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帖撒罗尼迦后书生命读经 · 第4篇

进一步鼓励的话

A Further Word of Encouragement
1读经：2:13—3:5在本篇信息中，我们要来看帖后二章十三节至三章五节；这一部分的内容乃是进一步鼓励的话。保罗在这几节经文里论到许多非常宝贵的事。保罗在二章十三节说，『主所爱的弟兄们，我们应当常为你们感谢神，因为祂从起初拣选了你们，叫你们藉著那灵的圣别，并你们对真理的信，可以得救。』神爱我们，（16，）从起初拣选了我们，又藉著福音呼召了我们。（14。）祂拣选我们，叫我们藉著那灵的圣别可以得救；又呼召我们，叫我们得著主的荣耀。现今祂在恩典中，用永远的安慰和美好的盼望带我们往前。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Thes. 2:13—3:5 In this message we come to 2:13—3:5, a portion of 2 Thessalonians that contains a further word of encouragement. In these verses Paul covers a number of very precious matters. In 2:13 Paul says, “But we ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” God loved us (v. 16), chose us from the beginning, and called us through the gospel (v. 14). He chose us unto His salvation, which is by sanctification of the Spirit, and He called us to the obtaining of the Lord’s glory. Now He is taking us on with eternal encouragement and good hope in grace
2神的拣选保罗在他鼓励的话中，以神的拣选题醒年幼的信徒。他告诉他们，神从起初，也就是从已过的永远，（见弗一4，）拣选了他们。知道神在时间起首以前就拣选了我们，这对我们实在是鼓舞。这意思是说，我们得救不是在时间里才开始的，乃是在永远里就开始了。神在已过的永远里就注意我们，并拣选了我们。神从起初拣选了我们，使我们可以得救。
2GOD’S CHOICE In his word of encouragement Paul reminds the young believers of God’ss election, God’s choice. He tells them that from the beginning, that is, from eternity past (see Eph. 1:4), God chose them. It certainly is encouraging to know that before time began God chose us. This means that our being saved did not begin in time; rather, it began in eternity. In eternity past God considered us and selected us. From the beginning God chose us unto salvation
3藉著那灵的圣别得救我们蒙神拣选，叫我们藉著那灵的圣别可以得救。那灵的圣别就是神圣的变化；藉此，我们从一切老旧、消极的事物彻底得救，并成为新造，好得著主的荣耀。
3SALVATION IN SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT The salvation unto which we were chosen by God is salvation in sanctification of the Spirit. Sanctification of the Spirit is the divine transformation. By this we are thoroughly saved from all old and negative things and made a new creation to obtain the Lord’s glory
4圣别是一件变化的事，而变化包含一段过程。现今我们这些得救的人都在圣别、变化的过程中。我们可以用烹调说明圣别的过程。召会生活可以比作厨房。神呼召我们，拯救我们时，好像从一个大型的『超级市场』里把我们这些『杂货』买回来。神『购物』的时候，呼召了我们。现今我们正在召会的『厨房』里经历『烹调』的过程。这个烹调的过程就是圣别、变化。
4Sanctification is a matter of transformation, and transformation involves a process. Now, as saved ones, we are all in the process of being sanctified, transformed. We may use cooking to illustrate the process of sanctification. The church life can be compared to a kitchen. When God called us and saved us, He purchased us as “groceries” from a large “supermarket.” In His “shopping” God called us. Now we are undergoing the process of being “cooked” in the “kitchen” of the church. This process of cooking is sanctification, transformation.
