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加拉太书生命读经 · 第5篇

保罗使徒职分的形成

THE FORMATION OF PAUL’S APOSTLESHIP
1读经：加拉太书一章十五至二十四节。在一章十五至二十四节里，我们看见保罗使徒职分的形成。当我们思想这些经节时，我们不仅需要看见保罗的使徒职分是如何形成的，也需要看见我们怎样能成为今日的使徒，就是今天奉神差遣的人。在基督里的信徒都能成为使徒，就是那些奉主差遣成就祂定旨并完成祂计画的人。
1Scripture Reading: Gal. 1:15-24 In 1:15-24 we see the formation of Paul’s apostleship. As we consider these verses, we need to see not only how Paul’s apostleship was formed, but also how we can be formed into today’s apostles, God’sp re sent-day sent ones. In the Life-study of Ephesians we pointed those sent by the Lord to fulfill His purpose and to carry out His plan.
2我们不该持守一种观念，认为我们不能成为像保罗那样的使徒。使徒们是所有信徒的榜样。保罗不是一个特殊的人，他没有达到一个别人无法达到的境地。认为使徒是独特的，这观念乃是罗马天主教的传统。这传统与彼得是基督惟一的继承人，因此是第一任教皇的观念有关。这是属魔鬼的观念！彼得绝不是独特的，他乃是跟随主之人的榜样。他特别是在基督里犹太信徒的榜样。保罗特别是外邦信徒的榜样。他在提前一章十六节说，『然而，我所以蒙了怜悯，是要叫耶稣基督在我这罪魁身上，显示祂一切的恒忍，给后来信靠祂得永远生命的人作榜样。』保罗既然是我们的榜样，就没有一个人该说我们不能像他一样了。弟兄们也许相信他们能成为今日的使徒，但姊妹们也许很难相信这也适用在她们身上。为了帮助姊妹们，我们需要指出在神家里没有女儿。神只有儿子，没有女儿。神的长子基督有弟兄，但没有姊妹。这指明按生命来说，所有的信徒，包括姊妹们在内，都是神的儿子和基督的弟兄。故此，保罗在他的书信中称呼弟兄们，而不是弟兄姊妹们。当然，姊妹包括在弟兄这个辞里面。就著生命而言，所有的信徒都是男人。但就著爱而言，我们都是女人。基督是我们的新郎，我们是祂的新妇。新郎和新妇之间的关系乃是一件爱的事，不是生命的事。婚姻生活惟一的要求乃是爱。所以，我们是活神的活儿子，同时也是可爱新郎的亲爱新妇。那么，你怎样答覆这个问题：我们这些在基督里的信徒是男人还是女人？正确的回答是说，就著生命而言，我们是男人；但就著爱而言，我们是女人。
2We should not hold the concept that we cannot be an apostle like Paul. The apostles are examples of what all believers should be. Paul was not an extraordinary person, and he did not reach a state that no one else can attain. The concept that the apostles are unique is a Roman Catholic tradition. This tradition is related to the concept that Peter was the unique successor of Christ and therefore the first pope. What a devilish concept! Far from being unique, Peter is an example of one who followed the Lord. In particular, he is an example to Jewish believers in Christ. Paul is a pattern especially for Gentile believers. In 1 Timothy 1:16 he says, “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” Since Paul is our pattern, none of us should say that we cannot be like him. Although the brothers may believe that they can be today’s apostles, the sisters may find it very difficult to believe that this also applies to them. As a help to the sisters, we need to point out that in God’s house hold there are no daughters. God has only sons, not daughters. Christ, the firstborn Son of God, has brothers, but He does not have sisters. This indicates that, according to life, all the believers, including the sisters, are sons of God and brothers of Christ. For this reason, in his Epistles Paul addresses the brothers, but not the brothers and sisters. The sisters, of course, are included in the term brothers. According to life, all the believers are males. However, according to love, we all are females. Christ is our Bridegroom, and we are His Bride. The relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom is a matter of love, not a matter of life. Love is the unique requirement of married life. Therefore, we are living sons of the living God, whereas we are the loving Bride of our dear Bridegroom. How, then, would you answer this question: Are we, the believers in Christ, males or females? The proper way to answer is to reply that according to life we are males, but according to love we are females.
