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歌罗西书生命读经 · 第3篇

使徒的祷告

THE APOSTLE’S PRAYER
1-歌罗西书的主题乃是包罗万有的基督。保罗在引言（一1～8）中指明，基督是我们的盼望、实际和恩典。在他的祷告与感谢（9～14）中，他更进一步指明，基督是那包罗万有的一位。让我们先来看保罗的祷告，（9～11，）再来看他的感谢。（12～14。）
1The subject of the book of Colossians is the all- inclusive Christ. In his introductory word (1:1-8) Paul indicates that Christ is our hope, reality, and grace. In his prayer and thanksgiving (1:9-14) he gives further indications that Christ is the all-inclusive One. Let us first consider Paul’spray er (vv. 9-11) and then his thanksgiving (vv. 12-14
2壹使徒为圣徒祷告，要他们充分认识神的旨意
2I. The Apostle’sPray er for The Saints to Be Filled with the Full Knowledge of God’s Will
3九节说，『所以，我们自从听见的日子，也就为你们不住的祷告祈求，愿你们在一切属灵的智慧和悟性上，充分认识神的旨意。』这里神的旨意是指神永远定旨的意愿，神关于基督之经纶的意愿，（弗一5，9，11，）并不是指神在小事上的旨意。一关于包罗万有的基督作我们的分多年前，当青年圣徒问到婚姻或职业这类的事情时，我就向他们题到这一节。我对他们说，他们应当寻求属灵的知识，好认识神的旨意。但这里神的旨意，并不重在婚姻、职业、或房子这类的事上；神的旨意乃是关于包罗万有的基督作我们的分。神在我们身上的旨意，乃是要我们认识包罗万有的基督，经历祂，并以祂作我们的生命而活祂。这样认识基督，才是充分认识神的旨意。
3Verse 9 says, “Therefore we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease praying and asking on your behalf, that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” God’s will here refers to the will of His eternal purpose, of His economy concerning Christ (Eph. 1:5, 9, 11), not His will in minor things. A. Concerning the All-inclusive Christ as Our Portion Years ago, when young saints asked about things such as marriage or employment, I referred them to this verse in Colossians. I told them that they should seek spiritual knowledge in order to know God’s will. But the will of God here is not focused on things such as marriage, jobs, or housing; it is concerned with the all-inclusive Christ as our portion. The will of God for us is that we know the all-inclusive Christ, experience Him, and live Him as our life. To know Christ in this way is to have the full knowledge of God’s will
二 在一切属灵的智慧上
B. In All Spiritual Wisdom
4要认识并经历这位包罗万有的基督，需要一切属灵的智慧和悟性。『一切』和『属灵的』这两个辞是形容智慧和悟性。属灵的智慧和悟性是属于我们灵里神的灵，这与仅仅在人黑暗心思里智慧派的哲学相对。智慧是在我们的灵里，以察知神永远的旨意；属灵的悟性是在我们由那灵更新的心思里，以明白并繙译我们在灵里所察知的。智慧是我们灵里的直觉，悟性则是我们心思里的领悟。我们透过灵里的直觉，感觉到有关基督的事。同时，我们需要心思来繙译灵里所感觉到的，为要有所明白。这样，我们就有话语说出我们所感受和明白的。这需要我们运用一切属灵的智慧和悟性。
4To know and experience the all-inclusive Christ requires all spiritual wisdom and understanding. The words “all” and “spiritual” modify both wisdom and understanding. Spiritual wisdom and understanding are of the Spirit of God in our spirit in contrast to Gnostic philosophy, which is merely in the darkened human mind. Wisdom is in our spirit to perceive God’s eternal will; spiritual understanding is in our mind, renewed by the Spirit, to understand and interpret what we perceive in our spirit. Wisdom is the intuition in our spirit, whereas understanding is the realization in our mind. Through the intuition in our spirit, we sense something concerning Christ. Along with this, we need our mind to interpret what we sense in our spirit in order to have understanding. Then we shall have the utterance to speak forth what we sense and understand. This requires the exercise of all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
5神的旨意是深奥的，与我们认识、经历、并活这位包罗万有的基督息息相关。保罗在九节的祷告，不是叫歌罗西的圣徒知道与谁结婚，住在那里，或是该有怎样的职业。他的心不是被这些琐事占据。在这一节里，神的旨意是指基督说的。神的旨意不是要歌罗西的圣徒去遵守犹太教的礼仪、外邦人的规条、或人的哲学。不仅如此，神的旨意也不是要他们实行禁欲主义，苦待己身，为要克制肉体的放纵。神对歌罗西人的旨意乃是认识基督、经历基督、享受基督、活基督，并使基督成为他们的生命和人位。神今天对我们的旨意也完全一样。保罗似乎是说，『歌罗西人哪！你们已被智慧派、神秘主义、禁欲主义、礼仪、规条所打岔、误引、并骗取了。你们需要充分认识神的旨意。神的旨意乃是包罗万有的基督作你们的分。』我们若认识神的旨意乃是叫我们被基督浸透，我们对神的旨意就有正确的认识。我们无论作甚么，都该行在神的旨意中。我们应当在基督里结婚，在基督里工作，在基督里行动。基督该是我们的生命，我们的人位。这就是神的旨意。
