提摩太前书生命读经 · 第7篇

召会败落的豫言

The Prediction of the Decline of the Church

1读经：提摩太前书四章一至五节。在本篇信息中，我们要看提前四章一至五节所陈明召会败落的豫言。

1Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 4:1-5 In this message we shall consider the prediction of the decline of the church as presented in 4:1-5

壹那灵的豫言

I. THE SPIRIT’SPR EDICT I ON

2在四章一节保罗说，『但那灵明说，在后来的时期，必有人离弃信仰，去注意迷惑人的灵和鬼的教训。』本节开始于『但』字的事实指明，以下的话与三章十五至十六节所说的相对。在三章末了，保罗达到提摩太前后书、提多书、和腓利门书的高峰，陈明召会荣耀的图画。然而，在提前四章一至五节，他描述一些非常黑暗的事，是与三章十五至十六节的情况极其相对的事。

2In 4:1 Paul says, “But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.” The fact that this verse begins with the word “but” indicates that what follows is in contrast to what is mentioned in 3:15 and 16. At the end of chapter three, Paul reached the high point of the four Epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, presenting a glorious picture of the church. However, in 4:1-5, he describes something very dark, something much in contrast to the situation in 3:15 and 16

3在四章一节保罗用『那灵明说』这辞。这就是那住在我们灵里，并在我们灵里向我们说话的灵。（罗八9～11，。）我们需要操练我们的灵，使其敏锐清明，能听那灵说话，并蒙保守避开迷惑人的灵和鬼的教训。许多在今天灵恩运动里的人，跟随旧约的豫言方式，说，『耶和华如此说。』这种说法在新约里找不著。在新约里我们看见成为肉体的原则。照这原则，神不是直接说话，祂乃是藉著人说话。首先，神在耶稣基督里成为肉体并与人调和。现今在基督的死与复活之后，祂就能与相信基督的人成为一灵。林前六章十七节保罗宣告：『与主联合的，便是与主成为一灵。』这是指调和的灵，就是与人重生之灵调和的神圣的灵。在新约里，说话的是这调和4:1的灵。为这缘故，提前四章一节不是说，『神的灵说，』也不是说，『圣灵说；』这节乃是说，『那灵明说…。』照著新约里所启示成为肉体的原则，这含示我们的灵。我们看过，成为肉体的原则意思是神性带到人性里，并同著人性作工。因此，那灵说话时，祂就在我们的灵里，藉著我们的灵，并从我们的灵说出话来。照著新约的原则，倘若没有真正与说话的神成为一灵的人，神就无法说话。

3In 4:1 Paul uses the expression “the Spirit says expressly.” This is the Spirit who dwells in our spirit and speaks to us there (Rom. 8:9-11, 16). We need to exercise our spirit that it may become keen and clear 16 to listen to the Spirit’s speaking and be kept from the deceiving spirits and teachings of demons. Many in today’s Pentecostal movement follow the Old Testament way of prophesying and say, “Thus saith the Lord.” This expression cannot be found in the New Testament. In the New Testament we see the principle of incarnation. According to this principle, God does not speak directly. Rather, He speaks through man. First, in Jesus Christ God became incarnated and mingled with man. Now after the death and resurrection of Christ, it is possible for Him to be one spirit with those who believe in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:17 Paul declares, “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” This refers to the mingled spirit, the divine Spirit mingled with the regenerated human spirit. In the New Testament it is this mingled spirit which does the speaking. For this reason, does not say, “The Spirit of God says,” nor, “The Holy Spirit says.” Instead, this verse reads, “The Spirit says. …” According to the principle of incarnation revealed in the New Testament, this implies our spirit. We have seen that the principle of incarnation means that divinity is brought into humanity and works with humanity. Hence, when the Spirit speaks, He speaks within our spirit, through our spirit, and out from our spirit. If there were no one who was truly one spirit with the speaking God, there would be no way, according to the New Testament principle, for God to speak.

