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腓立比书生命读经 · 第7篇

保罗上好的拣选

THE BEST CHOICE OF PAUL
1读经：腓立比书一章十九至二十六节。腓立比一章十八至二十节在原文是一个句子。十八节保罗说，『这有何妨呢？或假意，或真诚，无论怎样，基督究竟被宣传开了，为此我就欢喜，并且还要欢喜。』十九节以『因为』开始，这指出十九节是十八节的说明。十九节说，『因为我知道，这事藉著你们的祈求，和耶稣基督之灵全备的供应，终必叫我得救。』『这事』指的是前几节保罗所题不同传基督的方式。保罗知道这些不同的传扬，藉著众圣徒的祈求，和耶稣基督之灵全备的供应，终必叫他得救。接著二十节这样开始：『这是照著我所专切期待并盼望的，』这句话形容十九节的得救。保罗满怀希望，期待享受救恩。二十节指明，保罗所期待享受的救恩就是：没有一事会叫他羞愧，只要凡事放胆，总叫基督在他身体上照常显大。
1Scripture Reading: Phil. 1:19-26 Philippians 1:18-21 is one sentence. In verse 18 Paul says, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is announced, and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.” Verse 19 begins with the word for. This indicates that verse 19 is an explanation of verse 18. Verse 19 says, “For I know that for me this shall turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” The word this refers to the different preachings of Christ mentioned by Paul in the foregoing verses. Through the petition of the saints and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Paul knew that these different preachings would turn out to salvation. Then verse 20 opens with the words according to my earnest expectation and hope. This phrase modifies salvation in verse 19. With a full hope, Paul expected to enjoy salvation. Verse 20 indicates that the salvation Paul expected to enjoy was that in nothing he would be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, Christ would be magnified in his body
保罗对救恩的经历
PAUL’S EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION
2保罗写信给腓立比人时，身在远离家乡的异国监狱里。保罗很有理由忧愁、哀伤。他的处境这么艰难，他应该很容易为这种情景哀哭。然而，保罗若一直哀哭而不喜乐，他就不能说，『终必叫我得救。』他若哀哭，就不会在那种环境中经历救恩。假定你是一个关在罗马监狱里的犹太人，你会喜乐么？我信我们都会很难过，而且会很想家。但是保罗不哀哭，反倒在主里喜乐。对他来说，所有发生的事，终必叫他得救。
2When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was in prison in a foreign country, far away from his homeland. Paul had good reason to worry and be sad. Since his circumstances were so difficult, he could have easily wept about his situation. However, if Paul had been weeping instead of rejoicing, he could not have said, “For me this shall turn out to salvation.” If he had wept, he would not have experienced salvation in that environment. Suppose you were a Jew held captive in a Roman prison. Would you have rejoiced? I am sure we all would have felt sorrowful and homesick. But instead of weeping, Paul rejoiced in the Lord. For him, everything that happened turned out to salvation
3按照这几节的上下文，得救的意思是没有一事会叫保罗羞愧。不只他不觉得羞愧，而且没有一事叫他羞愧。基督在保罗的身体上显大。二十节所说的显大基督，正是十九节所题到的得救。这就是说，照著保罗所专切期待并盼望的那个救恩，就是他不至羞愧，反倒在他身体上显大基督。因此，二十节说明甚么叫作实际的享受救恩。
3According to the context of these verses, salvation means that Paul was not put to shame in anything. Not only did he not feel shameful, but nothing caused him to be put to shame. Christ was magnified in Paul’s body. This magnification of Christ, spoken of in verse 20, is the very salvation mentioned in verse 1 9. This means that the salvation which was according to Paul’s earnest expectation and hope was that he would not be put to shame, but would magnify Christ in his body. Therefore, in verse 20 we have a definition of the practical enjoyment of salvation.
