歌罗西书生命读经 · 第12篇

补满基督患难的缺欠

FILLING UP WHAT IS LACKING OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST

1读经：歌罗西书1:24，彼得前书3:18，希伯来书9:26，以赛亚书53:3-5，7-8，约翰福音12:14，路加福音12:50，腓立比书3:10，启示

2录1:9，提摩太后书2:10，哥林多后书1:5-6。

2Scripture Reading: Col. 1:24; 1 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 9:26; Isa. 53:3-5, 7-8; John 12:24; Luke 12:50; Phil. 3:10; Rev. 1:9; 2 Tim. 2:10; 2 Cor. 1:5-6

3在歌罗西一章二十四节保罗说，『现在我因著为你们所受的苦难喜乐，并且为基督的身体，就是为召会，在我一面，在我肉身上补满基督患难的缺欠。』我初读这一节时，很诧异，也很困惑。我不知道基督的患难怎么会有缺欠。当时，我完全受宗教观念的影响，认为基督不可能有甚么缺欠。然而，在这一节保罗清楚的说，他要『补满基督患难的缺欠』。

3In 1:24 Paul says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and fill up that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church.” When I first read this verse, I was surprised and troubled. I wondered how there could be any lack in the sufferings of Christ. At the time, I was fully under the religious concept that it was impossible for Christ to have any lack. Nevertheless, in this verse Paul says clearly that he was to “fill up that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ

两种苦难

TWO KINDS OF SUFFERING

4基督的苦难岂不是已经完全了么？怎么还需要为著基督的身体，完成基督的患难？主耶稣经历了两种苦难：为著救赎的苦难，以及为著产生并建造身体（就是召会）的苦难。我们没有人能有分于祂救赎的苦难。说我们能有分于这种苦难，乃是亵渎。惟有祂是救赎主，救赎的苦难完全是祂所成就的。我们没有资格，也没有地位有分于主救赎的苦难。在豫表上，当赎罪日，惟独为百姓赎罪的大祭司，才得进入至圣所。大祭司是基督的豫像，说出基督是惟一能完成救赎，并彀资格完成救赎的一位。

4Are not the sufferings of Christ already complete? How can it be necessary for the afflictions of Christ on behalf of the Body to be completed? The Lord Jesus underwent two kinds of suffering: the suffering for redemption and the suffering for producing and building up the Body, the church. None of us can have any share in His suffering for redemption. To say that we can participate in this suffering is to speak blasphemy. He alone is the Redeemer, and the suffering for redemption was fully accomplished by Him. We are neither qualified nor positioned to share in the Lord’s suffering for redemption. In typology, on the day of atonement, only the high priest, who made atonement for the people, was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies. The high priest was a figure of Christ as the unique One capable of accomplishing redemption and qualified to do it

5有好些经节说到基督为著完成救赎而受苦。譬如彼前三章十八节说，『因基督也曾一次为罪受死，就是义的代替不义的，为要引你们到神面前。』那义者基督，为不义的人而死。祂是惟一有资格忍受这种苦难的人。希伯来九章二十六节，和以赛亚五十三章三至五节、七至八节也指明基督为我们完成救赎而受苦。在这苦难中，我们没有分。那是基督独自担当的。

5A number of verses speak of Christ’s sufferings for the accomplishment of redemption. For example, 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” Christ, the righteous One, died for the unrighteous ones. He was the only One qualified to bear this kind of affliction. Hebrews 9:26 and Isaiah 53:3-5, 7-8 also indicate that Christ suffered to accomplish redemption on our behalf. In this suffering we have no share. It was borne by Christ alone

6虽然我们不能有分于基督救赎的苦难，但我们若向祂忠信，就必须有分于祂产生并建造祂身体的苦难。在这件事上，保罗是我们的榜样。他悔改以后，就立即开始有分于基督的这个苦难，为著祂身体的缘故，有分于基督的患难。

6Although we cannot participate in Christ’s suffering for redemption, if we are faithful to Him, we must share in His suffering for the producing and building up of His Body. Paul was a pattern for us in this matter. Immediately after his conversion, he began to share in this suffering of Christ, to partake of the afflictions of Christ for the sake of His Body.