5召会生活既是神烹调的厨房，所以召会外表看来不会一直是整整齐齐、有条不紊的。我们准备一顿佳肴时，厨房的情形通常就是这样。不要盼望你所在的地方召会是完美的。厨房是食物处理的地方。因著这样的处理，许多东西还没有豫备好，而是在豫备的过程中。有时候别人问我，怎么能容忍召会中的光景。我回答说，『我为甚么不能容忍？召会是一个厨房，再等一段时间，你就会看见现今在厨房里所作的结果。』帖后二章十三节说，藉著圣别而得救。这意思是说，我们得救的结果，不是立即上天堂。不，神乃是叫我们藉著圣别，可以得救。神正在圣别我们。这应当使我们想起保罗在帖前五章二十三节所说的话：『且愿和平的神，亲自全然圣别你们。』我们现今都在召会生活的厨房里经历圣别的过程。我们知道在这厨房里被烹调的意思；但在厨房外面的人，并不了解我们所说被烹调之过程的意思。不要盼望召会生活里一切都是美好有秩序的。地上没有一个地方召会是这种光景。不仅如此，我们也不该认为，在保罗当时的众地方召会比今天的众地方召会好。相反的，因为我们的烹调已经有了进步，在主恢复中的众地方召会也许比保罗时代的众召会更好。
5Because the church life is a kitchen for God’s cooking, the church will not always have an appearance that is neat and orderly. This is usually the situation in a kitchen when a good meal is being prepared. Do not expect your local church to be perfect. A kitchen is a place of process. Because of this process, many things are not ready, but they are in the process of being made ready. Sometimes I am asked how I can tolerate the situation in the church. I reply, “Why should I not tolerate it? The church is a kitchen. Wait for another period of time and you will see the results of the work that is taking place now in the kitchen.” According to 2:13, salvation is in sanctification. This means that salvation does not immediately result in our going to heaven. No, God’s salvation is now in sanctification. God is sanctifying us. This should remind us of Paul’s word in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, where he says, “And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly.” At present we are all undergoing the process of sanctification in the kitchen of the church life. We know what it means to be cooked in this kitchen. However, those outside the kitchen do not understand what we mean when we speak of the process of being cooked. Do not expect that everything in the church life will be marvelous and orderly. This is not the situation of any local church on earth. Furthermore, we should not think that the local churches at Paul’st i me were better than the churches today. On the contrary, because our cooking has been improved, the local churches in the Lord’s recovery today may be better than the churches in Paul’s day.
6厨房一团糟的情形，通常指明正在准备一顿美食。厨房也许很乱，但正在烹煮的食物会非常好吃。你如果要你们地方召会里的食物满有味道，就必须愿意让你的厨房是乱七八糟的。你如果邀请我到你家吃饭，而我看见你的厨房整洁有序，我会感到失望，因为我知道也许没有多少可吃的。但我如果看见你的厨房因著豫备那一顿饭而弄得乱七八糟，我就知道你是在准备筵席。没有人作饭的时候，厨房能很整洁；豫备一顿佳肴时，厨房不会那样有条不紊。召会里如果一切都整洁有序，可能就说明没有人在作饭作菜。这意思是说，那里不彀在圣别的过程中。
6Often the messy condition of a kitchen indicates that an excellent meal is being prepared. The kitchen may be messy, but the food that is being cooked will be very tasty. If you want the food in your local church to be flavorful, you must be willing for your kitchen to be messed up. Suppose you invite me to your home for a meal. If I see that everything in your kitchen is neat and orderly, I may be disappointed, for I shall realize that there may not be much to eat. But if I see that your kitchen is messy because of all the preparations for the meal, I shall know a feast is being prepared. When no one is cooking, the kitchen may be neat. But when a good meal is being prepared, the kitchen will not be so orderly. If everything in a church is neat and orderly, this may indicate that no one is doing any cooking. This means that there is a shortage in the process of sanctification.
