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帖撒罗尼迦前书生命读经 · 第5篇

三一神具体化于话里，以产生为著召会生活的圣别生活（一）

The Triune God Embodied in the Word to Produce a Holy Life for The Church Life (1)
1读经：帖撒罗尼迦前书一章一至十节。帖撒罗尼迦前后书论到召会生活，这种说法是准确的、正确的。虽然在这两封书信里找不到『召会生活』一辞，但这两卷书的开头都著重的说到召会。帖撒罗尼迦前书一开头就说，『保罗、西拉和提摩太，写信给在父神和主耶稣基督里，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会。』帖撒罗尼迦后书几乎以同样的话开头。惟一不同的是帖前一章一2节说『父』，而帖后一章一节说『我2们的父』。帖撒罗尼迦前后书，都是写给召会的。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Thes. 1:1-10 It is accurate and correct to say that the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians are on the church life. Although the expression “the church life” cannot be found in these Epistles, the church is mentioned emphatically at the beginning of each book. First Thessalonians opens with these words: “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Second Thessalonians opens in almost exactly the same way. The only difference is that 1 Thessalonians 1:1 says “the Father” and Thessalonians 1:1 says “our Father.” Both 1 and Thessalonians were addressed to the church.
帖撒罗尼迦人的召会
the church of the Thessalonians
2保罗写了十四封书信，每一封书信都以独特的方式开头，并且都配合那一封书信的内容。譬如，罗马一章一节说，『基督耶稣的奴仆保罗，蒙召的使徒，被分别出来归于神福音的。』哥林多前书开头的话又稍有不同：『凭神旨意，蒙召作基督耶稣使徒的保罗。』（一1。）相对而言，帖撒罗尼迦前后书开头的话相当简单。保罗没有给自己加上甚么称呼，他没有说自己是基督的奴仆或使徒。他只说，『保罗、西拉和提摩太，写信给在父神和主耶稣基督里，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会。』（帖前一1。）
2Each of the fourteen Epistles written by Paul opens in a particular way. The beginning of every Epistle matches the contents of that particular Epistle. For example, Romans 1:1 says, “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God.” First Corinthians begins in a somewhat different way: “Paul, a called apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God” (1 Cor. 1:1). In contrast, the opening of both 1 and 2 Thessalonians is quite simple. Paul does not use any titles to refer to himself; he does not speak of himself as a slave of Christ or as an apostle. Instead, he simply says, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
3『在父神和主耶稣基督里，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会』这样的话是独特的。一面，召会是属于一些人的；另一面，召会是在父神和主耶稣基督里的。这样说到召会，与林前一章二节的说法大不相同，他在那里是说，『写信给在哥林多神的召会，』这句话描绘召会是在某一地的。但保罗在帖撒罗尼迦前后书没有说到召会是在某一地，却说召会是属于一些人的，就是在神里的帖撒罗尼迦人的。在这两封书信里，召会是帖撒罗尼迦人的，也是在父神和主耶稣基督里的。
3The expression, “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” is unique. On the one hand, the church is of certain persons; on the other hand, it is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This way of referring to the church is very different from that found in 1 Corinthians 1:2. There Paul says, “To the church of God which is in Corinth,” describing the church as being in a particular place. But in 1 and 2 Thessalonians Paul speaks of the church not as being in a certain place, but as being of certain persons, the Thessalonians, who are in God. In these Epistles the church is of the Thessalonians and in the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
4根据历史，帖撒罗尼迦是道德低落的地方。大体来说，那个城市里的人是不道德的。但是根据帖前一章一节所说，那城市的召会是『帖撒罗尼迦人的』。一个召会由一班住在帖撒罗尼迦那种城市的人所组成，这似乎是不可能的。
4According to history, Thessalonica was an immoral place. For the most part, the people of that city were not moral. Nevertheless, according to 1:1, the church in that city was “of the Thessalonians.” It does not seem possible that a church could be composed of people who lived in a city like Thessalonica.
