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基督的使徒遭人輕視

這樣,人應該把我們看作基督的僕人, 神奧祕的事的管家。 對於管家的要求,就是要他忠心。 我被你們論斷,或被人間法庭審判,我都認為是極小的事,連我自己也不論斷自己。 我雖然問心無愧,卻不能因此自以為義,因為判斷我的是主。 所以時候還沒有到,你們不要批評,直等到主來;他要照出黑暗中的隱情,顯明人心裡的動機。那時,各人要從 神那裡得著稱讚。

弟兄們,我為你們的緣故,拿了這些事來比擬自己和亞波羅,讓你們在我們身上學到的,不會超過聖經所記的,免得你們中間有人自高自大,看重這個輕視那個。 使你與人不同的是誰呢?你有甚麼不是領受的呢?既然是領受的,為甚麼要自誇,好像不是領受的呢? 你們已經滿足了,已經豐富了,不需要我們,自己作王了。我恨不得你們真的作了王,讓我們也可以跟你們一同作王! 我想 神是把我們作使徒的列在最後,好像定了死刑的人,因為我們成了一臺戲給宇宙觀看,就是給天使和世人觀看! 10 我們為基督的緣故,成了愚笨的;你們在基督裡,倒成了聰明的。我們軟弱,你們倒強壯;你們受人尊敬,我們倒被輕視。 11 直到現在,我們還是又飢又渴,衣不蔽體,又挨打,又沒有棲身的地方, 12 並且勞苦,親手作工。被人咒罵,我們就祝福;遭受迫害,我們就忍受; 13 被人毀謗,我們卻好好地勸導;直到現在,人還是把我們當作世上的垃圾,萬物的渣滓。

14 我寫這些話,不是要叫你們羞愧,而是把你們當作我親愛的兒女一樣勸戒你們。 15 縱然你們在基督裡有上萬的啟蒙教師,可是父親卻不多,因為是我在基督耶穌裡藉著福音生了你們。 16 所以我勸你們要效法我。 17 因此,我打發提摩太到你們那裡去。他是我在主裡親愛又忠心的兒子,他要提醒你們我在基督裡是怎樣行事為人,正如我在各處教會中所教導的一樣。 18 有人以為我不會到你們那裡去,就自高自大。 19 然而主若願意,我很快就要到你們那裡去;到時我要知道的,不是那些自高自大的人所講的,而是他們的能力。 20 因為 神的國不在乎言語,而在乎權能。 21 你們願意怎麼樣呢?要我帶著刑杖到你們那裡去,還是以溫柔的靈,帶著愛心去呢?

基督的使徒

因此,人應該把我們當作是基督的僕人,是上帝奧祕之事的管家。 對管家的要求是忠心。 我對你們或別人給我的評價毫不介意,我也不評價我自己。 就算我今日問心無愧,也不能自以為義,因為評價我的是主。 所以,時候未到,不可妄下斷語。到主耶穌再來的時候,祂會揭開暗中的隱情,使人心裡的動機顯露。到時候上帝會給各人應得的稱讚。

弟兄姊妹,為了你們的益處,我以亞波羅和自己作例子,好讓你們效法我們不越過聖經的準則,免得有人自高自大、厚此薄彼。 誰使你與眾不同呢?你有哪一樣不是領受的呢?既然一切都是領受的,你為什麼還自誇,好像不是領受的? 你們已經飽足了,富有了,不需要我們,自己已經作王了。我倒希望你們真的能作王,好讓我們也和你們一同作王。 我想,上帝把我們使徒排在隊伍的末尾,好像被判了死罪的囚犯,讓我們成了一台戲,給全宇宙看,就是給世人和天使觀看。

10 我們為了基督的緣故被人看為愚昧,你們在基督裡倒成了聰明人;我們軟弱,你們倒強壯;你們受人尊敬,我們倒被人藐視。 11 我們至今還是又饑又渴,衣不蔽體,遭受毒打,居無定所, 12 還要親手勞作。我們被人咒罵,就為對方祝福;受人迫害,就逆來順受; 13 被人毀謗,就好言相勸。人們至今仍將我們看作世上的廢物,萬物中的渣滓。

