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提摩太前书生命读经 · 第3篇

为人得救的祷告，以完成神的愿望

Prayer to Carry Out God’s Desire for Man’sS alvation
1读经：提摩太前书二章一至七节。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 2:1-7
为著正确召会生活的正确祷告生活
A PROPER PRAYER LIFE FOR A PROPER CHURCH LIFE
2在提前一章保罗立下美好的根基，积极的说到召会生活。在二章一节他继续说，『所以我劝你，第一要为万人祈求、祷告、代求、感谢。』我们若要有正确的召会生活，首先必须有祷告的生活。领头的人，就是那些在召会中服事话语的人，该领头有这样祷告的生活。祷告的职事，是地方召会行政和牧养的先决条件。因此，保罗劝提摩太要为万人祈求、祷告、代求、感谢。这是保罗说到神的经纶，并嘱咐提摩太为神的经纶打那美好的仗以后，首次论到召会生活积极方面的话。提摩太必须领头有祷告的生活。今天在主的恢复里有正确召会生活的先决条件，乃是有祷告的生活。正确的召会是祷告的召会。没有祷告的召会是可怜的。不祷告乃是罪。所有在主恢复里的人都必须多多祷告，并抵挡不祷告的罪。众召会中的长老必须接受保罗的嘱咐，『第一』要祷告。保罗所写的十四封书信中，十封是写给召会的，四封是写给个人的。罗马书是写给所有在罗马的信徒，希伯来书不是写给个人的，乃是集体的写给相信的希伯来人。以弗所书、腓立比书、加拉太书、歌罗西书、哥林多前后书、和帖撒罗尼迦前后书都是写给召会的。然而，提摩太前后书、提多书、和腓利门书这四封书信是写给个人的。有些人也许以为这些书信与我们无关，因为是写给个人的。然而，我们该是今日的提摩太、提多、和腓利门。尤其每位个别的圣徒都需要作提摩太。
2In the first chapter of 1 Timothy Paul lays a good foundation to speak of the church life in a positive way. In 2:1 he goes on to say, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men.” If we would have a proper church life, we must first have a prayer life. The leading ones, those who minister the Word in the church, should take the lead to have such a prayer life. A prayer ministry is the prerequisite for the administration and shepherding of a local church. Thus, Paul exhorts Timothy that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men. This is the first word concerning the positive aspect of the church life Paul gives after speaking of God’secon o my and after charging Timothy to war the good warfare for God’secon o my. Timothy had to take the lead to have a prayer life. A prerequisite for having a proper church life in the Lord’s recovery today is to have a prayer life. A proper church is a praying church. A church that is without prayer is pitiful. Prayerlessness is a sin. All in the Lord’s recovery must be prayerful and stand against the sin of prayerlessness. The elders in the churches must take up Paul’s charge to “first of all” pray. Of the fourteen Epistles written by Paul, ten were written to churches and four to individuals. Romans was written to all the believers in Rome, and Hebrews was written not to individuals, but to believing Hebrews addressed corporately. Ephesians, Philippians, Galatians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians were all written to churches. However, the four Epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon were written to individuals. Some may think that these Epistles are not related to us because they were written to individuals. However, we should be today’s Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. In particular, each individual saint needs to be a Timothy
3我们若要作提摩太，就必须领头不争辩、不闲谈、不批评，而要祷告。每当我们听见一些关于某个召会的好消息或坏消息，我们就该祷告。不要讨论那情况，不要闲谈，也不要批评。只要祷告！照样，你若听见关于圣徒或长老的事，要为那人祷告。要有正确的召会生活，第一个必备的条件就是祷告。哦，我们都需要实行这事！我们若操练自己有祷告的生活，召会就会活泼且拔高。若有人愿作今日的提摩太，领头祷告，别人会跟随。这可由羊群跟随几只头羊的方式作例证。你若作提摩太，领头祷告，你所在地的会众就会跟随。
3If we would be a Timothy, we must take the lead not to argue, gossip, or criticize, but to pray. Whenever we hear some news, good or bad, concerning a particular church, we should pray. Do not discuss the situation, do not gossip about it, and do not criticize. Just pray! Likewise, if you hear something about a saint or about an elder, pray for that one. The first requirement to have a proper church life is to pray. Oh, we all need to practice this! If we exercise ourselves to have a prayer life, the church will be living and uplifted. If some would be today’s Timothys to take the lead to pray, the others will follow. This can be illustrated by the way a flock of sheep follows the few who take the lead. If you, as a Timothy, take the lead to pray, the congregation in your locality will follow.