4享受这种救恩就是活基督。所以二十一节保罗说，『因为在我，活著就是基督。』保罗的苦难并没有叫他羞愧，反倒给他机会显大基督。我们若经历这几节所说的救恩，那么当我们遭遇苦难时，就会显大基督而不至羞愧。但是，我们若被苦难打倒，被苦难压伤而满了罣虑，这就叫我们羞愧。但我们若在苦难中显大基督，我们就会经历这个救恩。有一天，一位弟兄的妻子过世，这对作丈夫的和孩子们是个很大的打击。我们接触这位弟兄时，如果只看到忧愁和眼泪，我们会感到羞愧。在这种情况下，失去妻子会叫他羞愧，没有让基督彰显出来，也没有让基督显大。结果，在这件事上他就没有经历救恩。如果这位弟兄因著失去妻子而悲伤，这和不信的人就没有两样。然而，这位弟兄的光景完全不同。他能喜乐、赞美主，并且还能见证主的恩典。在他的处境中，主实在得著彰显和显大，这位弟兄也经历了救恩。这位弟兄这样经历救恩，就叫他从失去妻子的苦难中蒙了拯救。不仅如此，这个救恩还能使这位弟兄显大基督。
4To enjoy this kind of salvation is to live Christ. This is the reason Paul says in verse 21, “For to me to live is Christ.” Paul’s sufferings did not put him to shame. Instead, they afforded him an opportunity to magnify Christ. If we experience the salvation mentioned in these verses, then when we undergo suffering, we shall magnify Christ and not be put to shame. But if we are defeated by suffering, suppressed by it, and filled with worry, we shall be put to shame. But if we magnify Christ in sufferings, we shall experience this salvation. One day the wife of a certain brother died. Her death was a great loss to her husband and children. If in our contact with this brother we had seen nothing but sorrow and tears, we would have had a sense of shame. In such a case, the loss of his wife would have brought him into shame, and there would have been no manifestation of Christ and no magnification of Him. As a result, there would have been no experience of salvation. Rather, the brother’s experience in grieving over the loss of his wife would not have been different from the experience of an unbeliever. However, with this brother the situation was very different. He could rejoice, praise the Lord, and testify of the Lord’s grace. Truly in his situation the Lord was manifested and magnified, and the brother experienced salvation. In this experience of salvation, the brother was saved in his suffering from the loss of his wife. Furthermore, this salvation enabled the brother to magnify Christ
5这位弟兄在妻子过世后还能显大基督的经历，说明了保罗在监狱中的经历。虽然他在外邦地作囚犯，他的苦难并没有叫他羞愧。照著保罗所专切期待并盼望的，基督在他身上显大，并且保罗也享受了主的救恩。
5The experience of this brother in magnifying Christ after the loss of his wife illustrates Paul’s experience in prison. Although he was a prisoner in a foreign country, his suffering did not put him to shame. According to Paul’s earnest expectation and hope, Christ was magnified in him, and Paul enjoyed the Lord’ss alvation
保罗经历的秘诀
THE KEY TO PAUL’S EXPERIENCE
6保罗经历救恩的秘诀就是耶稣基督之灵全备的供应。藉著这全备的供应，保罗所遭遇的每一件事，终必叫他得救。十九节说到得救，二十节说到显大基督；十九节又说到耶稣基督之灵全备的供应。实际上，在我们的经历里，得救、基督、和那灵全备的供应就是一个。但是，如果我们要享受基督，并经历祂在每一种境遇中成为我们的救恩，我们就需要那灵全备的供应。使徒保罗被监禁的时候，那灵怎样住在他里面，今天那灵也住在我们里面。藉著这样一位灵的供应，保罗享受了救恩。
6The key to Paul’s experience of salvation was the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Everything that happened to Paul turned out to salvation through this bountiful supply. Between salvation in verse 19 and the magnifying of Christ in verse 20, we have the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Actually, in our experience, salvation, Christ, and the bountiful supply of the Spirit are one. But if we would enjoy Christ and experience Him as our salvation in every circumstance, we need the bountiful supply of the Spirit. Just as this Spirit dwelt in the apostle Paul during his imprisonment, He also dwells within us today. Through the supply of such a Spirit, Paul enjoyed salvation.
