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以弗所书生命读经 · 第28篇

恩典的管家职分

THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE GRACE
1三章二至二十一节是一段插进的话，四章一节是接著三章一节。使徒保罗插进这段劝勉的话，向外邦信徒说到他为著他们的职事，这职事是他藉著基督之奥秘的启示，在恩典的管家职分里所领受的。他也在这段插进的话里祷告，愿召会经历基督到最完满的地步。在本篇信息中，我们要来看神恩典的管家职分。保罗在三章二节说，『谅必你们曾听见那为著你们所赐给我，神恩典的管家职分。』在这里的『管家职分』一辞，原文与一章十节，三章九节的『经纶』同字。恩典的管家职分，就是将神的恩典分赐给神所拣选的人，以产生并建造召会。使徒的职事来自这管家的职分。他是神家中的管家，将基督这神的恩典供应神的家人。
1Verses 2 through 21 of chapter three are a parenthesis, and 4:1 is a continuation of 3:1. In this parenthetical, beseeching word, the Apostle Paul described to the Gentile believers his ministry for them, a ministry which he received in the stewardship of grace through the revelation of the mystery of Christ. He also prayed in this parenthesis that the church might experience Christ to the fullest extent. In this message we shall consider the stewardship of the grace of God. Paul says in 3:2, “If indeed you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me for you.” In Greek, the word rendered “stewardship” in this verse is the same word rendered “dispensation” in 1:10 and 3:9. The stewardship of the grace is the dispensing of the grace of God into God’s chosen people for the producing and building up of the church. Out of this stewardship comes the ministry of the apostle, who is a steward in God’sho use, ministering Christ as God’s grace to God’sho use hold
22二节的『管家职分』，希腊文是，奥依克诺米亚；按古代用法，是指管家职分、分配或行政。在保罗时代，许多富有的家庭都有管家，他们的责任是把食物和其他的必需品分配给家中的人。我们的父有一个大家庭，一个神圣的家庭。我们的父既有这么广大的丰富，祂的家中就需要有许多管家，将祂的丰富分赐给祂的儿女。这个分赐就是管家的职分。因此，管家职分就是一种分赐。这辞在这里不是指世代，或神对待人的方式，乃是指神将祂的丰富分赐到祂所拣选的人里面。这个分赐就是管家职分，有神的执事分赐的职事。这个分赐的职事也是神的行政管理。今天，神是藉著将祂自己分赐到我们里面来管理。这个管家的职分，这个分赐，这个行政，就是神的经纶。在神新约的经纶里，迫切需要恩典的管家职分。
2The Greek word translated “stewardship” in verse is oikonomia. According to ancient usage, oikonomia oikonomia denoted a stewardship, a dispensation, or an administration. At the time of Paul, many rich families had stewards whose responsibility was to distribute food and other necessities to members of the household. Our Father has a great family, a divine household. Because our Father has such vast riches, there is the need in His household for many stewards to dispense these riches to His children. This dispensing is the stewardship. Hence, a stewardship is a dispensation. The word “dispensation” here does not denote an age or means by which God deals with people; it refers to God’s dispensing of His riches into His chosen ones. This dispensation is the steward ship with the dispensing ministry of the ministers of God. This ministry of dispensing is also God’s ad ministration. Today God administrates by dispensing Himself into us. This stewardship, this dispensation, this administration, is God’secon o my. In the New Testament economy of God there is the desperate need for the stewardship of grace.
壹 管家─一个囚犯
I. THE STEWARD—A PRISONER
3要有这样的管家职分，就需要有管家。每一个使徒都是神的管家。保罗作为使徒，乃是管家，将神的丰富分赐给祂的儿女。
3In order to have such a stewardship, there is the need of stewards. Every apostle is a steward of God. As an apostle, Paul was a steward who dispensed the riches of God to His children.