14 我之所以寫這些事,並非是叫你們羞愧,而是像勸誡我親愛的兒女一樣勸誡你們。 15 雖然有千萬老師將基督的事教導你們,但父親並不多,因為我藉著福音在基督耶穌裡成為你們的父親。 16 所以,我勸你們效法我。 17 正因如此,我派了提摩太去你們那裡。他在主裡忠心耿耿,是我所愛的孩子。他會提醒你們我在基督裡如何行事為人,在各地、各教會如何教導人。

18 你們當中有些人以為我不會再去你們那裡,就傲慢自大起來。 19 但主若許可,我會很快去你們那裡。那時我要看看這些驕傲的人究竟是只會空談,還是真有上帝的權能。 20 因為上帝的國不在於空談,而在於權能。 21 到底你們要什麼呢?要我帶著刑杖去呢?還是要我帶著溫柔慈愛的心去呢?

基督耶稣的使徒

人们应该把我们当做基督的仆人,当做受委托经管上帝奥秘的人。 受到委托的人就必须证明自己是当之无愧的。 我不在意自己是受到你们、还是受到人类法庭的评判。我甚至也不评判自己。 我问心无愧,但这并不说明我是清白的。只有主才能评判我。 所以在适当的时刻到来之前,也就是在主到来之前,不要妄加评判,而要等到主的到来。他会照明隐藏在黑暗中的一切,使人内心的动机昭然若揭。那时,上帝会给每一个人应得的称赞。

兄弟们,我用亚波罗和我自己在这些事情上为你们举例,为的是让你们能从我们这里了解这句话的含意∶“不要逾越《经》上所说的。”这样你们才不会骄傲自满,才不会看得起这个,看不起那个。 谁说你比别人强呢?你所有的哪样不是赐给你的?既然你们所有的一切都是赐给你的,那么为什么你还要夸耀,就好象你们是凭自己的能力得到这些的呢?

你们以为自己现在已有了所需要的一切,已经富有了,以为没有我们你们已经当上国王了。但愿你们真当上国王,好让我们也和你们一起当国王。 因为在我看来,上帝似乎把我们这些使徒 [a]放在最后,像被判了死刑那样,因为我们在整个世界,无论天使还是人面前,已成为展品。 10 为了基督,我们成了傻瓜,但在基督里你们倒很聪明!我们软弱,你们倒很强壮!你们受到尊敬,我们却被人鄙视! 11 直到现在我们还饥渴交迫,衣衫褴缕,受人殴打,无家可归。 12 我们用自己的双手辛勤做工。人们咒骂我们,我们却为他们祝福;人们迫害我们,我们却忍受了它。 13 遭人诽谤时,我们却以善言相待。直到此时此刻,人们待我们尤如世上的垃圾—人间的渣滓。

14 我写这些,不是要使你们羞愧,而是把你们当做我亲爱的孩子来警告你们。 15 尽管你们在基督之中有上万个老师,但你们却没有许多父亲。在督耶稣里,我借福音 [b]成了你们的父亲。 16 所以,我恳求你们要模仿我。 17 这就是我派提摩太到你们那儿去的原因。在主内他是我心爱的忠实的儿子。他会让你们记起我在基督耶稣里的为人,我在各地的教会里所教导的一切都是言行一致的。

18 你们当中有些人自高自大,就好像我不会去你们那里一样。 19 但是,如果主允许,我不久就会到你们那里去。到那时,我就会知道,这些自高自大的人能干些什么,而不是他们能说些什么。 20 因为上帝的王国不在于言辞,而在于力量。 21 你们想要那种选择呢?

是要我给你们带来惩罚,
还是要我带着爱心与温和去呢?

Footnotes

  1. 歌 林 多 前 書 4:9 使徒: 耶稣挑选的人,他们用特殊的方式代表他。
  2. 歌 林 多 前 書 4:15 福音: 上帝使人们的罪得到宽恕并与上帝永远和好的途径的消息。

So let a man consider us as Gabba’im of Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach and mefakkechim (stewards, supervisors) of the sodot (mysteries) of Hashem.

Moreover, it is sought in mefakkechim that one be found that has ne’emanut (faithfulness).

