Exhort 25 February 2007                      Readings  1 Cor.8-9                          Bro Peter Evans

2007225 劝勉词                 哥林多前书第89                            彼得伊万斯弟兄

 

Dear Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ

各位主耶稣基督里的弟兄姐妹

 

This morning as we come to remember the Lord Jesus Christ we are going to look at the great example of selflessness that is showed to us by the apostle Paul and especially the lord himself.

今天早上我们将通过查看使徒保罗和主耶稣本身无私的榜样一起来纪念主耶稣基督。

 

Our readings are taking us through 1 Corinthians at the moment and have brought us to the section which runs from chapter 8 – 11.

我们最近正好读到哥林多前书,并且也已经读过了811章。

 

Paul is dealing with meat offered to idols which was a problem for some of the believers in his day.

当时一些信徒存在吃祭过偶像的食物的问题,保罗在这一章解决了这一难题。

 

Many of the believers were pagans before they became servants of our Lord.  This meant they served idols.  The serving of idols influenced every part of their life.  The gods were prayed to for help in daily business, for health, for prosperity, for social success.  Even the meals of pagans were offered to idols to get their blessing before they were eaten.  In the market place you could purchase food which had been dedicated to the gods to take home and cook.

许多信徒在信主之前是异教徒。异教徒是敬拜偶像的。敬拜偶像的风俗影响着他们生活的各个方面。为在日常的工作中得到帮助,以及拥有健康的身体,财富和顺利的人际关系,他们常常祈求那些偶像。为了得到那些偶像的赐福,就连他们吃的饭菜,异教徒们也首先供奉给那些偶像,然后再自己吃。在集市上,人们可以购买那种供过偶像的食物,然后带回家做成日常的饭菜。

 

The worship of idols was so much part of their life that when they converted to believing in the truth of one God things associated with this worship created a great question for them.

正是因为敬拜偶像与这些人的生活密不可分,因此他们改信独一真神之后,与敬拜有关的事宜对他们来说的确是一个很大的问题。

 

Is it acceptable to eat food which had been dedicated to the idol?

可以吃祭过偶像的食物吗?

 

Paul highlights the two attitudes the converts had.

保罗提出了这些改信主的人们的两种态度。

 

One group said “ We know that there is only one God an idol is just a piece of wood or stone so eating meat that has been offered to it is just like eating any other meat, so we can eat the meat.”

有一些人认为:“我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么,只不过是一块木头或是一块石头,所以吃祭过偶像的食物就像吃其他肉一样的,没有什么不能吃的

 

The other group said “We know that an idol is nothing but if people see us eating things offered to idols they will assume that we are idol worshippers, so we should not eat.”

另一些人则认为:“我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么,但是如果有人看到我们吃祭过偶像的食物,就以为我们是敬拜偶像的,所以我们不能吃”。

 

Paul’s answer to this question is very simple.  He says that the first group is right, the idol is nothing.  But Paul does not leave the answer at this statement.  He makes the Corinthians think in a much better way.

对于这个问题保罗的答案很简单。他说第一群人是正确的,因为偶像在世上算不得什么。但是保罗没有直接的做出回答,而是让哥林多的人们自己想出最合适的办法。

 

He says that the knowledge of the facts about what is correct is not enough in the way we make decisions about what we do in life.  1 Corinthians 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

他说到我们晓得知识并不足以让我们在生活中所行的各样事情中做出正确的决定。哥林多前书81说到:论到祭偶像之物,我们晓得我们都有知识。但知识是叫人自高自大,惟有爱心能造就人。

 

Just because we understand or have knowledge about an issue we must be careful because this can puff us up, or make us proud.  We can feel proud that our understanding on an issue is clearer than others.

正因为我们了解并掌握某一事物的知识,我们更要警醒这知识很可能会叫我们自高自大。我们很可能会因为比其他人更了解某事物而骄傲自满。

 

Consider the following example.

我们来看下面的例子。

 

We know that an idol is nothing.  So a bhudda is only a piece of wood that has been shaped like a man, just like any other statue.  Because of our knowledge we may just consider the bhudda a piece of art.

我们知道偶像什么都不是。因此佛像只是一块被雕成了人像的木头,和其他雕塑没有什么区别。因为我们的知识告诉我们佛像只是一个普通的雕塑。

 

However if we were previously a Bhuddist, the bhudda is a symbol of the way of false religion we have left to serve the one, living god.

但是假如我们曾是佛教徒而后转来相信独一真神,那么佛像就意味着那个我们已经背离的错误信仰。

 

The question for us may be, would we have an image of bhudda in our house?