5The will of God is profound in relation to our knowing, experiencing, and living the all-inclusive Christ. In verse 9 Paul was not praying that the Colossians would know whom to marry, where to live, or what kind of job they should have. His heart was not occupied with such trivial things. In this verse God’s will refers to Christ. It was not God’s will for the Colossians to follow Judaistic observances, Gentile ordinances, or human philosophies. Furthermore, it was not God’s will for them to practice asceticism, to treat the body severely in order to bridle the indulgence of the flesh. God’s will for the Colossians was to know Christ, to experience Christ, to enjoy Christ, to live Christ, and to have Christ become their life and their person. God’s will for us today is exactly the same. It seems as if Paul was saying, “Colossians, you have been distracted, misled, and defrauded by Gnosticism, mysticism, asceticism, observances, and ordinances. You need to be filled with the full knowledge of God’s will. God’s will is that the all-inclusive Christ be your portion.” If we know that God’s will is for us to be saturated with Christ, then we have the proper knowledge of God’s will. Whatever we do should be done in the will of God. We should marry in Christ, work in Christ, and move in Christ. Christ should be our life and our person. This is the will of God
三 行事为人配得过主
C. To Walk Worthily of the Lord
6保罗在十节说，『行事为人配得过主，以致凡事蒙祂喜悦，在一切善工上结果子，藉著认识神而长大。』行事为人配得过主，乃是充分认识神旨意的结果。我们若认识神的旨意是要我们被基督浸透，接受基督作我们的生命和人位，并且活基督，自然而然的，我们的行事为人就配得过主。有些人以为行事为人配得过主就是要谦卑、和蔼、慷慨。但配得过主的行事为人，乃是活基督的行事为人。我们可能谦卑、和蔼、慷慨，却没有凭基督活著。惟有活出基督，我们的行事为人才配得过主。基督是神的旨意，基督也该是我们的行事为人。
6In verse 10 Paul says, “To walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work and growing by the full knowledge of God.” Walking worthily of the Lord results from the full knowledge of God’s will. If we know that God’s will is for us to be saturated with Christ, to take Christ as our life and our person, and to live Christ, spontaneously our walk will be worthy of the Lord. Some think that to walk worthily of the Lord is to be humble, nice, and generous. However, a worthy walk is a walk in which we live Christ. We can be humble, nice and generous without living by Christ. Only by living out Christ can we walk worthily of the Lord. Christ is the will of God, and He should also be our walk
1 凡事蒙祂喜悦
1. Unto All Pleasing
7行事为人配得过主乃是『凡事蒙祂喜悦』，就是在各方面蒙主喜悦。父神喜悦子。（太三17，十七5。）保罗在加拉太一章十五至十六节说，神乐意将祂的儿子基督启示在他里面。没有一件事比我们活基督更蒙父神喜悦。离了基督，没有一件事可以使父喜悦。我们真正喜乐的时候，乃是我们活基督的时候。我们若在天然里谦卑、温柔，我们就不会喜乐。但我们若以基督作生命和人位，并活出基督，我们就是世上最喜乐的人。活基督不只使父喜悦，也使我们喜乐。最喜乐的事莫过于活基督、享受基督、并经历基督。
7A walk worthy of the Lord is “unto all pleasing”; it is pleasing to the Lord in all ways. God the Father is pleased with the Son (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). In Galatians 1:15 and 16 Paul says that it pleased God to reveal Christ, the Son, in him. Nothing is more pleasing to God the Father than for us to live Christ. Apart from Christ, nothing can please the Father. The only time we are fully happy is when we are living Christ. If we are humble or kind in a natural way, we are not happy. But if we take Christ as our life and our person and live Him out, we shall be the happiest people on earth. To live Christ is pleasing not only to the Father, but also to us. The most pleasant thing is to live Christ, to enjoy Christ, and to experience Christ.
