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哥林多后书生命读经 · 第47篇

使徒关于供给缺乏圣徒的交通（二）

The Apostle’s Fellowship Concerning the Ministry to the Needy Saints (2)
1读经：哥林多后书八章十六至二十四节。在林后八章十六至二十四节这一段，我们看见使徒是怎样的人。在这一章的前半，保罗与哥林多的圣徒交通到供给在犹太地缺乏的圣徒。我们读这一章圣经，也许以为到十五节保罗的交通就结束了，就完整无缺了。但保罗不仅与哥林多的圣徒交通到这件事，他也向他们描述当时的情况，向他们保证他所作的，是以非常合式的方式作成的。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 8:16-24 In 8:16-24 we have a section of this Epistle showing us what kind of persons the apostles were. In the first half of this chapter, Paul had fellowship with the saints at Corinth concerning the ministry to the needy saints in Judea. As we read this chapter, it may seem to us that this fellowship is finished by verse 15, that it is perfect and complete. Paul not only had fellowship with the saints in Corinth concerning this matter, but he also presented to them the description of a situation that assured them that what he was doing was being carried out in a very proper way
关于处理钱财的事
MATTERS RELATED TO THE HANDLING OF MONEY
2在处理钱财的事上，林后八章十六至二十四节能给我们很大的帮助。社会上大多数的问题都是与钱财有关的，所以我们在处理钱财的事上，必须学习谨慎。
2Second Corinthians 8:16-24 can help us a great deal in our behavior with respect to money. A large proportion of the problems in society are related to money. Therefore, we all must learn to be careful in handling it
3在处理钱财的事上，会发生许多我们想像不到的问题。钱财是试诱的源头。我们不该自以为彀属灵了，在处理钱财这样的事上不会出问题。我们没有一人能比使徒保罗更忠信、更属灵。但他在钱财的事上是非常小心谨慎的。我相信保罗在钱财的事上，考虑相当周详。为这缘故，他与哥林多圣徒交通到供给在犹太地缺乏圣徒的事之后，加上了十六至二十四节，指出有关处理钱财一些重要的事。我们从这几节看见，保罗在供给缺乏圣徒的事上，向哥林多信徒推荐了几位弟兄。第一位是提多。十六至十七节说，『感谢神，把我为你们同样的热诚，赐在提多心里，因他固然接受了恳求，但自己更是热诚，自愿往你们那里去。』这里的『热诚』，原文也有『殷勤』的意思。这是指保罗为信徒而有的殷勤、热诚。十七节的『恳求』，是指使徒的恳求。
3It is beyond our ability to imagine the different kind of problems that can arise in relation to the handling of money. Money is a source of temptation. We should not consider ourselves so spiritual that we could never have a problem concerning the handling of money. Certainly none of us is more faithful or spiritual than the Apostle Paul. Nevertheless, he was cautious and careful regarding money. I believe that he was quite thoughtful concerning money matters. For this reason, after having fellowship with the saints in Corinth concerning the ministry to the needy saints in Judea, he added verses 16 through 24 to point out some important matters related to the handling of money. In these verses we see that Paul recommended certain brothers to the Corinthian believers with respect to the ministry to the needy saints. First he recommended Titus. Verses 16 and 17 say, “But thanks be to God Who is giving the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. Because he indeed received the entreaty, but being more earnest he went forth of his own accord to you.” The Greek word rendered earnestness in verse 16 also means diligence. It refers to Paul’s diligence, earnestness, for the believers. The entreaty mentioned in verse 17 is the entreaty of the apostle.