一 基督耶稣的囚犯
A. Of Christ Jesus
4虽然保罗是一个管家，但在三章一节，他说他自己是『为你们外邦人作基督耶稣囚犯的』。使徒保罗认为自己是基督的囚犯。表面上他是拘禁在监牢里，实际上他是被囚在基督里。凭著这样的身分，就是他实际生活的身分，他劝勉众圣徒。保罗在一章和二章，释放神关乎召会之奥秘的启示时，所取的身分是凭神旨意作基督的使徒。这身分是他关于召会之启示的权柄。但他在劝勉圣徒行事为人要与神的呼召相配时，所用的身分是主的囚犯。他作基督使徒的身分，使他有资格释放神的启示；他作主囚犯的身分，说出他在主里的行事为人，使他藉此能激发并劝勉圣徒，像他一样在主里行事为人。
4Although Paul was a steward, in 3:1 he referred to himself as “the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you, the nations.” The Apostle Paul considered himself the prisoner of Christ. Apparently he was confined in a physical prison; actually he was imprisoned in Christ. On the basis of such a status, the status of his actual living as a prisoner in Christ, he besought the saints. In releasing the revelation of God’s mystery concerning the church in chapters one and two, Paul spoke on the basis of his status as the apostle of Christ through the will of God. That status was the authority of his revelation concerning the church. In beseeching the saints to walk worthily of God’scall ing, he spoke from his status as the prisoner of the Lord. His status as the apostle of Christ qualified him to release God’sr evelation, whereas his status as the prisoner of the Lord demonstrated his walk in the Lord, by which he could inspire and beseech the saints to walk in the Lord as he did
5保罗认为自己是基督的囚犯，因为他已被基督囚禁。后来在四章一节，他说自己是『在主里的囚犯』。基督是保罗的监牢。有一天，你所爱的基督要成为你的监牢。每一个神的管家，每一个供应神丰富的执事，每一个忠信爱基督的人，迟早要被基督囚禁，且被囚禁在基督里。你越爱祂，你就越在祂里面。至终，你在祂里面会到一个地步，祂要成为你的监牢。你一旦被放在这监牢里，就不会想出去，因为你会深深爱上这监牢。在此你能享受基督到极致。每一个爱圣经的人，都非常看重以弗所书。新约若没有这卷书，那将是我们极大的损失，因为以弗所书包含圣经里最高的启示。这个启示是赐给一个囚禁在基督里的人，一个享受基督作他监牢的人。这指明我们若要看见一些属天并神圣的东西，就必须成为一个在主里的囚犯。我们越自由，就越瞎眼。但基督若是我们的监牢，我们的眼睛就会被开启，看见属天的异象，我们也要得著最高的启示。
5Paul considered himself the prisoner of Christ because he had been imprisoned by Christ. Later, in 4:1 he refers to himself as “the prisoner in the Lord.” Christ was Paul’spr i son. One day, the very Christ whom you love will become your prison. Sooner or later, every steward of God, every minister of God’s riches, every faithful lover of Christ, will be imprisoned not only by Christ but also in Christ. The more you love Him, the more you will be in Him. Eventually, you will be in Him to such an extent that He will become your prison. Once you are placed in this prison, you will not want to get out, because you will love this prison very much. Here you enjoy Christ to the uttermost. Everyone who loves the Bible has a high regard for the Epistle to the Ephesians. It would be a great loss for us not to have this book in the New Testament, for Ephesians contains the highest revelation in the Bible. This revelation was given to a man imprisoned in Christ, a man who enjoyed Christ as his prison. This indicates that in order to see something so heavenly and divine, we need to be a prisoner in the Lord. The more freedom we have, the more blind we are. But if Christ is our prison, our eyes will be opened to see the heavenly vision, and we shall receive the highest revelation
二 为著圣徒
B. On Behalf of the Saints
6保罗是为著圣徒的缘故看见这异象，因为他在三章一节说，他是为外邦人作了囚犯。我们若享受基督作我们的监牢，我们也要看见异象，但不是为我们自己，乃是为召会。
6Paul saw this vision on behalf of the saints, for as he says in 3:1, he was a prisoner on behalf of the Gentiles. If we enjoy Christ as our prison, we also shall see a vision not for ourselves, but for the church.
