这是复活一方面的显明。
16Being simple and single is an aspect of the expression of the life in resurrection. Only when we live in resurrection and by the God of resurrection, not by ourselves, are we simple. It is when we live in resurrection that we are imitators of God. Although others may play politics with us, we shall not be political with them. The most we shall do is try to remove ourselves from the snare of complications. I want to follow Paul to conduct myself in the singleness and sincerity of God. This is an aspect of the manifestation of resurrection.
17我们惟有凭著神的单纯和纯诚生活，才能被构成为基督与恩典的执事。今天召会中所需要的，乃是这样被构成的人。长老和所有事奉的人，都必须是这种人。如果你考量主恢复的历史，就会看见那些玩弄手腕而不在神的单纯里生活的人，对主的恢复以及他们自己会造成破坏和损失。惟有那些真正在神的单纯里生活的人，才能对主的恢复有助益。在这一点上，我们学了一些重要的功课。在复活里生活，就是在神的单纯里生活。林后一章十二至十四节是哥林多前书的延续，给我们看见如何在复活里生活。
17Only by living a life in the singleness and sincerity of God can we be constituted ministers of Christ and of grace. Those who are constituted in this way are needed in the church today. The elders and all the serving ones must be people of this kind. If you consider the history of the Lord’s recovery, you will see that those who play politics and who do not live in the singleness of God cause damage and loss to the Lord’s recovery and to themselves as well. Only those who truly live in the singleness of God have been a profit to the recovery. Regarding this, we have learned some important lessons. To live in resurrection is to live in the singleness of God. In 1:12-14 we see, as a continuation of 1 Corinthians, how to live in resurrection