7这与基督一无所缺的观念相反。按照这种观念，凡基督的所是、所作，都是完全的。但这里有话告诉我们，与基督有关的，至少有一件事是有缺欠的，就是祂为著产生并建造祂身体所受的患难。为著产生祂的身体，基督受了许多苦难。但因著基督自己还没有完成这个苦难，就需要忠信的人来补满这个缺欠。保罗没有为救赎受苦，但他的确为著产生并建造基督的身体而受苦。使徒保罗是信徒跟随的榜样。（提前一16。）我们必须以保罗为榜样，不要以为他是高不可攀的人。因著主的怜悯，保罗被设立作我们的榜样；因此，他是甚么，我们也能是甚么。我们必须相信主的怜悯。倘若主的怜悯使保罗成为榜样，祂的怜悯就也能在我们身上成就祂在保罗身上所成就的事。这意思是说，保罗怎样为著产生并建造基督的身体受苦，我们也照样必须为召会受苦。当然，基督率先为著产生并建造祂的身体受苦，但使徒和信徒必须跟随祂的脚踪，忍受这种患难。在约翰十二章二十四节主耶稣说，『我实实在在的告诉你们，一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来。』这一节不是说到基督救赎的死，乃是说到祂结果子、生产的死。基督如一粒麦子落在地里死了，要为著召会结出许多子粒来。根据约翰十二章二十六节，凡要服事祂的人，就当在这事上跟从祂。

7This is contrary to the concept that nothing related to Christ can be lacking. According to this concept, whatever Christ is and does is complete. But here is a word telling us that at least one thing related to Christ is lacking—His afflictions for producing and building up His Body. For the producing of His Body, Christ suffered a great deal. But because this suffering has not been completed by Christ Himself, there is the need for His faithful ones to make up this shortage. Paul did not suffer for redemption, but he did suffer for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul was a pattern for the believers to follow (1 Tim. 1:16). We must consider Paul as a pattern, not as someone who was so high that no one else can be like he was. Because by the Lord’s mercy Paul was set up to be a pattern for us, whatever he was, we can be also. We must believe in the Lord’s mercy. If the mercy of the Lord made Paul a pattern, then His mercy can accomplish in us the same thing that it did in Paul. This means that just as Paul suffered for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ, so we must also suffer for the church. Christ, of course, took the lead to suffer for the producing and building up of His Body. But the apostles and believers must follow Christ’s footsteps in suffering this kind of affliction. In John 12:24 the Lord Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” This verse does not speak of Christ’s redeeming death, but of His producing, generating death. Christ fell into the ground and died as a grain of wheat in order to produce many grains for the church. According to John 12:26, those who desire to serve Him must follow Him in this regard

8在路加十二章五十节主耶稣说，『我有当受的浸，还没有成就，我是何等的困迫！』这节里的浸，是指基督在十字架上包罗万有的死，不仅是为著救赎的死，更是藉著释放神圣的生命，为著产生身体的死。主在马可十章三十八至三十九节，清楚的对祂的门徒说，祂所受的浸，他们也要受。

8In Luke 12:50 the Lord Jesus said, “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished!” The word baptism in this verse refers to Christ’sa ll-inclusive death on the cross, a death that was not only for redemption, but also for producing the Body through the release of the divine life. As the Lord’sword to His disciples in Mark 10:38 and 39 makes clear, they also were to share in the baptism with which He Himself was to be baptized.