基督与益处之间的对比
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRIST AND GAIN
7二十一节保罗说，『因为在我，活著就是基督，死了就有益处。』在这节圣经里，有基督和益处之间的对比。有些人会认为这里的益处是指基督。虽然就著某一面我们可以说益处是指基督，但这是指另一面的基督，不是指我们活基督时，所经历的基督。实际上，二十一节的益处就是基督的同在。当保罗说『死了就有益处』，他的意思是说死了就更能享受基督的同在。二十三节保罗说，他情愿离世与基督同在。与基督同在，不是地点问题，乃是程度问题。保罗虽然已经一直与基督同在，但他盼望进一步与基督同在。藉著他身体的死，他要更完满的与基督同在，远超过他在地上活著时所享受的。
7In verse 21 Paul says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In this verse we have a contrast between Christ and gain. Some may think that the gain here refers to Christ. Although in a sense it may refer to Christ, it refers to Christ in a different way, not to the Christ we experience by living Him. In a practical way, the gain in verse 21 is the presence of Christ. When Paul said, “To die is gain,” he meant that to die is to enjoy Christ’s presence in a better way. In verse 23 Paul says that his desire is to depart and to be with Christ. To be with Christ is a matter of degree, not of place. While Paul was desiring to be with Christ in a higher degree, he was already with Him continually. Through his physical death, he would be with Christ to a fuller extent than he enjoyed in this earthly life
8保罗在监狱中的时候，他在两方面享受基督并经历基督。一面是享受基督的同在，另一面是活基督。享受基督的同在与活基督大不相同。比方说，我能彀享受我妻子的同在，但是我不能活她。我们由此看见，我们可能享受一个人的同在而不是活那个人。保罗不仅享受主的同在，他还活基督。他知道自己死了就再没有机会来活基督，却会进入对基督同在更高的享受里。因此，他死了就有益处。保罗不只看重基督的同在，他也看重活基督的机会。历代以来，基督徒一直受鼓励要操练与主同在。然而，几乎没有人鼓励人活基督。许多信徒熟悉『与主同在』那本著名的书，并且受激励要竭力活在神的同在中。然而，操练与神同在主要是旧约的观念，而不是新约的观念。固然，一面说，根据新约，我们也可以享受主的同在；但是，另一面，我们应当操练活基督。我们不只有主的同在，也有祂的人位。我们不只需要在祂的同在里，还需要与祂成为一个人位并活祂。活基督的经历比仅仅活在祂的同在中深多了，活基督远超过享受祂的同在。
8When Paul was in prison, he enjoyed Christ and experienced Him in two ways. One way was to enjoy the presence of Christ, and the other way was to live Christ. There is a vast difference between enjoying the presence of Christ and living Christ. For example, I may enjoy my wife’s presence, but I cannot live her. By this we see that we may enjoy a person’s presence without living that person. Paul not only enjoyed the Lord’s presence, but he also lived Him. He knew that when he died he would have no further opportunity to live Christ, but he would enter into a higher enjoyment of the presence of Christ. Therefore, to die would be gain. What Paul valued was not only the presence of Christ, but also the opportunity to live Him. Throughout the centuries, Christians have been encouraged to practice the presence of the Lord. However, there has been little encouragement, if any, to live Him. Many believers are familiar with the famous book The Practice of the Presence of God and have been encouraged by it to endeavor to live in God’s presence. However, the concept of practicing the presence of God is mainly an Old Testament concept, not a New Testament one. Yes, according to the New Testament, we may enjoy the Lord’s presence on the one hand. But, on the other hand, we should practice living Him. We have not only the Lord’s presence, but we also have His Person. Not only do we need to be in His presence; we also need to be one person with Him and live Him. To live Christ is a much deeper experience than simply to be in His presence. Living Him goes far beyond the enjoyment of His presence.