5召会是在父神里，这样的话是非常正面的；但说召会是帖撒罗尼迦人的，这样的话就不是正面的。一章一节是说，在父神里帖撒罗尼迦人的召会。这里的介系词『在…里』和『…的』非常重要。在帖撒罗尼迦的召会是一班在邪恶之城里的人的。旧金山的邪恶、堕落举世闻名。但是，今天在旧金山有召会，就是在父神和主耶稣基督里，旧金山人的召会。
5It is very positive to say that the church is in God the Father, but it is not positive to say that the church is of the Thessalonians. In 1:1 we have the church of the Thessalonians in God. The prepositions “of” and “in” here are very important. The church in Thessalonica was of people from an evil city, but it was in God the Father. This is similar to speaking of the church in San Francisco as being the church of the San Franciscans in God the Father. San Francisco has a world-wide reputation for being an evil, immoral city. Nevertheless, there is a church in San Francisco today, the church of the San Franciscans in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
圣别的人过圣别的生活
HOLY PEOPLE LIVING A HOLY LIFE
62我们已经指出，帖撒罗尼迦前后书乃是论到召会生活。我们从这两卷书的内容得知，召会生活在于圣别的生活！虽然许多旧金山人是邪恶的，但是组成旧金山召会的一班旧金山人却是圣别的。赞美主！今天在旧金山人中间，有许多圣别的人过著圣别的生活！在洛杉矶的召会也是这样。主可以向鬼魔与邪恶的天使夸口说，在好莱坞所在的洛杉矶这样不道德的城市里，主得著了一个召会，由一班过著圣别生活的圣别之人所组成。我们今天在众地方召会中，都过著为著召会生活的圣别生活。我们都需要看见，帖撒罗尼迦前后书是论到召会生活的。不久以前，当我研读这两封书信时，我仰望主叫我看见这两卷书的主题。最终，这两封书信给我印象最深的就是召会生活。我信那个印象是从主来的。表面上看，帖撒罗尼迦前后书与召会没有甚么关系。但你若摸著这两卷书真理的深处，你就会看见，这两卷书实在是论到藉著过圣别生活而有之召会生活的实行。现在我们必须接著来看，像帖撒罗尼迦这样不道德城市里的人，如何能成为一班圣别的人，为著召会生活过圣别的生活。我们若要了解这事，就需要问一个非常重要的问题：为著召会生活之圣别生活的源头是甚么？
6We have pointed out that the books of 1 and Thessalonians are concerned with the church life. From the content of these books we know that the church life depends on a holy life. Many San Franciscans may be evil, but those San Franciscans who compose the church in San Francisco are holy. Praise the Lord that among today’sS an Franciscans there are a number of holy people living a holy life! The same is true of the church in Los Angeles. The Lord can boast to the demons and the evil angels that in such an immoral city as Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood, the Lord has a church composed of holy people living a holy life. In the local churches today, we are living a holy life for the church life. We all need to see that 1 and 2 Thessalonians are on the church life. Not long ago, while I was working on these two Epistles, I was looking to the Lord that he would show me the main subject of these books. Eventually, I became impressed with the matter of the church life in these Epistles. I believe that impression came from the Lord. Apparently 1 and 2 Thessalonians are not related to the church. However, if you touch the depths of the truth in these books, you will see that they truly are concerned with the practice of the church life through the living of a holy life. Now we must go on to see how it was possible for people from an immoral city such as Thessalonica to become a holy people living a holy life for the church life. If we would understand this, we need to ask a very important question: What is the source of a holy life for the church life?
7父、子、圣灵本篇信息的题目是：『三一神具体化于话里，以产生为著召会生活的圣别生活。』喜欢思考的人也许会想这篇信息为甚么要用『三一神』这个辞，因为帖前一章里并没有这个辞。不仅
7THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT The title of this message is “The Triune God Embodied in the Word to Produce a Holy Life for the Church Life.” Those who are thoughtful may wonder why this title uses the term “The Triune God” when this expression is not found in 1 Thessalonians 1. Furthermore, such careful
81如此，这样仔细的读者可能也会想，我们怎能根据帖前一章，说三一神具体化于话里？这一章清楚题到话，但在那里题到三一神，以及三一神具体化于话里？我们要仔细来看这件事。
8readers may wonder how we can speak, again from Thessalonians 1, of the Triune God embodied in the Word. This chapter clearly mentions the word, but what about the Triune God and the embodiment of the Triune God in the Word? Let us consider this matter carefully.