7我能作见证，安那翰召会的厨房是很乱的；这证明我们在安那翰乃是在圣别的过程中。神照著祂的拣选，把我们摆在圣别的过程中。我们在安那翰的召会中，正在经历许多的烹煮；我们正在圣别、变化之中。有时候我被烹煮，不知道发生了甚么事。主就题醒我，我曾经祷告求变化，也讲到这方面的话语。在安那翰我可以这样说，我烹煮长老们，长老们也烹煮我。不仅如此，长老们也被众圣徒烹煮；有些弟兄和姊妹好像特特是要烹煮长老似的。召会生活厨房里的烹调工作实际上不是人手所作的，乃是主照著祂的智慧和主宰权柄作的。神拣选我们，不仅要我们的罪得赦免，更要我们藉著圣别而得救。经历罪得赦免并不需要被烹调。我们只需要祷告说，『主耶稣，我向你悔改。我承认我是罪人。但是主，我相信你，感谢你为我的罪死在十字架上。』一个人只要这样祷告就能得救，罪也能得著赦免；但这不是圣别。我们经历赦免以后，还需要经历圣别的过程。主的心意是要圣别我们，变化我们。变化不一定是令人愉快的过程；但我们需要学习如何享受主，即使在被烹煮的时候，也是如此。
7I can testify that the kitchen of the church in Anaheim is messy. This proves that in Anaheim we are in the process of sanctification. God, according to His selection, has placed us into the process of sanctification. In the church in Anaheim we are experiencing a great deal of cooking; we are being sanctified and transformed. Sometimes when I am being cooked, I may wonder what is happening. Then the Lord reminds me that I have prayed for transformation and have ministered concerning it. In Anaheim I may say that I cook the elders, and the elders cook me. Furthermore, the elders are being cooked by the saints. Certain brothers and sisters seem to be especially given to cooking the elders. Actually the cooking in the kitchen of the church life is not done by any human hand. Rather, it is done by the Lord according to His wisdom and sovereignty. God has selected us unto salvation in sanctification and not merely to have our sins forgiven. There is no need to be cooked in order to experience the forgiveness of sins. We simply need to pray, “Lord Jesus, I repent. I confess that I am a sinner. But, Lord, I believe in You, and I thank You for dying on the cross for my sins.” A person who prays in this way can be saved and have the forgiveness of sins. But this is not sanctification. After we experience forgiveness, we need to undergo the process of sanctification. The Lord intends to sanctify us, to transform us. Transformation is a process that is not necessarily enjoyable. Nevertheless, we need to learn how to enjoy the Lord even when we are being cooked
8保罗在帖后二章十三节告诉我们，圣别是出于那灵的。你知道那灵在那里么？你必须看见，那灵在你里面圣别你。保罗在帖前四章说到圣别，而这圣别是出于那灵。事实上，那灵的内住就是我们的圣别。那灵住在我们里面只有一个目的，就是圣别我们，变化我们，新陈代谢的改变我们。这就是那灵的圣别。
8In verse 13 Paul tells us that sanctification is of the Spirit. Do you know where the Spirit is? You need to realize that the Spirit is in you to sanctify you. In 1 Thessalonians 4 Paul speaks of sanctification, and this sanctification is of the Spirit. The indwelling of the Spirit is actually our sanctification. The Spirit indwells us with just one goal—to sanctify us, to transform us, to change us metabolically. This is sanctification of the Spirit
对真理的信
belief of the truth
9保罗在帖后二章十三节也说到对真理的信。这节里的『信』，实际上就是信心。对真理的信是在藉著那灵的圣别而得救之前。神从起初拣选了我们，叫我们信了真理，并藉著那灵的圣别可以得救。
9In verse 13 Paul also speaks of belief of the truth. In this verse the word “belief” actually means faith. The faith of the truth comes before salvation in sanctification of the Spirit. God chose us from the beginning unto the faith of the truth and unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit.