7许多基督徒一再读以弗所书，却没有看见包含在其中的启示，因为他们没有被囚禁在基督里。他们太自由，他们的自由使他们眼瞎。但是你若愿意失去你的自由，这异象就会临到你。你喜欢甚么─是自由，还是异象？我们都需要祷告：『主，为著属天异象的缘故，我愿意失去我的自由。主，我要被囚禁在你里面。别人也许以为我在受苦，但是当我被囚禁在你里面时，我享受你到了极致。』被囚禁在基督里的享受，使我们能得著属天的启示。无疑的，圣经每一卷书都有宝贵的真理；但是，最甜美、最深刻的真理乃是在以弗所书里。这些真理是用属天的发表来表达的，诸如：『得以加强到里面的人里』，『在心思的灵里得以更新』，『被充满，成为神一切的丰满』。这些属天的辞汇，是一个在基督里作囚犯的人，看见异象后所说出来的。当保罗被囚禁在基督里时，他看见甚么叫作得以加强到里面的人里；甚么叫作在心思的灵里得以更新；甚么叫作被充满，成为神一切的丰满。原则上，我们今天的光景也是这样。每当我们在基督以外享受自由，我们便失去了属灵的视力。但我们若愿意住在基督里，以祂为我们的监牢，异象就会来到，我们的视力就会恢复。天要向我们开启，一切都要变得明朗、透亮。使徒保罗在以弗所三章有很高的异象。在这一章里，他用了『基督那追测不尽的丰富』（8）一辞。保罗在这事上所看见的，远超过我们所领会的。甚至保罗自己也没有充分的话语来表达。至终，他只能说『阔、长、高、深』。（18。）这些量度，就是基督的量度，实际上也就是宇宙的量度。当保罗被拘禁局限在监牢里时，他看见基督宇宙量度的异象。你也许认为自己是小弟兄或小姊妹，但是你若愿意作一个在基督里的囚犯，你也会为著召会看见一些东西。
7Many Christians read Ephesians again and again without seeing the revelation contained in it because they are not imprisoned in Christ. They are too free, and their freedom makes them blind. But if you are willing to lose your freedom, the vision will come to you. Which do you prefer to have—the freedom or the vision? We all need to pray, “Lord, for the sake of the heavenly vision, I am willing to lose my freedom. Lord, I want to be imprisoned in You. Others may think that I am suffering, but when I am imprisoned in You, I enjoy You to the uttermost.” The enjoyment of being imprisoned in Christ enables us to receive the heavenly revelation. No doubt, there are precious truths in all the books of the Bible. But the sweetest and deepest truths are in Ephesians. These truths are conveyed in heavenly utterances such as, “Be strengthened into the inner man,” “Are renewed in the spirit of the mind,” and “Be filled unto all the fullness of God.” These heavenly expressions were uttered by one who saw a vision as a prisoner in Christ. While he was imprisoned in Christ, Paul saw what it was to be strengthened into the inner man, to be renewed in the spirit of the mind, and to be filled unto all the fullness of God. In principle, it is the same with us today. Whenever we enjoy freedom outside of Christ, we lose our spiritual sight. But if we are willing to abide in Christ as our prison, the vision will come, and our sight will be restored. The heavens will be open to us, and everything will become crystal clear. In Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul had a very high vision. It was in this chapter that he used the term “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (v. 8). What Paul saw regarding this is far beyond our understanding. Not even Paul himself had words adequate to express it. Eventually, he could speak only of the breadth and length and depth and height (v. 18). These dimensions, which are the dimensions of Christ, are actually the dimensions of the universe. As he was confined and restricted in a prison, Paul had a vision of the universal dimensions of Christ. Although you may consider yourself a little brother or sister, you also will see something on behalf of the church if you are willing to be a prisoner in Christ.
贰 恩典的管家职分
II. THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE GRACE
一 管家的职分
A. The Stewardship
8恩典的管家职分就是基督丰富的分赐。按三章的上下文，恩典是指基督的丰富。当基督的丰富被你享受时，这些丰富就成了恩典。保罗的职事，就是将基督的丰富当作恩典分赐给众信徒。飞机上的空中小姐是把食物分配给旅客，她并不是分配食谱。照样，使徒保罗乃是将基督的丰富分赐给圣徒。这是今天我们在这个职事里所作的。
8The stewardship of the grace is the dispensing of the riches of Christ. According to the context of chapter three, grace refers to the riches of Christ. When the riches of Christ are enjoyed by you, they become grace. Paul’s ministry was to dispense the riches of Christ as grace to the believers. A stewardess on an airplane dispenses food to the passengers; she does not dispense information on how to cook. Likewise, the Apostle Paul dispensed the riches of Christ to the saints. This is what we are doing in the ministry today.
