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腓立比书生命读经 · 第15篇

使徒对信徒的关切

THE APOSTLE’S CONCERN FOR THE BELIEVERS
1读经：腓立比书二章十九至三十节。在腓立比二章十九至三十节，我们看见保罗对信徒的关切。保罗说到自己是奠祭，浇奠在信徒信心的祭物和供奉上之后，立刻说到要打发提摩太和以巴弗提两位亲密的同工，到腓立比圣徒那里。我们可能不明白，为甚么保罗转到这一件似乎与经历基督无关的事上。然而，我们若进入腓立比书这一段话的深处，就会看见这段话确实与经历基督有关。
1Scripture Reading: Phil. 2:19-30 In 2:19-30 we see Paul’s concern for the believers. Immediately after referring to himself as a drink offering poured out upon the sacrifice and priestly service of the believers’ faith, Paul speaks of sending Timothy and Epaphroditus, two intimate co-workers, to the saints in Philippi. We may wonder why Paul turned to such a matter, which seems to have no relationship to the experience of Christ. However, if we get into the depths of this portion of the book of Philippians, we shall see that it is definitely related to the experience of Christ
2经历基督与关心圣徒在二章二十和二十一节保罗说，『因我没有人与我同魂，真正关心你们的事，因为众人都寻求自己的事，并不寻求基督耶稣的事。』这两节经文里有一个强烈的暗示，就是连保罗对信徒的关切，也是关心基督的事，关心对基督真正的经历。除了提摩太以外，保罗没有人与他同魂。保罗的魂关心基督的事。甚么是基督的事？基督的事乃是众召会同众圣徒。在这里我们看见一个很重要的点：我们若寻求基督，却没有产生对召会的关切，那么我们的寻求多少有点不正常，有点偏差。今天，许多基督徒追求属灵，但是，他们对召会同圣徒漠不关心。这种属灵的追求并不正常。今天，你在那里能找到一班信徒，真实寻求基督，而关心召会同圣徒？我们必须就著对召会同圣徒的关切，来核对我们对基督的追求。许多人羡慕『属灵』、『圣洁』或『得胜』。凡追求属灵，却不关心召会的人，他们的追求乃是入了歧途。正常的寻求基督，包含对召会和圣徒的关切。
2EXPERIENCING CHRIST AND CARING FOR THE SAINTS In 2:20 and 21 Paul says, “For I have no one like-souled who will genuinely care for what concerns you; for all seek their own things, not the things of Christ Jesus.” In these verses we find a strong hint that even Paul’s concern for the believers was the concern for the things of Christ and for the genuine experience of Christ. Besides Timothy, Paul did not have another who was like-souled with him. Paul’s soul was concerned with the things of Christ. What are the things of Christ? The things of Christ are the churches with all the saints. Here we see the important point that if our seeking after Christ does not result in a concern for the church, our seeking is at least somewhat abnormal or biased. Many Christians today are seeking spirituality, but they have no concern for the churches with the saints. Such a spiritual seeking is not normal. Where today can you find believers who are truly seeking after Christ with a concern for the churches and the saints? We must check our seeking after Christ in relation to the concern for the churches with the saints. Many desire to be “spiritual,” “holy,” or “victorious.” Those who pursue spirituality without a concern for the churches are misled in their seeking. The normal seeking after Christ includes a concern for the churches and the saints
3在本卷书信里，保罗不是用道理的方式来说到对基督的经历，乃是藉著处理实际的事情，应付实际的光景，而一点一点的揭示出对基督真正的经历与享受。在二章十九至三十节，他指明经历基督必须包含对召会和圣徒的关切。我们可能有这样的观念，认为经历基督是一回事，关心召会是另一回事。许多人不领悟，经历基督、享受基督实际上就是关心召会、顾到召会；关心召会、顾到召会也就是经历基督、享受基督。我们天然的倾向是将这两件事分开。我们可能以为，我们一直享受基督，就没有时间顾到召会。或者反过来说，我们可能以为，我们忙著顾到召会，就没有时间享受基督。我们要看见在二章十九至三十节里，这两件事必须是一件事，这是很重要的。我们若真经历基督、享受基督，这应当产生一个结果，就是关心召会和众圣徒。主的话说出一个原则：我们寻求基督、经历基督，若没有产生对召会和圣徒的关心，那么我们的寻求和经历就是反常的。对基督的经历必须是为著祂的身体。
3In this Epistle, Paul does not cover the experience of Christ in a doctrinal way. Rather, little by little, he unveils the genuine experience of Christ and enjoyment of Christ by dealing with practical matters and actual situations. In 2:19-30 he indicates that the experience of Christ must include a concern for the churches and the saints. We may have the concept that the experience of Christ is one thing, but the concern for the church is another. Not many of us may realize that to experience Christ and to enjoy Christ is actually to care for the church, and to care for the church is to experience Christ and enjoy Him. Our natural tendency is to separate these things. We may think that because we are enjoying Christ, we do not have time to care for the church. Or, on the other side, we may think that because we are so busy in caring for the church, we have no time to enjoy Christ. It is important for us to see in 2:19-30 that these two things must be one. If we truly experience Christ and enjoy Him, this should result in a concern for the church and the saints. There is a principle in the Word that if our seeking after Christ and our experience of Christ do not result in a concern for the churches and the saints, our seeking and our experience are abnormal. The experience of Christ must be for His Body.
