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哥林多后书生命读经 · 第30篇

执事与职事成为一

The ministers and the ministry Becoming one
1读经：哥林多后书3:8-9,16-18;4:6-7。我们来看执事与职事成为一这事之前，需要先来看主耶稣论到义所说的一些话。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 3:8-9, 16-18; 4:6-7 Before we consider the matter of the ministers and the ministry becoming one, we need to consider the words of the Lord Jesus concerning righteousness
2主耶稣颁布诸天之国的宪法时，（太五1～七29，）说到一些关于义重要的事。祂一再强调义。主宣告说，『饥渴慕义的人有福了，因为他们必得饱足。』（五。）祂接著又说，『为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为诸天的国是他们的。』（10。）祂也教导门徒说，『你们的义，若不超过经学家和法利赛人的义，绝不能进诸天的国。』（20。）主耶稣又强调义说，『你们要先寻求祂的国和祂的义，这一切就都要加给你们了。』（六33。）我们不必忧虑吃甚么、穿甚么，反而要寻求神的国和神的义。但是，主耶稣所强调的这个义是甚么？这义就是基督从我们里面活出来，成为神的彰显和神的国。当我们有了这义，我们就必定有神的掌权。我们有神的治理、行政和管理。这意思是说，在我们的日常生活、家庭生活、和召会生活中，我们有国度，带著平安和喜乐。我要一再强调这个事实：新约的职事乃是那灵与义的职事。我绝不会厌烦重复这点。这新约的职事乃是主恢复里的职事。在主的恢复里，我们只供应基督作赐生命的灵，并作我们活的义。我们若读林后三章八至九节，以及十六至十八节，就能清楚的看见，新约的众执事最终都要与他们的职事成为一。这意思是说，众执事就是那职事。他们的职事就是他们的所是，而不仅仅是他们的所作或他们所完成的工作。新约执事的所是，就是他们的职事。因此，我们可以说，执事与职事成为一。
2When He issued the decree of the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens (Matt. 5:1 — 7:29), He said some important things concerning righteousness. Again and again He emphasized righteousness. He declared, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6). 6 Then He went on to say, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens” (Matt. 5:10). He also taught His disciples, “Unless your righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens” (Matt. 5:20). The Lord Jesus also emphasized righteousness when He said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). Instead of worrying about food and clothing, we need to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. But what is this righteousness emphasized by the Lord Jesus? This righteousness is Christ lived out from within us to be the expression of God and the kingdom of God. When we have this righteousness, we surely have God’s reign. We have God’s ruling, administration, and government. This means that we have the kingdom with peace and joy in our daily life, family life, and church life. Again and again I would emphasize the fact that the new covenant ministry is a ministry of the Spirit and of righteousness. I never grow tired of repeating this. This new covenant ministry is the ministry in the Lord’s recovery. In the recovery we only minister Christ as the life-giving Spirit and as our living righteousness. If we read 3:8, 9, and 16 through 18, we can see clearly that eventually all the ministers of the new covenant become one with their ministry. This means that the ministers are the ministry. Their ministry is what they are, not merely what they do or the work they accomplish. The very being of the new covenant ministers is their ministry. Therefore, we may speak of the ministers and the ministry becoming one.