3保罗成为使徒不是根据爱，乃是根据生命。他成为所有信徒─所有弟兄、姊妹们的榜样，乃是一件生命的事。这指明所有的弟兄姊妹们以保罗为榜样，都能成为今天奉神差遣的人。保罗的身分是使徒，我们的身分也该是使徒。因此，当我们查考保罗使徒职分的形成时，也是在查考我们自己使徒职分的形成。所有在主恢复里的人都必须是奉差遣的人。至少，一位青年姊妹能被主差遣到她的父母那里，向他们见证主耶稣。你准备好让主差遣么？我们都该准备好受祂差遣出去。在使徒职分这件事上，我们的心思需要更新。所以，当我们看本篇信息的各点时，我们需要看见，我们怎样能跟随保罗的榜样，被形成使徒。我们所要题到的各个点，都是我们使徒职分形成的必要条件。
3Paul was made an apostle not according to love, but according to life. It was as a matter of life that he was made a pattern for all the believers, the brothers and the sisters as well. This indicates that by taking Paul as our pattern, we all, brothers and sisters, can be God’ss ent ones today. Paul’s status was that of an apostle, and ours should be the same. Hence, as we study the formation of Paul’s apostleship, we are also studying the formation of our own apostleship. All of us in the Lord’s recovery need to be sent ones. At the least, a young sister can be sent by the Lord to her parents to testify to them about the Lord Jesus. Are you ready to be sent by the Lord? We all should be prepared to be sent forth by Him. Concerning this matter of apostleship, our minds need to be renewed. Therefore, as we consider the various points in this message, we need to see how we can follow Paul’s pattern and be formed into apostles. All the points we shall cover are prerequisites for the formation of our apostleship
4壹被神从母腹里分别出来在一章十五节保罗说，神把他从母腹里分别出来。这里的希腊文，指明为著一个特别的目的，标明或分别出来。这个分别发生在保罗出生以前。我们读到保罗从母腹里就被分别出来，也许会有一个观念认为他是这样，我们却不是。这就是我多年前读这些经节时的观点。根据我的观念，保罗被分别出来了，我却没有。然而这个观念是错误的。在创立世界以前，我们已经被拣选了。（弗一4。）在创立世界以前被拣选，当然比从母腹里分别出来更为重要。你既在创立世界以前就被拣选了，难道你不相信你也是从母腹里就被分别出来了么？当然是分别出来了。我们将要看见，这关系到神永远的拣选在时间里的实施。有些圣经教师对保罗从母腹里被分别出来的时间有不同的意见。有一派的想法认为，他从成孕的时候起就分别出来了。但另一派认为，他出生的时候才被分别出来。我们对这件事无需吹毛求疵。这里的要点乃是照著神的拣选，在创立世界以前，在永远里，我们就被神选上了。这就是说，在时间开始以前，在永远里，我们就蒙了拣选。然而，我们需要在确定的时间从母腹里分别出来。从母腹里分别出来，关系到在时间里成就神在永远里所作的拣选。我们需要在某一个时间生下来。我们感谢主，大数的扫罗没有在主耶稣之前一百年出生，也没有在主耶稣之后六百年出生。他正好生在适当的时间，也生在适当的地点─大数城。保罗没有生在彼得的出生地加利利，乃是神的主宰权柄。彼得和保罗都在创立世界以前就被拣选，而且正好都在适当的时候被分别出来。照著神的时候，神使祂所拣选的这两个人在母腹里成孕。今天我们也是一样。在创立世界以前我们就蒙了拣选。然后神一直等到最适当的时候才叫我们出生。因此，就著我们的出生，神有祂的时候。在永远里保罗被拣选的时候，我们也都被拣选了；但我们在不同的时候从母腹里分别出来。所以，从母腹里分别出来就是实际的实施神的拣选。
4I. SET APART BY GOD FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB In 1:1 5 Paul says that God set him apart from his mother’s womb. The Greek indicates being designated or distinguished for a specific purpose. This setting apart took place before Paul was born. When we read about Paul being set apart from his mother’s womb, we may have the concept that this was true of him, but not of us. This was my point of view when I read these verses years ago. According to my concept, Paul had been set apart, but I had not. This concept, however, is wrong. We were chosen, selected, before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Surely to be chosen from before the foundation of the world is more crucial than to be set apart from our mother’s womb. Since you have been chosen from before the foundation of the world, do you not believe that you were also set apart from your mother’s womb? Certainly you were. As we shall see, this refers to the carrying out in time of God’s eternal selection. Some teachers of the Bible have different opinions concerning the time that Paul was separated from his mother’s womb. According to one school of thought, he was set apart from the time he was conceived. But according to another school, he was set apart at the time of birth. There is no need for us to split hairs concerning this. The main point here is that according to His selection we were chosen by God in eternity, before the foundation of the world. This means that we were chosen before the beginning of time, in eternity. However, there was the need for us, at a