2 在一切善工上结果子
2. Bearing Fruit unto Every Good Work
8我们行事为人若配得过主，就必在一切善工上结果子。不要照著天然的观念领会这件事。在这里结果子是指在各方面活基督、长基督、彰显基督并繁殖基督。这是基督徒一切善工的真正素质。这就是保罗心目中的善工。
8If we walk worthily of the Lord, we shall bear fruit unto every good work. Do not understand this according to the natural concept. Bearing fruit here refers to living Christ, growing Christ, expressing Christ, and producing Christ in every respect. This is the good work Paul has in mind
3 藉著认识神而长大
3. Growing by the Full Knowledge of God
9这样的善工与『藉著认识神而长大』有关。这种认识不是在心思里字句的认识，乃是在灵里对神活的认识，藉此我们在生命里长大。我们需要这样的认识，以活基督、长基督、并繁殖基督。
9This kind of work is related to “growing by the full knowledge of God.” This knowledge is not the knowledge in letters in the mind, but the living knowledge of God in spirit, by means of which we grow in life. We need such a knowledge in order to live, grow, and produce Christ
10基督不仅是神的旨意，是我们的行事为人，祂也是一切的善工，甚至是对神的认识。我们再一次看见，基督乃是包罗万有的。我们越进入歌罗西书，就越看见基督就是盼望、真实、恩典、神的旨意、和我们的一切。
10Christ is not only the will of God and our walk, but He is also every good work and even the full knowledge of God. Once again we see that Christ is all-inclusive. The more we get into the book of Colossians, the more we see that Christ is hope, truth, grace, the will of God, and everything to us
4 在各样的力上加力
4. Empowered with All Power
11保罗在十一节接著说，『照祂荣耀的权能，得以在各样的力上加力，使你们凡事欢欢喜喜的忍耐宽容。』这力量不仅指基督复活的大能，（腓三10，）也指基督自己是那大能，在凡事上加力于我们。（四13。）在我们里面，我们有基督如同发电机，不断的『照祂荣耀的权能』，加力给我们。这就是彰显神之荣耀的权能，也就是在神的权能里荣耀祂。我们乃是因著这权能，得以力上加力。
11In verse 1 1 Paul goes on to say, “Empowered with all power, according to the might of His glory, unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy.” This power is not only the power of Christ’s resurrection (Phil. 3:10), but Christ Himself. Within us we have Christ as a dynamo that continually empowers us “according to the might of His glory.” This is the might that expresses God’s glory; it glorifies God in His might. With this might we are empowered.
12我们靠著基督，得以力上加力，以致『凡事欢欢喜喜的忍耐宽容』。因著这一个奇妙的能力，即使在苦难中，我们也能欢喜。靠著这能力，我们不论遭遇甚么，都能欢欢喜喜的接受。我们有理由欢喜，因为有复活的基督在我们里面作大能。我们若在苦难中保持喜乐，就不会很快衰老，反而看起来会比我们的岁数还年轻。使徒保罗并没有祷告要歌罗西人有最好的丈夫或妻子，有最好的房子和最好的职业。不仅如此，他也没有祷告要歌罗西人免去苦难。相反的，他祷告要他们得以力上加力，而凡事欢欢喜喜的忍耐宽容；也就是说，他祷告要他们能有度量，能长久欢欢喜喜的受苦。在喜乐中长久受苦，就是在基督里忍受苦难。受苦可以实际的帮助我们加增对基督的享受。基督乃是喜乐、忍耐、宽容。因此，保罗的祷告完全是为了经历基督的祷告。
12By Christ we are empowered “unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy.” Because of this marvelous power, we can be joyful even in sufferings. By means of this power we can take with joy whatever may happen to us. We have reason to be joyful because we have the resurrected Christ as the power within us. If we are joyful during times of affliction, we shall not age so quickly. Instead, we shall look younger than our years. The Apostle Paul did not pray that the Colossians would have the best husbands or wives, the best houses, and the best jobs. Furthermore, he did not pray that the Colossians would be kept from suffering. To the contrary, he prayed that they would be empowered to all endurance and longsuffering with joy; that is, he prayed that they would have the capacity to suffer long with joy. To suffer long in joy is to endure suffering in Christ. Suffering may actually help us to have an increased enjoyment of Christ. Christ is the joy, the endurance, and the longsuffering. Therefore, Paul’spray er is altogether a prayer for the experience of Christ.