4我们不该说这么多，甚至不该作这么多，而该更多祷告。你若听见圣徒软弱或退后，不要谈论那人，也不要批评他；此外，不要立刻去看望他，而要为他祷告。你该不该看望他，在于主的引导。你为这事祷告以后，主若引导你看望那人，就跟随主去看望他。但不要擅自作任何事情。主若没有引导你看望退后的圣徒，你就不该凭自己看望他。甚至在看望圣徒上，我们也可能是僭越的。看望退后的圣徒，若离了祷告和主的引导，凭我们自己作，的确是僭越的罪。但若藉著我们的祷告，主确实引导我们看望某人，那个看望就会有果效。每当我们听见圣徒中间的难处，我们也该祷告。我们不该认为自己是老练的，并有资格解决难处。这样的态度不但是僭越的，也是亵渎的，因这乃是把我们自己当作神。我们若知道弟兄们中间的难处，就应当在我们的祷告中将这事带到主面前。长老们照顾召会，应当作的第一件事就是祷告。不要没有祷告就作决定。也不要不先为某人祷告，就批评他或称赞他。在作任何事情之前，我们都需要祷告。不仅如此，我们的祷告不该轻率或肤浅；我们的祷告必须透彻。惟有我们为一件事透彻祷告以后，才应当为这事作决定，不是凭我们自己单独行事，乃是与主是一并照著祂的引导。长老们若这样实行，我们所在地的召会生活就会拔高并正确。
4Instead of talking so much and even instead of working so much, we should pray more. Should you hear that a saint is weak or backsliding, do not talk about that person, and do not criticize him. Moreover, do not immediately go to visit him. Instead, pray for him. Whether or not you should visit him depends on the Lord’s leading. After you pray about the matter, if the Lord leads you to visit that one, simply follow the Lord and visit him. But do not do anything presumptuously. If the Lord does not lead you to visit a backsliding saint, you should not visit him on your own. It is possible that even in visiting the saints we may be presumptuous. Yes, visiting a backsliding saint is a presumptuous sin if it is done in ourselves apart from prayer and the Lord’s leading. But if through our prayer the Lord definitely leads us to visit a certain one, that visitation will be effective. We should also pray whenever we hear of problems among the saints. We should not presume that we are experienced and qualified to solve problems. Such an attitude is not only presumptuous; it is also blasphemous, for it is to consider ourselves as God. If we learn about a problem between brothers, we should bring this matter to the Lord in our prayer. The first thing the elders should do in caring for the church is pray. Do not make decisions without praying. Do not either criticize someone or praise him without first praying for him. Before doing anything, we need to pray. Furthermore, our prayers should not be light or superficial; they must be thorough. Only after we have prayed for a matter thoroughly should we make a decision concerning it, not by ourselves independently, but in oneness with the Lord and according to His leading. If the elders practice in this way the church life in our locality will be uplifted and proper.
5倪弟兄常常告诉我们，读圣经需要摸著作者的灵。白纸黑字的圣经可比喻为人的身体，作者的灵可比喻为身体中的生命或灵。在圣经的『身体』里面，有作者的灵。我们若摸著提前二章一至七节里保罗的灵，就会感觉他的负担：在召会生活里领头的人，必须有祷告的生活。在这些经文里，保罗似乎告诉提摩太：『我已给你看见神经纶的清楚图画，及其如何与不同的教训相对。我也已向你指出，主在祂的怜悯里，使我成为祂经纶的榜样。我也已郑重的嘱咐你，要为神的经纶打那美好的仗。如今在我灵里深处有负担劝你要祷告。我劝你要为万人祈求、祷告、代求、感谢。不要以为教导在祷告之前。不，祷告必须是第一，教导是其次。』保罗在二章一节题起祈求、祷告、代求和感谢。祷告是一般的，带著敬拜和交通的成分；祈求是专一的，为著特殊的需要。代求，原文意，个人倾心吐意的亲近神。即在神面前关心别人的事，为他们求益处。此外，我们必须献上感谢。我们听见关于某些召会、长老、或圣徒的好消息，常常称赞他们，却没有为他们感谢神。某一召会的情况若美好，那是因著神，不是因著召会。照样，某一长老或圣徒若作得好，也是因著神的恩典。所以，我们不该称赞召会或个人，而该感谢神。
5Brother Nee often told us that in reading the Bible we need to touch the spirit of the writer. The Bible in black and white letters can be likened to a human body, and the writer’s spirit can be likened to the life, or to the spirit, in the body. Within the “body” of the Bible, there is the writer’s spirit. If we touch Paul’s spirit in 2:1-7, we shall sense his burden that those who take the lead in the church life must have a prayer life. In these verses Paul seems to be telling Timothy, “I have shown you a clear picture of God’secon o my and how it is versus different teachings. I have also pointed out to you that, in His mercy, the Lord has made me a pattern of His economy. I have also charged you solemnly to war the good warfare on behalf of God’secon o my. Now deep in my spirit is the burden to exhort you to pray. I exhort that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men. Do not think that teaching comes before prayer. No, prayer must be first, and teaching, second.” In 2:1 Paul mentions petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings. Prayer is general, with the essence of worship and fellowship. Petitions are special and are for particular needs. The Greek word rendered “intercessions” means approach to God in a personal and confiding manner, that is, intervening, interfering, before God in others’ affairs for their benefit. In addition, we must offer thanksgiving. Often when we hear good news about certain churches, elders, or saints, we praise them instead of giving thanks to God for them. If the situation in a certain church is good, it is because of God, not because of the church. Likewise, if a particular elder or saint is doing well, it also is because of God’s grace. Therefore, instead of praising a church or a person, we should give thanks to God.
