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提摩太后书生命读经 · 第5篇

败落的恶化

The Worsening of the Decline
1读经：提摩太后书三章一至十三节。提摩太后书的主题是对召会败落的豫防剂。保罗在引言（一1～2）之后，说到为著豫防剂的神圣供备：清洁的良心、无伪的信心、神圣的恩赐、刚强的灵、永远的恩典、不能朽坏的生命、健康的话、与内住的灵。（3～14。）然后他接著指出，败落的基本因素是离弃使徒和他的职事。（15～18。）在二章一至十五节保罗说到豫防者，指明豫防者必须是教师、精兵、竞赛者、农夫并工人。在二章后半他告诉我们败落的蔓衍，像毒疮一样。（16～26。）在三章保罗先说到败落的恶化，显示牠要成为迷惑人的艰难时期，（1～13，）然后说到豫防的抗毒剂─神圣的话。（14～17。）四章有三段：对豫防者的鼓励─要来的奖赏；（1～8；）败落的结果─爱现今的世代，并行许多的恶事；（9～18；）以及结语。（19～22。）我们若看提摩太后书的纲目，就会看见本书不是仅仅牧会书简，意即所谓牧师的书；反之，牠是为著豫防者所写的书，豫防者就是那些给人注射豫防剂以抵挡召会败落的人。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 3:1-13 The subject of 2 Timothy is inoculation against the decline of the church. After a word of introduction (1:1-2), Paul speaks of the divine provisions for the inoculation: a pure conscience, unfeigned faith, the divine gift, a strong spirit, eternal grace, incorruptible life, the healthy word, and the indwelling Spirit (1:3-14). Then he goes on to point out that the basic factor of the decline is the forsaking of the apostle and his ministry (1:15-18). In 2:1-15 Paul speaks of the inoculator, indicating that he must be a teacher, soldier, contender, husbandman, and workman. In the second half of chapter two he tells us of the spread of the decline, a spreading likened to that of gangrene (2:16-26). In chapter three Paul first speaks of the worsening of the decline, showing that it will become grievous times of deceiving (3:1-13), and then speaks of the antidote of the inoculation—the divine word (3:14-17). In chapter four there are three sections: the incentive to the inoculator—the coming reward (4:1- 8); the issue of the decline—loving the present age and doing many evil things (4:9-18); and the conclusion (4:19-22). If we consider the outline of 2 Timothy, we shall see that it is not merely a pastoral book, a book for so-called pastors. On the contrary, it is a book written for inoculators, those who would inoculate others against the decline of the church
壹 艰难的时期
I. THE DIFFICULT TIMES
一 在末后的日子来到
A. Coming in the Last Days
2三章开头的话说，『但你要知道，末后的日子必有艰难的时期来到。』保罗再次用『但』字指出对比。这里与前章末了所表明的盼望相对。在二章末了保罗宣告：『神坚固的根基立住了，』（19，）并且我们该『逃避青年人的私欲，同那清心呼求主的人，竭力追求公义、信、爱、和平』。（22。）不仅如此，我们若用温柔规劝那些抵挡的人，『或许神给他们悔改的心，得以认识真理；他们这些已被魔鬼活捉了去的，也可以醒悟过来，脱离他的网罗，归于神的旨意。』（25～26。）保罗晓得即使败落会蔓衍，神坚固的根基仍屹立不动摇，上面有这印记说，『主认识属于祂的人。』又说，『凡称呼主名的人，总要离开不义。』至少神会得著一班清心呼求主，并追求公义、信、爱、和平的余民。不仅如此，这样的人甚至可分赐对召会败落的豫防剂。不错，败落在蔓衍，但我们有坚固的立场，我们能享受主的丰富，并且能作豫防的工作，甚至使那些抵挡的人回转，得以认识真理。这就是使那些已被魔鬼活捉了去，并陷在他网罗里的人，归于神的旨意。这一切指明保罗并不沮丧。即使败落在蔓衍，我们也能积极行事，使别人豫防败落。
2Chapter three opens with the words, “But know this, that in the last days difficult times shall come.” Once again Paul uses the word “but” to point out a contrast. The contrast here is with the hope just expressed at the end of the preceding chapter. Toward the end of chapter two Paul declared that “the firm foundation of God stands” (v. 19), and that we should “flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (v. 22). Furthermore, if in meekness we correct those who oppose, “God may give them repentance unto the full knowledge of the truth, and they may return to soberness out of the snare of the Devil” (vv. 25-26). Paul realized that even though the decline would spread, the firm foundation of God still stands unshakable, bearing a seal which says, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” At least God would have a remnant of those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Furthermore, such ones may even dispense the inoculation against the church’s decline. Yes, the decline is spreading, but we have a firm standing, we can enjoy the riches of the Lord, and we can do the work of inoculation, even convincing those who oppose to come back to the full knowledge of the truth. This is to bring back those who have been caught by the Devil, and snared by him, to God’s will. All this indicates that Paul was not discouraged. Even though the decline is spreading, we can do something positively to inoculate others against it.