9你只想操练与基督同在，或者你也羡慕活基督？活主比与主同在好多了。不错，死了就有益处，因为死了与主同在的程度，比在地上与主同在的程度更高。但是，我们在地上活基督，更是美好。你可能为著主的同在感谢过祂，但是你曾否为著活祂的经历而感谢过祂？我们顶容易为著主同在的甜美和可爱感谢祂，许多人有这样感谢的习惯。有时候当我要脱口而出向主这样感谢时，里面就定罪我，只是遵循旧约的规条，这题醒我需要活基督。林前六章十七节说，『但与主联合的，便是与主成为一灵。』我们与主成为一灵，不只叫我们可以享受祂的同在，更叫我们能活祂。但是，今天有甚么基督徒得著教导与帮助来活基督？多年来，我们一再得著帮助要培养操练与主同在的习惯。这个经历是基督徒生活的第一层。如今在主的恢复里，我们必须更上一层，操练活基督。腓立比一章二十一节的活基督和在更高的程度上与基督同在，二者之间确实有所不同。我能见证，我宁愿活基督，而不是仅仅在更高的程度上与基督同在。
9Do you intend just to practice the presence of Christ, or is it your desire also to live Christ? To live the Lord is even better than to be with the Lord. Yes, it is a gain to die and be with the Lord in a greater degree than on earth. But it is even better to live Him while we are on earth. Probably you have thanked the Lord for His presence, but have you ever thanked Him for the experience of living Him? It is easy for us to thank the Lord for the sweetness and loveliness of His presence. Many have the habit of doing this. Sometimes when I am about to utter such a thanksgiving to the Lord, I have the conviction within that I am simply following an Old Testament practice. I am then reminded of my need to live Christ. First Corinthians 6:17 says, “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We are one spirit with the Lord not only that we may enjoy His presence, but even more that we live Him. But what Christians today are being instructed and helped to live Christ? For years we have been helped to develop the habit of practicing the Lord’s presence. This experience is on the first floor of the Christian life. Now in the Lord’s recovery we must go on to the second floor, to the practice of living Christ. There certainly is a difference in verse 21 between living Christ and gaining a greater degree of His presence. I can testify that my preference is to live Christ and not just to gain a greater degree of His presence
工作的果子
FRUIT FROM WORK
10二十二节保罗接著说，『但我在肉身活著，若使我的工作有果子，我就不知道该挑选甚么。』『工作』这个辞已经给人大为滥用了。许多基督徒只关心工作，却不在意基督。但是保罗能说『工作的果子』。保罗用『果子』指明他的工作实际上就是他的生活。当保罗写信给腓立比人时，他正在监狱里，并没有作工。这指明他的生活就是他的工作。从这种活的工作里会结出果子来。这工作的果子就是基督活出来，得著显大，并服事给别人。因此，保罗工作的果子就是基督传输到别人里面。因此，二十二节工作的果子，就是保罗在狱中生活的结果。保罗活的工作乃是将基督服事给人，并把他所显大的基督传输到别人里面。就保罗而言，死了就有益处，但活著却是要继续作这种活的、结果子的工作。他很难在两者之间作取舍。所以他说，『我就不知道该挑选甚么。』如果你必须有所选择，你会挑选甚么？是身体的死所得的益处，还是活的工作所产生的果子？我一定选择在肉身活著，好继续作活的工作，就是显大基督并把祂传输到别人里面。
10In verse 22 Paul goes on to say, “But if to live in the flesh, this to me is fruit from work, and what I shall choose I cannot tell.” To a great extent, the word work has been spoiled. Many Christians care only for a work; they do not care for Christ. But Paul could speak of “fruit from work.” Paul’su se of the word fruit indicates that his work was actually his living. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was living in prison; he was not working. This indicates that his living was his work. From such a living work, fruit would come forth. The fruit of this work was Christ lived out, magnified, and ministered to others. The fruit of Paul’s work was thus the transfusion of Christ into others. Therefore, the fruit of work in verse 22 is the issue, the result, of Paul’s living in prison. Paul’s living work was to minister Christ to others and to transfuse the Christ he magnified into them. As far as Paul was concerned, to die was to gain, but to live was to carry on such a living and fruitful work. It was difficult for him to choose between the two. This was the reason he said, “What I shall choose I cannot tell.” If you had to choose between the gain which comes from dying physically and the fruit which comes from a living work, what would be your choice? I would definitely prefer to live in the flesh in order to carry on the living work of magnifying Christ and transfusing Him into others.