6保罗题起祈求、祷告、代求、感谢时，他的灵对祷告的重要非常有负担。他要他亲爱的属灵孩子祷告。我要一再强调这个事实，惟有我们有祷告的生活，才能有正确的召会生活。我能见证，我的祷告从未像已过几年这么多。我也能见证，我看见我的祷告得著确实的答应。最近，我的活动暂时受限制，使我能休息，并顾到我的健康。我听见某些需要，就为这些需要祷告。可能主限制我，使我对祷告比工作更重要的事实有深刻的印象。愿我们都学习这功课：要有美好召会生活的路乃是祷告。这是要紧的。我们的谈话若转为祷告，我们所在地的召会就会变化。
6In mentioning petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, Paul’s spirit was very burdened concerning the importance of prayer. He wanted his dear spiritual children to pray. Again and again I would emphasize the fact that we can have a proper church life only if we have a prayer life. I can testify that I have never prayed more than I have during the past several years. I can also testify that I have seen definite answers to my prayers. Recently, my activity was limited for a time so that I could rest and care for my health. When I heard about certain needs, I prayed for them. Perhaps the Lord limited me that He might impress me with the fact that prayer is more important than work. May we all learn the lesson that the way to have a good church life is to pray. This is crucial. If our talking is turned into praying, the church in our locality will be transformed.
敬虔庄重
godliness and gravity
7保罗指出我们该为万人祷告以后，就继续说，我们『为君王和一切有权位的也该如此，使我们可以十分敬虔庄重的过平静安宁的生活』。平静安宁的生活，是一种不仅在外面环境上，连里面的心和灵，都是平静安宁，没有搅扰的生活，使我们可以敬虔庄重的过可享受的召会生活。敬虔，即像神，与神相像，彰显神。基督徒的生活，该是在凡事上彰显神并有神样式的生活。庄重，指一种在人格上配得极度尊敬的品格，含示尊严，引起并博得别人的尊重。敬虔是彰显神，庄重是向著人。我们基督徒的生活，该以一种博得人极度尊敬的可敬品格，向人彰显神。
7After pointing out that we should pray on behalf of all men, Paul goes on to say that we should pray “on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.” A tranquil and quiet life is one that is peaceable, still, and without disturbance, not only outwardly in circumstances, but also inwardly in our heart and spirit, that we may have an enjoyable church life in godliness and gravity. Godliness is God-likeness; it is to be like God and to express Him. The Christian life should be a life which expresses God and bears God’s likeness in all things. Gravity is a qualification of human character which is worthy of utmost respect; it implies dignity and inspires and invites honor. Godliness is the expression of God; gravity is toward man. Our Christian life should express God toward man with an honorable character that invites man’s utmost respect
我们的救主神
OUR SAVIOR GOD
8提前二章三节说，『这在我们的救主神面前，是美好且蒙悦纳的。』在这封书信里保罗强调救主神。因此，在本节里他不是说到恩典的神，也不是说到怜悯的神，乃是说到救主神，拯
8Verse 3 says, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God.” In this Epistle Paul emphasizes the Savior God. Hence, in this verse he speaks not of the God of grace, nor of the God of mercy, but of the Savior God, the God who saves us
9救我们的神。
9
神的愿望
GOD’S DESIRE
10在四节保罗说，神愿意万人得救，并且完全认识真理。我们该为万人祷告，因为我们的救主神愿意万人得救，并且认识真理。神的愿望需要我们的祷告使其实现。
10In verse 4 Paul says that God desires all men to be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth. We should pray on behalf of all men because God our Savior desires all men to be saved and know the truth. Our prayer is required for the carrying out of God’s desire
11神也愿意得救的人完全认识真理。真理意即实际，指神话语所启示一切真实的事物，主要的是作神具体化身的基督，以及作基督身体的召会。得救的人对这些事都该有完全的认识，完整的领会。
11God desires all men not only to be saved, but also to have the full knowledge of the truth. Truth means reality, denoting all the real things revealed in God’sWord, which are mainly Christ as the embodiment of God and the church as the Body of Christ. Every saved person should have a full knowledge, a complete realization, of these things
