赐生命的灵

所以现在,那些在基督耶稣里的人,[a]就不被定罪了, 因为圣灵的生命法则,在基督耶稣里把你[b]从罪和死的法则中释放了出来。 因肉体软弱的缘故,律法所做不到的,神却做到了[c]——神派遣了自己的儿子成为罪的肉身样式,并且为了赎罪,用肉身判决了罪, 使律法的公义规定,成全在我们这些不顺着肉体却顺着圣灵行走的人身上。 要知道,顺着肉体的人,思想属肉体的事;顺着圣灵的人,思想属圣灵的事。 属肉体的思想带来死亡;属圣灵的思想带来生命和平安。 原来属肉体的思想是敌对神的,因为它不服从神的律法,其实也不能服从; 并且,属肉体的人无法得到神的喜悦。 但既然神的灵真是住在你们里面,你们就不属于肉体,而属于圣灵了。不过如果有人没有基督的灵,这个人就不属于基督了。 10 但如果基督在你们里面,那么,你们的身体虽然因罪是死的[d],灵却因义是活的[e] 11 不但如此,使耶稣从死人中复活的那一位——他的灵如果住在你们里面,那么,使基督从死人中复活的那一位,也将藉着[f]住在你们里面的圣灵,使你们会死的身体得着生命。

圣灵的工作

12 弟兄们,由此可见,我们都是有责任[g]的,但不是对肉体有责任去顺着肉体而活; 13 因为你们如果顺着肉体而活,就将死去;但如果顺着圣灵治死身体的所作所为,就将活着。 14 原来,凡是蒙神的灵带领的人,他们才是神的儿女。 15 就是说,你们所领受的不是一个奴役的灵,使你们再有惧怕;相反,你们所领受的是使你们有儿子名份的圣灵——藉着他,我们呼叫:“阿爸!父啊!” 16 圣灵亲自与我们的灵一同作证:我们是神的儿女。 17 既然是儿女,也就是继承人;如果我们真是为了与他一同得荣耀而与他一同受苦,我们就是神的继承人,而且与基督同做继承人。

将来的荣耀

18 事实上,我认为现今时刻的苦难,与将来要显明给我们的荣耀,是无法相比的。 19 被造之物都热切盼望、热切等待着神的儿女显现出来, 20 因为被造之物屈从在虚妄之下,并不是出于自愿,而是出于使它屈从的那一位; 21 被造之物自己也盼望着从使之衰朽[h]的奴役中得到释放,归入神儿女荣耀的自由。 22 我们知道,所有被造之物都一同呻吟、同受阵痛,直到如今。 23 不仅如此,连我们这些有圣灵为初熟果子的人,也在自己里面呻吟叹息,热切等待得到儿子的名份[i],就是等待我们的身体得蒙救赎。 24 因为我们得救在于这盼望。然而,看得见的盼望,就不是盼望了;谁会盼望自己所看得见的呢? 25 但如果我们盼望那看不见的,就要藉着忍耐来热切等待。

26 况且,圣灵也照样扶助我们的软弱。事实上,我们不知道该祷告什么、如何祷告,但圣灵却亲自用说不出的叹息,为我们[j]代求。 27 而且,洞察人心的那一位,知道圣灵的意念是什么,因为圣灵是按神的意思[k]为圣徒代求的。

28 我们也知道,神使万事相辅相成[l],是为了爱神之人的益处,就是那些按照他的心意蒙召之人的益处。 29 因为神预先所知道的人,神也预先定下他们和他儿子的形像相似,使他儿子在众多弟兄中做长子[m] 30 而且,神预先所定下的人,神又召他们来;所召来的人,又称他们为义;所称为义的人,又使他们得荣耀。

信徒的凯旋

31 那么,对这些事我们要怎么说呢?
神如果支持我们,谁还能反对我们呢?
32 神既然没有顾惜自己的儿子,
为我们所有的人舍弃了他,
难道不会把万有也连同他一起赐给我们吗?
33 到底谁能控告那些蒙神拣选的人呢?
神是称人为义的那一位!
34 到底谁能定我们的罪呢?
基督耶稣是已经死了的那一位——
但更要说,他已经复活了,
而且现今在神的右边,还为我们代求!
35 到底谁能使我们与基督[n]的爱分开呢?
难道是患难吗?是困苦吗?是逼迫吗?
是饥饿吗?是赤身吗?是危险吗?是刀剑吗?
36 正如经上所记:
“为你的缘故,我们终日被置于死地,
被看为要宰杀的羊。”[o]
37 然而,靠着爱我们的那一位,
我们在这一切事上已经得胜有余了。
38 事实上,我深信:
无论是死、是生、
是天使、是统治者、
是现在的事、是将来的事、是有势力的、
39 是高处的、是深处的,或是任何别的被造之物,
都不能使我们与神的爱分开,
这爱是在我们主基督耶稣里的。