4保罗领头与主成为一灵。因为保罗这样与祂是一，他就能为主说7许多话。在林前七章保罗明确的说，关于某件事他没有从主来的话，但他既蒙主怜悯成为忠信的，就题出他的意见，他的判断。（25。）然而今天我们读这段圣经，就看见保罗的话事实上就是主的话。保罗说话时，那经过过程成为那灵，并与保罗重生的灵调和的三一神，就从他里面说话。今天我们里面也有这样一个调和的灵。那灵明说，乃是藉著并在这调和的灵里。提前四章一节是三章十五至十六节的4:1延续。毫无疑问，这些后面的经文是保罗的话。现今在四章一节保罗说，那灵明说。那灵在那里说话？毫无疑问，那灵从保罗里面说话。保罗写信给提摩太，说到召会是神的家，真理的柱石和根基，也是敬虔的极大奥秘，那灵就在他的灵里说话。这不是那忽然降临在我们身上，并使我们豫言『耶和华如此说』的灵。在四章一节，那灵的说话是照著成为肉体的原则。那灵从保罗的灵里说话。我们若要听见那灵的说话，就需要运用我们的灵。惟有我们的灵能听那灵的说话。心思对此不彀资格；牠缺少听那灵说话的性能。那灵向我们的灵说话，而我们的灵回应那灵。所以，我们读提摩太前书时，必须运用我们的灵，听那从使徒保罗的灵里说话的灵。

4Paul took the lead to be one spirit with the Lord. Because he was one with Him in this way, Paul was able to speak a great deal for the Lord. In 1 Corinthians Paul says definitely that concerning a particular matter he does not have a word from the Lord, but that he gives his opinion, his judgment, as one who has received the mercy of the Lord to be faithful (v. 25). But as we read this portion of the Bible today, we see that Paul’sword is in fact the word of the Lord. When Paul spoke, the Triune God, who has been processed to become the Spirit and who was mingled with Paul’s regenerated spirit, spoke from within him. We also have such a mingled spirit within us today. It is in and through this mingled spirit that the Spirit speaks expressly. First Timothy 4:1 is a continuation of 3:15 and 16. No doubt, these latter verses were Paul’swords. Now in Paul says that the Spirit speaks expressly. Where was the Spirit speaking? There can be no doubt that the Spirit was speaking from within Paul. As Paul was writing to Timothy about the church as the house of God, the pillar and base of the truth, and the great mystery of godliness, the Spirit was speaking in his spirit. This is not the Spirit who suddenly descends upon us and causes us to prophesy, “Thus saith the Lord.” The speaking of the Spirit in 4:1 is according to the way of incarnation. The Spirit spoke from within Paul’s spirit. If we would hear the speaking of the Spirit, we need to exercise our spirit. Only our spirit can listen to the speaking of the Spirit. The mind is not qualified for this; it lacks the ability to listen to the Spirit’s speaking. The Spirit speaks to our spirit, and our spirit responds to the Spirit. Therefore, as we read 1 Timothy, we must exercise our spirit to listen to the Spirit speaking from within the spirit of the Apostle Paul.

贰离弃信仰

II. DEPARTING FROM THE FAITH

5按照四章一节，那灵说，在后来的时期，必有人离弃信仰。后来的时期，指提摩太前书写成之后的时期。这与提后三章一节『末后的日子』不同，那是指今世结束的时期。

5According to 4:1, the Spirit says that in later times some will depart from the faith. The later times, or after times, refer to times after the writing of this book. This differs from the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1, which denote the closing period of this age

6保罗写提摩太前书时，领悟在要来的时期，必有人离弃信仰。四章一节的信仰是客观的，乃指我们所信的内容。一面，保罗放胆并受到鼓励，一点也不失望。他信召会是活神的家，真理的柱石和根基，甚至是敬虔的奥秘。另一面，在他灵里深处，他知道有些所谓的信徒会离弃信仰，离弃神新约的经纶。保罗能知道这点，因为与他的灵调和的那灵，将这事启示给他。这样离弃神新约的经纶，将是召会生活败落的开始。

6As he was writing this Epistle, Paul realized that in time to come some would depart from the faith. In this verse the faith is objective and refers to the contents of our belief. On the one hand, Paul was bold and encouraged, not in the least disappointed. He believed that the church was the house of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth, and even the mystery of godliness. On the other hand, deep within his spirit, he knew that certain so - called believers would depart from the faith, from God’s New Testament economy. Paul could know this because the Spirit who was mingled with his spirit revealed it to him. This departure from God’s New Testament economy would be the beginning of the decline of the church life.