But to me it is a very small thing that I be brought, as it were, before your Bet Din for you to play dayanim (religious judges) judging me, or that I am judged by Bnei Adam on their merely human Yom HaDin; I do not even act as Dayan (Judge of a Rabbinical Court) of myself.

I am aware of nothing against myself, but not in this have I been yitzdak (justified); it is the L-rd who is my Shofet (Judge BERESHIS 18:25; DANIEL 7:13 14).

Therefore, do not judge anything before the time, until the Bias Adoneinu [Moshiach], who both will bring to Ohr (Light) the hidden things of the choshech (darkness) and manifest the motives of the levavot. And then the tehillah (praise) each one will receive will be from Hashem. [IYOV 12:22; TEHILLIM 90:8]

Now these things, Achim b’Moshiach, I made a dimyon (comparison) applied with respect to myself and Apollos for your sake, that through us you may learn not to go beyond what things have been written [2:13], lest you are puffed up as ba’alei ga’avah (conceited, haughty persons) in favor of one or against the other.

For who makes you so distinguished? And, by the way, what do you have which you did not receive? And if indeed you were given it, why this ga’avah, this boastfulness as if you had not received it?

Already you have so much, already you ascended to osher (riches) and without us [Shlichim]! You became melechim (kings); I would that you did indeed become melechim that also we might reign as melechim with you.

For, omein, I believe that Hashem has exhibited us, the Shlichim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, as last in the program, condemned to death, because, like wretches under a mishpat mavet (death sentence), we became displayed in the arena for the eyes of the Olam Hazeh, malachim as well as Bnei Adam. [TEHILLIM 71:7]

10 We are kesilim (fools) because of Moshiach, but you are chachamim in Moshiach; we are weak, but you are strong; you are treated with honor; we dishonor.

11 Until the present sha’ah (hour) we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are beaten and homeless.

12 And we have parnasah, toiling with our own hands; being reviled, we make a bracha; being persecuted, we endure it:

13 Being defamed by loshon hora, we conciliate. We have become what the earth wants swept out the door, something considered trash the Olam Hazeh wants removed. [YIRMEYAH 20:18; EKHAH 3:45]

14 The purpose of this iggeret is not to bring you under bushah (shame). I write these things as admonishing my beloved yeladim.

15 For, though you may have in Moshiach morei derech numbering ten thousand, you have not many avot, for in Moshiach through the Besuras HaGeulah I [T.N. Notice 1C4:6 indicates the canon of inerrant Scripture is closed and may not be added to.] became your abba.

16 Therefore, I encourage you, imitate me.

17 Because of this very thing, I sent Timotiyos to you who is my beni haahuv (beloved son) and ne’eman (faithful), trustworthy in Hashem, who will remind you of my derech baKodesh in Moshiach, even as I give shiurim everywhere in every kehillah.

18 Now as to my coming to you, some were puffed up, [YIRMEYAH 43:2]

19 But I will come shortly to you, im yirtzeh Hashem (if the L-rd wills), and I will find out not the speech of the ones having been puffed up but the ko’ach (power).

20 For the Malchut Hashem depends not on the talk [of the ish sefatayim (the eloquent speaker)] but on ko’ach (power).

21 What do you want? That I should come to you, so to speak, with an abba’s switch or in ahavah and an anavat ruach (a spirit of meekness)?

The Nature of True Apostleship

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(A) of Christ and as those entrusted(B) with the mysteries(C) God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience(D) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(E) It is the Lord who judges me.(F) Therefore judge nothing(G) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(H) He will bring to light(I) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(J)

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(K) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(L) For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(M) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(N) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(O) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(P) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(Q) but you are so wise in Christ!(R) We are weak, but you are strong!(S) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(T) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(U) When we are cursed, we bless;(V) when we are persecuted,(W) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(X) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(Y) but to warn you as my dear children.(Z) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(AA) through the gospel.(AB) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(AC) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(AD) Timothy,(AE) my son(AF) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(AG)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(AH) as if I were not coming to you.(AI) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(AJ) if the Lord is willing,(AK) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(AL) talk but of power.(AM) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(AN) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?