保羅的薦信

難道我們又是在稱讚自己嗎?難道我們像別人一樣,需要拿著推薦信去見你們,或拿著你們的推薦信去見別人嗎? 你們自己就是我們的推薦信,寫在了我們心坎上,眾所周知,人人可讀。 顯然,你們是從基督而來的一封信,是我們工作的成果。這信不是用筆墨寫成的,乃是藉著永活上帝的靈寫成的;不是寫在石版上的,而是刻在心版上的。

我們靠著基督在上帝面前有這樣的確信。 我們並不認為自己能夠承擔什麼,我們能夠承擔全是靠上帝。 祂使我們能夠擔任新約的執事。這新約不是用律法條文立的,而是聖靈的工作,因為律法條文帶給人死亡,但聖靈賜給人生命。

新約的榮耀

這最終帶來死亡、刻在石版上的律法條文的事工尚且有榮耀,甚至使摩西的臉上發出榮光,儘管很快就消逝了,以色列人仍然無法定睛看他, 那麼聖靈的事工豈不更有榮耀嗎? 那定人罪的事工尚且有榮耀,這使人被稱為義人的事工豈不更有榮耀嗎? 10 其實先前的榮耀和現今的大榮耀相比,就黯然失色了。 11 那漸漸消逝的尚且有榮耀,這永遠長存的更是榮耀無比。

12 我們因為有這極大的盼望,就放膽無懼, 13 不像摩西將帕子蒙在臉上,以免以色列人看見那漸漸消逝的榮光。 14 但以色列人的心剛硬,直到今日,他們每逢讀舊約的時候,同樣的帕子還在那裡,沒有揭去。因為只有在基督裡,那帕子才能被除去。 15 時至今日,每逢他們讀摩西律法的時候,帕子仍然蒙在他們心上。 16 然而,他們一旦歸向基督,那帕子就被除去了。 17 主就是那靈,主的靈在哪裡,哪裡就有自由。 18 我們這些臉上不再蒙著帕子的人,可以像鏡子一樣反映主的榮光,漸漸變成主的樣式,榮上加榮。這都是主的作為,主就是那靈。

Do we begin to praise ourselves again? Or do we need, as some others, letters of recommendation to you, or of recommendation from you?

You are our letter, written in our hearts, which is understood and read by all mankind;

in that you appear to be the letter of Christ, ministered by us, and written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but on fleshly tablets of the heart.

And such trust we have through Christ toward God.

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to think anything of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

Who has also made us able ministers of the New Testament - not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

If then, the ministry of death (written with letters and engraved in stones) was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses because of the Glory of his countenance (a Glory which has gone away),

how shall not the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious?

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness much more exceeds it in glory.

10 For even that which was glorified was not glorified in this point: that is, regarding the exceeding glory.

11 For if that which is abolished was glorious, much more so shall that which remains be glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such trust, we use great boldness of speech.

13 And we are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face so that the children of Israel would not look intently into the end of that which would be abolished.

14 But their minds were hardened. For until this day remains the same covering in the reading of the old Testament, which veil is put away in Christ.

15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is laid over their hearts.

16 Nevertheless, when their heart shall be turned to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, behold as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord; and are changed into the same image, from glory to Glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.