贰 使徒的感谢
II. THE APOSTLE’S THANKSGIVING
一 向父
A. To the Father
13在一章十二至十四节，我们来到保罗的感谢。保罗在他的祷告中，感谢那是一切祝福之起始与源头的父。保罗藉著感谢父，将我们带进他的主题─包罗万有的基督。
13In 1:12-14 we come to Paul’s thanksgiving. In his prayer Paul gave thanks to the Father, who is the origin and source of all blessing. By his thanks to the Father, he brings us to his subject—the all- inclusive Christ
二 为著叫我们彀资格在光中同得所分给众圣徒的分
B. For Qualifying Us to Share the Portion of the Saints in the Light
14保罗和今天许多的基督徒不同，他没有为著得医治、健康、房子、家庭生活、或职业感谢父。他感谢父，叫我们彀资格『在光中同得所分给众圣徒的分』。歌罗西书是论到基督，就是身体的头。因此，这里所说众圣徒的分，乃是包罗万有的基督作他们的享受。父不是叫我们彀资格承受天堂华厦，乃是叫我们彀资格有分于基督作众圣徒包罗万有的分。我们能大胆的宣告，基督是我们包罗万有的分。这节译作『分』的希腊字，原文指业分，相当于指分配美地的希伯来字。以色列人进入迦南地之后，每一支派都得了美地的一分。当然，今天我们的分、我们的业分，并不是巴勒斯坦那块物质的土地，乃是包罗万有的基督。我们何等需要感谢父，把基督赐给我们作为神圣的业分！
14In contrast to many Christians today, Paul did not give thanks for things such as healing, health, housing, family life, or a job. Rather, he gave thanks to the Father for qualifying us “for a share of the portion of the saints in the light.” The book of Colossians concerns Christ, the Head of the Body. Hence, the portion of the saints here is the all-inclusive Christ for their enjoyment. The Father has qualified us not to inherit some heavenly mansion, but to have a share in Christ as the all-inclusive portion of the saints. We can boldly declare that Christ is our all- inclusive portion. The Greek word rendered portion in this verse cor - responds to the Hebrew word used for the allotment of the good land. After the children of Israel had entered in to the land of Canaan, each of the tribes was given an allotment of the land. Of course, our portion, our allotment, today is not a physical land in Palestine; it is the all-inclusive Christ. How we must thank the Father for giving us Christ as our divine allotment!