9帖前一章一节说到父神。在三节又有『在我们的神与父面前』这句话。在十节保罗说到子：『并且等候祂的儿子从诸天降临，就是祂从死人中所复活，那拯救我们脱离要来忿怒的耶稣。』保罗在这章圣经里两次题到圣灵。五节说，『因为我们的福音传到你们那里，不仅在于言语，也在于能力和圣灵，并充足的确信。』保罗在六节指出，帖撒罗尼迦人『在大患难之中，带著圣灵的喜乐，领受了主的话』。因此，这一章里有三一神，就是父1神、子神和灵神。因此，在帖前一章说到三一神。事实上，整本新约都与三一神有关。三一神是新约结构的元素。姊妹们作饭，要用各种食品作烹调的元素。照样，有些元素是书写新约所用的『成分』。帖前一章的元素是甚么？最基本的元素就是三一神。肉类怎样是许多美国人饮食中的元素，三一神也照样是保罗属灵烹调里最重要的元素。因此，我们在帖前一章能清楚看见三一神，这是不足为奇的。保罗在这一章里，明确的说到父、子、灵。帖前一章一节与帖后一章一节，都说到帖撒罗尼迦人的召会。这指明召会是由得救并重生的罪人所组成的。我们从历史得知，古时帖撒罗尼迦城所在的马其顿省内，以及哥林多城所在的亚该亚省内，各个城市都是邪恶、不道德的。那些城市的光景也许比今天的旧金山更坏。帖撒罗尼迦人特别没有好名声，反倒以罪恶、不洁、不道德闻名。但这些帖撒罗尼迦人当中有一些人，因相信基督而得救、重生，由神而生。结果，在那个邪恶的城市里，就产生了在父神和主耶稣基督里，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会。
9First Thessalonians 1:1 speaks of God the Father. Moreover, in verse 3 we have the words “before our God and Father.” In verse 10 Paul speaks of the Son: “And to wait for His Son from the heavens, Whom He raised from among the dead—Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath which is coming.” Twice in this chapter Paul refers to the Holy Spirit. Verse 5 says, “Because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance.” In verse 6 Paul points out that the Thessalonians “accepted the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, in this chapter we have the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, 1 Thessalonians is a chapter on the Triune God. Actually, the entire New Testament is related to the Triune God. The Triune God is the element for the construction of the New Testament. In preparing meals, sisters use various groceries as the elements of their cooking. Likewise, certain elements are the “ingredients” used in the composition of the New Testament. What are the elements found in 1 Thessalonians 1? The most basic element is the Triune God. Just as meat is an important element in the diet of many Americans, so the Triune God is the most important element in Paul’s spiritual cooking. Hence, it is not surprising that in 1 Thessalonians 1 we can clearly see the Triune God. In this chapter Paul explicitly speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Both 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1 speak of the church of the Thessalonians. This indicates that the church is composed of saved and regenerated sinners. From history we know that the cities of ancient Macedonia, where Thessalonica was located, and Achaia, where Corinth was situated, were evil and immoral. Those cities may have been worse than today’sS an Francisco. The Thessalonians in particular did not have a good name; instead, they had a reputation for sinfulness, uncleanness, and immorality. But some of these Thessalonians were saved and regenerated, born of God, through believing in Christ. As a result, in that evil city there came to be a church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
10我们读新约圣经的时候，很容易把在基督里、在主里、在神里这些辞句视为理所当然，而不多加注意。我们必须对『在父神和主耶稣基督里』这句话有深刻的印象。这句话太奇妙了！人在神里面，这实在是一件太大的事！假如有一些罪大恶极的人听到了福音，接受了主耶稣，因此得救了，他们就成了基督徒，现今在父神里。我们必须看见，这是一件意义重大的事。你知道我们这些信徒在那里？我们乃是在父神和主耶稣基督里！照一章一节来看，召会不仅在父神里，也在主耶稣基督里。召会有这样奇妙的所在地─在父和我们的主里。事实上，父神与耶稣基督乃是一。祂们是父和我们的主。父是三一神中的第一者，主耶稣基督─子─是第二者。然而，我们不该把父和子看作两个分开的身位。神是三一的，这就是说，神是三而一的。不错，父、子、圣灵是三；但祂们又是一。这件事是人的头脑所领会不来的。哦，我们的神，三一神是奇妙的！帖前一章启示这位三一神。不仅如此，得救之人的召会乃是在这位奇妙的神里，祂是父，也是主耶稣基督。
10In reading the New Testament, it is easy for us to take terms such as in Christ, in the Lord, and in God for granted and not pay much attention to them. We need to be deeply impressed by the expression “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The utterance is marvelous. It is a tremendous matter for people to be in God! Suppose some very sinful people hear the gospel, receive the Lord Jesus, and are saved. They become Christians and are now in God the Father. We need to realize that this is a matter of great significance. Do you know where we are as believers? We are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ! According to 1:1, the church is not only in God the Father, but also in the Lord Jesus Christ. The church has such a marvelous location in the Father and in our Lord. Actually, God the Father and Jesus Christ are one. They are the Father and our Lord. The Father is the first of the Trinity, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, is the second. However, we should not regard the Father and the Son as separate persons. God is triune, that is, He is three-one. Yes, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three; yet They are one. This is beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend. Oh, our God, the Triune God, is wonderful! This Triune God is revealed in 1 Thessalonians 1. Furthermore, the church of the saved ones is in this wonderful God who is the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
在父神和主耶稣基督里的召会人
THE CHURCH PEOPLE IN GOD THE FATHER and the Lord Jesus Christ
11我最近研读一章一节的时候，看见要说出在父神和主耶稣基督里，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会这样的话，是非常有分量而深奥的。我查阅阿福德的著作，看他对这一节圣经是怎么说的，我得了一些帮助。阿福德首先指出，这里的介系词『在…里』是指交流并有分。阿福德所说的『有分』，等于『生机的联结』。交流是指一种共同的联结。召会是由一班人组成的，这班人与神有共同的联结，并且有分于神。
11Recently, as I was studying 1:1, I realized that to speak of the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is to utter something very weighty and deep. I consulted the writings of Dean Alford on this verse, and I was helped by what he had to say. First, Alford points out that the preposition “in” here denotes communion and participation in. What Alford means by participation is equal to the expression “organic union.” Communion denotes a common union. The church is a group of people who have a common union with God and who are participating in Him
12不仅如此，阿福德还接著说，『在父神里』这句话是一个标记，指明在召会里的人不再是信奉异教的，也不再是外邦人。外邦人没有神，但召会是由一班在父神里的人所组成的。因此，在召会里的人不再是信奉异教的。
12Furthermore, Alford goes on to say that the expression “in God the Father” is a mark, an indication, that those in the church are no longer heathen, no longer of the Gentiles. Gentiles do not have God, but the church is composed of a group of people who are in God the Father. Those in the church, therefore, are no longer heathen.
13阿福德也说，『在主耶稣基督里』指明在召会里的人不再是属犹太的。犹太人不信耶稣基督，就像异教徒不信真神一样。信神和主耶稣基督的是那些人？召会人就是这样的信徒。我们今天不是信奉异教的，也不是属犹太的；我们乃是在父神和主耶稣基督里的召会人。召会生活里有犹太教背景的人必须明白，他们不再是犹太人。召会是由一班既非外邦人，也非犹太人的信徒所组成的，因为我们现今都在父神和主耶稣基督里。保罗在他别的书信说到基督的召会和神的召会。有些基督徒团体采用这些辞作他们宗派的名称。譬如，今天有基督的召会、神召会，以及神的召会等名称。但是你知道有甚么基督徒团体用『在神里的召会』这个名称么？必定没有这样一个团体。但是根据一章一节来看，召会在神里面乃是一个事实。召会是神的，与召会在神里，这二者何者更深奥？召会在神里，比召会仅仅是神的更深邃、更深奥。阿利路亚，召会乃是在神里面！召会不仅是神的，是基督的；召会也是在神里，在基督里的。我们要看见，我们所在地的召会是神的，也是在神里的；是基督的，也是在基督里的；这样的看见，对我们是极其重要的。
13Alford also says that “in the Lord Jesus Christ” indicates that those in the church are no longer Jewish. Jews do not believe in Jesus Christ, just as the heathen do not believe in the true God. Who are those who believe in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ? The church people are such believers. Today we are neither heathen, nor Jewish; we are the church people in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Those in the church life with a background in Judaism must realize that they are no longer Jewish. The church is composed of those who are no longer Gentiles or Jews, for we all now are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Elsewhere in his Epistles, Paul speaks of the churches of Christ and of the church of God. Certain Christian groups have adopted these expressions as denominational titles. For example, today we have the Church of Christ, the Assembly of God, and the Church of God. But do you know of any Christian group with the title “The Church in God”? Surely there is no such group. Nevertheless, according to 1:1, it is a fact that the church is in God. Which matter would you say is deeper, for the church to be of God, or for the church to be in God? For the church to be in God is deeper, more profound, than for the church to be merely of God. Hallelujah, the church is in God! The church is not only of God and of Christ; the church is also in God and in Christ. It is important for us to see that the church in our locality is of God and in God, of Christ and in Christ
生命里的关系
A RELATIONSHIP IN LIFE
14我能见证，因著我看见了一章一节1『在…里』这个介系词的意义，帖撒罗尼迦前书对我来说，就变得非常宝贵，非常可爱。这卷书启示我们，召会不仅是神的，是基督的，召会也是在父神和主耶稣基督里的。