definite time, to be separated from our mother’s womb. To be set apart from our mother’s womb is related to the accomplishment in time of the selection God made in eternity. It was necessary for us to be born at a certain time. We thank the Lord that Saul of Tarsus was not born a hundred years before the Lord Jesus, nor six hundred years afterward. He was born at just the right time and in the right place, in the city of Tarsus. It was sovereign of the Lord that Paul was not born in Galilee, where Peter was born. Both Peter and Paul were chosen before the foundation of the world, and both were set apart at precisely the right time. According to God’st im ing, He caused these two of His selected ones to be conceived in their mother’s womb. The same is true of us today. We were selected from before the foundation of the world. Then God waited until the time was right for us to be born. Hence, regarding our birth God had His timing. We all were selected in eternity when Paul was selected; however, we were set apart from our mother’s womb at different times. Therefore, to be set apart from our mother’s womb is to have God’ss election carried out in a practical way.
5不要以为保罗是从母腹里分别出来的，而你却不是。因为保罗是被神作成榜样，所以发生在他身上的也该发生在我们身上。每当我回顾已往，我就敬拜主。当我回想幼年的情景，有时候我忍不住在祂面前流泪。我何等感谢祂，七十四年多以前，在中国的一个小村庄里，祂使我生在适当的时候、适当的地方。我们都能说，『主，感谢你将我从母腹里分别出来。』我盼望我们对这件事都有完全的看见。我们需要看见，神将我们分别出来，是要实施祂永远的拣选。在保罗是这样，今天在我们也是这样。
5Do not think that Paul was set apart from his mother’s womb, but that you were not. Because Paul was made a pattern, what happened to him should happen to us also. Whenever I recall my past, I worship the Lord. As I consider my youth, I sometimes weep before Him. How I thank Him that He caused me to be born at just the right time and in just the right place, more than seventy-four years ago in a small village in China. We all can say, “Lord, thank You for setting me apart from my mother’s womb.” I hope that we all shall have a full realization of this. We need to realize that God set us apart in order to carry out His eternal selection. This was true of Paul, and it is just as true of us today
贰 藉著神的恩典蒙神呼召
II. CALLED BY GOD THROUGH HIS GRACE
6在一章十五节保罗也说，神藉著祂的恩典呼召他。保罗蒙召成为使徒，乃是藉著基督的恩典，不是藉著摩西所传的律法。这呼召发生在他悔改信主的时候。我们也能作见证，我们已经蒙了神呼召。事实上，神将我们从母腹里分别出来的时候，就开始呼召我们。我们若花点时间回顾已往，就会看见，神对我们的呼召从我们在母腹里成孕就开始了。神安排了我们出生的时刻和出生的地方。然后祂呼召了我们。我何等感谢主，祂使我成孕于一个在基督教里的人腹中，尽管那时她还没有得救。这样神就使我生在基督教里，藉著将我从母腹里分别出来而开始祂对我的呼召。然后在一九二五年的一天，当我相信主耶稣的时候，神的呼召便完全成就了。我们已经蒙神呼召，没有一个人应该怀疑。反之，让我们为著祂的呼召敬拜感谢祂。与我们有关的每一件事，就如我们的家庭、我们的教育，都是照著神的主宰权柄，而且与祂呼召我们有关。
6In 1:15 Paul also says that God called him through His grace. Paul was called to be an apostle through the grace of Christ, not through the law that came by Moses. This calling took place at the time of his conversion. We also can testify that we have been called by God. Actually, God’scall ing of us began with His setting us apart from our mother’s womb. If we spend time to review our past, we shall see that God’scall ing of us began with our conception in the womb. God arranged the time and place of our birth. Then He called us. How grateful I am to the Lord that He caused me to be conceived in the womb of one who was in Christianity, although she was not saved at that time. In this way God caused me to be born into Christianity, beginning His calling of me by setting me apart from my mother’s womb. Then one day, in 1925, God’scall ing was accomplished in a full way when I believed in the Lord Jesus. None of us should have any doubt about being called by God. Rather, let us worship Him and thank Him for His calling. Everything related to us, such as our family and education, is according to God’s sovereignty and related to His calling of us.