1 照著神的经纶
1. According to God’sEcon o my
9这个管家职分是照著神的经纶。对神来说是经纶；对我们来说是管家职分。所有的圣徒，无论他们看起来多么不重要，都有照著神经纶的管家职分。这意思是说，每一位圣徒都能把基督灌输给别人。甚至一位高中的姊妹，也能把基督分赐到她的同学里面。这样把基督分赐到别人里面，就是照著神经纶的管家职分。已过我们曾指出天是为著地，地是为著人，人是为著神。神的心意乃是要将祂自己分赐到人里面。天地都是为著这个分赐，这是全本圣经的中心点。神不愿留在祂自己里面，祂要进到我们里面。所以，在已过的永远里，祂定意要将祂自己分赐到我们里面。为要完成这个计画，神造了天是为著地，造了地是为著人，造了人是为著祂自己。神的经纶就是执行将祂自己分赐到人里面。藉著我们的管家职分，就是分赐基督丰富的职事，我们有分于这经纶。所以，恩典的管家职分，乃是照著神的经纶。
9This stewardship is according to God’secon o my. With God it is a matter of economy; with us it is a matter of stewardship. All the saints, no matter how insignificant they may seem to be, have a stewardship according to God’secon o my. This means that every saint can infuse Christ into others. Even a young sister in high school can dispense Christ into her classmates. This dispensing of Christ into others is the stewardship according to God’secon o my. In the past we have pointed out that the heavens are for the earth, that the earth is for man, and that man is for God. The desire of God’she art is to dispense Himself into man. The heavens and the earth are for this dispensing. This is the central point of the whole Bible. God does not want to remain in Himself; He wants to get into us. Therefore, in eternity past He purposed to dispense Himself into us. For the fulfillment of this purpose, God created the heavens for the earth, the earth for man, and man for Himself. God’secon o my is to carry out the dispensing of Himself into man. We share in this economy through our stewardship, our ministry of dispensing the riches of Christ. Therefore, the stewardship of the grace is according to God’secon o my
10使徒保罗不是惟一有管家职分的。他在三章八节说，他自己是『比众圣徒中最小者还小的』。这指明保罗甚至比我们还小。我们的观念需要有厉害的转变。保罗若能作管家，我们也必定能作管家，将基督的丰富分赐到别人里面。
10The Apostle Paul was not the only one with a stewardship. In 3:8 he refers to himself as “less than the least of all saints.” This indicates that Paul was even smaller than we are. Our concept needs to be radically changed. If Paul could be a steward, then we also can be stewards and dispense the riches of Christ into others
2 为著神的分赐
2. For God’s Dispensation
11这恩典的管家职分乃是为著神的分赐。我们已经看见，神的心意乃是要把祂的丰富，实际上就是祂自己，分赐到祂所拣选的人里面。这些丰富分赐到我们里面之后，我们需要拿起负担，把这些丰富分赐到别人里面。对神来说，这些丰富是祂的经纶；对我们来说，这些丰富是管家职分。当这些丰富藉著我们分赐到别人里面时，就成了神的分赐。当神的经纶达到我们，就成了我们的管家职分。当我们藉著将基督分赐到人里面而执行管家的职分时，就成了神在他们里面的分赐。因此，我们有经纶、管家的职分和分赐。
11This stewardship of the grace is for God’s dispensation. We have seen that the desire of God’she art is to dispense His riches, which actually are Himself, into His chosen people. After these riches have been dispensed into us, we need to take up the burden to dispense them into others. With God, these riches are His economy; with us, they are the stewardship; and when they are dispensed by us in to others, they are God’s dispensation. When God’secon o my reaches us, it becomes our stewardship. When we carry out our stewardship by dispensing Christ into others, it becomes the dispensation of God into them. Hence, we have the economy, the stewardship, and the dispensation.
