第02章 十二使徒的训练
§1
第02章 十二使徒的训练
§2
Chap. 2 - The Training of the Twelve
§3
基督为了推进他的圣工，既未拣选学者或犹太议会中的辩士，也未拣选罗马有权有势的人物。这位大宗师竟撇开那些自以为义的犹太教师，而拣选了一班不学无术的小民来传扬那感世动人的真理，他定意要训练并教导这班人，使之成为他教会的领袖。他们也要转而教导别人，差遣他们带着福音的信息出去。为了使他们在工作上得以有所成就，他们必须接受圣灵的能力。因为福音的传扬并不是依赖人的能力或人的智慧，而是倚靠上帝的大能。[1]{AA 17.1 }
§4
For the carrying on of His work, Christ did not choose the learning or eloquence of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the power of Rome. Passing by the self-righteous Jewish teachers, the Master Worker chose humble, unlearned men to proclaim the truths that were to move the world. These men He purposed to train and educate as the leaders of His church. They in turn were to educate others and send them out with the gospel message. That they might have success in their work they were to be given the power of the Holy Spirit. Not by human might or human wisdom was the gospel to be proclaimed, but by the power of God. {AA 17.1 }[1]
§5
门徒们在这位举世未曾闻的大教师的教导下，计有三年半之久。基督借着亲身的交接来往，训练他们为他服务。他们天天与他同行共话，亲聆他向疲惫与背负重担之人所说抚慰的话，目睹他为患病遭难之人所彰显的神能。有时他在山边，坐在他们中间教训他们；有时他留在海旁或行在路上，阐明有关上帝之国的奥秘。无论何处有人敞开心门，要接受神圣的信息，他就宣示有关救赎之道的真理。他从不或此或彼的指使门徒做，而只是说：“来跟从我。” 他带领他们周游城乡，以便他们可以看到他是如何的教训人。他们和他一同旅行各处，他们与他同甘共苦，也和他一般不时饥饿，经常困乏。他们不论是在闹市、湖畔，或孤寂的荒野，都与他同在一起。他们看到了他生活的各方面。[2]{AA 17.2 }
§6
For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for His service. Day by day they walked and talked with Him, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy-laden, and seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf of the sick and the afflicted. Sometimes He taught them, sitting among them on the mountainside; sometimes beside the sea or walking by the way, He revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation. He did not command the disciples to do this or that, but said, Follow Me. On His journeys through country and cities, He took them with Him, that they might see how He taught the people. They traveled with Him from place to place. They shared His frugal fare, and like Him were sometimes hungry and often weary. On the crowded streets, by the lakeside, in the lonely desert, they were with Him. They saw Him in every phase of life. {AA 17.2 }[2]
§7
教会组织的初步就是十二使徒的设立，以便在基督离世之后得以继续进行他在地上的工作。关于这次设立使徒的事，经上记着说：“耶稣上了山，随自己的意思叫人来，他们便来到他那里。他就设立十二个人，要他们常和自己同在，也要差他们去传道。”（可3:13,14）[3]{AA 18.1 }
§8
It was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step was taken in the organization of the church that after Christs departure was to carry on His work on the earth. Of this ordination the record says, He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach. Mark 3:13, 14. {AA 18.1 }[3]
§9
请看这动人的一幕。注意这位天上的至尊被他所拣选的十二个人环绕着。他正要将他们分别出来担任工作。他计划利用这班微弱的代理人，借着他的道和灵，使救恩普及万民。[4]{AA 18.2 }
§10
Look upon the touching scene. Behold the Majesty of heaven surrounded by the Twelve whom He has chosen. He is about to set them apart for their work. By these feeble agencies, through His word and Spirit, He designs to place salvation within the reach of all. {AA 18.2 }[4]
§11
上帝和众天使也以欢喜快乐的心情注视这一幕。天父知道天上的光要从这班人身上照射出来；他们为他儿子作见证时所说的话，将要世世代代响应，直到末时。[5]{AA 18.3 }
§12
With gladness and rejoicing, God and the angels beheld this scene. The Father knew that from these men the light of heaven would shine forth; that the words spoken by them as they witnessed for His Son, would echo from generation to generation till the close of time. {AA 18.3 }[5]
§13
门徒将要出去作基督的见证人，向世人宣布他们所见所闻有关他的事。他们的职分极其重要，仅次于基督本身，而是人类从未担任过的。他们要为救人而与上帝同工。这十二位使徒正如旧约时代十二位族长作为以色列人的代表一般，要作福音教会的代表。[6]{AA 19.1 }