9保罗在腓立比三章十节说到，认识同基督受苦的交通。这里所说基督的受苦，不是为著救赎，乃是为著建造身体。我们不能交通于基督救赎的苦难，但我们需要多多交通于基督为著召会的苦难。在耶稣的患难里一同有分

9In Philippians 3:1 0 Paul speaks of knowing the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. These sufferings are not for redemption, but for the building up of the Body. We cannot have fellowship in Christ’s sufferings for redemption, but we need to have much fellowship in Christ’s sufferings for the church. A JOINT PARTAKER OF TRIBULATION IN JESUS

10约翰在启示录一章九节说，他是『在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分的』。说我们是在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分的，指明我们正在受苦。当耶稣在世为人时，祂不断的受苦。根据祂一生的历史，祂的名字耶稣乃指祂是受苦之人，是忧患之子。（赛五三3。）因此，在耶稣的患难里一同有分，就是当我们跟随拿撒勒人耶稣时，要受苦并受逼迫。启示录是为著那些在耶稣里受患难的人。当我们等候主再来时，我们必须甘愿受苦。这苦难是为著基督的身体，就是召会。我们为召会的缘故，必须有分于耶稣的苦难。

10In Revelation 1:9 John says that he was a “joint partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus.” To say that we are joint partakers in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance in Jesus indicates that we are suffering. When Jesus lived on earth as a man, He suffered continually. According to the history of His life, His name Jesus denotes a suffering person, a man of sorrows (Isa. 53:3). Therefore, to be a joint partaker of tribulation in Jesus is to suffer and to be persecuted as we follow Jesus the Nazarene. The book of Revelation is for those who are suffering tribulation in Jesus. As we wait for the coming of the Lord, we must be willing to suffer. This suffering is for the Body, the church. We must participate in the sufferings of Jesus for the sake of the church

11耶稣在地上的时候，受犹太教的逼迫，犹太教是根据神的圣言所形成的宗教。约翰五章十六节说出，犹太人逼迫耶稣，是因为祂干犯了他们的安息日。宗教人士不能容忍人干犯他们的规条。任何违反他们宗教规条的，都会激起他们的逼迫。当耶稣干犯安息日时，犹太宗教徒就逼迫祂，甚至想要杀祂。最终，宗教成功的判处耶稣死刑。宗教怎样逼迫耶稣，也照样逼迫跟从耶稣的人。我们由使徒行传得知，会堂里的犹太人起来反对使徒。保罗受了许多这样的逼迫。启示录的著者约翰也经历过。约翰为『神的话，和耶稣基督的见证』，被放逐到拔摩海岛上。他在耶稣的受苦、患难里一同有分。

11When Jesus was on earth, He was persecuted by the Jewish religion, a religion formed according to God’s oracles. John 5:16 says that the Jews persecuted Jesus because He broke their Sabbath. Religious people cannot tolerate the breaking of their regulations. Any violation of their religious regulations will stir up persecution. When Jesus broke the Sabbath, the Jewish religionists persecuted Him and even sought to kill Him. Eventually, religion succeeded in sentencing Jesus to death. Just as religion persecuted Jesus, it also persecutes the followers of Jesus. We know from the book of Acts that the Jews in the synagogues stood up in opposition to the apostles. Paul suffered this kind of persecution very much. John, the writer of Revelation, also experienced it. John was exiled to the island of Patmos “for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” He became a joint partaker in the suffering, the affliction, in Jesus

12反对主耶稣的逼迫，不是起源于世俗的世界，乃是起源于宗教的世界。在使徒行传里我们看见，使徒受逼迫的光景也是一样。他们所遭受的反对，主要不是从外邦人来的，乃是从犹太宗教来的。照样，很多的殉道者也遭受宗教的逼迫。宗教总是逼迫真正跟从耶稣的人。现在轮到我们为著建造基督的身体，经历这种逼迫，这种苦难。我与倪弟兄同在中国的年间，我看见他受到宗教的许多逼迫。谣言、反对、定罪从宗教人士而来。魔鬼撒但诡诈的利用宗教，来反对并逼迫那些跟从主耶稣的人。因此，我们也必须像约翰在拔摩海岛上，在耶稣的患难里一同有分。这样，我们就为召会补满基督患难的缺欠。