12我们对传福音的观念需要提高。我们不该只注意得人；我们传福音，应当是藉著将神分赐到人里面，而执行神的经纶。你去读书或作事，目的乃是照神为著祂的分赐而有的经纶，执行你的管家职分。我们不是作普通传福音的工作，我们乃是把神分赐到人里面。这是何等荣耀的职事！何等奇妙的管家职分！赞美主，我们都有这样的管家职分！我们都有权利将基督那追测不尽的丰富分赐到别人里面！
12Our concept of preaching the gospel needs to be uplifted. We should not be concerned merely with winning souls. Rather, we should preach the gospel to carry out God’secon o my by dispensing God into others. Go to school or to work for the purpose of carrying out your stewardship according to God’secon o my for His dispensation. We are not doing an ordinary work of gospel preaching. We are dispensing God into man. What a glorious ministry! What a wonderful stewardship! Praise the Lord that we all have such a stewardship! We have the privilege of dispensing the unsearchable riches of Christ into others
二 恩典
B. The Grace
13我们的管家职分既是恩典的管家职分，我们就需要看见恩典是甚么。约翰一章十七节说，恩典是藉著耶稣基督来的。旧约时代有律法，但没有恩典。恩典乃是基督来的时候才来到的。许多基督徒以为恩典主要的是指物质的祝福。但是圣经指明，在基督以前，恩典还未来到。然而，在基督来之前，神确曾赐物质的福给祂的子民。恩典一点不差的就是神自己赐给我们，被我们得著，并给我们享受。在基督来之前，神不能把祂自己分给任何人；没有一人能接受神或享受祂。但在基督里，并藉著基督，我们能接受神，神也成为我们的享受。所以，恩典就是神自己作我们的享受。恩典的管家职分乃是神分赐到人里面，作他们的享受。分赐这恩典到别人里面，乃是我们照著神经纶的管家职分。我们既有分于神作我们的享受，就能将祂当作恩典分赐到别人里面。这就是恩典的分赐。
13Since our stewardship is the stewardship of the grace, we need to see what grace is. John 1:17 says that grace came through Jesus Christ. During the time of the Old Testament, there was law, but not grace. Grace did not come until Christ came. Many Christians think that grace refers mainly to material blessings. But the Bible indicates that grace did not come before Christ. However, God certainly bestowed material blessings on His people before Christ came. Grace is nothing less than God Himself given to us, gained by us, and enjoyed by us. Before Christ came, God could not be given to anyone. No one could receive God or enjoy Him. But in Christ and through Christ we receive God, and God becomes our enjoyment. Therefore, grace is God Himself as our enjoyment. The stewardship of grace is the dispensing of God into people to be their enjoyment. Dispensing this grace into others is our stewardship according to God’secon o my. Because we partake of God as our enjoyment, we can dispense Him as grace into others. This is the dispensation of grace
参 执事的职事
III. THE MINISTRY OF A MINISTER
14保罗在三章七节说他成为执事。新约里只有一个职事，就是管家的职分，也就是将神分赐到人里面。『执事』这辞与『管家』意义相符，因为管家的服事就是把生活必需品分配给人。不仅供应神话语的弟兄，或照顾当地建造的长老是执事，每一位圣徒，每一位召会的肢体，都在这职事里有分。不要被传统观念欺骗，以为你不是执事。执事就是服事的人。福音的执事就是以福音服事人的人。一位年轻的姊妹若将基督服事给她的母亲，她就是在执行新约的职事。所有的圣徒都必须勇敢的宣告他们是执事。我们不仅要说这事，更要去实行。年轻人，你们要到父母那里将基督服事给他们。我鼓励你们都去尽这职事。虽然在主的恢复里有千万的圣徒，但是职事只有一个，就是将基督的丰富分赐到人里面。为著这个荣耀的职事，阿利路亚！
14In 3:7 Paul says that he became a minister. In the New Testament there is just one ministry, which is the stewardship, the dispensing of God into people. The word “minister” corresponds to the word “steward,” for a steward is one who serves by dispensing the necessities of life to others. Not only the brothers who minister the Word of God or the elders who care for the local building are ministers, but every saint, every member of the church, has a part in the ministry. Do not be cheated by the traditional concept and think that you are not a minister. A minister is simply one who serves. A minister of the gospel serves people with the gospel. If a young sister ministers Christ to her mother, she is carrying out the New Testament ministry. All the saints must be bold to declare that they are ministers. We must not only speak this but put it into practice. Young people, go to your parents and minister Christ to them. I encourage you all to fulfill this ministry. Although there may be thousands of saints in the Lord’s recovery, there is just one ministry, the dispensing of the riches of Christ into others. Hallelujah for this glorious ministry
