8我相信在腓立比的召会里,友欧底亚和循都基两位姊妹乃是为著地位或虚荣而私图好争。否则保罗不需要劝她们要『在主里思念相同的事』。(四2。)那里的召会若没有私图好争的难处,保罗就不必在二章三节说,『凡事都不私图好争,也不贪图虚荣。』因著腓立比圣徒中间有争夺虚荣的难处,保罗必须陈明基督作为过钉十字架生活的榜样。因为在腓立比,争夺虚荣是个确实的难处,所以保罗只在腓立比书,而没有在别卷书,题出这个榜样。只要腓立比那里的圣徒中有人寻求自己的荣耀,那里就有私图好争。因此,保罗给他们看见,神的儿子基督本有崇高的地位。祂本有神的形状,并有权利与神同等。然而,祂不以自己与神同等为强夺之珍,紧持不放,反而倒空自己,取了奴仆的形状,成为人的样式;既显为人的样子,就降卑自己,顺从至死,且死在十字架上。那些为自己寻求地位和头衔的腓立比圣徒,的确需要照著过钉十字架生活的榜样─基督─而活。我们必须承认,腓立比圣徒中间争夺虚荣的情形,今天在许多地方召会中间也看得见。毫无疑问,在主恢复以外的基督徒当中有许多争夺虚荣的事。但是我们这些在召会中的人又如何?至少在某种程度上,这种争竞还存在我们中间。因此,我们需要保罗论到基督是我们榜样的这些话。我们必须蒙光照,以这个钉十字架的生活作我们的榜样,使我们得以经历复活的大能。当我们过著钉十字架的生活时,我们就会被引进复活的大能里,而这大能就会高举我们。然而,我们应当受警告,不要将论到钉十字架的生活、复活的大能和神的高举这些话,作为寻求荣耀的根据。我们甚至不该将真实的荣耀当作基督以外的事物来追求。不要寻求基督自己以外的荣耀。我们必须说,『主,我只要你。我不寻求任何高举或荣耀。』我们若以钉十字架的生活作我们的榜样,我们就会经历复活的大能。这复活的大能乃是基督自己。基督不仅是钉十字架的生命,祂也是复活的大能。
8I believe that in the church in Philippi, two sisters, Euodias and Syntyche, were in rivalry for position or vainglory. Otherwise, there would have been no need for Paul to beg them to “think the same thing in the Lord” (4:2). If there had not been the problem of rivalry in the church there, there would have been no need for Paul to say in 2:3, “Doing nothing by way of rivalry nor by way of vainglory.” Because among the saints in Philippi there was rivalry for vainglory, it was necessary for Paul to present Christ as the pattern of a crucified life. Paul presents this pattern in Philippians, not in other books, because in Philippi rivalry for vainglory was a definite problem. As long as certain of the saints there were seeking glory for themselves, there was rivalry. There fore, Paul showed them that Christ, the Son of God, had a very high position. He possessed the very form of God and had the right to be equal with God. Nevertheless, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men. Then, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient even unto the death of the cross. Those Philippian saints who were seeking position and title for themselves surely needed to live according to Christ as the pattern of a crucified life. We must admit that the rivalry for vainglory found among the saints in Philippi can also be found in many local churches today. No doubt, among the Christians outside the Lord’s recovery there is much rivalry for vainglory. But what about us in the churches? To some extent at least, such rivalry still exists among us. Thus, we need Paul’sword concerning Christ as our pattern. We need to be enlightened and take this crucified life as our pattern so that we may experience the power of resurrection. When we live the crucified life, we shall be ushered into resurrection power, and this power will exalt us. We should be warned, however, not to take this word about the crucified life, the power of resurrection, and God’s exaltation as a ground for seeking glory. We should not even seek true glory as something apart from Christ. Do not seek any glory that is other than Christ Himself. We need to say, “Lord, I want only You. I am not seeking any exaltation or glory.” If we take the crucified life as our pattern, we shall experience the power of resurrection. This resurrection power is Christ Himself. Christ is not only the crucified life, but He is also the power of resurrection.