新约职事的两个时期
two stages of the new covenant ministry
3林后三章八至九节说，『何况那灵的职事，岂不更带著荣光〔直译，在荣光里〕？若定罪的职事有荣光，那称义的职事，就越发充盈著荣光了。』我们要注意八节是说，新约的职事在荣光里，九节说这职事就越发充盈著荣光。在这里我们看见新约职事的两个时期。第一个时期是那灵的职事，第二个时期是义的职事。当职事只是那灵的职事时，乃是在第一个时期。这是在荣光里的职事。当职事是义的职事时，乃是在第二个时期。在这个时期，新约职事不仅是在荣光里，更是越发充盈著荣光。职事越发充盈著荣光，是因为义显出来了。新约职事的这两个时期，可以应用在我们的家庭生活里。假定有一位弟兄和他的妻子、儿女接受了那灵的职事。那灵的职事带著荣光，但这个职事还不是充盈著荣光，因为还没有义。但也许过了一段时间以后，这位丈夫与他的妻子、孩子都照著他们里面生命的灵把义活出来。这就是越发充盈著荣光的义的职事。凡是拜访那个家庭的人都能发现，他们有多么大的荣光。在起初的时期，也就是在那灵的职事的时期，新约职事乃是在荣光里。但是当这职事成了义的职事时，这职事就越发充盈著荣光。每当那灵的职事从我们里面活出来，而有义的彰显时，这职事就越发充盈著荣光。
3Second Corinthians 3:8 and 9 say, “How shall not rather the ministry of the Spirit be in glory? For if the ministry of condemnation came in glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.” Notice that verse 8 says that the ministry of the new covenant is in glory, and verse 9 says that this ministry abounds in glory. Here we see two stages of the new covenant ministry. The first stage is the ministry of the Spirit; the second stage is the ministry of righteousness. When the ministry is of the Spirit, it is in the first stage. This is the ministry in glory. When the ministry is of righteousness, it is in the second stage. In this stage the new covenant ministry not only is in glory—it abounds in glory. The reason it abounds in glory is that righteousness comes forth. These two stages of the new covenant ministry can be applied to our family life. Suppose a brother, his wife, and child receive the ministry of the Spirit. With the ministry of the Spirit there is glory, but this ministry does not abound in glory, for there is not yet any righteousness. But perhaps after a period of time the husband, the wife, and the child all live out righteousness according to the Spirit of life within them. This is the ministry of righteousness abounding in glory. Anyone visiting that family would be able to realize what a glory there is with them. In the initial stage, the stage of the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of the new covenant is in glory. But when this ministry becomes the ministry of righteousness, the ministry abounds in glory. Whenever the ministry of the Spirit is lived out in us with the expression of righteousness, the ministry abounds in glory.
4三章八节和九节的『带著荣光〔直译，在荣光里〕』与『越发充盈著荣光』，都与那职事有关。但是十六至十八节的荣光并不是与那职事有关，乃是与执事有关。保罗在十八节说，『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。』这节圣经的『我们』是指使徒，他们作所有信徒的榜样和代表，乃是基督的执事。因此，八节和九节所说的荣光与那职事有关，
4In 3:8 and 9 “in glory” and “abounds in glory” are both related to the ministry. But in verses 16 through 18 glory is related not to the ministry, but to the ministers. In verse 18 Paul says, “And 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.” In this verse the word “we” refers to the apostles, who, as examples and representatives of all believers, are the ministers of Christ. Thus, in verses 8 and 9 the glory is related to the ministry, but in verse 18 it is related to the ministers
5十八节的荣光与众执事有关。
5
6虽然八至九节的荣光与那职事有关，而十八节的荣光与众执事有关，但并不是有两种荣光。并不是说有一种荣光与职事有关，又有另一种荣光与执事有关。不，只有一种荣光。这证明新约所有的执事，到末了都与他们的职事成为一。他们的全人，他们这个人的所是，就是他们的职事。
6Although the glory in verses 8 and 9 is related to the ministry, and the glory in verse 18 is related to the ministers, there are not two kinds of glory. There is not one kind of glory attached to the ministry and another kind of glory related to the ministers. No, there is only one kind of glory. This proves that eventually all the ministers of the new covenant become one with their ministry. What they are in their being, their person, is their ministry.