7保罗说，离弃信仰的人会去注意迷惑人的灵和鬼的教训。许多基督徒不领悟，照著圣经，有两类邪灵。四章一节里，迷惑人的灵与那灵相对，如约壹四章一节、三节、六节所说的。这些灵乃是跟随撒但背叛，成为他属下的堕落天使，为他黑暗的国作工。（太二五41，弗六12。）这些鬼是在亚当以前的世代，参与撒但的背叛，而受神审判之地上活类污秽、邪恶的灵。（太十二，43，路八2，见创世记生命读经第二篇。）牠们受审判后，就成了鬼，在地上为撒但的国作工。鬼与迷惑人的灵、堕落的天使不同。堕落的天使是在空中，而鬼是在地上活动。保罗在提前四章一节说到空中迷惑人的灵和地上的鬼。今天在基督徒中间，有来自空中迷惑人的灵那些迷惑人的道理，也有起源于鬼的教训。召会的历史已证明保罗的说法是对的：这样的教训和道理会进来，并且离弃信仰的人会去注意牠们。在二节保罗继续说，『这乃是藉著说谎之人的假冒，他们自己的良心犹如给热铁烙过。』『这乃是藉著说谎之人的假冒，』这话是形容一节鬼的教训。鬼的教训是藉著说谎之人的假冒得以施行的。这指明鬼和说谎的人合作迷惑人。这些假冒为善的人与邪灵和鬼同工，带进迷惑人的教训和鬼的道理。

7Paul says that those who depart from the faith will give heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons. Many Christians do not realize that, according to the Bible, there are two categories of evil spirits. The deceiving spirits in 4:1 are in contrast to the Spirit, as mentioned in 1 John 4:1, 3, and 6. These are the fallen angels who followed Satan in his rebellion and became his subordinates, who work for his kingdom of darkness (Matt. 25:41; Eph. 6:12). Demons are the unclean and evil spirits (Matt. 12:22, 43; Luke 8:2) of the living creatures on earth in the pre - adamic age who joined Satan’s rebellion and were judged by 22 God (see Life-study of Genesis, Message Two). After being judged, they became demons, working on earth for Satan’s kingdom. The demons differ from the deceiving spirits, the fallen angels. The fallen angels are in the air, whereas the demons are active on earth. In verse 1 Paul speaks of both the deceiving spirits in the air and the demons on earth. Among Christians today there are deceptive doctrines which come from the deceiving spirits in the air and also teachings which originate with demons. The history of the church has proved that Paul was right in saying that such teachings and doctrines would come in and that those who depart from the faith would give heed to them. In verse 2 Paul continues, “In the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.” The phrase “in the hypocrisy of men who speak lies” modifies teachings of demons in verse 1. The teachings of demons are carried out in the hypocrisy of those who lie. This indicates that demons and lying speakers collaborate to deceive people. These hypocrites work together with evil spirits and demons to bring in deceitful teachings and demonic doctrines.

8假冒说谎之人的良心已经失去知觉，犹如给热铁烙过一般；这指主人在奴隶和牲畜身上烙印的热铁。提摩太前书著重的强调良心。在召会生活里，与嫉妒、分争相对的爱，是出于无亏的良心。（一5。）那些丢弃无亏良心的人，在信仰上犹如船破。（19。）在召会中服事的人，必须用清洁的良心持守信仰的奥秘。（三9。）持守无亏、清洁的良心，就是保持良心的功用敏锐。这会保护我们远离迷惑人的说谎者那些属鬼、假冒的教训。

8The conscience of hypocritical liars has lost its sense as if seared with a hot branding iron, an iron used to brand the slaves and cattle of a certain owner. This book strongly stresses the conscience. In the church life the love which is contrary to envy and discord is of a good conscience (1:5). Those who thrust away a good conscience become shipwrecked regarding the faith (1:19). The serving ones in the church must hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience (3:9). To keep a good and pure conscience is to keep the conscience sensitive in its function. This will safeguard us from the demonic and hypocritical teachings of deceiving liars.

9我年轻的时候，相信任何见证自己是基督徒的人。有一天，倪弟兄指出有些基督徒说谎的事实。我希奇基督徒如何能成为说谎者。圣经说，撒但是说谎者的父。（约八44。）至终我从经历知道，基督徒会说谎。在这些说谎基督徒的事例中，似乎他们的良心被烙过，并失去了功用。今天许多关于我们的谎言，乃是基督徒散布的；有些人甚至出版这些谎言。但我们的良心见证，我们在主的恢复里，的确相信圣经所启示的真理，可能比其他的基督徒更相信。我们在主的恢复里不但该认识神的经纶，也该认识撒但邪恶的计谋。我们必须看见，在提前三章末了与四章开头所描述的情况之间尖锐的对比。我们需要分辨，清明自守，并且清楚关于今天的基督教与主的恢复之间的不同。我们也必须知道魔鬼藉著邪灵、鬼、和假冒为善的说谎者所作的。四章三节说，『他们禁止嫁娶，禁戒食物，就是神所造，给那些信的人，并认识真理的人，感谢著享受的。』嫁娶和饮食都是神所命定的。饮食是为著人类的生存，嫁娶是为著人类的延续与繁增。撒但一面使人放纵肉体的情欲，滥用这两件事；另一面又过分强调禁欲主义，禁止人嫁娶，禁戒某些食物。这是鬼的教训！嫁娶是神所命定的，以完成神对人的定旨。食物是维持人类生存在地上所需要的，以成就神的定旨。撒但藉著迷惑人的灵和鬼的教训，连同假冒者与说谎者的合作，企图败坏这些事，使人若不是藉著放纵而滥用这些事，就是实行禁欲主义。