§14
The disciples were to go forth as Christs witnesses, to declare to the world what they had seen and heard of Him. Their office was the most important to which human beings had ever been called, second only to that of Christ Himself. They were to be workers together with God for the saving of men. As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stood as representatives of Israel, so the twelve apostles stand as representatives of the gospel church. {AA 19.1 }[6]
§15
基督在世上传道时曾着手拆毁犹太人与外邦人之间的隔墙，将救恩传给全人类。他虽身为犹太人，却自由地与撒玛利亚人来往，而将犹太人对这一被蔑视之民族的法利赛派习俗置诸脑后。他在他们的家中住宿，与他们同桌进餐，并在他们的街市上教训人。[7]{AA 19.2 }
§16
During His earthly ministry Christ began to break down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and to preach salvation to all mankind. Though He was a Jew, He mingled freely with the Samaritans, setting at nought the Pharisaic customs of the Jews with regard to this despised people. He slept under their roofs, ate at their tables, and taught in their streets. {AA 19.2 }[7]
§17
救主切望向他的门徒说明，那有关拆毁以色列人与其它民族“中间隔断的墙”的真理，也就是那“外邦人在基督耶稣里，借着福音，得以与犹太人”“同为后嗣……同蒙应许”的真理。（弗2:14；3:6）他在迦百农褒奖百夫长的信心，又在向叙加的居民传讲福音时，曾经部分的显示过这一真理。但更为彰明昭著显示的，乃是在游行腓尼基时医好那位迦南妇人的女儿一事上。这些经验帮助门徒明白：在那许多被认为是不配承受救恩的人中，也有人渴慕真理之光。[8]{AA 19.3 }
§18
The Saviour longed to unfold to His disciples the truth regarding the breaking down of the middle wall of partition between Israel and the other nations--the truth that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. Ephesians 2:14; 3:6. This truth was revealed in part at the time when He rewarded the faith of the centurion at Capernaum, and also when He preached the gospel to the inhabitants of Sychar. Still more plainly was it revealed on the occasion of His visit to Phoenicia, when He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman. These experiences helped the disciples to understand that among those whom many regarded as unworthy of salvation, there were souls hungering for the light of truth. {AA 19.3 }[8]
§19
基督如此设法教导门徒这一真理：在上帝的国里并无领域、阶级、贵贱之分；因此他们必须到万民那里去，将救主之爱的信息传与他们。但他们到后来才完全明白：原来上帝“从一本造出万族的人，住在全地上，并且预先定准他们的年限和所住的疆界；要叫他们寻求上帝，或者可以揣摩而得，其实他离我们各人不远。”（徒17:26-27）[9]{AA 20.1 }
§20
Thus Christ sought to teach the disciples the truth that in Gods kingdom there are no territorial lines, no caste, no aristocracy; that they must go to all nations, bearing to them the message of a Saviours love. But not until later did they realize in all its fullness that God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us. Acts 17:26, 27. {AA 20.1 }[9]
§21
在这第一批的门徒中，曾表现出显著的差异来。他们是准备作世人教师的，也代表了各种不同的性格。为求成功地进行他们为此而蒙召从事的工作起见，这班原来本性不同、生活习惯互异的人，亟需要在感情、思想和行动上趋于团结一致。这种团结一致便是基督所要达到的目的。为了达到这一目的，他力求使他们与自己合而为一。他在向父所作的祈求中，也表示过他这种为他们努力的苦心：“使他们都合而为一，正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面；“叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。”（约17:21,23）他为他们所作的恒切祈祷，就是要他们因真理成圣；而且他是本着确信而祈祷，深知在创造世界之先，早已有全能者的命令颁布了。他深知这天国的福音要传遍天下，对万民作见证；他也知道真理配备着圣灵的无所不能，必可战胜邪恶，而且那血染的旌旗，终必有一日要在跟从他的人之上胜利地飘扬。[10]{AA 20.2 }
§22