保罗情愿与基督同在
PAUL’S DESIRE TO BE WITH CHRIST
11二十三节说，『我正困迫于两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在，因为那是好得无比的。』保罗写这些话时，正遭受著捆锁与苦待。在那种景况之下，我们料想他必定盼望与基督同在。凡在保罗那种处境里的信徒都会有同样的盼望。我们已经指出，与基督同在不是地点问题，乃是程度问题。毫无疑问，保罗在监狱中定规与基督同在。他已经与基督同在的事实指明，与基督同在不是地点问题。但是，虽然保罗与基督同在已经达到了某种程度，他还盼望在更高的程度上与祂同在。保罗知道身体死了的结果，会叫他与基督同在的程度超过在地上活著的时候。为这缘故，他情愿离世与基督同在，认为这是好得无比。
11Verse 23 says, “But I am constrained by the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it rather is much better.” When Paul wrote these words, he was in bonds suffering mistreatment. Under those circumstances, we would expect him to long to be with Christ. Any believer in Paul’s situation would have the same desire. We have indicated that to be with Christ is a matter of degree, not of place. No doubt, Paul was with Christ in prison. The fact that he was already with Christ indicates that being with Christ is not a matter of place. But although Paul was with Christ to a certain degree, he desired to be with Him in a higher degree. Paul knew that as a result of physical death he would be with Christ to a greater extent than in his earthly life. For this reason, he could desire to depart and to be with Christ, regarding this as much better
为众圣徒的进步和喜乐而留下
REMAINING FOR THE SAINTS’ PROGRESS AND JOY
12二十四节保罗接著说，『然而留在肉身，为你们更是需要的。』『为你们』意思是指为召会。使徒的考虑不是自私的，乃是为圣徒的缘故。他完全给主和召会所占有。保罗知道众召会需要更多基督的供应。为他们的缘故，他仍愿意留下，好把基督服事给他们。
12In verse 24 Paul continues, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” The words your sake mean for the sake of the church. The apostle’s consideration was not selfish, but was for the sake of the saints. He was absolutely occupied by the Lord with the church. Paul realized that the churches needed more of the ministry of Christ. For their sake, he would remain in order to minister Christ to them
13保罗是个满了基督的人。他说话，是说基督；他活著，是与基督同活；他工作，是与基督同工，并且把基督服事给众召会。为著召会的缘故，他愿意留在肉身，使他能彀把基督服事给圣徒。二十五节说，『我既然这样深信，就知道仍要留下，继续与你们众人同住，使你们得到信仰上的进步和喜乐。』这里的信仰，指圣徒所相信的；（犹，提后四7；）进步，指生命的长大；喜乐，指对基督的享受。保罗愿意留下，使圣徒得到信仰上的进步和喜乐。
13Paul was a person full of Christ. When he spoke, he spoke Christ. When he lived, he lived with Christ. When he worked, he worked with Christ and ministered Christ to the churches. For the sake of the church, he was willing to remain in the flesh that he might minister Christ to the saints. Verse 25 says, “And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of the faith.” The faith here refers to what the saints believe in (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 4:7); progress, to the growth in life; and joy, to the enjoyment of Christ. Paul 3 was willing to remain for the sake of the saints’ progress and joy of the faith.