7参得著神的儿子启示在他里面在一章十五至十六节保罗说，神乐意将祂儿子启示在他里面。神的儿子向保罗揭示并显示出来。这就是说，他得著了神的儿子这活人位的异象。保罗既是信徒的榜样，有神的儿子启示在祂里面，我们也该有基督启示在我们里面。神的儿子启示在我们里面时，就有个神圣的东西加到我们里面来。拣选和呼召没有使甚么东西加到我们里面。但神的儿子启示在我们里面，却使神性加到我们的人性里。神自己加进我们里面成为我们的生命。人有了神的儿子就有生命。（约壹五12。）因此，得著神的儿子启示在我们里面，意思就是神加到我们里面来作我们的生命。
7III. HAVING THE SON OF GOD REVEALED IN HIM In 1:15 and 16 Paul says that God was pleased to reveal His Son in him. The Son of God was unveiled to Paul and shown to him. This means that he received a vision of the living Person of the Son of God. Since Paul is a pattern of the believers and the Son of God was revealed in him, we also should have Christ revealed in us. When the Son of God is revealed in us, something divine is added to us. Selection and calling do not cause anything to be added into us. But the revelation of the Son of God in us causes divinity to be added to our humanity. God Himself is added into our being to become our life. He who has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). Hence, to have the Son of God revealed in us means to have God added to us to become our life
肆 没有与血肉之人商量
IV. NOT CONFERRING WITH FLESH AND BLOOD
8神的儿子启示在保罗里面以后，他『没有与血肉之人商量』。（加一16。）这意思就是他没有与血肉组成的人商量。这证实保罗没有从人领受福音的事实。（12。）我们信了主耶稣以后，很多人立刻与别人商量。倘若我们回顾自己的经历，就会发觉这样作多半是没有助益的。我得救时，曾向许多人求助。然而，我却受到他们的阻挠而冷淡下来。你们有的人也许和一些传道人和牧师谈过，却发现你们和他们的接触不过令你们沮丧。
8After the Son of God was revealed in Paul, he “did not confer with flesh and blood.” This means that he did not confer with man, who is made up of flesh and blood. This confirms the fact that Paul did not receive the gospel from man (1:12). After we believed in the Lord Jesus, many of us immediately conferred with others. If we recall our experience, we shall realize that much of this was of no avail. As soon as I was saved, I turned to various people for help. However, I was only frustrated by them and cooled down. Some of you may have spoken to certain preachers or ministers, only to find that you were discouraged by your contact with them
9三十年以前，年轻的信徒来找我时，我有许多可说的。但今天大大不一样了。现在当别人来接触我，我只告诉他们要祷告主、寻求主，把每件事带到祂那里求祂引领。我不要作血肉之人让别人来与我商量。我们不该与血肉之人商量，也不该作血肉之人让别人来与我们商量。让我们把别人和他们的光景交给主。
9When young believers contacted me thirty years ago, I had a great deal to say. But it is much different today. Now when others contact me, I simply tell them to pray and to seek the Lord, to bring everything to Him for His leading. I do not want to be the flesh and blood with which others confer. We should neither confer with flesh and blood, nor should we be the flesh and blood with whom others confer. Let us leave others and their situation to the Lord.