蒙召好得著主耶稣
CALLED UNTO THE OBTAINING
基督的荣耀
OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
10保罗在十四节接著说，『神藉著我们所传的福音，也呼召你们到这地步，好得著我们主耶稣基督的荣耀。』『到这地步，』指十三节『藉著…圣别并…信…得救』。神在永远里拣选我们，叫我们可以得救，然后在时间里呼召我们，叫我们得著主的荣耀。藉著那灵的圣别并我们对真理的信而得救是过程，得著我们主的荣耀是目标。神先拣选了我们，然后呼召我们，叫我们藉著那灵的圣别，并对真理的信，可以得救。祂又藉著福音呼召我们，好得著主耶稣基督的荣耀。主的荣耀，指祂是父神的儿子，有父的生命和性情以彰显父。得著主的荣耀，指我们要在神的儿子同样的地位上彰显父。
10In verse 14 Paul goes on to say, “To which also He called you through our gospel unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The words “to which” refer to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, as mentioned in verse 13. In eternity God chose us unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, and then in time He called us unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord. Salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth are the procedures. Obtaining the glory of our Lord is the goal. First God chose us and then He called us. He chose us unto the faith of the truth and unto the salvation in sanctification of the Spirit. Then through the gospel He called us unto the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The glory of the Lord is that He is the Son of God the Father, possessing the Father’s life and nature to express Him. To obtain the Lord’s glory is to be in the same position as sons of God to express Him
11我怀疑今天大多数基督徒是否懂得，甚么是蒙呼召以得著我们主耶稣基督的荣耀。保罗在十四节并没有说，神呼召我们是要叫我们得著赦免、称义或和好。他乃是说，神呼召我们，是叫我们得著主耶稣的荣耀。在约翰十七章二十二节，主向父祷告说，『你所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们成为一，正如我们是一一样。』父赐给子的荣耀，乃是儿子的名分，具有父的生命和神圣的性情，（约五26，）好在父的丰满里彰显父。（约一18，十四9，西二9，来一3。）子已将这荣耀赐给信徒，使他们也得著儿子的名分，具有父的生命和神圣的性情，（约十七2，彼后一4，）好在子里、在子的丰满里（约一16）彰显父。我怀疑有多少基督徒对于主耶稣的荣耀能有这样的领会。主耶稣的荣耀乃是父已将父的生命和性情赐给祂，使祂可以彰显父。这就是子赐给我们的荣耀。这意思是说，子已将父的生命和性情赐给我们，使我们能彰显父神。太荣耀了！神呼召我们来得这荣耀，就是得著神圣生命和神圣性情的荣耀，好彰显那神圣者。你以前也许未曾这样想过，但这是照著新约所启示的真理。这实在太荣耀了！阿利路亚！
11I doubt that the majority of today’s Christians understand what it means to be called unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 14 Paul does not say that God has called us unto the obtaining of forgiveness, justification, or reconciliation. He says that God has called us unto the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus. In John 17:22 the Lord said in His prayer to the Father, “And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are one.” The glory which the Father has given the Son is the sonship with the Father’s life and divine nature (John 5:26) to express the Father in His fullness (John 1:18; 14:9; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3). This glory the Son has given to His believers that they also may have the sonship with the Father’s life and divine nature (John 17:2; 2 Pet. 1:4) to express the Father in the Son in His fullness (John 1:16). I doubt that many Christians have this understanding regarding the glory of the Lord Jesus. The glory of the Lord Jesus is that the Father has given Him the Father’s life and nature for Him to express the Father. This is the glory the Son has given to us. This means that the Son has given us the Father’s life and nature so that we may be able to express God the Father. What a glory! God has called us unto the obtaining of this glory, the glory of the divine life and the divine nature to express the divine Being. Although you may never have considered this before, this is the truth according to the revelation in the New Testament. Hallelujah for such a marvelous glory!
12持守所得的传授保罗在帖后二章十五节接著说，『所以弟兄们，要站立得住，凡你们受教所得的传授，无论是口传的，或是我们信上写的，都要持守。』我们不该以为我们所得的传授都是不好的。这里的传授，指藉著口传或书写所交付的教训。保罗在这里指出，我们得著的传授是超越的。我们必须站立得住，持守所得的这些传授。在恩典中永远的安慰和美好的盼望
12HOLDING THE TRADITIONS In 2:15 Paul goes on to say, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.” We should not think that tradition is always bad. The traditions to which Paul refers here are excellent. We need to stand firm and hold to these traditions eternal encouragement and good hope in grace
13十六节说，『但愿我们的主耶稣基督自己，和神我们的父，就是那爱我们，在恩典中将永远的安慰和美好的盼望赐给我们的。』照这节经文看，我们所有的不是短暂瞬时的安慰和加力，乃是藉著神的生命而有永远的安慰。这安慰足以应付任何环境和景况，因此这安慰带著美好的盼望。
13Verse 16 says, “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope in grace.” According to this verse, what we have is not temporary and transitory comfort and strengthening, but eternal encouragement. This eternal encouragement is by the divine life. It is sufficient for any kind of environment and situation. Therefore, it is with good hope
14永远的安慰与神的生命有关。每当你失望的时候，你需要受题醒，神的生命在你里面。你只要稍微想到神的生命在你里面，就会得著安慰。你知道你有那一种生命么？你有神的生命。神的生命已经赐给了你。因此，永远的安慰实际上就是永远的生命。我们只要稍微思想一下我们所得的永远生命，就会得著安慰。你若觉得软弱，要题醒自己，你有永远的生命。这样，你会得著加力和安慰。这永远的安慰足能应付任何环境和景况。神爱我们，把永远的安慰给了我们。
14Eternal encouragement is related to the divine life. Whenever you are disappointed, you need to be reminded that the divine life is within you. If you consider even a little that the divine life is inside of you, you will be encouraged. Do you know what kind of life you have? You have God’s life. The very life of God has been given to you. Eternal encouragement, therefore, is actually eternal life. We can be encouraged simply by considering a little about the eternal life we have received. If you feel weak, be reminded that you have eternal life. In this way you will be strengthened and encouraged. This eternal encouragement is sufficient for any environment and situation. God has loved us and has given us eternal encouragement
15神在恩典中也将美好的盼望赐给我们。这盼望是荣耀的盼望，（西一27，）就是对主回来的盼望；（帖前一3；）那时，我们或要复活，或要改变形状，进入荣耀。（帖前四13～14，腓三21，来二10。）这美好的盼望是在恩典中，而恩典一点不差就是三一神经过过程，成了包罗万有赐生命的灵。在这恩典中，我们有美好的盼望。我们可以说，恩典就是神自己在基督里给我们享受，叫我们藉著祂的灵得以圣别，并藉著永远的安慰和美好的盼望而得安慰和坚固。
15God has also given us good hope in grace. This hope is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27), which is the hope of the Lord’s coming (1 Thes. 1:3), when we shall be either resurrected or transfigured into glory (1 Thes. 4:13-14; Phil. 3:21; Heb. 2:10). This good hope is in grace, and grace is nothing less than the Triune God processed to become the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit. In this grace we have a good hope. We may say that grace is God Himself in Christ for us to enjoy that we may be sanctified by His Spirit and encouraged and established with eternal encouragement and good hope
16有些圣徒曾对我说，『李弟兄，我们多年听你释放信息。事实上，你好像只讲一件事。你释放的信息数以千计，都是讲同一件事，这真是希奇。』这不是我尽职事的方式；这是圣经的方式，也是保罗所实行的方式。你是否注意到，保罗在罗马书用一种说法，在哥林多前书又用另一种说法说到同一件事？现在我们看见，他在帖后二章又用另一种说法说到同一件事。13我特别喜欢二章末了十三至十七节这一段，因为保罗在这几节经文里给初信者看见一些重要的事。他在这里写得很简单，内容却是深奥的。保罗首先说，神从起初拣选了我们，叫我们藉著那灵的圣别，可以得救。然后他说，神藉著福音呼召我们，好得著我们主耶稣基督的荣耀。保罗在十六节说，神在恩典中将永远的安慰和美好的盼望赐给我们。保罗在别卷书里从未用过『永远的安慰』这样的话。约翰说到同样的事，但用的是不同的辞。保罗在二章十六节称永远的生命为永远的安慰。这节里的『那』，是指主耶稣基督和父神，但动词『爱我们…赐给我们』却是单数的。这指明保罗认为主与父是一。
16Some saints have said to me, “Brother Lee, we have heard your ministry for many years. It seems that actually you are ministering just one thing. It is marvelous that you can give thousands of messages on the same thing.” This is not my way of ministering; it is the biblical way and the way practiced by Paul. Have you noticed that in Romans Paul speaks in one way, but in 1 Corinthians he talks about the same matter in another way? Now we see that in 2 Thessalonians 2 he speaks regarding the same thing in yet another way. I especially like the last part of chapter two, verses through 17, for in these verses Paul presents important matters to new believers. His writing here is simple, but the content is profound. First Paul says that God chose us from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit. Then he says that God has called us through the gospel unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 16 Paul says that we have been given eternal encouragement and good hope in grace. Paul does not use the expression “eternal encouragement” in any of his other books. John speaks about the same thing, but he uses different terms. In 2:16 Paul refers to eternal life as eternal encouragement. In this verse the relative pronoun “who” may refer both to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God the Father, yet “has loved us and given us” is singular. This indicates that Paul regarded the Lord and the Father as one.