14有人也许作了多年的基督徒却没有长进、没有喜乐；没有生命的长进，也没有对主的享受。我们需要在生命里长进，也需要对基督有享受。我认识一些圣徒，一直忠信的留在主的恢复里，但是他们没有多少生命的长进，对基督也没有多少享受。结果，他们既不长进又不喜乐。你如何？你的长进、你的喜乐如何？哦！我们需要长进，也需要享受！不论保罗在监狱里，或不在监狱里，他总是圣徒们长进与喜乐的有力因素。因著他，众召会能彀在生命里有长进，也能彀满了对基督的享受。今天我们也该这样。各地召会的长老，都应该是圣徒生命长进以及享受基督的有力因素。但长老们能不能成为长进与喜乐的因素，在于他们有没有藉著活基督来显大基督。如果长老们活基督，基督定规能在他们身上得著显大，那么长老们就会成为圣徒生命长进并享受主的因素。
14It is possible to be a Christian for years without having any progress or joy, without growing in life and without enjoying the Lord. We need both the growth in life and the enjoyment of Christ. I have known some saints who have been faithful to stay in the Lord’s recovery. But with them there have been little growth in life and little enjoyment of Christ. As a result, they have had little progress and little joy. How about you? What can you say about your progress and your joy? Oh, we need the progress and the enjoyment! Whether Paul was in prison or out of prison, he was a strong factor of the saints’ progress and joy. Because of him the churches could have the growth in life and could be filled with the enjoyment of Christ. This should also be true of us today. All the elders in the local churches should be factors of the saints’ growth in life and of their enjoyment of Christ. But whether or not the elders are such factors of progress and joy depends on whether or not they magnify Christ by living Him. If the elders live Christ, He will surely be magnified in them. Then the elders will become factors to enable the saints to grow in life and enjoy the Lord
在基督耶稣里在保罗身上夸口
BOASTING IN CHRIST IN PAUL
15腓立比一章二十六节保罗说，『好叫你们的夸耀，在基督耶稣里，因我再到你们那里去，就在我身上得以洋溢。』这节圣经不容易懂。夸耀是指甚么？这辞在原文有三重意义：夸口、荣耀并欢乐。我们夸口时，就有荣耀；而我们有荣耀时，我们就欢乐。这里保罗说圣徒『的夸耀…在基督耶稣里…在我身上得以洋溢』。把『在我身上』摆在『在基督耶稣里』之前可能更好，因为这样的排列更接近、更符合保罗的思想。这里保罗是说，信徒可以在保罗身上在基督里夸口、有荣耀并欢乐。他们在保罗身上夸口，定规就是在基督里夸口。在基督里夸口相当容易，但是在某人身上在基督里夸口，就不那么容易。然而，这到底是甚么意思？钦定英文译本说，『在耶稣基督里为我欢乐。』这样的繙译可能很合逻辑，但是照希腊原文来看却不彀准确。希腊文里并没有说『为我』，而是清楚的说『在我身上』。保罗并不是说腓立比人为他或因著他而在基督里夸口；他乃是说，他们在基督里在他身上夸口。
15In verse 2 6 Paul says, “That your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again with you.” This verse is not easy to understand. What does boasting refer to? The Greek word has a threefold meaning: “boasting,” “re joicing,” and “glorying.” When we boast, we are glorying, and when we are glorying, we are rejoicing. Here Paul says that the saints’ “boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me.” It may be better to place “in me” before “in Christ Jesus,” since this arrangement corresponds more closely to Paul’s thought. Here Paul is saying that the believers may boast, rejoice, glory in Paul in Christ. Their boasting in Paul must be in Christ. It is rather easy to boast in Christ, but it is not so easy to boast in someone in Christ. However, what does this mean? The King James Version says, “rejoicing... in Jesus Christ for me.” This rendering may be logical, but it is not accurate according to the Greek. The Greek does not say “for me”; it clearly says “in me.” Paul was not saying that the Philippians boasted in Christ for him or because of him. He was saying that they boasted in Christ in him.