12The persecution against the Lord Jesus originated not with the secular world, but with the religious world. In the book of Acts we see that the situation was the same regarding the persecution of the apostles. The opposition did not come mainly from the Gentiles, but from the Jewish religion. In like manner, a great many martyrs have suffered persecution at the hand of religion. Religion always persecutes the genuine followers of Jesus. Now it is our turn to undergo this persecution, this suffering for the building up of the Body of Christ. During the years I was with Brother Nee in China, I saw how much he was persecuted by religion. The rumors, opposition, and condemnation came from the religious people. In his subtlety, Satan, the Devil, uses religion to oppose and to persecute those who follow the Lord Jesus. Therefore, like John on the island of Patmos, we also must be joint partakers in the tribulation in Jesus. In this way we makeup what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ for the church.

为圣徒受苦

SUFFERING FOR THE SAINTS

13保罗在提后二章十节说，『所以我为选民凡事忍耐。』这一节进一步指明，保罗为选民，就是为神所拣选的人受苦。不仅如此，林后一章五至六节说，『因为基督的苦难怎样满溢到我们身上，照样我们所受的安慰，也藉著基督而洋溢。我们或是受患难，是为了你们受安慰，得拯救；或是受安慰，也是为了你们受安慰；这安慰叫你们能忍受我们所受的同样苦难。』这也是指明保罗为圣徒受了何等的苦难。

13In 2 Timothy 2:10 Paul says, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’ss ake.” This verse is a further indication that Paul suffered for the sake of the elect, God’s chosen people. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 1:5 and 6 say, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” This is another indication of how much Paul suffered for the saints

我们工作的目标

THE GOAL OF OUR WORK

14我们需要跟随早期的使徒，为召会补满基督患难的缺欠。我们也需要为著建造召会，一同交通于基督的苦难。我们基督徒工作的目标，必须是建造召会。然而，我们若只关心传福音或教导圣经这类的活动，也许会受到欢迎和欣赏。但我们传扬、教导的目标若是建造召会，就会受到宗教人士的反对。

14We need to follow the early apostles in making up the lack of Christ’s afflictions for the church. We also need to share in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings for the building up of the church. The goal of our Christian work must be the building up of the church. However, if we care only for such activities as preaching the gospel or teaching the Bible, we may be welcomed and appreciated. But if the goal of our preaching and teaching is the building up of the church, we shall be opposed by the religious ones

15我们传福音的目标是甚么？不是仅仅要拯救罪人免下地狱，乃是要得著材料，为著建造基督的身体。我在宗教里的时候，听过许多鼓励我们传福音的信息，总是要我们思想神对可怜罪人的爱与怜悯，并且告诉我们要对他们有同样的感觉。有时候传道人会说，『千万人天天往地狱里去，你还无动于衷么？』有些人会因此受感动，含泪答应呼召，成为传福音的人。『得著灵魂』的说法，在今天的基督教里非常普遍。但得著灵魂的目的何在？你曾听过得著灵魂是为著身体的建造么？然而，保罗传福音的目标乃是建造身体。这就是他所以遭逼迫并受苦的原因。

15What is our goal in preaching the gospel? It is not simply to save sinners from hell. It is to obtain material for the building up of the Body of Christ. When I was in religion, I heard many messages encouraging us to preach the gospel. We were always asked to consider God’s love and sympathy for pitiful sinners, and we were told to have the same feeling to ward them. Sometimes preachers would say, “Thousands are going to hell every day. Is your heart untouched by this?” Some would be inspired by this preaching and with tears respond to the altar call to become ministers of the gospel. The term “soul winning” is very common in today’s Christianity. But what is the purpose of soul winning? Have you ever heard that soul winning is for Body building? Nevertheless, Paul’s goal in preaching the gospel was the building up of the Body. This is why he was persecuted and why he suffered.