14I can testify that seeing the significance of the preposition “in” in 1:1 has caused the book of Thessalonians to become very dear and lovable to me. In this book we have the revelation that the church is not only of God and of Christ, but also in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
15召会不仅在神里，也在父里。这里的『父』字指明生命的关系。神不再只是我们的创造者，祂也是我们的父。神是召会人的父，因为我们都已经从神而生。我们已经从神而生，现今神乃是我们的父，这是何等奇妙的事实！
15The church is not merely in God, but is in the Father. The word Father here indicates a relationship of life. God is no longer only our Creator; He is our Father. God is the Father of the church people, for we have all been born of Him. It is a wonderful fact that we have been born of God and that He is now our Father
16假定你的父亲是美国总统，你题到他的时候就可以说，『我的父亲总统。』这与只说到总统，有很大的不同。只说『我们的总统』，指明你可能是公民。但你若说『我的父亲总统』，这就指明总统是你的父亲，你与他有生命的关系。同样的原则，我们能说神是我们的父。神不再仅仅是我们的创造者，祂已成了我们的父，因为我们已经从神而生。不仅如此，耶稣基督也是我们的主。阿利路亚，我们有父，也有主！
16Suppose your father were the President of the United States. If such were the case, you could refer to him as my father, the President.” This would be very different from merely speaking of the President. To refer to our President may indicate that you are a citizen. But if you could say, “my father, the President,” that would indicate that the President is your father and that you have a life relationship with him. In the same principle, we can speak of God as being our Father. No longer is God only our Creator. He has become our Father, for we have been born of Him. Furthermore, Jesus Christ is our Lord. Hallelujah, we have a Father and a Lord
在三一神里的召会
THE CHURCH IN THE TRIUNE GOD
17召会在父神和主耶稣基督里，与召会在两个分开的人位里，这两种说法是不同的。召会乃在一个奇妙的人位里，这一位乃是父与子。你认为今天召会一面是在父里，另一面又在主耶稣里么？换句话说，你认为召会，一个地方上独一的召会，是在两个分开的人位里么？我们对召会不该有这种想法。神是父和主耶稣基督，召会就是在这一位的里面。不要问我如何解释召会是在那位是父又是子的里面。这样的奥秘我无法解释。历世纪以来，基督教历史证明，没有一个人能充分的解释三一神。但在一章一节里，我们看见一个启示，就是召会是在独一的神里这个奇妙的事实；这位神是我们的父和我们的主耶稣基督。阿利路亚！我们有这样一位奇妙的神，并且我们就在祂里面。当保罗说到在父神和主耶稣基督里，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会，他其实是说，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会乃是在三一神里。保罗说到父和主耶稣基督，就指明或含示神是三一神。神若不是三一的，怎么会是父又是子？这是不可能的。不仅如此，当保罗题到父与基督时，也含示圣灵。我们曾经指出，保罗在本章别的经节明确的说到圣灵。1因此，帖前一章清楚的给我们看见三一神─父、子、圣灵。帖前一章一节和帖后一章一节都启示，召会是由一班罪人所组成的，他们已经得救、蒙了重生，现今乃是在三一神里。这是何等的奇妙！
17To say that the church is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ is not the same as saying that the church is in two separate persons. No, the church is in the wonderful One who is the Father and the Son. Do you think that the church today on the one hand is in the Father and on the other hand in the Lord Jesus? In other words, do you think that the church, the unique church in a locality, is in two separate persons? We should not think of the church in this way. God is the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the church is in this One. Do not ask me to explain how the church can be in the One who is both the Father and the Son. It is beyond my ability to explain such a mystery. All the centuries of Christian history prove that no one can explain the Triune God adequately. But in 1:1 we have the revelation of the tremendous fact that the church is in the unique God and that this God is our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, we have such a wonderful God, and we are in Him! When Paul speaks of the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, he actually means that the church of the Thessalonians is in the Triune God. Paul’sword concerning the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ indicates or implies that God is triune. If God were not triune, how could He be the Father and the Son? It would be impossible. Furthermore, Paul’s reference to the Father and Christ also implies the Holy Spirit. As we have pointed out, elsewhere in this chapter Paul explicitly speaks of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Thessalonians 1 clearly shows the Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Both 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1 reveal that the church is composed of a group of sinners who have been saved and regenerated and who are now in the Triune God. How wonderful!