16在这处难懂的经节里，有一个经历基督的深奥秘诀。如果我们经历基督，我们这些信徒定规能彀不只在基督自己里面夸口，也在某人身上、在基督里面夸口、有荣耀并欢乐。腓立比的圣徒必须在保罗身上、在基督里夸口。这样的夸口与一个非常要紧的事实有关─我们从基督所领受的，并不是直接在基督里领受的，而是从头经由身体上其他的肢体而得的。因此，我们是透过另一个肢体，从头领受属灵的福分。毫无疑问，保罗是身体上一个非常重要的肢体。身体若失去了他，就丧失了一个非常重要属灵福分的凭藉。我们的肉身说明肢体怎样能成为身体得供应的凭藉。譬如，手臂是手指得供应的凭藉。没有手臂作凭藉，手指就无法领受从头来的供应。保罗是基督身体上一个重要的肢体，是我们与头之间这样一个供应的凭藉。我们若没有他，就会失去一个重要供应的管道。我们没有人能直接在头里面夸口、得荣耀或欢乐。我们反倒需要藉著并在一个供应的管道里，在基督里夸口。二十六节保罗说，『好叫你们的夸耀，在基督耶稣里…在我身上得以洋溢。』『在我身上』包含『藉著我』的意思，但却不只是这个意思。保罗在监狱里的那段时间，外邦信徒，就如腓立比人，在保罗身上夸口。他们的夸口、荣耀、欢乐不在传扬犹太教的人身上，而是在使徒保罗身上。他们能在保罗身上夸口，因为他显大基督并活基督到了极点。因著保罗这样活基督并显大基督，他就能把基督传输到圣徒里面，并把基督服事给众召会。所以，圣徒们有理由在这样一位使徒身上夸口。如果保罗还未成熟就过去的话，他们在他身上的夸口就会被打断。但是只要保罗继续活著，他们就能在他身上在基督里夸口。因此，二十五至二十六节保罗说，他深信他仍要留下，继续与众圣徒同住，使他们得到信仰上的进步和喜乐，叫他们的夸耀，在基督耶稣里，因他再到他们那里去，就在他身上得以洋溢。
16In this difficult verse lies a deep secret concerning the experience of Christ. If we would experience Christ, we, the believers, must be able to boast, rejoice, and glory not only in Christ Himself, but also in someone in Christ. It was necessary for the saints in Philippi to boast in the apostle Paul in Christ. This boasting is related to the crucial fact that what we receive of Christ is not received directly in Christ, but is received from the Head through other members of the Body. Hence, we receive spiritual blessing from the Head through another member. No doubt, Paul was a very important member of the Body. If he had been lost to the Body, the Body would have been deprived of a very important means of spiritual blessing. Our physical body illustrates how members can be a means of supply to the Body. The arm, for example, is such a means of supply for the fingers. Apart from the arm as a means, the fingers cannot receive any supply from the head. As an important member of the Body of Christ, Paul was such a means of supply between us and the Head. If we did not have him, we would lack an important channel of supply. None of us can boast, rejoice, and glory directly in the Head. Rather, we need to boast in Christ in and through a certain channel of supply. In verse 2 6 Paul says, “That your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me.” The words in me include the meaning of “through me,” but are not limited to this meaning. During the time of Paul’sim prison ment, Gentile believers, like those in Philippi, were boasting in Paul. Their boasting, rejoicing, glorying was not in the Judaistic preachers; it was in the apostle Paul. They could boast in Paul because he magnified Christ and lived Christ to the uttermost. Because Paul lived Christ and magnified Him in this way, he could transfuse Christ into the saints and minister Christ to all the churches. There fore, the saints had reason to boast in such an apostle. If Paul had died prematurely, their boasting in him would have been cut short. But as long as Paul continued to live, they were able to boast in him in Christ. Hence, in verses 25 and 26 Paul said that he was confident that he would remain and continue with the saints for their progress and joy of the faith so that their boasting could abound in Christ Jesus in him through his presence with them again.