4十八节说，『我们还打发一位弟兄和他同去，这人在福音上普遍的为众召会所称赞。』在二十二节，保罗还题到另一位弟兄：『我们又打发我们的弟兄和他们同去，这人是我们在许多事上，屡次试证为殷勤的，现在他因对你们极其深信，就极其更加殷勤了。』这几节指明，除了提多之外，还推荐了两位弟兄给哥林多人。钱财极为魔鬼利用，诱使人不诚实；供给圣徒物质的东西，乃与钱财有关。使徒在这事上，为避免人的猜疑指摘，就打发一位有名望的弟兄和提多同去，作为见证人。我们在二十二节看见，他另打发一位忠信的弟兄和那两位同去，凭三个见证人的口，刚强的见证就可定准。（太十八16。）在这三个弟兄中，只题到提多的名字。但另两位是在众召会中有名望的弟兄；保罗甚至称他们是众召会的使徒。（林后八23。）
4Verse 18 says, “And we sent together with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches.” In verse 22, Paul refers to yet another brother: “And we sent with them our brother, whom we have proved to be diligent in many things many times, yet now much more diligent through the great confidence he has in you.” These verses indicate that in addition to Titus, two other brothers were recommended to the Corinthians. Money is very much used by the Devil to seduce man into dishonesty, but it is also involved in the ministry of material things to the saints. In order to avoid blame through man’s suspicion in this matter, the apostles sent a reputable brother to go with Titus as a witness. In verse 22 we see that another faithful brother was sent with these two, that by the mouth of three witnesses a strong testimony might be established (Matt. 18:16). Of these three brothers, only the name of Titus is given. However, the other brothers were known in the churches, and Paul even spoke of them as apostles of the churches (v. 23).
保罗尽职事时如何生活为人
HOW PAUL BEHAVED HIMSELF IN HIS MINISTRY
5哥林多后书这一段中，没有甚么道理或神学，也没有题到属灵的恩赐或能力。那么这里有些甚么东西，值得我们花一整篇信息来看？我们在这里乃是看见保罗那种生活的图画。哥林多后书是说到保罗生活的一卷书。然而，今天的基督徒多半注重工作，过于注重生活。哥林多后书描绘保罗的生活，而不著重他的工作。这里我们有一幅图画，描绘保罗尽职事时的生活为人。毫无疑问，保罗所受的托付是这职事最高的一分。所以在这卷书中，他很自然的给我们看见，他尽职事时如何生活为人。这意思不是说，保罗在哥林多后书告诉我们他如何尽职，或用甚么方法尽职。他所启示的，乃是他如何生活为人。他所著重的，不是他尽职的方法，乃是他如何为人。
5In this section of 2 Corinthians there is no doctrine or theology, no mention of spiritual gift or power. What, then, do we have here that is worthy of an entire message? We have a picture of the kind of life Paul lived. The book of 2 Corinthians is a book on Paul’s life. However, most Christians today pay much more attention to work than to life. Second Corinthians portrays Paul’s life; it does not emphasize his work. Here we have a picture of Paul’s behavior in his ministry. No doubt Paul was commissioned with the highest portion of this ministry. Therefore, in this book he spontaneously gives us a picture showing how he behaved himself in carrying out his ministry. This does not mean that in 2 Corinthians Paul is telling us how or by what way he carried out his ministry. Rather, he is revealing how he behaved himself. His emphasis is not on the way he ministered; it is on how he conducted himself
6新约的职事完全是生命的事，而不是仅仅恩赐或以某种方式作工的问题。要紧的问题，不在于我们如何行事，或如何作工，乃在于我们如何生活并为人。在基督为著召会的职事里，所著重的不该是我们如何作工，而该是我们如何生活。我的负担是要我们都看见，在主的恢复中，问题不在于我们如何行事，乃在于我们如何生活。在这几节中，保罗主要著重的，是他如何生活为人。
6The ministry of the New Testament is altogether a matter of life, not a matter merely of gifts or of working in a particular way. The crucial question is not how we are doing things or how we are working; it is how we are living and conducting ourselves. In the ministry of Christ for the church, the emphasis should be on how we live, not on how we work. I have a strong burden that we all would see that in the Lord’s recovery what matters is not how we do things, but how we live. In these verses Paul’s main emphasis i son how he behaved himself.
7按照二十节，保罗所经手的物质餽送很丰裕。他在不同地方从圣徒收了大笔给犹太地缺乏圣徒的款项。保罗知道，保管大笔款项的责任会引起难处，所以他行事非常谨慎。首先，他挑选提多和他同去。我们读这卷书，可以看见提多是位有名望的弟兄，在同工中并在众召会中，都有名望。所以，保罗挑选这样的弟兄领头将物质的供应供给缺乏的圣徒。但根据十八节，另有一位弟兄和他同去；这位弟兄在福音上普遍的为众召会所称赞，也被众召会选出，在这恩典上，和他们同行。（19。）这位弟兄不仅是保罗打发的，也是众召会差遣的。藉此我们看见，保罗必定特意请众召会挑选这样一位弟兄。关于这一位，十九至二十节说，『不但这样，他也被众召会选出，在我们所服事的这恩典上，和我们同行，是为著主自己的荣耀，也是为著我们的热切。这就避免人在我们所服事的这丰裕上，挑剔我们。』保罗行动特别谨慎，避免因著物质餽送的丰裕，而遭人责难。
7According to verse 20, an abundance of material gifts had been committed to Paul’s care. He had received a large sum of money from saints in different localities for the needy ones in Judea. Realizing that having the responsibility for a large amount of money could cause problems, he behaved in a very careful way. First, he selected Titus to go with him. By reading this book we can see that Titus was a reputable brother, reputable among the co-workers and also among the churches. Therefore, Paul selected such a one to take the lead in ministering the material supply to the needy saints. Yet, according to verse 18, another brother was sent with Titus, one whose praise in the gospel was throughout all the churches and who had been appointed by the churches as a fellow-traveler in this grace (v. 19). This brother was sent by the churches and not only by Paul. By this we see that Paul must have asked the churches purposely to select such a brother. Concerning that one, verses 19 and 20 say, “And not only this, but who has also been appointed by the churches as our fellow- traveler in this grace which is being ministered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, avoiding this, that anyone should blame us in this abundance which is being ministered by us.” Paul deliberately acted in a careful way to avoid blame concerning the abundance of material gifts
在神和人面前，
TAKING FORETHOUGHT FOR WHAT IS HONORABLE
8豫先准备作善美可敬的事保罗在二十一节说，『因为我们留心作善美可敬的事，不但在主面前，也在人面前。』这里的『留心』也可译为，豫先为别人准备、设想，如在罗马十二章十七节者。这该是引自箴言
8BEFORE GOD AND MAN In verse 21 Paul says, “For we provide for what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also before men.” The Greek word for “provide for” may also be rendered take forethought for, consider in advance. This is the meaning of the word in Romans 12:17. It
9三章四节，七十士希腊文译本将该节译为，你当在主和人眼前，留意作善美可敬的事。
9must have been quoted from Proverbs 3:4, where the Septuagint reads, “Take thought for honorable things in the sight of the Lord, and of men
10保罗领悟，供给缺乏的圣徒牵涉到大笔款项。他知道处理这么一笔款项并不容易。所以他就在主和人面前，留意作善美可敬的事。我们也许认为圣徒在那笔款项上，不会有恶念。圣徒自己可能不会有恶念，但是魔鬼却满了恶念，且潜伏在人里面。为这缘故，保罗豫先考虑这事，好避免人的挑剔。
10Paul realized that a large sum of money was involved in the ministering to the needy saints. He knew that handling that amount of money was not an easy matter. Therefore, he took forethought for what was honorable both before the Lord and before men. We may think that the saints would not have any evil thoughts regarding that money. Perhaps the saints themselves would not have evil thoughts, but the Devil is full of evil thoughts, and he is in them. For this reason, Paul thought about the matter beforehand to avoid blame.
11在这里，我们看见『豫先准备』的原则。每逢我们要作甚么，或怎样为人，都应当豫先准备，考虑别人对那件事的想法。不错，圣徒都是圣别的，但是他们里面有一个不圣别的，就是魔鬼。在某一件事上，魔鬼会有甚么恶念？我们都需要考虑设想。甚至对于丈夫或妻子，我们也需要这样设想。我们的妻子或丈夫在某件事上也许没有问题，但是魔鬼会怎样？他会有甚么想法？我们要知道，魔鬼一直蹲伏著等待机会，要破坏我们。如果我们看见这点，我们作事就要谨慎，要豫先准备好。我们作一件事的动机可能是纯洁的，但是在我们的行为上仍需要谨慎。我们的动机即使是纯洁的，我们的行为却可能引起人的疑虑。譬如，保罗由于经手大笔款项，他就非常谨慎，找了两三个见证人，好消除任何疑虑。按著律法，需要有两三个见证人。保罗打发合式的见证人，乃是豫先作准备。我很宝贵『豫先准备』这个辞，其意思是豫先考虑一件事。我们若豫先有准备，我们所作的事就不会让仇敌有机会进来破坏。
11Here we see the principle of taking forethought. Whenever we are about to do something or behave in a certain way, we should take forethought for the way others may think about the matter. Yes, the saints are holy. But within them there is someone who is not holy, that is, the Devil. What evil thoughts may come from the Devil about a particular matter? We need to consider this. We need to consider it even in relation to our husband or wife. Our husband or wife may not have a problem with a certain matter, but what about the Devil? What kind of thoughts about it will come from him? We need to realize that the Devil is crouching, waiting for an opportunity to destroy us. If we realize this, we shall be careful and take forethought concerning things. Our motive regarding a particular matter may be pure, but we still need to be careful concerning our behavior. Even though our motive is pure, our behavior may cause others to be suspicious. Paul, for example, was responsible for a large sum of money. Therefore, he was careful and took some witnesses to remove any ground for suspicion. According to the law, two or three witnesses were necessary. In taking care to have the proper witnesses, Paul was taking forethought. I appreciate this word forethought. It means to consider a matter beforehand. If we take forethought, we shall not do things in a way that gives an opening for the enemy to come in
12我们从经历得知，在钱财的事上，我们必须豫先有准备。每逢你遇到钱财的事，你必须豫先有准备，好避免人的挑剔。我们绝不可在处理钱财的事上轻率。我们在处理钱财的事上若不谨慎，人就会挑剔我们。保罗在林后八章二十节说，『这就避免人在我们所服事的这丰裕上，挑剔我们。』每逢我们负责处理大笔款项，就该豫先有准备，好避免人的挑剔。所以凡是召会中、工作上有关钱财的事，或是有为著召会或工作物质的餽送，都要有两、三个见证人。我们在经管钱财的事上若没有见证人，终必会有难处，因为钱财是一种试诱。
12From experience we have learned that regarding money matters we need to take forethought. Whenever you come to the matter of money, you must take forethought in order to avoid blame. We should never deal with money in a careless way. If we are not careful in the handling of money, blame will come upon us. In verse 20 Paul said, “Avoiding this, that anyone should blame us in this abundance which is being ministered by us.” We also should take forethought whenever we are responsible for a large sum of money in order to avoid blame. Therefore, with respect to the finances of the church or of the work, or of gifts to the church or the work, we need two or three witnesses. If we take care of money matters without witnesses, we shall have problems, for money is a temptation.
13不要以为我们的处境和保罗不一样，我们在钱财的事上不需要像他那样豫先有准备。只要我们活在这地上，我们无法避免钱财的事。你可以尽力躲开钱财，钱财却会找上你。钱财极为魔鬼利用，圣经说钱财是不义的玛门。但赞美主！到了新耶路撒冷，就不用为钱财挂心了。只是今天我们生活和工作还不能不用牠。因此，我们在处理钱财的事上，必须学习在神和人面前，豫先准备作善美可敬的事，好避免人的挑剔。我们在男女之间的关系上，也要留意。我在别处信息中曾指出，弟兄不该私下与异性长谈。我们可以来看主耶稣的榜样。祂是夜间单独在屋内接见尼哥底母，但祂是在白天公开场合里会见撒玛利亚的妇人。那时主耶稣还是年轻人，才三十岁出头。如果祂夜间单独在房间里接见那位撒玛利亚妇人，祂的门徒可能会想到底发生了甚么事。主耶稣可以把当时的情形向他们解释，但是太迟了，因为门徒对这件事已经有了成见。所以主耶稣怎样接触撒玛利亚妇人，祂已经豫先设想过了。在召会生活中，我们接触到许多人，牵涉到很多事。在这一切的接触和所牵涉的事上，我们要把握一个原则，就是凡事都要豫先有准备，考虑到别人对我们会有怎样的想法。凡事豫先有准备总是智慧的，因为这会保守并保护我们。我们尤其应当在神和人面前豫先准备作善美可敬的事。一个弟兄若和一个姊妹单独相处，这在人面前就不是可敬的事。这样的行为可能不是罪，却不是可敬的。我们所作的每一件事，在主和人面前，都必须是可敬的。我们的主是无所不知的，所以我们豫先准备在人面前作可敬的事，比在主面前作可敬的事更重要。人所知道的，当然没有主知道的多。别人认为我们没有问题是不彀的，我们必须在他们面前行可敬的事。否则，人就不会敬重我们。长老、执事和女执事，更要豫先准备作善美可敬的事。在钱财的事，和异性接触的事，以及其他种种的事上，原则都是一样，就是在神和人面前豫先准备作善美可敬的事。
13We should not think that our situation is different from Paul’sand that we do not need to take the same forethought concerning money. As long as we are on this earth, we cannot avoid matters related to money. You may try to stay away from money, but it will come to you. Money is very much used by the Devil, and the Bible speaks of it as the mammon of unrighteousness. Praise the Lord that in the New Jerusalem there will be no more concern about money! But for the present we cannot live or work without it. Therefore, in handling money we must learn to avoid blame by taking forethought for what is honorable before God and man. We also need to take forethought regarding relationships between males and females. Elsewhere I have pointed out that a brother should not have a long talk with a sister in private. Consider the example of the Lord Jesus. He spoke with Nicodemus alone at night in a house. But when it came to talking with the Samaritan woman, he spoke with her in the open air during the daytime. The Lord Jesus was still a rather young man, not much over thirty years of age. If He had spoken to that Samaritan woman in a room alone at night, the disciples probably would have wondered what was going on. The Lord Jesus could have explained the situation to them, but the explanation would have been too late, for the disciples would have already had thoughts regarding the matter. Therefore, the Lord Jesus took forethought in the way He had contact with the Samaritan woman. In the church life we have contact with many people and are involved with many things. The principle regarding all this contact and involvement is to take forethought about what others may think of us. It is wise always to take forethought, for this will guard and protect us. In particular, we should take forethought to make things honorable in the sight of God and man. If a brother has a long talk with a sister alone in private, that is not honorable in the sight of man. Such behavior may not be sinful; however, it is not honorable. What we do should be honorable both before the Lord and before man. Because the Lord knows everything, it is more important to take forethought for what is honorable before man than for what is honorable before the Lord. Others, of course, do not know all that the Lord knows. It is not sufficient that others think that we have no problem. We need to do what is honorable before them. If we behave ourselves in a way that is not honorable, others will not honor us. The elders, the deacons, and the deaconesses especially need to take forethought for what is honorable. In handling money, in our relationships with those of the opposite sex, and in all other things the principle is the same: take forethought for what is honorable in the sight of God and man.
14在有些事上，我们也许认为自己是正直、无亏、纯洁的。但我们在人面前可能不是可敬的。我们所行的，必须是人看为可敬的。这样，人就没有挑剔的余地。这是我们众人都该学的功课。林后八章十六至二十四节的事例，似乎不怎么重要，但这里的原则却很重要。不然，保罗就不必写到这个事例。保罗告诉我们要豫先准备行可敬的事，可见这点很重要，我们都必须留意。不论是钱财的事，和异性交往的事，或是召会中种种的事，我们所行所为，都该给人看见，我们是豫先准备，在主和人面前行善美可敬的事。盼望你们接受这样的话，并去实行。你们若这样行，就要蒙保守和保护；不然就会有麻烦。
14We may know that in a particular matter we are right, innocent, and pure. Nevertheless, we may not be honorable in the sight of others. We need to behave in a way that will be regarded as honorable by others. Then there will be no ground for blame. This is a lesson we all need to learn. The case in 8:16-24 may not seem important, but the principle here is of great importance. Otherwise, Paul would not have written anything about it. The very fact that he wrote concerning taking forethought for what is honorable indicates its importance. We all must pay attention to this matter. Regarding money, sex, and all other things we need to behave ourselves in a way to show that we take forethought for what is honorable before the Lord and before man. Please receive this word and act on it. If you do this, you will be preserved and protected. Otherwise, you will have troubles
保罗被神重用的原因
THE REASON FOR PAUL’S USEFULNESS
15使徒保罗不仅有恩赐、知识、能力；他也是小心、谨慎、顾虑周2详的。他一点也不轻率。我们读哥林多后书，看见保罗为人和生活上，许多的美德和超越的特性。难怪主如此重用他。保罗为主所重用，主要是由于他的生活。他的生活不仅是圣别、属灵和得胜的，也是小心、谨慎、顾虑周详的。我们从哥林多后书许多章节2整体所描写的，看见保罗的美德；我们就明白，他的用处来自他的美德。在本篇信息中，我主要的负担是要给你们深刻的印象，就是你们必须是小心、谨慎、顾虑周详的人，行事为人总要豫先准备作善美可敬的事。你们也许很纯洁无邪，但你们仍要豫先准备作善美可敬的事。你们不要对自己太自信，行事总要小心、谨慎、顾虑周详。
15The Apostle Paul was not only gifted, knowledgeable, and powerful; he was also cautious, careful, and considerate. In no way was he careless. As we read Corinthians, we see a number of virtues and excellent characteristics in the person and life of Paul. It is no wonder, then, that Paul was so greatly used by the Lord. Paul was used by Him mainly because of his living. He lived in a way that was not only holy, spiritual, and victorious, but also in a way that was careful, cautious, and considerate. When we see the virtues of Paul described in the various chapters of Corinthians as a whole, we shall understand that his usefulness came from his virtues. In this message my main burden is to impress you with the need to be cautious, careful, and considerate, always behaving in such a way as to take forethought for what is honorable. You may be innocent and pure, but you still need to take forethought for what is honorable. Instead of having confidence in yourself, do things in a manner that is careful, cautious, and considerate.
五件重要的事
FIVE IMPORTANT MATTERS
16我们从林后六、七、八章，可归纳出四个重点：第一，和好的工作，把人完全带回归神；第二，适应一切的生命；第三，心宽宏；第四，对人有亲密、柔细的关切。在八章后半这里，还有第五个重点，就是我们必须豫先准备在神和人面前作善美可敬的事。我们都必须与神完全和好，活出适应一切的生命，心要宽宏，对人有亲密的关切，并且豫先准备作善美可敬的事。这些原则不仅可以应用于我们的召会生活，也可以应用于我们在家庭、学校、工作场所、或任何其他地方的生活。
16In chapters six, seven, and eight of 2 Corinthians we have covered four major points: first, the work of reconciliation to bring others fully back to God; second, the all-fitting life; third, being enlarged; and fourth, having an intimate, tender concern for others. Now in the second half of chapter eight we see a fifth important matter — taking thought beforehand for things honorable in the sight of God and man. We all need to be fully reconciled to God, live an all-fitting life, be enlarged, have an intimate concern for others, and take forethought for what is honorable. These principles apply not only in the church life, but also in our family life and in our life at school, at work, or wherever we may be.