17我们需要学习使用保罗的用语，就如『永远的安慰』等。你若看见一位弟兄软弱灰心，你可以对他说，『弟兄，你不是接受了永远的安慰么？永远的安慰就是在你里面的永远生命。』假如有一个人很不快乐，但是他口袋里有一颗钻石。他只要看看钻石，就会得著安慰而喜乐。我们有真正的钻石，这钻石就是永远的生命作了我们永远的安慰。你知道你口袋里有这样一颗钻石么？那你为甚么注视你的难处和苦难，却不注视这颗钻石？哦，为著永远的安慰这颗钻石，我们赞美主！这安慰乃是在恩典中永远的生命和美好的盼望。
17We need to learn to use the expressions Paul used, such as eternal encouragement. If you see that a brother is weak or disappointed, you may say to him, “Brother, have you not received eternal encouragement? Eternal encouragement is the eternal life that is within you.” Suppose a person who is very unhappy has a diamond in his pocket. Simply by looking at the diamond, he may be encouraged and become happy. We have the real diamond, and this diamond is the eternal life as our eternal encouragement. Do you realize that you have such a diamond in your pocket? Why, then, do you look at your troubles and sufferings instead of at this diamond? Oh, praise the Lord for the diamond of eternal encouragement! This encouragement is eternal life and good hope in grace.
安慰与坚固
encouraged and established
18保罗在十七节说到主耶稣基督和父神，『安慰你们的心，并在一切善行善言上，坚固你们。』我们若要神安慰我们，就需要安慰我们自己。我们若帮助自己，神就会帮助我们。但我们若不帮助自己，神也不会帮助我们。你若不肯吃餐桌上的食物，别人就无法帮助你。但你若吃，每一个人都愿意帮助你。这个例证说明一个事实，就是我们需要安慰并坚固自己，然后神就要安慰并坚固我们。
18In verse 17 Paul says, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, “Encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.” If we want God to encourage us, we need to encourage ourselves. If we help ourselves, God will help us. But if we do not help ourselves, God will not help us. If you are not willing to eat the food on the dining table, others cannot help you. But if you eat, everyone will be willing to help you. This is an illustration of the fact that we need to encourage ourselves and establish ourselves, and then God will encourage and establish us
为话语的执事祷告
PRAYING FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE WORD
19保罗在三章一节说，『末了的话，弟兄们，请你们为我们祷告，好叫主的话快快传开，且得荣耀，正如在你们中间一样。』主的话得著荣耀，指主的话所包含神圣的丰富，在信徒的生活中得著释放并彰显。我们都需要学习怎样让主的话传开，且在我们身上得著荣耀。二节说，『并叫我们蒙拯救，脱离不讲理的恶人，因为人不都有信心。』众圣徒需要为著神话语的执事有这种祷告。
19In 3:1 Paul says, “For the rest, brothers, pray concerning us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as it is also with you.” For the word of the Lord to be glorified is for the divine riches contained in the word of the Lord to be released and expressed in the believers’ living. We all need to learn how to let the word of the Lord run and how to cause the word of the Lord to be glorified in us. Verse 2 says, “And that we may be delivered from improper and evil men; for not all hold the faith.” The ministers of the word of God need such a prayer for them by the saints
蒙保护脱离那恶者
GUARDED FROM THE EVIL ONE
20保罗在三节宣告说，『但主是信实的，祂要坚固你们，并保护你们脱离那恶者。』我们乃是藉著永远的安慰和美好的盼望，（二16～17，）得著保护。惟有永远的生命能保护我们脱离那恶者。整个世界都卧在那恶者里面，（约壹五19，）但我们从神而生所得神的生命，保守并保护我们脱离那恶者。（18，4，三8～9。）我们里面有一部分已经得重生，从神而生。那一部分，