17享受基督的管道在这些经节里，我们看见一个非常要紧的点，就是在身体生活里，急切需要一些人成为供应的管道。我们需要像保罗这样的肢体。当这样的肢体过去了，说真的，基督的传输就中断了。但是，只要这些肢体与我们同住，传输就源源不绝，不至减弱，我们也能在他们身上在基督里夸口。所有在地方召会中带头的人都该是这样的管道，都该是这种供应的凭藉。我们或活或死，对召会都该非常要紧。我们活著对圣徒该是非常要紧的。然而是不是这么要紧，要看我们活基督、供应基督、并将基督灌输到别人里面的程度而定。原谅我这样说，在把基督灌输到召会里面这件事上，有些带头的人或活或死都没有多大的关系。然而有些人则不然，他们是继续与我们同住还是被主接去离开我们，与我们大有关系。我想到一个例子，我们非常亲爱的一位老弟兄，他的确是身体得供应的一个凭藉。我能从内心深处说，在召会生活中，他离开我们与主同在，对我们的确是损失。这位弟兄仍留下或离世与主同在对我们太有关系了。我们每一个人也应该是这样的人。我们或活或死，对召会应该是非常要紧的。但这全在于我们有否活基督、显大基督、供应基督、并从全人的深处把基督传输到圣徒里面。如果我们这样经历并享受基督，我们或留下或到主那里去与祂同在，对召会都关系重大。
17CHANNELS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF CHRIST In these verses we see the very crucial point that in the Body life there is the urgent need of certain ones to function as channels of supply. We need members like Paul. When such members die, the transfusion of Christ is in a very real sense interrupted. But as long as such ones are with us, the transfusion continues unabated, and we can boast in them in Christ. The leading ones in all the local churches should be such channels, such means of supply. It should matter to the church whether we live or die. Our living should matter greatly to the saints. But whether or not this is so depends on the degree to which we live Christ, minister Christ, and infuse others with Christ. I am sorry to say that, with respect to infusing Christ into the church, there are certain leading ones about whom it makes little difference whether they live or die. But with others their continuing with us or their being taken from us in death makes a great difference. I think of the example of a brother very dear to us, Eugene Gruhler, S r. He surely was a means of supply to the Body. From the depths of my heart, I can say that his going to be with the Lord was a loss to us in the church life. It made a difference to us whether this brother remained or went to be with the Lord. The same should be true of every one of us. It should matter to the church whether we live or die. But this depends on our living Christ, magnifying Christ, ministering Christ, and transfusing Christ from the depths of our being into that of the saints. If we experience Christ and enjoy Him in this way, it will make a difference to the church whether we remain or go to be with the Lord.
18我们已经看见，我们不能直接在元首基督里夸口，反而需要一些肢体尽管道的功用，藉著他们别人可以享受基督，并在生命里长大。我们迫切需要这种供应的凭藉。在各个国家里，即使只有一、两位，许多人就会得著基督的供应。因著保罗是这种肢体，他拣选留下，继续与圣徒同住，为使他们得到信仰上的进步和喜乐，好叫他们能在保罗身上在基督耶稣里夸口。圣徒们要经历基督，就需要有人作这样的管道。在一些国家里，人要经历基督却没有路，因为在那里没有一个人真正活基督、显大基督。结果那里的信徒就没有路享受基督。我们何等需要像保罗这样的人。当保罗活著的时候，许多人能彀经历基督，并且得到信仰上的进步和喜乐。
18We have seen that we cannot boast directly in Christ as the Head. Rather, there need to be some members to function as channels through which others may enjoy Christ and grow in life. There is an urgent need for such means of supply. Even if there are only one or two in a particular country, many others will receive the supply of Christ. Because Paul was this kind of member, he chose to remain and continue with the saints for their progress and their joy in the faith so that they could glory in him in Christ. If the saints are to experience Christ, there is the need for someone to serve as such a channel. In certain countries there is no way for people to experience Christ because there is not even one person in that country who truly lives Christ and magnifies Him. As a result, the believers there have no way to enjoy Christ. There is a great need for people like Paul. When Paul was alive, many could experience Christ and have the progress and joy in the faith.