4我相信，当保罗见证说，他乐意成为奠祭，浇奠在信徒的信心上时，他乃是从深处关心他们。在这几节经文里，保罗似乎是说，『我渴望成为奠祭，浇奠在你们信心的祭物和供奉上。因著我在监狱里，我无法到你们这里来。如果我有自由，我会立刻来看望你们。我既不能来，就打发提摩太到你们那里去；他因著经历基督，对众召会和众圣徒满了关切。』我愿意一再的强调这个极重要的点：真正的经历基督，总叫我们顾到召会和圣徒。我常说，我们早晨与主若有美好的交通，必定渴望晚上参加召会的聚会。这也指明，真实的经历基督总叫我们转向召会，并使我们顾到众圣徒。因著真正的经历基督而顾到召会，与流行在今天基督徒中间的所谓牧养的工作截然不同。那种工作可能打岔对基督真实的经历。然而，经历基督所生出对召会的关切，不会打岔对基督的享受。因为那种牧养的工作时常成为霸占，叫人不能享受基督，所以今天许多牧师没有时间享受主。
4I believe that, deep within, as Paul was testifying that he was willing to be poured out as a drink offering upon the believers’ faith, he was concerned for them. In these verses Paul seems to be saying, “My desire is to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and priestly service of your faith. Because I am in prison, I have no way to come to you. If I were at liberty to do so, I would visit you immediately. Since I am not able to come, I shall send Timothy, one whose experience of Christ makes him full of concern for the churches and the saints.” I wish to emphasize again and again the crucial point that the genuine experience of Christ will always cause us to care for the churches and the saints. I have often said that if we have good fellowship with the Lord in the morning, we shall be eager to meet with the church in the evening. This is another indication that the real experience of Christ always turns us to the church and results in a care for the saints. Caring for the church because we have the genuine experience of Christ is very different from the so- called pastoring work common among Christians today. That kind of work may be a distraction from the true experience of Christ. However, the concern for the church which issues from the experience of Christ is not a distraction from the enjoyment of Christ. Because that kind of pastoring work often becomes a preoccupation which keeps people from the enjoyment of Christ, many of today’s pastors have no time to enjoy the Lord
5保罗对众召会和众圣徒的关切，来自他对基督的经历。对召会真实的关切，总是来自对基督的经历和对基督的享受。
5Paul’s concern for the churches and the saints came out of his experience of Christ. The real concern for the church will always proceed from the experience of Christ and the enjoyment of Christ.