12写给提摩太两封书信的目的，是要对付召会的败落。在前书，败落是藉著与神的经纶不同的教训（一3）狡诈的偷著进来；在后书，败落已经公开发展，并因著异端更为恶化。（二16～18。）要对付这样的败落，就必须维持真理。前书强调神愿意所有蒙祂拯救的人，都完全认识真理，并强调召会是真理的柱石和根基。（三。）后书强调应当正直的分解真理的话，（二15，）并强调偏离的人该回到真理上。（25。）
12The object of the two Epistles to Timothy is to deal with the church’s decline. In the first Epistle the decline crept in subtly through differing teachings (1:3), and in the second, it developed openly and became worse through the heresies (2:16-18). To deal with such a decline the truth must be maintained. The first Epistle emphasizes that God desires all His saved ones to have the full knowledge of the truth and that the church is the pillar and base of the truth (3:15). The second Epistle stresses that the word of the truth 15 should be rightly unfolded (2 Tim. 2:15), and that the deviated ones should return to the truth (2 Tim. 2:25).
一位中保
ONE MEDIATOR
13在提前二章五节保罗继续说，『因为只有一位神，在神和人中间，也只有一位中保，就是那人基督耶稣。』在本节里保罗明白的说，只有一位神。神虽是三一─父、子、灵，但祂仍是一位神，不是三位神，像许多基督徒所误认并误信的。
13In 1 Timothy 2:5 Paul continues, “For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus.” In this verse Paul explicitly says that there is one God. Although God is Triune—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit—He is still the one God, not three Gods, as mistakenly realized and believed by many Christians
14在本节里保罗也告诉我们，在神和人中间，只有一位中保。中保即中间人。这一位中保就是那人基督耶稣。从永远主耶稣就是神。（约一1。）在时间里祂藉著成为肉体成了人。（14。）当祂在地上生活为人时，祂也是神。（三16。）祂复活后，仍然是人也是神。（徒七56，约二十28。）因此，只有祂彀资格作神和人之间的中保，中间人。
14In this verse Paul also tells us that there is one Mediator of God and men. A mediator is a go-between. The one Mediator is the Man, Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus was God from eternity (John 1:1). In time He became a man through incarnation (John 1:14). While He was living on earth as a man, He was also God (1 Tim. 3:16). After resurrection He was still man as well as God (Acts 7:56; John 20:28). Hence, He is the only One qualified to be the Mediator, the go-between, of God and men
15在适当的时期，这事就证明出来提前二章六节说，『祂舍了自己，为万人作赎价，在适当的时期，这事就证明出来。』舍，直译，给。基督要作我们的中保，就必须舍了祂自己为万人成功救赎。赎价，原文意，赔偿所付的赎价。祂有资格作神和人之间的中保，不仅是在祂神圣和属人的身位上，也是在祂救赎的工作上。祂的身位和工作都是独一无二的。
15THE TESTIMONY BORNE IN ITS OWN TIMES Verse 6 says, “Who gave Himself a ransom on behalf of all, the testimony to be borne in its own times.” Christ gave Himself a ransom for the accomplishment of redemption for all men. This was necessary in order for Christ to be our Mediator. The Greek word for ransom means payment in recompense. He is qualified to be the Mediator between God and man, not only in His divine and human Person, but also in His redemptive work. Both His Person and work are unique
16在本节里保罗说到『在适当的时期，这事就证明出来』。基督舍了自己，为万人作赎价，这事实成了一个见证，要在适当的时期证明出来。无论何时这事实被宣告，那就是这见证在适当的时期向人证明出来。譬如，这事实在非洲被传讲，那自然就成了在适当的时期向非洲人证明出来的见证。事实的传讲总是自然而然的成为事实的见证。保罗在小亚细亚传讲，那就是在适当的时期，这事就证明出来。他接受马其顿的呼召，并开始在东欧传讲，也是如此。那是这见证在那里被宣告的适当时候。无论何时基督成为肉体并为众人死的事实被宣告，那就是在适当的时期，这事就传讲、证明出来。