16当然，耶稣在地上的时候，犹太人是神的子民。他们岂不是天天向神献祭么？他们岂不是有按著神的启示和训言所建造的圣殿么？这些他们都有。但有一天耶稣来了。祂不像犹太的宗教家那样关心圣殿。当祂的门徒称赞殿宇时，祂说，『将来在这里，绝没有一块石头留在石头上，不被拆毁的。』（太二四2。）谁敢这样说？如果你在那里说了这些话，犹太人也许会杀死你。这就是他们逼迫主耶稣的原因。在使徒行传里，我们看见在犹太会堂里的人，控告使徒保罗是『瘟疫』。（二四5。）无论保罗到那里去，他总是制造麻烦。因此，他被宗教人士，被所谓神的子民所反对。

16Surely the Jews were the people of God during the time of the Lord Jesus on earth. Did they not daily offer up sacrifices to God? Did they not have the temple which was built according to God’sr evelation and instruction? The answer to these questions is yes. But one day Jesus came. He did not care for the temple in the way the Jewish religionists did. When His disciples were admiring the buildings of the temple, He said, “A stone shall by no means be left upon a stone which shall not be thrown down” (Matt. 24:2). Who could have dared to say this? If you had been there and had spoken these words, the Jews would have killed you. This was the reason they persecuted the Lord Jesus. In the book of Acts we see that those in the Jewish synagogues accused the Apostle Paul of being a “pestilent fellow” (Acts 24:5). Wherever Paul went, he caused trouble. Therefore, he was opposed by the religious people, by the so-called people of God

17今天也是这样。倘若我们传福音，只为得著灵魂，并拯救人不下地狱，也许就不会受许多苦。事实上，我们会发现自己广受欢迎。然而，我们若以建造基督的身体为传福音的目标，我们就必须豫备好受苦，甚至遭受反对和逼迫。宗教不赞同基督身体的建造。有些基督徒甚至撒谎，把我们与邪教和邪恶、亵渎运动里的人并列。保罗在林后六章八节说，恶名和美名他都经历过了。你事奉主，别人若是只给你美名，我就怀疑你是否向主忠信。你若向主忠信，今天的宗教就会批评你，并且散布你的恶名。

17It is the same today. If we preach the gospel only for the sake of soul winning and rescuing people from hell, we probably shall not suffer very much. In fact, we may find ourselves welcomed in many places. However, if we take the building of the Body as the goal of gospel preaching, we must be prepared to suffer, even to be opposed and persecuted. Religion does not agree with the building up of the Body. Some Christians have even lied about us, classifying us with those in cults and evil, blasphemous movements. In 2 Corinthians 6:8 Paul said that he had experienced both evil report and good report. If, as you serve the Lord, others give only good reports concerning you, I would question your faithfulness to the Lord. If you are faithful to the Lord, today’s religion will criticize you and spread evil reports about you

18表面看来，宗教是为著神的；事实上，牠乃是反对神的经纶。没有甚么比宗教更狡猾、更损害神的经纶。得著灵魂并不影响宗教，反倒大大的帮助宗教。但每当你谈到基督身体的建造时，宗教就受到威胁。想一想保罗还是大数的扫罗时所作的；他在宗教里是领头的，并且尽可能作一切的事从那个宗教得著益处。然而他在往大马色的路上，被主抓住了。他悔改以后，凡他所作的，总是拆毁宗教。保罗很大胆，主耶稣废掉了安息日，保罗甚至废掉了犹太教更重要的东西─割礼。犹太人定罪保罗，因他教导人废止行割礼。如果保罗只关心得著灵魂，他就不会得罪人了。保罗没有说，『我必须使所有的门敞开。因此，我不该摸割礼，我不可说甚么与犹太宗教相反的事情。为了得著灵魂的缘故，我必须与宗教人士维持良好的关系。』若是保罗只关心拯救灵魂，他可能会这样作。但因著他是为著基督身体的建造，他就不能这么作。为著产生并建造基督的身体，保罗有分于基督的苦难。