6毫无疑问，提摩太和以巴弗提都比保罗年幼。在二十二节保罗这样说到提摩太：『但你们知道提摩太蒙称许的明证，他为著福音与我一同事奉，像儿子待父亲一样。』『蒙称许的明证』原文意蒙称许的价值、经过试验的证明。我们已经看见，在二十节，保罗说提摩太是个与他同魂的人。提摩太与使徒保罗同魂，这就是他经历基督的秘诀。
6No doubt, both Timothy and Epaphroditus were younger than Paul. In verse 22 Paul says of Timothy, “But you know his approvedness, that as a child with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” The Greek word rendered approvedness means “approved worth, proof of having been tested.” We have seen that in verse 20 Paul speaks of Timothy as one who was like-souled. Timothy’s being like-souled with the apostle Paul was the secret of his experience of Christ
需要在魂里是一
THE NEED TO BE ONE IN SOUL
7腓立比书非常著重信徒的魂。我们必须同魂与人位化的福音信仰一齐努力；（一27；）我们必须魂里联结，思念同一件事；（二2；）并且我们必须同魂，真正关心基督耶稣的事。（20～21。）在福音的工作上，在信徒的交通上，以及在主的权益上，我们的魂总是个难处。因此，我们的魂，特别是魂的主要部分─心思，必须被变化，（罗十二2，）使我们在基督的身体生活里是一魂的，在魂里联结，并且同魂。腓立比书的关键点乃是经历基督，而经历基督的秘诀就是在魂里是一，或在魂里联结。照这卷书看，我们若不在魂里联结，我们对基督的经历就无法往前。如果我们仅仅在灵里是一，却没有在魂里联结，我们就无法在经历基督上往前。在魂里，与在魂里是一或魂里联结，二者之间大不相同。经历基督的秘诀乃是在魂里是一，而不是在魂里。有异议的人完全是在魂里，他们不可能在魂里是一。凡运用心思、情感和意志的人，在魂里都不是一。我们若要经历基督，就必须与别人在魂里是一；也就是说，我们必须与别人同魂。当我们运用心思、情感和意志时，我们可能非常单独。但是，我们若操练灵，以致在魂里是一，我们的心思就会清明，情感就会有节制，意志也会受调整。这样，我们就可能与别的圣徒在魂里是一。
7The book of Philippians deals very much with the soul of believers. We must strive together with one soul in the faith of the gospel (1:27); we must be joined in soul, thinking the one thing (2:2); and we must be like-souled, genuinely caring for the things of the Lord (2:20-21). In the gospel work, in the fellowship among the believers, and in the Lord’sin te rests, our soul is always a problem. Hence, it must be transformed, especially in its leading part, the mind (Rom. 12:2), that we may be of one soul, joined in soul, and like- souled in the Body life. In the book of Philippians the experience of Christ is the key point, and the secret of the experience of Christ is to be one in soul or joined in soul. According to this book, we cannot go on in the experience of Christ unless we are joined in soul. If we are one only in spirit but are not joined in soul, we cannot go on in the experience of Christ. There is a great difference between being in the soul and being one in soul or joined in soul. The secret of experiencing Christ is to be one in soul, not to be in the soul. The dissenting ones who are altogether in the soul find it impossible to be one in soul. Those who exercise their mind, emotion, and will are not one in soul. If we would experience Christ, we need to be one with others in the soul; that is, we need to become like-souled with others. When we exercise our mind, emotion, and will, we may be very individualistic. But if we exercise our spirit to be one in soul, our mind will be sobered, our emotion will be regulated, and our will will be adjusted. Then it will be possible for us to be one in soul with other saints
8圣经里只有这一处用『同魂』这个特别的辞。钦定英文译本把这个希腊字繙作『同心思』。心思是魂最主要的部分。根据上下文，同魂的意思主要是指同心思。腓立比书著重信徒的心思。第二章一开始，保罗就吩咐我们要思念相同的事，甚至思念同一件事。这清楚、有力的指明，同魂就是同心思。
8The extraordinary expression like-souled is used in the Bible only in this one place. The King James Version renders the Greek word as like-minded. The mind is the leading part of the soul. According to the context, to be like-souled primarily means to be like-minded. The book of Philippians deals much with the believers’ mind. At the beginning of chapter two, Paul tells us to think the same thing and even the one thing. This indicates clearly and strongly that to be like-souled is to be like-minded.