9When I was young, I had confidence in anyone who testified that he was a Christian. One day, Brother Nee pointed out the fact that some Christians lie. I wondered how a Christian could be a liar. The Bible says that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). Eventually I learned from experience that Christians can lie. In the case of these lying Christians, it seems as if their conscience has been seared and has lost its function. Today many lies have been spread about us by Christians. Some have even gone so far as to put these lies into print. But our conscience testifies that we in the Lord’s recovery surely believe the truth revealed in the Bible, perhaps more than other Christians. We in the Lord’s recovery should not only know God’s dispensation, but should also know Satan’s evil plot. We must see the sharp contrast between the situation at the end of chapter three and that described at the beginning of chapter four. We need to be discerning, sober - minded, and clear concerning the difference between today’s Christianity and the Lord’s recovery. We must also know what the Devil is doing through evil spirits, demons, and those who speak lies in hypocrisy. Verse 3 says, “Forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from foods which God has created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who believe and have fully known the truth.” Marriage and eating were ordained by God. Eating is for the existence of mankind, and marriage for the continuation and multiplication of mankind. Satan, on the one hand, causes men to abuse these two things in the indulgence of their lustful flesh; on the other hand, he causes men to be unbalanced in the way of asceticism by forbidding marriage and the eating of certain foods. This is a demonic teaching! Marriage was ordained by God for the carrying out of God’s purpose with man. Food is necessary to sustain mankind to exist on earth for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. But Satan, through the deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons with the collaboration of hypocrites and liars, seeks to destroy these things, either causing people to abuse them through indulgence or to practice asceticism.

参关于食物的真理

III. THE TRUTH CONCERNING FOOD

10在三节保罗说到『食物，就是神所造，给…人，感谢著享受的』。一切可吃之物都是神所造，给人养生的。我们应当向神存感恩的心，感谢著享受。

10In verse 3 Paul speaks of “foods which God has created to be partaken of with thanksgiving.” All edible things were created by God for men to live on. We should partake of them with thanksgiving to God out of a grateful heart

11因为一切的食物都是神赐给我们的，我们就应当感谢著领受。我们享受食物时，应当说，『主，感谢你。』然而，我们不必跟从所谓谢饭的传统仪式。一面，我不赞同实行这样的仪式；另一面，我不赞同忽略为著祂所赐给我们的食物感谢祂。我能见证我一再为著我的食物感谢主。我甚至为著一杯水感谢祂，并且说，『主，这水是你所赐的，我为此感谢你。』实行『谢饭』的人通常在开始吃饭以前这样作。但我们不但应当在吃饭以前感谢主，在享受的时候，并在吃完饭以后，也应当为著我们的食物感谢主。不仅如此，我们可以为著所吃的每样东西表达我们的感谢。神所造的食物，是应当『给那些信的人，并认识真理的人，感谢著享受的』。信是为著得救，因而开始属灵的生命；认识真理是看见神在祂经纶上的定旨，并在属灵生命上长大以致成熟。神愿意万人得救，并且完全认识真理。（二4。）这里的真理就是神新约的经纶。我们是因著相信主耶稣作救恩而得救的人，也是认识神关于基督是神的奥秘，以及召会是基督的奥秘这经纶的内容、实际的人，就该为著我们所吃的一切食物而感谢。相信并认识真理的人，有资格感谢著领受他们的食物。我们知道我们是为著神，并为著祂的定旨活在地上的。因此，我们领受祂为著我们养生所豫备的一切，并为这一切感谢祂。在四章四至五节保罗继续说，『因为凡神所造的都是好的，若感谢著领受，就没有一样是可弃的，都藉著神的话和人的代求，成为圣别了。』『凡神所造的都是好的，』这与智慧派以及某种禁欲的教训相反；前者教导人有些受造之物是邪恶的，后者吩咐人要禁戒某些食物。有些人坚持我们该只吃蔬菜，不吃肉。但照著保罗的话，凡神所造的都是好的。