15每一支派都分得美地的一分，每一支派中的成员都得著所分得之分的一分。同样的原则，我们也分得众圣徒的分。这就是说，我们在基督里都有一分。保罗在十二节指出，我们所分得众圣徒的分乃是在光中。这里的光，与下节的黑暗相对。当我们在撒但的权下，我们就是在黑暗里。但现今我们是在神爱子的国里，在光中享受祂。
15Each of the tribes had an allotment of the good land, and the members of each tribe had a share of this allotment. In the same principle, we have a share of the portion of the saints. This means that we all have a share in Christ. In verse 12 Paul points out that our share of the portion of the saints is in the light. Light here is in contrast to darkness in the following verse. When we were under Satan’s authority, we were in darkness. But now we are in the kingdom of Christ, enjoying Him in light
三 为要拯救我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁入祂爱子的国里
C. For Delivering Us out of the Authority of Darkness and Transferring Us into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love
16十三节乃是说明并解释父如何叫我们彀资格同得所分给众圣徒的分。这节说，父『拯救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁入祂爱子的国里』。为著基督作身体的头，并为著我们信徒作祂身体的肢体，神需要拯救我们脱离黑暗的权势，就是撒但的国，（太十二26下，）把我们迁入基督的国，就是神爱子的国里。这使我们彀资格分享那包罗万有的基督，作我们的分。如果我们仍在黑暗的权势之下，我们就不彀资格有分于基督。但父已经拯救我们脱离黑暗的权势。赞美祂，我们不再在撒但的国里！从黑暗的权势之下蒙拯救，乃是彀资格有分于基督的第一步。
16Verse 13 is the explanation and definition of how the Father has qualified us for a share of the portion of the saints. This verse says that the Father “delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” For Christ to be the Head of the Body, and for us, His believers, to be the members of His Body, He needed to deliver us out of the authority of darkness, the kingdom of Satan (Matt. 12:26), and transfer us into the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God’s Beloved. This is to qualify us to partake of Christ as our portion. If we were still under the authority of darkness, we would not be qualified to share in Christ. But the Father has delivered us out of the authority of darkness. Praise Him that we are no longer in the satanic kingdom! Being delivered from the authority of darkness was the first step to be qualified to have a share in Christ
17第二步是迁入神爱子的国里。我们经历了拯救和迁移的过程。因著撒但是黑暗，神的爱子基督是光，所以撒但的国是黑暗的权势，神儿子的国却是光的国。我们蒙拯救脱离撒但的国，迁入基督的国里，就彀资格同得所分给众圣徒的分。四为著救赎，就是罪得赦免保罗在十四节继续说，『我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，就是罪得赦免。』十三节的拯救是藉著败坏撒但邪恶的能力，对付他在我们身上的权势；这节的救赎是藉著满足神公义的要求，对付我们的罪。罪得赦免，是我们在基督里所得的救赎。基督的死已经成功救赎，叫我们的罪得赦免。
17The second step was to be transferred into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. We have undergone both a deliverance and a transfer. Because Satan is darkness and Christ, the Son of God, is light, therefore Satan’skin gdom is the authority of darkness, whereas the kingdom of the Son of God is the kingdom of light. By being delivered out of Satan’skin gdom and transferred into Christ’skin gdom we have been qualified for a share of the portion of the saints. D. For the Redemption, the Forgiveness of Sins In verse 14 Paul continues, “In Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The deliverance in verse 13 deals with Satan’s authority over us by destroying his evil power, whereas the redemption in this verse deals with our sins by fulfilling God’s righteous requirement. The forgiveness of sins is the redemption which we have in Christ. Christ’s death has accomplished redemption unto the forgiveness of our sins
18我们在神的爱子基督里，得蒙救赎和赦罪。当我们相信基督作我们的救赎主，神立即拯救我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁入光的国里。在光中我们彀资格同得所分给众圣徒的分。这意思是说，我们彀资格享受基督。这资格是一个已经成就的事实，所以我们无须为此祷告；相反的，我们只要和保罗一同为此感谢父。然而，我们需要祷告，以认识神的旨意，并且行事为人配得过主，以致凡事蒙祂喜悦。现今我们既然是在神爱子的国里，在光中享受祂，我们就必须往前，充分的认识祂，并且行事为人配得过祂。歌罗西书的主题乃是包罗万有的基督，就是那位对我们是一切的基督。一天过一天，我们可以享受祂作我们的分。
18In Christ, the Son of God’s love, we have redemption and forgiveness. When we believed in Christ as our Redeemer, God immediately delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of light. Here in the light we are qualified for a share of the portion of the saints. This means we are qualified to enjoy Christ. Because this qualification is an accomplished fact, there is no need for us to pray about it. On the contrary, with Paul we should simply thank the Father for this. However, there is the need for us to pray concerning knowing the will of God and walking worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing. Now that we are in the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, enjoying Him in the light, we must go on to know Him in full and to walk worthily of Him. The subject of Colossians is the all-inclusive Christ, the Christ who is everything to us. Day by day we may enjoy Him as our portion