9有些译本在繙译『同魂』这个希腊字时，犯了严重的错误。英译新美国标准译本繙作『类似的灵』，这个错误太可怕了！事实上，这是把圣言更改了。这样的繙译忽略了灵与魂的紧要分野。同一译本甚至过分到把二章二节的『魂里联结』，繙作『灵里联合』。已过我们曾经强调一个事实，就是我们要经历基督，就必须认识我们人的灵，因为惟有在灵里，我们才能经历基督。现在我们更要往前看见，我们要经历基督，也必须在魂里是一。在灵里经历基督，主要是单独、个人的经历。但是，我们个人对基督的经历，必须产生对召会的关切。我们经历基督的结果，若产生对召会与圣徒的关切，我们就不可能单独。相反的，我们会领悟团体的需要。我们要顾到召会，就必须与别人是一。否则，我们越关心召会，惹出的问题就越多。一位弟兄在灵里享受了基督，这经历会叫他关心召会。另一位弟兄也在灵里享受基督，但却对召会产生不同的关心。关心的不同，就会引起问题。要对召会有同样的关心，惟一的路就是同魂，在魂里联结。让我给你们举个例子，说明地方召会的带领人不能同魂时，就会产生问题。四十多年前，我必须去看望在中国某个地方的召会，帮助五位长老平息他们中间的歧见。他们个个都非常爱主，而且个个聪明、坦白又率直；不仅如此，这五位弟兄都在灵里经历主。然而，各人对召会的关切不尽相同。结果，他们一来到长老聚会中就起争辩。他们不是为属世的事争辩，乃是为召会的事务争辩。每隔数月，我就受邀到那个地方，去调停弟兄们，解决歧见。可是，不久之后，问题又来了。虽然这个召会的长老们都爱主，也在灵里经历基督，他们却不能在魂里是一。
9Some translations have made a serious mistake in their rendering of the Greek word for like-souled. The New American Standard Version says “kindred spirit.” This is terrible! In fact, it is actually a change of the holy Word. Such a rendering ignores the crucial difference between spirit and soul. This same version even goes so far as to use the expression “united in spirit” in 2:2 instead of “joined in soul.” In the past we have emphasized the fact that to experience Christ we must know our human spirit, for only in the spirit can we experience Christ. Now we must go on to see that to experience Christ we must also be one in soul. Experiencing Christ in our spirit is primarily for our individual, personal experience. But our personal experience of Christ must issue in a concern for the churches. I four experience of Christ results in a concern for the churches and the saints, it will be impossible for us to be individualistic. Instead, we shall realize the need to be corporate. In order to care for the church, we must be one with others. Otherwise, the more concern we have for the church, the more problems we shall cause. One brother will enjoy Christ in the spirit, and this experience will give him a concern for the church. Another brother will also enjoy Christ in the spirit, but have a different kind of concern for the church. These different kinds of concern will cause problems. The only way for us to be one in our concern for the church is to be like-souled, to be joined in soul. Let me give you an example of the problems caused when the leading ones in a local church are not like - souled. More than forty years ago, it was necessary for me to visit the church in a certain locality in China to help smooth over the differences among the five elders. Each of the elders loved the Lord very much. All of them were intelligent and also frank and straightforward. Furthermore, these five brothers experienced the Lord in the spirit. However, each had a different concern for the church. As a result, when they came together for an elders’ meeting, they argued. They did not argue over worldly things, but over the church affairs. Every few months I was asked to visit that locality to try to reconcile the brothers and to settle the differences. However, after a short period of time the problem arose again. Even though the elders in this church loved the Lord and experienced Christ in the spirit, they were not able to be one in the soul.