7新约众执事的生活众执事与那职事乃是一，这个事实可以从林后四章得著完全的证实。在这章圣经里，保罗很强的指明，职事就是新约众执事的所是。四章里的众执事实际上不是在作工，乃是在生活。因此，他们的生活就是他们的工作。除了生活，他们不需要作甚么工，因为他们的生活就是他们的工作、他们的职事。他们里面的人实际上就是他们的职事。在新约职事里算得数的，乃是新约众执事在他们生活中、在他们全人里面的所是。
7THE LIVING OF THE NEW COVENANT MINISTERS The fact that the ministers and the ministry are one is fully proved in 2 Corinthians 4. In this chapter Paul gives us a strong indication that the ministry is just what the new covenant ministers are. Actually, the ministers in chapter four are not working; they are simply living. Hence, their living is their working. Apart from their living, there is no need for them to do any work, for their living is their work, their ministry. Their inner being is actually their ministry. What counts in the new covenant ministry is what the ministers of the new covenant are in their living and in their being
8新约众执事的光景与今天许多基督教传道人的光景大不相同。基督教的牧师与传道人作工是一套，生活又是另一套，这种情形很普遍。这意思是说，他们所作的工是一回事，他们的所是又是另一回事。他们可能教导别人要遵循某一种高的标准，但他们自己却没有照著这种标准生活。因此，他们所作的和他们所是的并不符合。但是新约众执事与他们的职事乃是一。他们所作的就是他们所是的，他们怎样生活就怎样作工。他们的生活、他们的所是，就是他们的职事。结果，他们职事的荣光就是他们的荣光，他们的荣光就是他们职事的荣光。
8The situation of the ministers of the new covenant is very different from that of many of today’s Christian preachers. It is common for Christian ministers and preachers to work in one way, but to live in a different way. This means that what they work is one thing, and what they are is another thing. They may teach others to be according to a certain high standard, but they themselves do not live according to this standard. Thus, there is a discrepancy between their work and their being. But the new covenant ministers are one with their ministry. What they do is what they are. The way they work is the way they live. Their living, their being, is their ministry. As a result, the glory of their ministry is their glory, and their glory is the glory of their ministry
看不见的荣光
INVISIBLE GLORY
9新约众执事的荣光不是看得见的、显在外面的。这荣光是里面的，是看不见的；这乃是基督在我们的生活里被别人所体会。譬如，你到一位弟兄家里去，看见他的家庭生活中有一种荣耀的情形、光景。这种荣光并不是基督被人看见了，乃是当他们观察这个家庭的日常生活时，基督被他们体会了。别人会感觉到，在这个家庭的生活里有荣光。这就是新约众执事与他们职事的荣光。
9The glory of the new covenant ministers is not something visible or outward. This glory is inward and invisible; it is a matter of Christ realized by others in our living. For example, when you visit a brother’sho me, you may see in his family life a condition, a state, of glory. This glory is not Christ seen by others; it is Christ realized by them when they observe the daily living of this family. Others have the sense that in the life of this family there is something glorious. This is the glory of the new covenant ministers and their ministry
10当摩西从山上下来的时候，人能看见荣光从他脸上照耀出来。但是在保罗的脸上并没有这种荣光的照耀。在摩西脸上的荣光是物质的、看得见的。然而，那荣光的照耀并不持久。保罗脸上没有那种看得见的、物质之荣光的照耀，但是他有属灵的、里面之荣光的照耀。凡与保罗相处一段时间的人，都能体会到他身上有一种看不见的照耀。这种照耀虽然是看不见的，却是能感觉得到、能体会得到的。这是里面荣光的照耀。
10When Moses came down from the mountain, glory shone from his face in a visible way. But there was no such shining of glory on Paul’s face. With Moses, the glory was physical and visible. The shining of that glory, however, did not last very long. With Paul there was no visible, physical shining of glory. However, with him there was a spiritual, inward shining of glory. Anyone who stayed with Paul for a period of time would realize that with him there was an invisible shining. Although this shining could not be seen, it could be sensed, realized. This is the shining of the inward glory.