11Because all food is God’s gift to us, we should receive it with thanksgiving. As we partake of our food, we should say, “Lord, thank You.” However, we do not have to follow the traditional ritual of saying a so-called word of grace. On the one hand, I do not agree with the practice of such a ritual; on the other hand, I do not agree with neglecting to thank the Lord for the food He has given us. I can testify that I thank the Lord again and again for my food. I even thank Him for a glass of water and say, “Lord, this water is a gift from You, and I thank You for it.” Those who practice saying “grace” usually do so before they start eating. But we should thank the Lord for our food not only before we eat it, but also while we are partaking of it and when we have finished our meal. Furthermore, we may express our thanks for each particular item we eat. The foods God has created should be partaken of with thanksgiving “by those who believe and have fully known the truth.” To believe is to be saved and thus begin in the spiritual life. To have fully known the truth is to realize God’s purpose in His economy and to grow unto maturity in the spiritual life. God desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth (2:4). The truth here is God’s New Testament economy. As those who are saved by believing in the Lord Jesus for salvation and who know the content, the reality, of God’secon o my concerning Christ as the mystery of God and the church as the mystery of Christ, we should be thankful for all the food we eat. Those who believe and who know the truth are qualified to receive their food with thanksgiving. We know that we are living on earth for God and for His purpose. Thus, we receive what He has prepared for our sustenance, and we thank Him for it all. In verses 4 and 5 Paul goes on to say, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, being received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified through the word of God and intercession.” The statement that “every creature of God is good” is contrary both to Gnosticism, which teaches that some created things are evil, and to ascetic teachings that command men to abstain from certain foods. Some insist that we should eat only vegetables and not meat. But according to Paul’sword, every creature of God is good

12不仅如此，保罗说，『没有一样是可弃的，』已过人供应我某些广东口味的食物时，我就礼貌的说，『不，谢谢你。』尤其我不吃乌龟、蛇或田鸡，我就是不能吃那些东西。但照著保罗的话，我们不该弃绝祂所造的任何东西，而该感谢著领受一切。在五节保罗下结论说，『都藉著神的话和人的代求，成为圣别了。』我们所吃的一切食物，都能藉著神的话和人的代求，为著神的定旨圣别、分别归神。这里神的话，指我们祷告中对神说的话，其中可能部分引自圣经，部分是我们听到或读到的信息。本节的代求，指我们为著所享用的食物向神的祷告，这使我们的食物从凡俗中圣别出来，并且为著神的定旨，将食物圣别归神，好滋养我们，使我们为祂而活。许多译本没有胆量用代求这辞，即使这是原文的意思；他们乃将原文译为祷告。但这里保罗明确的说，我们该为著我们的食物代求。我们是为著自己祷告，但我们是为著别人或为著某事代求。按照保罗在本节里的话，我们需要为著我们的食物代求，并求主圣别。每当我们坐下来吃的时候，该为著食物祷告，并为牠代求，说，『主，为著你的定旨圣别这食物，使牠滋养你的仆人。主，我相信，我也认识真理。我在地上这里是为著你和你的经纶。我需要这食物，我也祈求叫牠被圣别、分别归你自己，以完成你的经纶。』在神眼中，这样为著我们的食物代求之后，食物就成为圣别的。这是感谢著领受神所赐的食物正确的路。

12Furthermore, Paul says that “nothing is to be rejected.” In the past, I politely said, “No, thank you,” when I was served certain foods at Cantonese feasts. In particular, I declined to eat turtle, snake, or frogs. I simply was unable to eat those things. But according to Paul’sword, we should not reject anything created by Him, but receive all things with thanksgiving. In verse 5 Paul concludes, “For it is sanctified through the word of God and intercession.” All the food we eat can be sanctified, separated unto God for His purpose, through the word of God and intercession. Here the word of God refers to the word of our prayer addressed to God, of which part may be quotations from the Scriptures, or part, messages we hear and read. In this verse intercession refers to our prayer to God for the food we eat. Such prayer separates our food from being common and sanctifies it unto God for His purpose, that is, to nourish us that we may live for Him. Many versions do not have the boldness to use the word intercession, even though this is the meaning of the Greek word. Instead, they render the Greek word as prayer. But here Paul is definitely saying that we should make intercession for our food. We may pray for ourselves, but we intercede either for someone else or for something. According to Paul’sword in this verse, we need to intercede for our food and ask the Lord to sanctify it. Whenever we sit down to eat, we should pray for the food and make intercession for it, saying, “Lord, sanctify this food for Your purpose that it may nourish Your servant. Lord, I believe, and I know the truth. I am here on earth for You and for Your economy. I need this food, and I ask that it be sanctified, separated, to Yourself for the fulfillment of Your economy.” In the eyes of God, after intercession has been made for our food in this way, the food becomes holy. This is the proper way to receive our God-given food with thanksgiving