20In verse 3 Paul declares, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” We are guarded by eternal encouragement and good hope (2:16-17). Only the eternal life can guard us from the evil one. The whole world lies in the evil one (1 John 5:19), but the divine life with which we have been born of God keeps and guards us from him (1 John 5:18, 4; 3:9). We have a part within us that has been regenerated, born of God. That part, which is actually the Lord Himself, always guards us
21实际上就是主自己，一直保护我们。
21
使徒的深信
THE APOSTLES’ CONFIDENCE
22保罗在帖后三章四节接著说，『关于你们，我们在主里深信，你们现在是遵行我们所嘱咐的，将来也必要遵行。』这里的嘱咐，就如帖前4:2-4,9-12;5:11-22，帖后2:2,15;3:6,10,12-15的嘱咐。
22In verse 4 Paul goes on to say, “We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that what we charge, you both are doing and will do.” The charge here is like those in 1 Thessalonians 4:2-4, 9-12; 5:11-22; 2 Thes. 2:2, 15; 3:6, 10, 12-15.
主引导信徒的心
THE LORD DIRECTING THE BELIEVERS’ HEARTS
23保罗在五节下结论说，『愿主修直你们心中的途径，引导你们的心，进入神的爱以爱神，并进入基督的忍耐以忍耐。』主引导我们的心，是藉著那灵的引领；神的爱已经藉著那灵浇灌在我们心里。（罗八14，五5。）这节里神的爱，是我们对神的爱，乃是出自那已经浇灌在我们心里之神的爱。（约壹四19。）在积极一面，我们需要享受神的爱，使我们爱祂，为祂活著；在消极一面，我们需要有分于基督的忍耐，使我们像祂一样忍受苦难，抵挡神的仇敌撒但。
23In verse 5 Paul concludes, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the endurance of Christ.” The Lord directs our hearts by the leading of the Spirit, through whom the love of God has been poured out into our hearts (Rom. 8:14; 5:5). The love of God in this verse is our love toward God that issues from the love of God (1 John 4:19) that has been poured out into our hearts. On the positive side, we need to enjoy the love of God so that we may love Him in order to live for Him. On the negative side, we need to participate in the endurance of Christ so that we may endure the sufferings as He did to stand against Satan, the enemy of God.
24保罗在帖后二章十三节至三章五节又说到信心、爱心和盼望。这指明帖撒2罗尼迦后书是前书的延续。帖撒罗尼迦后书这一段话，是保罗写给初信者论到为著召会生活之基督徒生活基本结构的结语。我们曾指出，这基本的结构包括信心、爱心和盼望。我们藉著信已经蒙圣别而得救。我们已经蒙呼召，好得著主的荣耀；我们在恩典中也有永远的安慰，就是永远的生命，并有美好的盼望。照三章五节所说，现今我们需要主引导我们的心，进入神的爱，并进入基督的忍耐。
24In 2:13 — 3:5 Paul once again touches faith, love, and hope. This indicates that 2 Thessalonians is a continuation of 1 Thessalonians. This portion of Thessalonians is a conclusion of Paul’s writings to new believers concerning the basic structure of the Christian life for the church life. As we have pointed out, this basic structure includes faith, love, and hope. By faith we have been saved into sanctification. We have been called unto the obtaining of the Lord’s glory, and we have eternal encouragement, which is eternal life, and also good hope in grace. Now according to 3:5, we need the Lord to direct our hearts into the love of God and into the endurance of Christ.