In these first disciples was presented marked diversity. They were to be the worlds teachers, and they represented widely varied types of character. In order successfully to carry forward the work to which they had been called, these men, differing in natural characteristics and in habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought, and action. This unity it was Christs object to secure. To this end He sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The burden of His labor for them is expressed in His prayer to His Father, That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may know that Thou has sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. John 17:21, 23. His constant prayer for them was that they might be sanctified through the truth; and He prayed with assurance, knowing that an Almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to all nations for a witness; He knew that truth armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the battle with evil, and that the bloodstained banner would one day wave triumphantly over His followers. {AA 20.2 }[10]
§23
当基督在地上的传道工作行将结束，而他也感到自己不久势必要委托门徒继续工作，而不再由他亲自督导时，他就设法鼓励他们，并使他们为将来早作准备。他并未以虚伪的希望欺骗他们。他对于未来的事了若指掌，洞悉无遗。他明知自己不久就要离开他们，留下他们如同羊在狼群之中。他知道他们必定遭受逼迫，被赶出会堂，并被下在监里。他也知道为了见证他是弥赛亚，他们之中有人要因此受害。而且他也将这些事告诉他们了。论到他们的前途，他说得直白而肯定，以便他们在未来的试炼中可以想起他的话来，并从而得到鼓励，相信他是救赎主。[11]{AA 21.1 }
§24
As Christs earthly ministry drew to a close, and He realized that He must soon leave His disciples to carry on the work without His personal supervision, He sought to encourage them and to prepare them for the future. He did not deceive them with false hopes. As an open book He read what was to be. He knew He was about to be separated from them, to leave them as sheep among wolves. He knew that they would suffer persecution, that they would be cast out of the synagogues, and would be thrown into prison. He knew that for witnessing to Him as the Messiah, some of them would suffer death. And something of this He told them. In speaking of their future, He was plain and definite, that in their coming trial they might remember His words and be strengthened to believe in Him as the Redeemer. {AA 21.1 }[11]
§25
他也向他们说了具有希望和鼓起勇气的话。他说：“你们心里不要忧愁；你们信上帝，也当信我。在我父的家里，有许多住处；若是没有，我就早已告诉你们了。我去原是为你们预备地方去。我若去为你们预备了地方，就必再来接你们到我那里去；我在那里，叫你们也在那里。我往哪里去，你们知道；那条路，你们也知道。”（约14:1-4）我为你们的缘故到世上来，我为你们而一直工作着。我虽然离开了，但我仍必为你们热心工作。我到世上来向你们显示我自己，使你们可以相信。我要往我父，也是你们的父那里去，要为你们的缘故与他合作。[12]{AA 21.2 }
§26
He spoke to them also words of hope and courage. Let not your heart be troubled, He said; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. John 14:1-4. For your sake I came into the world; for you I have been working. When I go away I shall still work earnestly for you. I came to the world to reveal Myself to you, that you might believe. I go to My Father and yours to co-operate with Him in your behalf. {AA 21.2 }[12]
§27
“我实实在在的告诉你们，我所作的事，信我的人也要作，并且要作比这更大的事；因为我往我父那里去。”（约14:12）基督这话的意思并不是说门徒要作比他更迫切的努力，而是说他们的工作要更为宏大。他并非仅指施行神迹而言，而是指在圣灵运行之下所要发生的一切奇事。他说：“我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵；他来了，就要为我作见证。你们也要为我作见证，因为你们从起头就与我同在。”（约15:26-27）[13]{AA 22.1 }
§28
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. John 14:12. By this, Christ did not mean that the disciples would make more exalted exertions than He had made, but that their work would have greater magnitude. He did not refer merely to miracle working, but to all that would take place under the agency of the Holy Spirit. When the Comforter is come, He said, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning. John 15:26, 27. {AA 22.1 }[13]
§29
这些话果真奇妙的应验了。在圣灵沛降之后，门徒充满了对他以及对他所代为受死之人的热爱，以至于人心也都因他们所说的话语和所献的祈祷而软化了。他们靠着圣灵的能力讲道，于是在那种能力的感化之下，竟有几千人悔改了。[14]{AA 22.2 }
§30