3然后与这一切相对的，保罗在三章一节说，『但你要知道，末后的日子必有艰难的时期来到。』保罗有先见和见识，知道艰难的时期在末后的日子必来到。末后的日子，指现今的世代，（彼后三3，犹18，）开始于基督的第一次来临，（彼前一20，）一直持续到基督的第二次显现。使徒们并没有得著启示，看见这时期要持续一段长时间；（太二四36；）他们期待主在他们那一代就回来。许多基督徒认为提后三章一节『末后的日子』，就是提前四章一节『后来的时期』，这是错误的。在圣经里，旧约与新约之间有一道分界线。古代的犹太人认为旧约时代就是早期的时代或早先的日子。随著基督的来临，摩西律法的时期就结束了。基督的来临开始了新的时期，被认为是末后的日子，要持续到基督的第二次来临。关于基督的第二次来临，有一段隐密的时期，是使徒们所不知道的。他们切望知道主第二次来临的时候。但在马可十三章三十二节主耶稣说，『至于那日子、那时辰，没有人知道，天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟独父知道。』后来，主复活以后，门徒问祂：『你复兴以色列国，就在这时候么？』（徒一6。）对此主回答说，『父凭著自己的权柄所定的时候或时期，不是你们可以知道的。』（7。）我们不容易解释，主如何能说末期的时候，子不知道，惟独父知道。可能主耶稣拒绝回答关于祂来临的时候这问题，维持在父的元首权柄之下正确的地位。所以，祂告诉他们，这是『父凭著自己的权柄所定的』事。
3Then in contrast to all this Paul says in 3:1, “But know this, that in the last days difficult times shall come.” Paul had the foresight and the insight to realize that difficult times would come in the last days. The expression “the last days” denotes the closing period of the present age (2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18). It began from the end of the so-called apostolic age, in the latter part of the first century, and will last until Christ’s second appearing. The long duration of this period was not revealed to the apostles (Matt. 24:36); they expected the Lord to return in their generation. Many Christians identify “the last days” in 3:1 with the “later times” in 1 Timothy 4:1. This is a mistake. In the Bible there is a dividing line between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The ancient Jews regarded the times of the Old Testament as the early times or early days. With the coming of Christ the period of the Mosaic law was over. Christ’s coming began a new period, regarded as the last days, which will continue until Christ’s second coming. Concerning Christ’s second coming, there is a secret period of time, which was not known by the apostles. They were eager to know the time of the Lord’s second coming. But in Mark 13:32 the Lord Jesus said, “But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Later, after the Lord’s resurrection, the disciples asked Him, “Dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). To this the Lord replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority” (v. 7). It is not easy to explain how the Lord could say that only the Father, not the Son, knows the time of the end. Perhaps in refusing to answer the question about the time of His coming, the Lord Jesus was maintaining the proper position under the headship of the Father. Therefore, He told them that this was something which “the Father hath set within his own authority.”
4早期的门徒以为主耶稣在他们那一代就要回来。这是保罗写帖撒罗尼迦前后书时的观念。这显示末后的日子是使徒们所不知道的秘密。我们不知道父在祂的行政里所定，主的升天和祂第二次来临之间的时间有多长。在提后三章一节保罗说，末后的日子『必有艰难的时期来到』。艰难的时期，意思也是艰苦的时期，痛苦的时期，危险的时期。这就是说，这些时期对基督徒会极其艰难。在十二节保罗说，『凡立志在基督耶稣里过敬虔生活的，也都要受逼迫。』对那追求公义、信、爱、和平，并清心呼求主的人，这时期的确会是艰难、痛苦、危险的。这里保罗似乎说，『提摩太阿，我因著这事实得著鼓励，就是神坚固的根基立住了，并且你能同别人追求公义、信、爱、和平，也清心呼求主。你们能一同站住，分赐对召会败落的豫防剂。有些人甚至可能被恢复，得以认识真理，并归于神的旨意。虽然如此，我要你知道，要来的时期对你会非常艰难。这时期对凡清心呼求主，并立志在基督耶稣里过敬虔生活的人，会是痛苦、危险的。』
4The early disciples thought that the Lord Jesus would come back in their generation. This was Paul’s concept when he wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians. This shows that the length of the last days was a secret unknown by the apostles. We simply do not know the duration of time the Father has set in His administration between the Lord’s ascension and His second coming. In 3:1 Paul says that in the last days “difficult times shall come.” The Greek for “difficult times” also means hard times, grievous times, perilous times. This means that these times will be extremely difficult for Christians. In verse 12 Paul says, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” For those who pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace and who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart, this time will indeed be difficult, grievous, perilous. Here Paul seems to be saying, “Timothy, I am encouraged by the fact that the firm foundation of God stands and that, with others, you can pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace and call on the Lord out of a pure heart. You can stand together and dispense the inoculation against the decline of the church. Some may even be recovered to the full knowledge of the truth and to the will of God. Nevertheless, I want you to know that the time which is coming will be very difficult for you. This time will be grievous, perilous, for all those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart and who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus
二 人将要如何
B. What Men Shall Be
5在二节保罗接著说，『因为那时人要成为爱自己者、爱钱财者、自夸者、狂傲的、毁谤者、违背父母的、忘恩负义的、不圣的。』二至五节所陈明豫言的图画，不是描绘非基督徒社会邪恶的光景，乃是描绘二章二十节所说大户人家，就是堕落之基督教败坏的光景。三章五节『有敬虔的外形』，证实这一点。非基督徒连敬虔的外形都没有。有这样外形的人是称为基督徒的人。因此，二节的人是基督徒。保罗说到这些人的第一件事，乃是他们将是『爱自己者』。今天许多基督徒是爱自己者。不但放纵属世娱乐的人是自私的，甚至上礼拜堂、上教堂的人也可能是自私的。
5In verse 2 Paul goes on to say, “For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.” The prophetic picture presented in verses 2 through 5 portrays not the evil condition of non - Christian society, but the corrupted situation of the “great house” mentioned in 2:20, degraded Christianity. This is proved by the phrase, “having a form of godliness” (v. 5). Unbelievers do not have even the form of godliness. Those who have such a form are those who are called Christians. Thus, the men in verse 2 are Christians. The first thing Paul says about these men is that they will be “lovers of self.” Many Christians today are self - lovers. Not only those who indulge in worldly entertainments are selfish; even those who attend the chapels and cathedrals may be selfish.
6在三本提字书里说到七类爱者：（一）爱自己者；（二）爱钱财者；（提后三2，提前六10；）（三）爱宴乐者；
6In the three Epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus seven kinds of lovers are mentioned: lovers of self, lovers of money (2 Tim. 3:2; 1 Tim. 6:10), lovers of
（四） 爱神者；（提后三4；）（五）爱良善者；（多一8；）（六）爱丈
pleasure, lovers of God (2 Tim 3:4), lovers of good (Titus 1:8), lovers of husbands, and lovers of children
7夫者和（七）爱儿女者。（多二4。）3:3-也有两类不爱者：（一）不爱良善者和（二）不爱神者。（提后三3～4。）人无论是那一类的爱者，他的全心，甚至全人，都是摆在所爱的上面，被其霸占并得著。这是极为紧要的！召会究竟会不会有得胜的荣耀日子，还是败落的艰难日子，完全在于我们是那一类的爱者。历史告诉我们，召会败落的根源，乃是失去对主起初的爱。（启二4。）我们要维持召会得胜的标准，就必须是爱神者，也是爱与神经纶有关的良善者。保罗在提后三章二节说到自夸者、狂傲的、毁谤者、违背父母的、忘恩负义的和不圣的。狂傲的，原文也是傲慢的意思。毁谤者，直译，亵渎者。与提前一章十三节者同。但这里不是指亵渎神者，乃是指毁谤或辱骂人、说人坏话并中伤人者。我们受到那些自称基督徒之人的毁谤是何等的多！在前一篇信息里，我题起台湾有些多年受我训练的弟兄们成了异议者。有些人甚至毁谤神的行政。他们不但是背叛的，也是忘恩负义的、不感恩的。在提后三章二节保罗将忘恩负义和违背父母放在一起，这是很有意义的。这也许指明这里的忘恩负义，主要的是指对人的父母忘恩负义。我们该对那些在肉身上和属灵上养育我们的人感恩，对我们肉身的父母和属灵的父母感恩。
7(Titus 2:4). There are also two kinds of nonlovers: nonlovers of good and nonlovers of God (2 Tim. 4). Of whatever one is a lover, that is what his whole heart, even his entire being, is set on, occupied, and possessed by. This is crucial! Whether there could be a day of glory in the church’s victory or grievous days of the church’s decline depends altogether upon what we set our heart upon, what it is we love. History tells us that the root of the church’s decline was the loss of her first love toward the Lord (Rev. 2:4). To maintain the victorious standard of the church, we must be lovers of God and lovers of the good which pertains to God’secon o my. In verse 2 Paul speaks of those who are boasters, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy. The Greek word for arrogant also means haughty, and the word rendered revilers is literally blasphemers, as in 1 Timothy 1:13. Here, however, it does not refer to blasphemers of God, but to revilers or railers, those who speak evilly and injuriously of men. How much we have been reviled by those who call themselves Christians! In a foregoing message I mentioned that some brothers in Taiwan who had been under my training for years became dissenting. Some even reviled God’s government. They were not only rebellious, but they were also unthankful, ungrateful. It is significant that in verse 2 Paul puts together unthankfulness with disobedience to parents. This may indicate that here unthankful mainly refers to being unthankful to one’spare nts. We should be thankful to those who have raised us both physically and spiritually, thankful both to our natural parents and to our spiritual parents.
8一九四○年，倪弟兄遭受强烈的反对，并且被迫停止尽职事六年之久。有些对他有异议的人对我的感觉还是积极的，因为他们从我得了帮助。有一天，他们其中一人问我：『你相信倪弟兄从来没有错么？』我回答说，『倪弟兄有没有错不是我的事。我只知道我欠他恩情，正如孩子欠父母恩情一样。若不是因著这位主的仆人，我无法有现在所有的基督徒生活。我学了挪亚的儿子含的功课，我不敢说任何关于他消极的事。真正说来，他一直是我属灵的父亲。他在主里养育了我。所以，我不敢说任何关于他消极的事。』我能见证历年来，我看见了从我对属灵父亲保持这样的态度而来的祝福。对我们肉身和属灵的父母，我们都必须学习感恩。对我们的父母不感恩，是非常严肃的事。今天的趋势有一面就是忘恩负义；这趋势，这潮流，甚至已侵袭基督教。
8In the 1940s Brother Nee suffered intense opposition and was forced to be out of function for six years. Some of those who were dissenting with him still felt positive toward me because they had received help from me. One day one of them asked me, “Do you believe that Brother Nee has never been wrong?” I answered, “Whether or not Brother Nee has ever been wrong is not my business. I only know that I am indebted to him just as a child to his parents. If it were not for this servant of the Lord, I could not have the life I now have as a Christian. I have learned the lesson of Ham, the son of Noah, and I dare not say anything negative about him. In a real sense, he has been a spiritual father to me. He has raised me up in the Lord. Therefore, I do not dare say anything negative concerning him.” I can testify that throughout the years I have seen the blessing which has come from maintaining such an attitude toward my spiritual father. Both to our parents in the flesh and in the spirit we must learn to be thankful. It is a very serious matter to be ungrateful toward our parents. One aspect of today’st rend is unthankfulness. This trend, this current, has even swept into Christianity.
9在三至四节保罗继续说，『无亲情的、不解怨的、好说谗言者、不能自约的、性情凶暴的、不爱良善者、卖主卖友者、卤莽行事的、为高傲所蒙蔽的，宁愿作爱宴乐者，不愿作爱神者。』不解怨的就是不肯和好的，卖主卖友者就是出卖者，卤莽行事的就是刚愎的。在这幅图画中有三类爱者：爱自己者、爱钱财者、爱宴乐者；也有两类不爱者：不爱良善者、不爱神者。五节说，『有敬虔的外形，却否认了敬虔的能力；这等人你要躲开。』敬虔的外形，只有外表的相似，没有素质的实际。敬虔的能力，指带著活的影响力以彰显神之实际并实行的效能。在这些经文里有今天堕落基督教的可怕图画。因著主的怜悯和恩典，我们在祂的恢复里必须拒绝这里所描绘的光景，并且大大反对。
9In verses 3 and 4 Paul continues, “Without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, nonlovers of good, traitors, reckless, blinded with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” To be implacable is to be irreconcilable, to be a traitor is to be a betrayer, and to be reckless is to be headstrong. In the picture presented here there are three kinds of lovers—lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure—and two kinds of nonlovers— nonlovers of good and nonlovers of God. Verse 5 says, “Having a form of godliness, but having denied its power; from these also turn away.” A form of godliness is a mere outward semblance without the essential reality. The power of godliness is the real and practical virtue of a living influence to express God. In these verses we have a dreadful picture of today’s degraded Christianity. By the Lord’s mercy and grace, we in His recovery must reject the situation portrayed here and be the very opposite of it
10七节说到『常常学习，终久不能认识真理』。这话已应验在今天许多基督徒中间。他们听一篇又一篇的道，并研读圣经，却不认识神新约经纶之内容的实际。他们不认识基督是三一神的具体化身，或召会是基督的奥秘。八节说，『雅尼和佯庇曾用甚么方法抵挡摩西，这等人也照样抵挡真理；他们是心思败坏了的人，在信仰上是不蒙称许的。』按照犹太人的传说，他们就是出埃及七章十一节、二十二节所说抵挡摩西的埃及术士。
10Verses 6 and 7 speak of those who are “always learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.” This word has been fulfilled among many Christians today. They hear sermon after sermon and study the Bible, but they do not know the reality of the contents of God’s New Testament economy. They do not know Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God or the church as the mystery of Christ. Verse 8 says, “And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind, disapproved concerning the faith.” According to Jewish tradition, Jannes and Jambres were the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses, as mentioned in Exodus 7:11 and 22
11在召会败落时，真理乃是仇敌攻击的对象。因此，真理也是脱离病态、衰败光景的医治和拯救。提后三章八节的不蒙称许，意思是可弃绝的，信仰指我们所信的内容。在九节保罗接著说，『他们不能再这样下去，因为他们的无知，必在众人面前完全显露出来，像那二人一样。』『无知』指他们行为的愚钝、愚蠢。那二人指被击败而消灭的雅尼和佯庇。（出八18，九11。）
11In the decline among the churches, truth is the target of the enemy’s attack. Hence, truth is also the remedy and rescue from the diseased and ruined situation. In verse 8 disapproved means reprobate, and the faith denotes the contents of our belief. In verse 9 Paul goes on to say, “They shall not advance farther, for their folly shall be completely manifest to all, as also the folly of those became.” The word folly refers to the lack of intelligence and the senselessness of their doing. The “folly of those” refers to the folly of Jannes and Jambres, who were defeated and brought to nothing (Exo. 8:18; 9:11