一 照著神恩典的恩赐
A. According to the Gift of the Grace of God
15我们的职事是照著神恩典的恩赐。说恩典是神作我们的享受，这意思就2是，恩典是神作我们的生命和生命的供应。（林前十五10，林后十二9。）这生命的供应在我们里面运行。藉著这运行的生命，我们就有一种才能，那就是恩赐。所以保罗在三章七节说，
15Our ministry is according to the gift of the grace of God. To say that grace is God for our enjoyment means that grace is God as our life and life supply (1 Cor. 15:10; Cor. 12:9). This life supply operates within us. By means of this operating life, we have a certain ability, which is the gift. Therefore, in 3:7 Paul speaks of being a minister “according to the gift of the grace of God.”
16他作执事乃是『照著神恩典的恩赐』。
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17所有的圣徒都有这样的恩赐，这样的才能。譬如，我的手有抓东西的本能。这本能是来自我身体里生命的血轮。血若不流通到我的手，我的手就缺少生命，而不能尽功用。但是当血流通到我的手，在我手内运行，就使手有本能尽功用。作为基督的肢体，我们都有神的生命运行在我们里面，以产生一种才能。这种才能就是恩赐，使我们成为执事，将基督分赐给人。
17All the saints have such a gift, such an ability. For example, my hand has the ability to grasp objects. This ability comes from the life blood in my body. If the blood does not flow into my hand, my hand will be short of life and therefore will not be able to function. But when the life blood flows into my hand, the blood operates within the hand to give it the ability to function. As members of Christ, we all have the life of God operating within us to produce a certain ability. This ability is the gift that makes us ministers to impart Christ to others
二 将基督那追测不尽的丰富，当作福音传给人
B. To Preach the Unsearchable Riches of Christ as the Gospel
18我们的职事乃是把基督那追测不尽的丰富，当作福音传给人。传福音不是陈明道理，也不是单单教导人神话语的字句。我们的福音乃是一个人位，带著祂一切的丰富。传这样的福音，
18Our ministry is to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel. It is not to present doctrine nor simply to teach the Word in letters. Our gospel is a Person with all His riches. To preach such a gospel is to minister the riches of Christ to others
19就是把基督的丰富服事给人。
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三 为著产生召会
C. For Producing the Church
20这职事是为著产生召会。使徒保罗作神管家的职事，乃是将基督那追测不尽的丰富，当作恩典分赐到信徒里面，藉此产生召会。保罗的职事不仅是拯救罪人，更是为著产生召会，以完成神永远的定旨。这是他所得之恩典的管家职分的目标。
20This ministry is for producing the church. The ministry of the Apostle Paul as God’s steward was to bring forth the church by dispensing the unsearchable riches of Christ as grace into the believers. Paul’s ministry was not only to save sinners, but to produce the church for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. This was the goal of his stewardship of grace.
四 藉著在灵里奥秘的启示
D. By Revelation of the Mystery in Spirit
21根据三章三节和五节，我们的职事乃是藉著在灵里奥秘的启示。神的奥秘就是基督，基督的奥秘就是召会。只要我们看见基督是神的奥秘，召会是基督的奥秘，我们就有奥秘的启示在我们的灵里。这使我们能将基督服事给人。这是在于我们那有神的灵内住的重生之灵。
21According to 3:3 and 5, our ministry is by the revelation of the mystery in spirit. The mystery of God is Christ, and the mystery of Christ is the church. As long as we have seen Christ as the mystery of God and the church as the mystery of Christ, we have the revelation of the mystery in our spirit. This enables us to minister Christ to others. This is a matter in our regenerated spirit which is indwelt by the Spirit of God