10夫妻若不能在魂里是一，也会发生问题。在爱主、经历主的事上，夫妻之间没有难处。弟兄在灵里经历基督，妻子也在灵里经历基督。但是，当他们讨论事情时，丈夫有一种看法，妻子有另一种看法。换句话说，丈夫和妻子各有不同的魂。最后，妻子可能承认丈夫是头而听从他，但是她里面仍然不同意他的看法。这不是真正的同魂。地方召会的长老们一旦发现他们没有在魂里是一，该怎么办？他们彼此之间的关系当然与夫妻之间的关系不同。长老们中间，谁是其他长老该服从的头？没有一位是头。虽然他们爱主，并在灵里经历基督，他们在魂里可能还不是一。这种一的缺欠是个漏洞，削弱了召会中的长老职分。或许有些较老练的长老不会争吵，而会保持缄默。但是这种缄默却可能是玩政治。事实上，他们可能不愿意敞开，发表他们魂里所有的。长老们既没有在魂里是一，他们关心召会和圣徒时，就缺少真正的一。他们容易在灵里是一，却不容易同魂。
10Problems between husband and wife also arise because the two are not one in soul. In loving the Lord and experiencing Him, they have no problems. The brother experiences Christ in his spirit, and his wife experiences Him in her spirit. However, when they talk over certain matters, the husband has one concept, and his wife has another concept. In other words, the husband and wife each have different souls. The wife may eventually recognize that her husband is the head and go along with him, but inwardly she still does not agree with his concept. They are not truly like-souled. What should the elders in a local church do when they find that they are not one in soul? Their relationship to one another is surely different from that between a husband and wife. Who among the elders can be regarded as the head to whom the others should submit? No one is the head. Even though they love the Lord and experience Christ in the spirit, they may not be one in soul. This lack of oneness is a leakage which weakens the eldership in the churches. Perhaps certain of the elders who are more experienced will not argue. Instead, they will remain quiet. This quietness, however, may be political. Actually they may not be willing to open and express what is in their soul. Since the elders are not one in soul, they lack the genuine oneness in the concern for the church and the saints. They find it easy to be one in spirit, but not to be like-souled
同魂
LIKE-SOULED
11保罗虽然有许多同工，但只有提摩太是他能彀说与他同魂的。关于众召会的事，只有提摩太与保罗有同样的魂。我宝爱保罗在二章二十节所用『同魂』这一个辞。这个短短的辞打开了一扇窗户，给我们看见一个秘诀：如何经历基督以产生对召会真实的关切。我盼望我们都认识这个宝贵的秘诀。因著保罗和提摩太是同魂的，他们就能经历基督到顶点。然而，我们若只在灵里经历基督，而没有与那些爱主、寻求主的人在魂里是一，我们对基督的经历就有限。那些不与保罗同魂的同工，虽然也能经历基督，却达不到保罗和提摩太经历基督的程度。
11Although Paul had a number of co - workers, only of Timothy could he say that he was like - souled. Concerning the churches, only Timothy had the same soul as Paul. I treasure the expression “li ke - souled” used by Paul in 2:20. This short phrase opens a window through which we can see the secret for us to experience Christ in a way which issues in a true concern for the churches. I hope that we all will come to know this precious secret. Because Paul and Timothy were like-souled, they could experience Christ to the uttermost. However, if we experience Christ only in our spirit and are not one in soul with others who love the Lord and are seeking Him, our experience of Christ will be limited. Those co-workers who were not like-souled with Paul could experience Christ, but not to the extent to which Paul and Timothy experienced Him.
12我初次读到除了提摩太之外，保罗没有人与他同魂，真正关心腓立比圣徒的事时，我很吃惊。难道没有别人也真正关心众召会么？有，但是他们魂里所关心的，与保罗所关心的不同。我们迟早都要受试验，看看我们是否与带领者、较老练者在魂里是一。如果你和带领者、老练者、那些真认识召会生活光景的弟兄们没有同魂，那么在经历基督的事上，你会受拦阻不能往前。但是，你若与这些圣徒在魂里是一，你会得著保护；在经历基督的事上，你也不会有任何难处。
12I was shocked when I first read that apart from Timothy Paul had no one like-souled who would genuinely care for the things concerning the saints in Philippi. Were there not others who also had a genuine concern for the churches? Yes, there were, but their concern was not the same in soul as Paul’s concern. Sooner or later, we shall all be tested whether or not we are one in soul with the leading ones and with those who have more experience. If you are not like-souled with the leading ones and experienced ones, those with a true knowledge of the situation in the church life, you will be hindered from going on in the experience of Christ. But if you are one in soul with these saints, you will be protected, and you will not have any problems in experiencing Christ