Footnotes

  1. 罗马书 8:1 有古抄本附“就是那些不顺着肉体却顺着圣灵而行走的人,”。
  2. 罗马书 8:2 你——有古抄本作“我”。
  3. 罗马书 8:3 神却做到了——辅助词语。
  4. 罗马书 8:10 是死的——或译作“要死”。
  5. 罗马书 8:10 灵却因义是活的——或译作“圣灵却因义赐生命”。
  6. 罗马书 8:11 藉着——有古抄本作“因为”。
  7. 罗马书 8:12 有责任——原文直译“欠债”。
  8. 罗马书 8:21 衰朽——或译作“败坏”。
  9. 罗马书 8:23 有古抄本没有“得到儿子的名份”。
  10. 罗马书 8:26 有古抄本没有“为我们”。
  11. 罗马书 8:27 的意思——辅助词语。
  12. 罗马书 8:28 神使万事相辅相成——或译作“万事相辅相成”。
  13. 罗马书 8:29 长子——原文直译“首生者”。
  14. 罗马书 8:35 基督——有古抄本作“神”。
  15. 罗马书 8:36 《诗篇》44:22。

隨從聖靈而活

因此,如今那些在基督耶穌裡的人不被定罪, 因為賜人生命之聖靈的律已經在基督耶穌裡使我獲得自由,脫離了罪與死的律。 律法因為人性軟弱而無法成就的事,上帝親自成就了。祂差遣自己的兒子成為和罪人一樣有血有肉的人,作了贖罪祭,廢掉了罪的權勢, 使律法公義的要求實現在我們這些不隨從罪惡本性,只隨從聖靈而活的人身上。

隨從罪惡本性的人顧念罪惡本性的事,但隨從聖靈的人顧念聖靈的事。 顧念罪惡本性的人結局是死亡,但顧念聖靈的人卻有生命和平安。 因為顧念罪惡本性的人與上帝為敵,不服從上帝的律法,也無力服從。 所以受罪惡本性控制的人無法令上帝喜悅。

但如果上帝的靈住在你們裡面,你們就不再受制於罪惡的本性,而是受聖靈管理。人若沒有基督的靈,就不屬於基督。 10 如果基督在你們裡面,你們的身體雖然因罪惡而死亡,靈魂卻因上帝所賜的義而活著。 11 如果使耶穌復活之上帝的靈住在你們裡面,叫基督耶穌從死裡復活的上帝,必藉著住在你們裡面的聖靈,使你們終有一死的身體活過來。

12 弟兄姊妹,這樣看來,我們不必隨從罪惡本性活著。 13 你們若隨從罪惡本性活著,必定死亡;但若靠著聖靈除去身體的惡行,就必活著。

14 因為凡有上帝的聖靈引導的人都是上帝的兒女。 15 你們接受的聖靈不是使你們做奴隸,仍舊害怕,而是使你們做兒子,可以稱上帝為「阿爸,父親」。 16 聖靈親自與我們的心一同見證我們是上帝的兒女。 17 既然我們是兒女,就是繼承人,是上帝的後嗣,並且與基督同作後嗣。所以,如果現在我們和基督一同受苦,將來也必和祂一同得榮耀。

將來的榮耀

18 我認為現在所受的痛苦與將來要顯給我們的榮耀相比,簡直微不足道。 19 受造之物正熱切等候上帝眾子的顯現, 20 因為受造之物處在虛空之下並非出於情願,而是出於上帝的旨意。 21 不過,受造之物仍然盼望脫離衰亡之律的奴役,享受上帝兒女榮耀的自由。 22 我們知道一切受造之物至今都在呻吟,如同經歷分娩之痛。 23 不但如此,就是我們這些首先得到聖靈的人也在心裡歎息,熱切等候得到兒子的名分[a],就是我們的身體得到救贖。 24 我們得救的人有這個盼望。不過,看得見的盼望根本不算盼望,因為誰會盼望已經看見的呢? 25 但我們若盼望那尚未看見的,就會忍耐等候。