那么我们就该问问自己,我们的房子里是否还应该有佛像呢?

 

How would we show we are puffed up with pride in this situation?  Well we could say, I know that this is just a piece of wood.  I know that me having this in my house will offend my brother BUT I want to show him how foolish he is to believe this piece of wood is a god.”  And when we want others to look foolish it is because we want to make ourselves look better!

在这种情况下我们会怎样自高自大呢? 我们很可能会说,我知道那不过是一块木头而已。我知道我家里放着佛像会得罪我兄弟,但是我想向他证明相信一块木头是神有多愚蠢。每当我们让他人自觉愚蠢时,往往是因为我们想让自己看上去比较好!

 

This may be a very simple example but I am sure you can think of the examples in your life.  Are there any things that you do just to show others how mature in understanding you are, are there places you go to show that your faith is stronger that others, that you “can handle” situations they could not?

这是一个很小的例子,我想你完全可以想到很多生活中类似的例子。你有没有做过一些只是向人炫耀你很深思熟虑的事?你有没有去过一些地方,仅仅是为了向人炫耀你的信心更大,你能处理好别人不能处理的事?

 

So we can see that the correct knowledge in a situation can lead to pride if we are not careful.

因此,我们可以看到如果不小心知识在一定程度上会叫我们自高自大

 

This does not mean knowledge is not important.  We must try to get the correct understanding on every issue in life.  Paul is clear in this because he explains in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.  (5)  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)  (6)  But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

这并不是说知识不重要。我们必须在生活的各个方面获得正确的知识。保罗在哥林多前书846节解释得很清楚:“论到吃祭偶像之物,我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么。也知道神只有一位,再没有别的神虽有称为神的,或在天,或在地。就如那许多的神,许多的主然而我们只有一位神,就是父,万物都本于他,我们也归于他。并有一位主,就是耶稣基督,万物都是藉着他有的,我们也是藉着他有的

 

We must add something to our knowledge.  This is love.  Consider 1 Corinthians 8:1-3  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.  (2)  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.  (3)  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

在我们的知识中,我们必须加上一环。这一环就是爱。我们来思考一下哥林多前书813:“论到祭偶像之物,我们晓得我们都有知识。但知识是叫人自高自大,惟有爱心能造就人。若有人以为自己知道什么,按他所当知道的,他仍是不知道。若有人爱神,这人乃是神所知道的。

 

Verse 2 is very clear.  When we think we are very wise and have all the knowledge this shows that we do not have the knowledge which really matters.  We are like the Greeks Paul has already spoken about in 1 Corinthians 1:25-27  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  (26)  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:  (27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

第二节很清楚得告诉了我们:每当我们自觉十分智慧并且通晓一切的时候,恰恰显示了我们缺失了最重要的一环。我们就像保罗在哥林多前书12527里提到的希腊人一样:“因神的愚拙总比人智慧。神的软弱总比人强壮。弟兄们哪,可见你们蒙召的,按着肉体有智慧的不多,有能力的不多,有尊贵的也不多。神却拣选了世上愚拙的,叫有智慧的羞愧。又拣选了世上软弱的,叫那强壮的羞愧。

 

If we think we are wise we have been confounded by the wisdom of the world!

如果我们自觉智慧聪明,那么我们已经被属世的智慧所禁锢。

 

Paul show that it is not what we know that is important but that God knows us v3.

保罗在第三节也提到了我们所知道的并不重要,而神所知道的才真正重要。

 

We did not find God he found us and called us into his family.  If we understand this, we will always be grateful for the knowledge we have and not become proud about it.

不是我们自己寻求到神,而是神拣选了我们并且呼召我们到神的大家庭里。加入我们了解这些,我们就应该对我们所拥有的知识感激神,而不是骄傲自大。

 

The apostle John has this to say on the subject 1 John 4:7-11  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  (8)  He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.  (9)  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  (10)  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.  (11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

使徒约翰在约翰一书4711也谈到了这个话题:“亲爱的弟兄,我们应当彼此相爱。因为爱是从神来的。凡有爱心的,都是由神而生,并且认识神。没有爱心的,就不认识神。因为神就是爱。神差他独生子到世间来,使我们藉着他得生,神爱我们的心,在此就显明了。不是我们爱神,乃是神爱我们,差他的儿子,为我们的罪作了挽回祭,这就是爱了。亲爱的弟兄,神既是这样爱我们,我们也当彼此相爱。

 

John says that it was not that we came to special knowledge about God and loved him that we are in the faith.  The real reason is that God knew us and loved us, so there is no reason at all to feel proud.

约翰提到我们并不是因为有关于神特别的知识以及我们爱神所以才信神,真正的原因是神了解我们也爱我们,因此我们也就没有什么理由好骄傲了。

 

Paul also says to Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

保罗在提摩太后书219这样告诉提摩太:然而神坚固的根基立住了。上面有这印记说,主认识谁是他的人。又说,凡称呼主名的人,总要离开不义。

 

God knows who are his and we show that we are his by doing his will and departing from iniquity.  It is what we do, not what we know that shows we are the servants of God!

神认识谁是他的人,我们同时也做他喜悦我们做的事并且离开不义。正是我们的行为而不是我们的知识体现了我们是神的仆人。

 

The greatest example of God’s love to us is the sacrifice of his son.  If we are proud and puffed up in wisdom we will feel it is alright to offend a brother “for whom Christ died”

神把自己亲生儿子作为献祭是表现他对我们的爱的最好的例子。假如我们在知识里自高自大,我们就不会觉得得罪一位弟兄(基督为其死的弟兄)有什么大不了的。

 

So we ask ourselves the question of whether we should do something (like have a statue of Bhudda in our house) again with this understanding of God’s love to us.

所以在我们认识到神对我们的爱时,我们可以问自己一个问题:我们应不应该在家里还摆放佛像呢?

 

The apostle is very clear how we can answer this question.  It has nothing to do with our level of knowledge or feelings on the matter.

使徒很清楚这一问题的答案。这个与我们的知识水平和对这一问题的个人感觉没有关联。

 

All that matters is what others think.  Paul makes the question very clear in 1 Corinthians 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

真正有关系的是其他人对此的看法。保罗在哥林多前书811说得很清楚:因此,基督为他死的那软弱弟兄,也就因你的知识沉伦了。

 

In asking the question Paul makes us really think about our own motives.  Would we ever want to do anything that would make our brother or sister be offended, when we remember that Christ died for that brother or sister.

保罗的话也让我们重新思考我们的动机和意图。当我们知道基督为我们的弟兄姐妹而死,我们还会做一些伤害我们兄弟姐妹的事情吗?

 

How would we answer Christ at the judgement when he asked us why we were not prepared to sacrifice what we wanted to do to help our brother?  What would we say when he showed us how selfish we had been by doing something we wanted when we knew it would offend our sister?

在将来基督的审判席上,如果基督问我们为什么不预备好为我们的弟兄牺牲我们想做的事去帮助他们,我们该如何回答呢?当他让我们看到我们曾那么自私的得罪我们的姐妹只为满足个人的需要时,我们又该怎么说呢?

 

How does us doing something which is not wrong offend someone else who also believes the same as us?

我们如何才会做一些不是错误的但是却会得罪其他同我们信仰一样的人的事情呢?

 

Paul speaks more of this in Romans 14.

保罗在罗马书14章又提到更多。

 

Romans 14:5-7  One doth judge one day above another, and another doth judge every day alike ; let each in his own mind be fully assured.  (6)  He who is regarding the day, to the Lord he doth regard it, and he who is not regarding the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He who is eating, to the Lord he doth eat, for he doth give thanks to God; and he who is not eating, to the Lord he doth not eat, and doth give thanks to God.  (7)  For none of us to himself doth live, and none to himself doth die;

罗马书1457:“有人看这日比那日强,有人看日日都是一样。只是各人心里要意见坚定守日的人,是为主守的。吃的人,是为主吃的,因他感谢神。不吃的人,是为主不吃的,也感谢神。我们没有一个人为自己活,也没有一个人为自己死。

 

Here Paul is talking about the same issue, meat offered to idols and also the keeping of a holy day like the Sabbath.  The point he makes is that whatever decisions we make about what we do, we make it because it is what we think is the best way to serve God.  If we have decided that we will not eat meat offered to idols because it is the best way for us to serve God.  If we then do eat the meat we have broken the commitment we have made to God and this means we are offended.

在这里保罗谈论的还是同一个话题,祭偶像的肉以及守与安息日类似的圣日。他指出不论我们作出什么决定都应该是出于我们认为那是服侍神的最佳途径。如果我们认为不吃祭偶像的肉是服侍神的最佳途径,那么一旦吃了那肉,就是破了我们与神的约了。

 

What is important for us to know is that both eating and not eating do not make us any different before God.  1 Corinthians 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

我们也要注意到吃或不吃并不会让我们在神面前有什么不同。哥林多前书88节说道:其实食物不能叫神看中我们。因为我们不吃也无损,吃也无益。

 

It is whether we have made the decision to act in a way that will please him.  If we force our brothers to do things contrary to the way they have chosen to worship God, He will not be pleased.

真正取悦他的是我们做出决定以一种行为来服侍他。如果我们强迫我们的弟兄以一种与他们选择的敬拜方式相左的新方式来敬拜神,这种行为不会取悦神。

 

This also leads us to making judgments of others.  Paul is clear that we cannot judge each other on decisions we have made on how we live our lives.  We are servants of the Lord and cannot judge another servant.  It is for him to judge.  Romans 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

这也同样作用于论断他人。保罗提到我们不能因为各自生活方式的不同来论断彼此。我们都是神的仆人,仆人不能论断仆人。罗马书144:“你是谁,竟论断别人的仆人呢。他或站住,或跌倒,自有他的主人在。而且他也必站住。因为主能使他站住。

 

Paul gives the warning here that if we are judging another, our judgment could well be the opposite of God who is the ultimate judge and whose desire is that all will stand and be saved in the final day.

保罗在这里警告,假如我们论断彼此,我们的论断可能与神最终的审判相反,而他们的愿望将会在末日站住和保全。

 

Our responsibility is to judge ourselves on how we are living and how we are dealing with our brethren.  Romans 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

我们应该做的是判断我们如何生活以及我们怎么对待我们的弟兄。罗马书1413节:所以我们不可再彼此论断。宁可定意谁也不给弟兄放下绊脚人之物。

 

The ultimate example of this is the Lord who we meet to remember this morning.  He had all the knowledge possible of the will of the Father.  He was the Son of God and will judge all the earth.  Yet he served his brothers and sisters and made sure he did not offend any of the little ones of his Father.  He has showed us the perfect way to live.  We should carefully make decisions in our own life about how we should live our life to best serve God.  Once we have made these decisions we must be very careful not to judge others. The question is not “What can I do, or why can’t I do this”, The question needs to be “If I do this will I offend my brother or sister?”  The answer to this question will clearly tell us what we must do.

我们最终效仿的榜样是我们今天早上纪念的主。他拥有如天父所愿的所有知识。他是神子也将审判全地。然而,他不曾得罪过任何一位他父亲所拣选的兄弟姐妹,即便是弱小的那些。他给我们展现了完美的生活。我们应该仔细的作出我们服侍神的最佳生活方式。我们做好了自己的决定后,也要努力不去论断他人。我们不应该思考我们能做什么或为什么要做,而是思考如果这样做会不会得罪冒犯我得兄弟姐妹。问题的答案会清楚的指导我们的行为。

 

Paul’s decision is very clear!  1 Corinthians 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

保罗的选择很明确!哥林多前书813:“所以食物若叫我弟兄跌倒,我就永远不吃肉,免得叫我弟兄跌倒了。

 

Let us follow the example of Christ just like Paul did and live our lives for each other, doing all we can to support one another and never causing offence.

让我们效仿基督的样式,就像保罗一样为我们彼此而生活,彼此支持,永不冒犯得罪其他人。

 

Notes out line

提纲

 

Introduction介绍

 

Explanation of issue of meats offered to idols吃祭过偶像的食物的问题

 

The 2 opinions of eating meat offered to idols对吃祭过偶像的食物的两种观点

 

Knowledge and Love 1 Cor 8.1知识和爱 哥林多前书81

 

Give modern day example – bhudda

What is the personal application in our life

一个日常生活的例子佛像

 

We need to add love to knowledge我们需要在知识中加入爱

1 Cor 8.2-3哥林多前书823

 

The way worldly wisdom can confuse us 1 Cor 1.25-27

属世的智慧混淆我们的方法    哥林多前书12527

 

The importance of God knowing us 1 John 4

2 Timothy 2.19

神认识我们的重要性    约翰一书第4   提摩太后书219

 

The great example of Christ基督是最佳榜样

How does a brother offend by eating meat? Rom 14吃肉会得罪其他弟兄吗?罗马书14

 

There is not difference to God in the actual eating 1 Cor 8v8

对于神饮食没有什么不同  哥林多前书88

 

We are not to judge others Rom 14.4

我们不应论断他人   罗马书144

We are to judge ourselves.

我们应该省查自己

 

Summary exhortations劝勉词总结

1. Make careful decisions on how to live our life如何为我们的生活做最好的决定

2. Do not judge others不论断他人

 

Follow the example of Christ.

跟从基督的样式