不顾我们的魂
RISKING OUR SOUL
13在二章二十五节保罗题到以巴弗提，说他是『我的弟兄、同工、并一同当兵的』。保罗也告诉腓立比信徒，以巴弗提是他们的使徒，就是受差遣负有使命的人，也是供应他需用的供奉者。供奉者就是像祭司那样供奉的人。所有新约的信徒都是神的祭司。（彼前二9，启一6。）因此，我们对主的服事，无论在那一方面，都是祭司的供奉。（腓二17，30。）在二章三十节，保罗指出以巴弗提有一个显著的特点。保罗在这里告诉我们，以巴弗提为基督的工作，『冒著性命的危险，几乎至死，要补足你们在供奉我的事上所有的短缺。』冒著性命的危险，原文意不顾生死，好像赌徒下赌注。三十节的『性命』，原文是朴宿克（psuche），就是魂。因此，说以巴弗提冒著性命的危险，意思是他不顾他的魂。以巴弗提乃是为著召会和圣徒，甘愿牺牲他魂的人。主耶稣在约翰十章十一节清楚启示这样的牺牲魂；祂说祂是好牧人，豫备好要舍弃祂的魂生命，为要叫我们得著祂神圣的生命。
13In 2:25 Paul speaks of Epaphroditus, referring to him as “my brother and fellow-worker and fellow- soldier.” Paul also tells the Philippian believers that Epaphroditus was their apostle, one sent with a commission, and a priestly minister to his need. A priestly minister is one whose ministry is like that of a priest. All New Testament believers are priests to God (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6). Hence, our ministry to the Lord, in whatever aspect, is a priestly ministry, a priestly service (Phil. 2:17, 30). In 2 : 3 0 Paul points out a striking feature of Epaphroditus. Here Paul tells us that for the work of Christ Epaphroditus “drew near even unto death, risking his life, that he might fill up your lack of service toward me.” The Greek word rendered risking means venturing, recklessly exposing one’s life, like a gambler throwing down a stake.” The Greek word for life in verse 30 is psuche, the word for soul. Hence, to say that Epaphroditus risked his life means that he risked his soul. Epaphroditus was one who was willing to sacrifice his soul for the churches and the saints. This sacrifice of soul is revealed clearly by the Lord Jesus in John 10:11, where He says concerning Himself that, as the good Shepherd, He was ready to lay down His soul-life so that we could receive His divine life
14在腓立比二章十九至三十节，我们看见关乎魂的两个要点。第一，我们必须在魂里是一；第二，我们必须愿意牺牲或不顾我们的魂。我们若要对召会同众圣徒有真正的关切，这两点都是必须的。提摩太是个同魂的人，以巴弗提是个不顾魂的人。我们也该在魂里是一，并且愿意不顾我们的魂。我们应该豫备好牺牲我们的心思、意志和情感，与我们亲爱的同工们是一。
14In Philippians 2:1 9-3 0 we see two crucial points concerning the soul. First, we need to be one in soul; second, we need to be willing to sacrifice or risk our soul. Both are necessary if we are to have a genuine concern for the churches with all the saints. Timothy was a like-souled person, and Epaphroditus was a soul- risking person. We also should be those who are one in soul and who are willing to risk our soul. We should be ready to sacrifice our mind, will, and emotion to be one with our dear co-workers.
15对于长老们和带领的人，特别重要的是要同魂，以及不顾自己的魂。不要爱你的魂，要学习不顾魂、牺牲魂，为召会生活付代价。倘若长老们没有这种魂，他们就不合式在当地的召会领头。我们若爱主、爱召会，我们首先应当在灵里经历主；然后，我们应当在经历基督以关心召会上同魂，并且也豫备好愿意为圣徒的缘故牺牲我们的魂。今天在主的恢复里，我们需要这样的圣徒：在灵里寻求主、享受主，并且愿意同魂、不顾他们的魂生命，而对召会有真正的关切。我们若在魂里是一，像在灵里是一一样，我们对基督的经历就会达到高峰。
15It is especially important for the elders and leading ones to be like-souled and to risk their soul. Instead of loving your soul, learn to risk it, to sacrifice it, and to pay the price for the church life. If the elders do not have this kind of soul, they are not adequate to take the lead in their locality. If we love the Lord and the church, we should first experience the Lord in our spirit and then be like-souled in the experience of Christ for the concern of the church and also ready and willing to sacrifice our soul for the sake of the saints. In the Lord’s recovery today we need saints who seek the Lord and enjoy Him in their spirit and who also are willing to have a genuine concern for the churches by being like-souled and by risking their soul life. If we are one in soul as well as in spirit, our experience of Christ will reach the peak