11在保罗身上并没有甚么外面的照耀，但是有一个荣耀的东西，从他里面照耀出来。我感谢主，今天也有一些执事，不是因著外面的光而照耀，乃是因著里面的光，就是从里面发出来的光而照耀。
11With Paul there was no outward shining. With him there was something glorious shining from within. I thank the Lord that today there are also ministers who shine not with an outward light, but with an inward light, with a light from within
神照在我们心里
GOD’S SHINING IN OUR HEARTS
12我从经历中得知，新约众执事有看不见的荣光在里面照耀。然而我不愿意信靠我的经历，我要根据圣经来查看这事。于是我发现保罗在林后四章六节说，『因为那说光要从黑暗里照出来的神，已经照在我们心里，为著光照人，使人认识那显在耶稣基督面上之神的荣耀。』那说光要从黑暗里照出来的神，已经照在新约众执事心里。神照在宇宙中，产生了旧造；现今神照在新约众执事心里，使他们成为新造。所以，他们能在他们的传讲中高举基督为主，也在他们的职事中降卑自己作信徒的奴仆。（5。）他们为基督所作的，并他们向信徒所是的，乃是神照耀的结果。神的照耀产生了新约的众执事，和他们的职事。在旧造里，神的照耀是外面的。但是在新造里，神之于我们的照耀乃是里面的。神已经照在我们心里。如今照耀、荣光、光照就在我们里面。神照在我们心里的结果，乃是照亮我们，使我们认识那显在耶稣基督面上之神的荣耀；也就是说，光照我们，使我们认识基督福音的荣耀。使我们认识基督福音之荣耀的这个光照、照亮，乃是神照在我们心里的结果。
12I have learned from experience that the new covenant ministers shine inwardly with an invisible glory. However, not wanting to put my trust in experience, I checked this matter according to the Bible. When I did so, I found that in 4:6 Paul says, “Because the God Who said, Out of darkness light shall shine, is the One Who shined in our hearts for the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” The very God who commanded light to shine out of darkness has shined in the hearts of the new covenant ministers. His shining in the universe produced the old creation. Now His shining in the hearts of the new covenant ministers makes them a new creation. Therefore, they are able to exalt Christ as the Lord in their preaching and conduct themselves as slaves to the believers in their service (v. 5). What they do for Christ and what they are to the believers both issue from God’s shining. God’s shining produces the new covenant ministers and their ministry. In the old creation the shining of God was outward. But with us in the new creation, the shining of God is inward. God has shined into our hearts. Now the shining, the glory, the illumination, is within us. God’s shining in our hearts results in the illumination of knowing the glory of God in the face of Christ, that is, in the enlightenment that causes us to know the glory of the gospel of Christ. The illumination, the enlightenment, that makes the glory of Christ’s gospel known to us issues from the shining of God in our hearts
13我们许多人从经历中知道，主的荣光照在我们心里是怎么一回事。有一天，主的成分开始照在我们里面。我们经历这种里面的照耀以前，是在黑暗里。这是我多年在组织基督教里的光景。我听了许多关于基督的故事，也领受了十字架的教导。然而，乃是到我得救的时候，我才经历了里面的光照。
13Many of us know from experience what it is to have the glory of the Lord shining in our hearts. One day, something of the Lord began to shine within us. Before we experienced this inward shining, we were in darkness. This was my situation in organized Christianity for many years. I heard the stories about Christ, and I was taught concerning the cross. But not until I was saved did I experience the inward shining.