26 況且,我們軟弱的時候,有聖靈幫助我們。我們本來不知道怎樣禱告,但聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息替我們祈禱。 27 洞悉人心的上帝知道聖靈的意思,因為聖靈是照著上帝的旨意替聖徒祈禱。

28 我們知道,上帝使萬事互相效力[b],使那些愛上帝,就是上帝按自己的旨意呼召的人得益處。 29 因為上帝預先知道誰是屬祂的人,並預定這些人要被塑造成祂兒子的形像,使祂的兒子在許多弟兄中成為長子。 30 祂所預定的人,祂也呼召他們;祂所呼召的人,祂也稱他們為義人;祂稱為義人的,祂也使他們得榮耀。

上帝的愛

31 對於這些事,我們還可以說什麼呢?上帝若幫助我們,誰能與我們對抗? 32 上帝既然連自己的兒子也不顧惜,讓祂為我們犧牲,豈不也把萬物和祂一同白白地賜給我們嗎? 33 誰能指控上帝揀選的人呢?上帝已經稱他們為義人了。 34 誰能定他們有罪呢?基督耶穌已經替他們死了,而且祂還從死裡復活了,如今在上帝的右邊替我們祈禱。 35 誰能使我們與基督的愛分離呢?難道是患難嗎?困苦嗎?迫害嗎?饑餓嗎?赤身露體嗎?危險嗎?刀劍嗎? 36 正如聖經上說:「為了你,我們終日出生入死,被視為待宰的羊。」

37 然而,靠著愛我們的主,我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘了。 38 因為我深信無論是死、是生,是天使、是鬼魔,是現在的事、是將來的事, 39 是高天之上的、是大地深處的或是其他受造之物,都不能使我們與上帝在主基督耶穌裡賜下的愛分離。

Footnotes

  1. 8·23 兒子的名分」指被收養為義子,可以享受和親生兒子一樣的權利。
  2. 8·28 上帝使萬事互相效力」或譯「萬事都互相效力」。

Life Through the Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation(A) for those who are in Christ Jesus,(B) because through Christ Jesus(C) the law of the Spirit who gives life(D) has set you[a] free(E) from the law of sin(F) and death. For what the law was powerless(G) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b](H) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh(I) to be a sin offering.[c](J) And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement(K) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.(L)

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;(M) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.(N) The mind governed by the flesh is death,(O) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life(P) and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;(Q) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh(R) cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh(S) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.(T) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,(U) they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you,(V) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead(W) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies(X) because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.(Y) 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;(Z) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,(AA) you will live.(AB)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God(AC) are the children of God.(AD) 15 The Spirit(AE) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;(AF) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.”(AG) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit(AH) that we are God’s children.(AI) 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs(AJ)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings(AK) in order that we may also share in his glory.(AL)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(AM) 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God(AN) to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,(AO) in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay(AP) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.(AQ)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning(AR) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,(AS) groan(AT) inwardly as we wait eagerly(AU) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.(AV) 24 For in this hope we were saved.(AW) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.(AX) Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.(AY)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit(AZ) himself intercedes for us(BA) through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts(BB) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes(BC) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good(BD) of those who love him, who[i] have been called(BE) according to his purpose.(BF) 29 For those God foreknew(BG) he also predestined(BH) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(BI) that he might be the firstborn(BJ) among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,(BK) he also called;(BL) those he called, he also justified;(BM) those he justified, he also glorified.(BN)

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(BO) If God is for us,(BP) who can be against us?(BQ) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(BR) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(BS) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(BT) No one. Christ Jesus who died(BU)—more than that, who was raised to life(BV)—is at the right hand of God(BW) and is also interceding for us.(BX) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(BY) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(BZ) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j](CA)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(CB) through him who loved us.(CC) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future,(CD) nor any powers,(CE) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(CF) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(CG)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me
  2. Romans 8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13.
  3. Romans 8:3 Or flesh, for sin
  4. Romans 8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
  5. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through
  6. Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
  7. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for father
  8. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
  9. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
  10. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  11. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers