所以各位蒙愛的人哪,我們既然擁有這些應許,就讓我們潔淨自己,除去肉體和靈魂的一切汙穢,懷著敬畏神的心來達成聖潔。

悔改與喜樂

請你們接受我們。我們沒有虧負過誰,沒有敗壞過誰,也沒有對不起誰。 我這樣說,不是為定你們的罪,因為我先前說過:你們常在我們心中,我們甚至可以與你們同生共死。 我對你們大有確信,為你們大大誇耀;我充滿了安慰,在我們一切的患難中,喜樂格外增多。

實際上,我們以前到馬其頓省的時候,不但身體得不到安寧,也處處受患難,外有爭戰,內有懼怕。 然而那安慰卑微[a]之人的神,藉著提多的到來安慰了我們; 不僅藉著他的到來,也藉著他從你們所受的安慰,安慰了我們[b],因他向我們報告了你們的渴望、你們的傷痛、你們對我的熱心,以致使我更加歡喜。 即使我在那封信中使你們憂傷,我也不後悔了;因為就算我後悔過——我知道那封信使你們憂傷,雖然只是暫時的—— 現在我還是感到歡喜。這並不是因為你們憂傷,而是因為你們憂傷以至於悔改。實際上,你們按神的意思[c]憂傷,使你們在任何事上都不會因我們而受到損失; 10 因為按神的意思[d]憂傷,就生出悔改通向救恩,是不懊悔的;可是屬世界的憂傷,卻帶來死亡。 11 看哪,原來正是這件事——你們按神的意思[e]憂傷——在你們裡面帶來了何等的殷勤、分辯、義憤、敬畏、渴望、熱心和懲罰。你們在各方面都證明了自己在那件事上是純潔的。 12 因此我雖然給你們寫了信,但不是為了那虧負人的,也不是為了那受虧負的,而是為了在神面前把你們對我們的殷勤,向你們顯明出來。 13 為此,我們受到了安慰。

在這安慰之外,我們又因著提多的喜樂更是格外喜樂,因為他的心靈被你們大家所安撫。 14 原來,即使我向提多誇耀過你們什麼,我也不至於蒙羞;其實就像我們對你們所講的一切都是真實的,照樣我們向提多所誇耀你們的也是真實的; 15 而且當提多想起你們大家的順從,想起你們怎樣懷著敬畏和戰兢的心接受他,他對你們的情感就越發增多了。 16 我如今歡喜的是,在一切事上我都因你們滿懷勇氣。

Footnotes

  1. 哥林多後書 7:6 卑微——或譯作「謙卑」。
  2. 哥林多後書 7:7 安慰了我們——輔助詞語。
  3. 哥林多後書 7:9 的意思——輔助詞語。
  4. 哥林多後書 7:10 的意思——輔助詞語。
  5. 哥林多後書 7:11 的意思——輔助詞語。

亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我们既然有这些应许,就当洗净自己身体和灵魂一切的污秽,存着敬畏上帝的心追求完全圣洁。

保罗的喜乐

请你们敞开心怀接纳我们。我们没有亏负过任何人,没有败坏过任何人,也没有占过任何人的便宜。 我这样说,并不是要定你们的罪,因为我曾经说过,我们心里常惦记你们,甚至愿意和你们生死与共。 我非常信任你们,以你们为荣。我因你们大受激励,在我们所受的一切患难中,我仍然充满喜乐。

我们到马其顿的时候,身心无法安歇,面临着重重患难,外有冲突,内有恐惧。 但安慰沮丧之人的上帝借着提多的到来激励了我们。 我们得到激励,不但是因为提多来了,也因为看到他从你们那里得到了激励。他把你们对我的想念、对我的热心以及你们的哀痛都告诉了我,这使我更加欢喜。

我曾为从前写的那封信令你们忧伤而后悔,但现在不后悔了,因为我知道那封信令你们忧伤只是暂时的。 现在我很欢喜,当然不是因为你们忧伤而欢喜,而是看见你们因忧伤而悔改了。因为你们这样忧伤合乎上帝的心意,使你们不致因我们而受到任何损失。 10 合乎上帝心意的忧伤会带来悔改,使人得到救恩,永不后悔,但世俗的忧伤只会带来死亡。

11 你们看,合乎上帝心意的忧伤使你们产生了何等的迫切感啊!你们热切地辩明自己的立场,对罪愤慨,恐惧战抖,期盼与我相见,疾恶如仇,惩处罪恶。你们在各方面已显明自己在那件事上是清白的。

12 因此,虽然我给你们写过信,但并非为了那犯错的人或那受害的人而写的,而是为了让你们在上帝面前看到自己对我们所存的热心。 13 我们也因此得到了激励。令我们更欢喜的是提多也很喜乐,因为他的心从你们那里得到了安慰。 14 我若对提多夸奖了你们什么,也不觉得惭愧,因为我先前向提多夸奖你们的话都证明是真实的,正如我告诉你们的一切都是真实的。 15 提多想到你们众人的顺服并怎样战战兢兢地接待他,便更加爱你们了。 16 现在,我对你们可以完全放心了,这真令我欢喜。

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.