贰 豫防者抵挡
II. THE INOCULATOR STANDING AGAINST
败落的潮流
THE TIDE OF THE DECLINE
12在提后三章十节保罗题醒提摩太：『但你已经紧紧跟随了我的教训、品行、志向、信心、宽容、爱心、忍耐。』品行指行事为人。在保罗的书信中，志向的原文用在与神旨意有关的事上。（罗九11。）
12In verse 10 Paul reminds Timothy, “But you have closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance.” Conduct refers to manner of life, and the Greek word for purpose is used in Paul’s Epistles in relation to the purpose of God
13在提后三章十一节保罗说到在安提阿、以哥念、路司得所遭遇的逼迫、苦难。路司得是提摩太原先所住的城，（徒十六1～2，）靠近以哥念和彼西
13In verse 1 1 Paul speaks of the persecution and sufferings which he endured in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Lystra was the city where Timothy lived (Acts 16:1-2), near Iconium and Antioch in Pisidia.
14底的安提阿。
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15提后三章十二节说，『不但如此，凡立志在基督耶稣里过敬虔生活的，也都要受逼迫。』立志，原文也是愿意的意思。凡愿意、立志在基督耶稣里过敬虔生活的，都要受逼迫。为这缘故，我们不该期望今日基督教的礼遇。反之，我们该期望逼迫，为要在不敬虔的光景中过敬虔的生活。只要我们为著主的恢复站住，我们就会被定罪、反对并攻击。关于我们的谣言会散布，我们的名声会被损害、玷污。这样的逼迫不是来自属世的人，乃是来自所谓的基督徒。在约翰十六章二节主耶稣说，时候将到，凡杀门徒的，就以为是事奉神。他们由于对神的热心，要杀跟从主的人，只因为这些人不跟从传统的作法。
15Verse 12 says, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” The Greek word rendered desire can also mean determine. To live godly is to live a life of godliness. All those who desire, determine, to live a life of godliness in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. For this reason we should not expect good treatment from today’s Christianity. Instead, we should expect persecution for living a godly life in an ungodly situation. As long as we stand for the Lord’s recovery, we shall be condemned, opposed, and attacked. Rumors will be spread concerning us, and our names will be smeared and defiled. Such persecution comes not from the worldly people, but from so-called Christians. In John 16:2 the Lord Jesus said that the time is coming when those who kill the disciples will think they are serving God. Out of their zeal for God, they will kill the followers of the Lord, simply because these do not follow the traditional way
参 败落的恶化
III. THE WORSENING OF THE DECLINE
16保罗在提后三章十三节下结论说，『只是恶人和骗子，必进而变为更恶，他们迷惑人，也受人迷惑。』骗子，即欺诈的骗子。本节指明，召会的败落要更为恶化。恶人和骗子，就是用欺诈的技巧迷惑别人的人，必进而变为更恶。他们自己受人迷惑，也要迷惑别人。我们感谢主，在祂的怜悯里，祂将我们带到这恢复里，在此我们能听见诚实、健康的话。
16In verse 1 3 Paul concludes, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” The word impostors means juggling impostors. This verse indicates that the decline of the church will become worse. Evil men and impostors, those who deceive others by their skill in juggling, will become worse and worse. Being deceived themselves, they will also deceive others. We thank the Lord that, in His mercy, He has brought us into the recovery where we can hear honest and healthy words.