Wonderfully were these words fulfilled. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were so filled with love for Him and for those for whom He died, that hearts were melted by the words they spoke and the prayers they offered. They spoke in the power of the Spirit; and under the influence of that power, thousands were converted. {AA 22.2 }[14]
§31
使徒们以基督代表的身份，要给世人留下一种确定的印象。他们原是无名之辈的这一事实，非但不致减少他们的感化力，反而使之增加；因为听众的心思必从他们转移到那位虽然眼不能见，但仍与他们一同工作的救主身上。使徒们的奇妙教训，他们所说具有勇敢和信赖的话，均足以证明他们所行的一切，并不是凭着他们自己的力量，而是凭着基督的能力而行的。他们自我谦卑地宣称：那位被犹太人钉死的乃是生命之君，是永生上帝的儿子，并且声明他们乃是奉他的名，作他所作的工。[15]{AA 22.3 }
§32
As Christs representatives the apostles were to make a decided impression on the world. The fact that they were humble men would not diminish their influence, but increase it; for the minds of their hearers would be carried from them to the Saviour, who, though unseen, was still working with them. The wonderful teaching of the apostles, their words of courage and trust, would assure all that it was not in their own power that they worked, but in the power of Christ. Humbling themselves, they would declare that He whom the Jews had crucified was the Prince of life, the Son of the living God, and that in His name they did the works that He had done. {AA 22.3 }[15]
§33
救主在未被钉的前夕和门徒所作离别的谈话中，并未提到他曾经所忍受过以及行将面临的苦难。他未曾谈及自己当前所有的屈辱，但他却设法使门徒想到那足以坚固他们信心的事，引导他们展望那准备给予得胜者的快乐。他因自己足能而且乐愿为跟从他的人行事，过于他所应许的；又因有仁爱和同情从他身上发出，洁净人心灵的殿，使人在品格上与他相似；并因他的真理，配备着圣灵的能力，必出来胜了又胜，便自觉喜乐。[16]{AA 23.1 }
§34
In His parting conversation with His disciples on the night before the crucifixion the Saviour made no reference to the suffering that He had endured and must yet endure. He did not speak of the humiliation that was before Him, but sought to bring to their minds that which would strengthen their faith, leading them to look forward to the joys that await the overcomer. He rejoiced in the consciousness that He could and would do more for His followers than He had promised; that from Him would flow forth love and compassion, cleansing the soul temple, and making men like Him in character; that His truth, armed with the power of the Spirit, would go forth conquering and to conquer. {AA 23.1 }[16]
§35
他说：“我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难；但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。”（约16:33）基督从不灰心，也不丧胆；门徒们也要表现出这同样有忍耐性的信心。他们要靠赖他得力，行事像他所行的一样。虽然他们的前途会被许多显然不可能的事阻碍着，但他们仍要靠着他的恩典一往直前，不但毫不失望，反要凡事盼望。[17]{AA 23.2 }
§36
These things I have spoken unto you, He said, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33. Christ did not fail, neither was He discouraged; and the disciples were to show a faith of the same enduring nature. They were to work as He had worked, depending on Him for strength. Though their way would be obstructed by apparent impossibilities, yet by His grace they were to go forward, despairing of nothing and hoping for everything. {AA 23.2 }[17]
§37
基督已经完成了那交给他所做的工作。他已经召聚了一班在人间继续他工作的人。因此他说：“我因他们得了荣耀。从今以后，我不在世上，他们却在世上，我往你那里去。圣父啊！求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们，叫他们合而为一，像我们一样。”“我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求；使他们都合而为一……我在他们里面，你在我里面，使他们完完全全的合而为一；叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。”（约17:10-11,20-23）[18]{AA 24.1 }
§38
Christ had finished the work that was given Him to do. He had gathered out those who were to continue His work among men. And He said: I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; . . . I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. John 17:10, 11, 20-23. {AA 24.1 }[18]