伍 没有上耶路撒冷去
V. NOT GOING UP TO JERUSALEM
见那些比他先作使徒的
TO THOSE WHO WERE APOSTLES BEFORE HIM
10保罗以这样的话开始十七节：『也没有上耶路撒冷，去见那些比我先作使徒的。』在这一点上，我们都犯过错误。我们去过我们认为是今日耶路撒冷的地方，寻求与某些带头的人商量。上到某个耶路撒冷去见那些比我们先作使徒的，乃是出于传统、出于宗教；事实上这就是与血肉之人商量。
10Paul opens verse 17 with the words, “Neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me.” We all have made mistakes in this regard. We have gone to a place we consider today’s Jerusalem seeking to confer with certain leaders. To go to some Jerusalem to those who were apostles before us is something of tradition and of religion. Actually, it is to confer with flesh and blood
11有些带头的人也许担心这样的话会使圣徒不去寻求正确的交通。此外，他们也许认为这样会破坏带领的权柄。但众圣徒都受了训练不与血肉之人商量岂不是很好么？如果我们都将自己和自己的需要、难处直接带到主面前，那真是太好了！我们若要成为今日的使徒，我们就当跟随保罗的榜样，不上耶路撒冷去与别人商量。
11Some of the leading ones may be concerned that such a word will cause the saints not to seek the proper fellowship. Furthermore, they may think that this will ruin the leadership. But would it not be wonderful for all the saints to be trained not to confer with flesh and blood? How good it would be if we all brought ourselves with our needs and problems directly to the Lord! If we would be today’s apostles, we should follow Paul’s pattern in not going up to Jerusalem to confer with others
VI. GOING AWAY TO ARABIA
陆 往亚拉伯去，离开其他的基督徒，又回到大马色
AWAY FROM OTHER CHRISTIANS
AND RETURNING TO DAMASCUS
12在十七节保罗说他『往亚拉伯去』。现今很难追查保罗在悔改信主之后，去了亚拉伯的甚么地方，在那里停留多久；不过，那必是远离基督徒的地方，他在那里停留的时间也必不会很短。他说这话的目的，是要见证他不是从人领受了福音。（12。）他在亚拉伯的时候，必定直接从主领受了关于福音的启示。保罗住亚拉伯去，到了一个离开犹太文化和基督教影响的地方。传统上认为，保罗留在亚拉伯三年半之久。事实上，我们不知道他留在那里有多久。我们只知道有一段时期他离开了犹太的宗教和基督教的影响。他留在亚拉伯的那段期间，也许将他的经历与旧约比较；他受过迦玛列的教导，很熟悉旧约。我信在亚拉伯保罗有一段安静、清醒的时间，将他的经历与旧约圣经核对。无疑的，他也花了许多时间祷告。
12In verse 17 Paul says that he “went away to Arabia.” It is difficult to trace where in Arabia Paul went and how long he stayed there after his conversion. However, it must have been a place away from other Christians, and the time of his stay there must not have been short. His purpose in saying this was to testify that he did not receive the gospel from man. In Arabia he must have received some revelation concerning the gospel directly from the Lord. By going to Arabia, Paul went to a place apart from both Jewish culture and Christian influence. According to traditional understanding, Paul stayed in Arabia for three years. Actually, we do not know how long he remained there. We simply know that for a period of time he went apart from Jewish religion and Christian influence. During his stay in Arabia, he probably compared his experience with the Old Testament, which he had come to know so well through the instruction of Gamaliel. I believe that in Arabia Paul had a quiet, sober time of checking his experience with the Old Testament Scriptures. No doubt, he also spent much time in prayer
13这里我们看见另一个让我们跟随的原则。我们直接从主有了某种经历之后，需要退出各种宗教的影响，安静且清醒的将我们的经历与圣经对照。这对我们将是一大帮助。我相信当保罗将他的经历比照圣经时，许多亮光和启示便临到了他。在十七节保罗也说他『又回到大马色』。
13Here we see another principle for us to follow. After we have a certain amount of experience directly from the Lord, we need to withdraw from every kind of religious influence to quietly and soberly check our experiences with the Bible. This will be a great help to us. I believe that as Paul was comparing his experience with Scripture, much light and revelation came to him. In verse 17 Paul also says that he “again returned to Damascus