14今天有些宗教人士迷信物质的十字架。有些人在他们敬拜场所的顶端安上木头或水泥的十字架，有人戴著金十字架项炼，还有人用手在胸前画十字架。不久以前，有一个人来见我，他的衣领是神父的那种衣领，胸前挂著一个大十字架。那种十字架不能拯救人，一点能力也没有。不过有些人真相信，如果他们将一个物质的十字架放在病人身上，那个十字架有能力医治那个病人。这真是迷信！对十字架这种外面、物质的观念，与新约的职事一点关系也没有。新约的职事完全是在那灵里，与看得见或物质的东西毫无关系。新约的职事是看不见的，却是我们可以持守的。这职事是真实的，是我们能感觉、体会、经历并享受的。这是新约职事的荣光、照耀、实际、能力与力量。
14Today some religious people have a superstitious concept of a material cross. Some put a wooden or concrete cross on the top of their places of worship. Others wear a gold cross on a chain around their necks. Still others practice making a so-called sign of the cross. Not long ago, a man came to me wearing a clerical collar and a large cross. That kind of cross does not save anyone. It has no power whatever. Nevertheless, some people actually believe that if they lay a material cross upon someone who is ill, that cross has the power to heal him. What superstition! This outward, material concept of the cross has nothing to do with the new covenant ministry. The new covenant ministry is altogether in the Spirit. It has nothing to do with things visible or physical. The new covenant ministry is invisible, but it is nonetheless something we are able to lay hold of. It is something real that can be sensed, realized, experienced, and enjoyed. This is the glory, the shining, the reality, the power, and the strength of the new covenant ministry
瓦器里面的宝贝
TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS
15保罗在四章七节接著说，『但我们有这宝贝在瓦器里，要显明这超越的能力，是属于神，不是出于我们。』神照在我们心里，带给我们一个宝贝，就是那是神的具体化身，作了我们的生命和一切之荣耀的基督。但我们盛装这宝贝的，却是没有价值且脆弱的瓦器。无价之宝竟盛装在没有价值的瓦器里！这使没有价值的器皿成为新约的众执事，有无上宝贵的职事。这乃是藉著在复活里的神圣能力。这超越的能力必是属于神，不是出于我们。这宝贝，内住的基督，在我们这些瓦器里，乃是基督徒生活神圣供应的源头。作新约执事的使徒，靠这宝贝超越的能力，就能过钉十字架的生活，使他们所供应基督复活的生命得以显明。基督照在我们里面的实际，就是在我们这些瓦器里面的宝贝。外面看来，我们是瓦器，但我们里面有无价之宝。这宝贝就是那作经过过程之三一神具体化身的基督，在我们里面乃是包罗万有、赐生命的灵。这宝贝有能力，而这能力是超越的。基督作为在我们里面赐生命的灵，乃是照耀并工作的那一位。这就是我们里面的宝贝。
15In 4:7 Paul goes on to say, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” God’s shining in our hearts brings into us a treasure, the Christ of glory, who is the embodiment of God to be our life and our everything. But we who contain this treasure are earthen vessels, worthless and fragile. What a priceless treasure is contained in worthless vessels! This has made the vessels ministers of the new covenant with a priceless ministry. The excellence of the power is surely of God and not of ourselves. This treasure, the indwelling Christ, in us, the earthen vessels, is the divine source of the supply for the Christian life. It is by the excellent power of this treasure that the apostles as ministers of the new covenant are able to live a crucified life so that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifest. The shining reality of Christ is the treasure in us, the earthen vessels. Outwardly we are earthen vessels, but inwardly we have a priceless treasure. This treasure is Christ as the embodiment of the processed Triune God to be in us the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit. This treasure has a power, and this power is excellent. Christ as the life-giving Spirit in us is the One who shines and works. This is the treasure we have in us
16新约的众执事连同他们的职事，乃是里面装有奇妙至宝的瓦器。他们的职事全在那灵里，是又真又活的，是我们可以感觉、享受、体会并经历的。这就是今天主在祂的恢复里所渴望得著的。这就是新约的见证，也是神在我们中间想要得著的。我们必须在这职事的恢复里，我们必须过这种生活，也必须在有这职事的召会里。不仅如此，我们必须把这个供应给人，主要还不是藉著我们所作的，乃是藉著我们所是的，以及我们的生活方式。这就是新约的众执事同他们的职事。众执事与那职事实际上乃是一。
16The new covenant ministers with their ministry are earthen vessels containing a marvelous treasure. Their ministry is altogether something in the Spirit, something that is real and living. It is something we can sense, enjoy, realize, and experience. This is what the Lord desires in His recovery today. This is the New Testament testimony, and it is what God wants among us. We must be in the recovery of this ministry. We must live this kind of life and be in a church that has this ministry. Furthermore, we must minister this to others not mainly by what we do, but primarily by what we are and by the way we live. This is the ministers with their ministry of the new covenant. Truly the ministers and the ministry are one