18Apparently, religion is for God; actually, it is against God’secon o my. Nothing is more subtle and damaging to God’secon o my than religion. Winning souls does not affect religion; rather, it helps it a great deal. But whenever you talk about the building up of the Body, religion is threatened. Consider what Paul did when he was Saul of Tarsus. He was a leader in his religion, and he did everything possible to derive benefit from that religion. However, on the way to Damascus, he was caught by the Lord. After his conversion, whatever he did amounted to a tearing down of religion. Paul was bold. The Lord Jesus annulled the Sabbath day, but Paul annulled something even more important to Judaism—Paul annulled circumcision. The Jews condemned Paul for teaching others to discontinue the practice of circumcision. If Paul had been concerned only with soul winning, he would not have offended people. Paul did not say, “I must keep all the doors open. Therefore, I shouldn’ts ay a word about circumcision. I must not say anything contrary to the Jewish religion. For the sake of soul winning, I must maintain a good relationship with the religious people.” If Paul’s concern was merely the saving of souls, this could have been his practice. But since he was for the building up of the Body, there was no way for him to do this. For the sake of the producing and building up of the Body of Christ, Paul shared in the sufferings of Christ

19常有人对我说，除了论到召会以外，他们很欣赏我的职事。有些人甚至请求我不要说到召会。一九六四年在德州就发生过这样的事。我应邀到达拉斯对一个基督徒团体讲道；有一天晚上散会后，主人对我说，『李弟兄，我们很欣赏你的职事。然而，我们盼望说清楚，这些听众无法接受任何关乎召会的话。在你的信息里，请不要说到甚么与召会有关的事。』我回答说，『我越供应基督作生命，圣徒就越渴慕召会；你们要有这样的体会，这是很重要的。』在末了一次聚会中，主带领我从罗马十二章说到基督的身体。我知道我若不讲召会，就是对主不忠信，对听众不诚实。虽然我知道主人和其他的人会被得罪，我却讲了很强的话，论到召会的生活。主人对我的讲论很不高兴，甚至在我们次日清晨离开时，没有起来给我们送行。虽然如此，有位弟兄却因那篇关于召会的信息大得帮助，结果得著鼓励转到主恢复的路上。我们需要为基督的身体，就是为召会，补满基督患难的缺欠。我能作见证，我遭受攻击和反对，只因我是为著召会生活的恢复。你若定意为著召会，就要豫备好遭受攻击、误会和中伤。别人会说你许多的坏话，原因在于召会激动黑暗的权势。因此，那些为著召会的人必须豫备好遭受仇敌

19Often people have told me that they appreciated my ministry with the exception of my ministry concerning the church. Some have even pleaded with me not to speak of the church. One instance of this took place in Texas in 1964. I had been invited to Dallas to speak to a certain group of Christians. One evening after the meeting, my host said to me, “Brother Lee, we appreciate your ministry. However, we wish to make it clear that this audience cannot accept any word about the church. In your messages, please don’ts ay anything about the church.” I replied, “It is important for you to realize that the more I minister on Christ as life, the more the saints will hunger for the church.” During the last meeting, I had the Lord’s leading to speak on the Body from Romans 12. I knew that if I did not speak regarding the church, I would not be faithful to the Lord or honest to the audience. Although I knew my host and others would be offended, I proceeded to speak a strong word about the church life. Unhappy with my speaking, my host did not even rise up to see us off when we departed early the next morning. Nevertheless, one brother was greatly helped by that message on the church and, as a result, was encouraged to turn to the way of the Lord’s recovery. For the sake of the Body of Christ, the church, we need to fill up what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ. I can testify that I have been attacked and opposed simply because of my stand for the recovery of the church life. If you choose to stand for the church, be prepared for attack, misunderstanding, and rumors. Many evil things will be spoken concerning you. The reason for this is that the matter of the church stirs up the authority of darkness. Therefore, those who stand for the church