柒 过了三年才上耶路撒冷去
VII. AFTER THREE YEARS GOING UP TO JERUSALEM
见矶法和雅各
TO SEE CEPHAS AND JAMES
14在十八和十九节保罗继续说，『过了三年，才上耶路撒冷去访问矶法，和他同住了十五天。至于别的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我都没有见过。』保罗回到大马色三年以后，才上耶路撒冷去。我相信在这些年间，他也花了许多时间祷告，并将他的经历与旧约核对。保罗虽然没有与血肉之人商量，但在某个时候他的确上耶路撒冷去。与血肉之人商量是错误的，但与基督身体的其他肢体隔绝也是错误的。我们领受启示之后，在适当时候就需要接触基督身体的肢体，接触那些比我们先认识主的人。这种交通是需要的。
14In verses 18 and 19 Paul goes on to say, “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and I remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the brother of the Lord.” Three years after his return to Damascus, Paul went up to Jerusalem. I believe that during these years he also spent much time in prayer and in checking his experience with the Old Testament. Although Paul did not confer with flesh and blood, at a certain time he did go up to Jerusalem. To confer with flesh and blood is wrong. However, to isolate ourselves from other members of the Body of Christ is also wrong. After receiving revelation, at the proper time we need to contact those members of the Lord’s Body who came to know the Lord a head of us. There is the need for this kind of fellowship
捌 到外邦世界的叙利亚和基利家
VIII. GOING TO SYRIA AND CILICIA OF THE GENTILE WORLD
15在二十一节保罗继续说，『后来我到了叙利亚和基利家一带。』亚拉伯、（17、）叙利亚和基利家，都是外邦之地。保罗题到他经过这些地方，是要见证他不是从任何人，任何基督徒领受关于福音的启示；那时基督徒大多是在犹太地。（22。）我信保罗在叙利亚和基利家一带，花更多的时间去祷告并思考圣经。也许他也得著了进一步的启示。
15In verse 21 Paul continues, “Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.” Arabia, Syria, and Cilicia were all regions of the Gentile world. By mentioning his journeying to all these places, Paul testifies that the revelation he received concerning the gospel was not from any men, any Christians, most of whom at that time were in Judea (v. 22). I believe that in the regions of Syria and Cilicia Paul spent more time praying and considering the Scriptures. Probably he also received further revelation
16玖犹太的众召会还没有见面认识他二十二节说，『那时，犹太在基督里的众召会，都还没有见面认识我。』这话也加强保罗的论点，他不是从那些比他先在基督里的信徒领受福音。犹太的圣徒几乎都没有见过他。
16IX. UNKNOWN BY FACE TO THE CHURCHES OF JUDEA Verse 2 2 says, “Yet I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which are in Christ.” To say this is also to strengthen the point that Paul did not receive the gospel from any who were believers in Christ before him. Hardly any of the saints in Judea had seen him.
拾 犹太众召会听说
X. THE CHURCHES IN JUDEA HEARING THAT
那从前的逼迫者，现在将他
THE FORMER PERSECUTOR NOW PREACHES
原先所损毁的信仰当作福音传扬
THE FAITH WHICH ONCE HE RAVAGED
17在二十三和二十四节保罗下结论说，『不过听说，那从前一直逼迫他们的，现在将他原先所损毁的信仰当作福音传扬。他们就因著我荣耀神。』众召会，包括犹太所有在基督里的信徒，不过听说保罗悔改信主，就因著他荣耀神。他们与保罗领受福音的启示毫无关系。
17In verses 23 and 24 Paul concludes, “But they only heard that he who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which formerly he ravaged. And they glorified God in me.” The churches, including all the believers in Christ in Judea, only heard the news of Paul’s conversion and glorified God in him. They had nothing to do with his receiving of the revelation concerning the gospel