16In this verse Paul speaks of “the testimony to be borne in its own times.” This is in apposition to the preceding clause; that is, the fact that Christ gave Himself a ransom for all men becomes the testimony to be rendered in its own times. Whenever this fact is proclaimed, it is a testimony to be rendered to men in its own times. For example, when this fact was preached in Africa, that automatically became a testimony rendered to men in Africa in its own times. The preaching of the fact is always spontaneously a testimony of the fact. When Paul preached in Asia Minor, that was the testimony borne in its own times. The same was true when he received the Macedonian call and began to preach in eastern Europe. That was the proper time for the testimony to be declared there. Whenever the facts of Christ’sin carnation and death on behalf of all are proclaimed, that is the preaching, the testimony, borne in its own times
保罗的三重身分
PAUL’STRIP LEST AT US
17保罗在七节下结论说，『我为此被派，在信仰和真理上，作传扬者，作使徒，（我说的是真话，并不是谎言，）作外邦人的教师。』传扬者乃是传扬基督的福音，正式宣告神新约经纶的人。使徒乃是受神差遣，带著神圣的托付，为神设立召会的人，是神差到世上的大使，为著完成神的定旨。教师乃是教导、解说并说明神永远定旨和神新约经纶之内容的教导者。保罗为著外邦人有这三重的身分和使命。
17In verse 7 Paul concludes, “For which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I speak the truth, I do not lie), a teacher of the nations in faith and truth.” A herald is a proclaimer of the gospel of Christ, an official reporter of God’s New Testament economy; an apostle is one sent by God with a divine commission to set up churches for God, an ambassador from God to the world for the carrying out of His purpose; and a teacher is a tutor who defines, explains, and teaches the contents of God’s eternal purpose and His New Testament economy. Paul had such a triple status and commission for the nations, the Gentiles
信仰和真理
faith and truth
18保罗在信仰和真理上有这样的身分。信仰在此指那在基督里的信仰，（三，加三23～25，）真理指新约所启示神经纶中一切事物的实际。这与提前四章三节相符，就是相信并且完全认识真理的人。保罗被派作新约的传扬者、使徒和教师，乃是在这信仰和真理的范围与元素里，不是在旧约律法、豫表和豫言的范围与元素里。
18Paul had such a status in faith and truth. Faith here refers to the faith in Christ (Gal. 3:23-26), and truth refers to the reality of all the things revealed in the 13 New Testament. This corresponds to 4:3, those who believe and “have fully known the truth.” It is in the sphere and element of this faith and truth, not of the law, types, and prophecies of the Old Testament, that Paul was appointed a herald, an apostle, and a teacher of the New Testament.
成为肉体的原则
THE PRINCIPLE OF INCARNATION
19本篇信息的题目是『为人得救的祷告，以完成神的愿望』。神虽有这样的愿望、心意要拯救人，但祂惟有藉著成为肉体的原则才能达成祂的愿望。这就是说，祂无法直接拯救人；祂必须藉著我们作这事。甚至天使也没有被神指派，有这样的使命以实现神的愿望。这使命只信托人。为著实现这使命，我们需要祷告。根据行传十章所说，彼得和哥尼流都在祷告。彼得在房顶上祷告，哥尼流在他家中祷告。祷告从双方升到神的宝座，以实现神的愿望。藉著这祷告，神就能成就祂的愿望，拯救外邦人。头一个得救的外邦人家，就是哥尼流家。这一个例子显示，为著实现神叫人得救的愿望，我们的祷告是要紧的。
19The title of this message is “Prayer to Carry Out God’s Desire for Man’sS alvation.” Although God has such a desire, a heart, to save people, He can fulfill His desire only through the principle of incarnation. This means that He cannot save people directly; He must do it through us. Not even the angels have been appointed by God with such a commission for the carrying out of God’s desire. This commission has been entrusted only to man. For the carrying out of this commission, we need to pray. According to Acts 10, both Peter and Cornelius were praying. Peter was praying on the housetop, and Cornelius was praying in his house. From both sides, prayer ascended to the throne of God for the carrying out of God’s desire. By means of this prayer, God could accomplish His desire to save the Gentiles. The first Gentile household to be saved was that of Cornelius. This one example shows that our prayer is crucial for the carrying out of God’s desire for man’ss alvation