第54章 忠诚的见证人
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第54章 忠诚的见证人
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Chap. 54 - A Faithful Witness
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（本章根据：约一至约三）
§4
在基督升天之后，约翰显明了自己是一个为主忠心而热切效劳的人。他在五旬节那天，曾和其它门徒一同领受圣灵的浇灌，于是他以新的热忱和能力继续向人讲论生命之道，设法引领他们思念那位看不见的主。他是一个颇有能力的传道人，热心而且极其诚恳。他以美妙的言辞与音乐般的声调讲述基督的真理和工作，而讲话的方式竟使凡听他的人深印于心。他那精简的言辞，他所传讲真理的卓绝能力，以及他教训中所表现的热忱，使他能接近各等各色的人。[1]{AA 546.1 }
§5
After the ascension of Christ, John stands forth as a faithful, earnest laborer for the Master. With the other disciples he enjoyed the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and with fresh zeal and power he continued to speak to the people the words of life, seeking to lead their thoughts to the Unseen. He was a powerful preacher, fervent, and deeply in earnest. In beautiful language and with a musical voice he told of the words and works of Christ, speaking in a way that impressed the hearts of those who heard him. The simplicity of his words, the sublime power of the truths he uttered, and the fervor that characterized his teachings, gave him access to all classes. {AA 546.1 }[1]
§6
这位使徒的生活是与他的教训相符的。那在他心中炽热着的对于基督的爱，促使他诚恳而恒切地为同胞，尤其是为基督教会内的弟兄们作工。[2]{AA 546.2 }
§7
The apostles life was in harmony with his teachings. The love for Christ which glowed in his heart led him to put forth earnest, untiring labor for his fellow men, especially for his brethren in the Christian church. {AA 546.2 }[2]
§8
基督曾吩咐他的第一批门徒要彼此相爱，像他爱他们一样。他们要这样向世人证明有基督在他们心里“成了荣耀的盼望。”他曾说：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。”（约13:34）当救主讲说这话的时候，门徒还不能领会,但是及至他们在目睹基督受苦之后，在他被钉、复活、并升到天上之后，以及在五旬节圣灵倾降他们身上之后，他们对于上帝的爱，并对于他们彼此之间必须保持的爱的性质，才具有了更清楚的观念。于是约翰才能对一般同作门徒的人说：[3]{AA 547.1 }
§9
Christ had bidden the first disciples love one another as He had loved them. Thus they were to bear testimony to the world that Christ was formed within, the hope of glory. A new commandment I give unto you, He had said, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34. At the time when these words were spoken, the disciples could not understand them; but after they had witnessed the sufferings of Christ, after His crucifixion and resurrection, and ascension to heaven, and after the Holy Spirit had rested on them at Pentecost, they had a clearer conception of the love of God and of the nature of that love which they must have for one another. Then John could say to his fellow disciples: {AA 547.1 }[3]
§10
“主为我们舍命，我们从此就知道何为爱；我们也当为弟兄舍命。”[4]{AA 547.2 }
§11
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. {AA 547.2 }[4]
§12
在圣灵降下之后，门徒出去宣讲一位永活的救主时，他们唯一的愿望乃是救人。他们在与圣徒交往的甜美经验中欢喜快乐。他们是温柔、体贴、克己的，甘愿为真理的缘故作任何牺牲。他们在每日的彼此交往上，表现了基督所吩咐要表现的爱。他们力求借着无私的言行，在别人的心里生发出这种爱来。[5]{AA 547.3 }
§13
After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the disciples went forth to proclaim a living Saviour, their one desire was the salvation of souls. They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints. They were tender, thoughtful, self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the truths sake. In their daily association with one another, they revealed the love that Christ had enjoined upon them. By unselfish words and deeds they strove to kindle this love in other hearts. {AA 547.3 }[5]
§14
这种爱乃是信徒所须永远怀存的。他们必须乐愿遵从这条新命令向前迈进。他们必须与基督有非常密切的联合，以便能满足他一切的要求。他们的生活乃是要彰显一位能因自己的义而称他们为义之救主的能力。[6]{AA 547.4 }
§15
Such a love the believers were ever to cherish. They were to go forward in willing obedience to the new commandment. So closely were they to be united with Christ that they would be enabled to fulfill all His requirements. Their lives were to magnify the power of a Saviour who could justify them by His righteousness. {AA 547.4 }[6]
§16
可惜渐渐地起了变化。众信徒开始在别人身上吹毛求疵了。他们既然经常注意他人的过失并进行恶意的批评，就忘记了救主和他的爱。他们愈益严格拘守各种外表的礼节，愈益讲究信仰的理论过于信仰的实践。他们既热衷于指摘他人，就疏忽了自己的过失。他们丧失了基督所吩咐的弟兄之爱，但最可悲的，就是他们没有感觉到自己所有的损失。他们并未发觉自己生活中已经渐渐失去快乐与幸福，而且也未感到他们既将上帝的爱关在心门外，自己不久就必在黑暗里行了。[7]{AA 548.1 }
§17
But gradually a change came. The believers began to look for defects in others. Dwelling upon mistakes, giving place to unkind criticism, they lost sight of the Saviour and His love. They became more strict in regard to outward ceremonies, more particular about the theory than the practice of the faith. In their zeal to condemn others, they overlooked their own errors. They lost the brotherly love that Christ had enjoined, and, saddest of all, they were unconscious of their loss. They did not realize that happiness and joy were going out of their lives and that, having shut the love of God out of their hearts, they would soon walk in darkness. {AA 548.1 }[7]
§18
约翰既发觉教会中弟兄的爱日益淡薄，就向信徒强调经常保持这种爱的必要。他写给教会的书信中充满着这种思想。他写道：“亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从上帝来的；凡有爱心的，都是由上帝而生，并且认识上帝。没有爱心的，就不认识上帝；因为上帝就是爱。上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们借着他得生，上帝爱我们的心，在此就显明了。不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差他的儿子为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。亲爱的弟兄啊，上帝既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。”[8]{AA 548.2 }
§19
John, realizing that brotherly love was waning in the church, urged upon believers the constant need of this love. His letters to the church are full of this thought. Beloved, let us love one another, he writes; for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. {AA 548.2 }[8]
§20
这位使徒论到信徒应如何特别表现这种爱心，说：“我写给你们的是一条新命令，在主是真的，在你们也是真的；因为黑暗渐渐过去，真光已经照耀。人若说自己在光明中，却恨他的弟兄，他到如今还是在黑暗里。爱弟兄的就是住在光明中，在他并没有绊跌的缘由。唯独恨弟兄的是在黑暗里，且在黑暗里行，也不知道往哪里去，因为黑暗叫他眼睛瞎了。”“我们应当彼此相爱；这就是你们从起初所听见的命令。”“没有爱心的，仍住在死中。凡恨他弟兄的，就是杀人的；你们晓得凡杀人的，没有永生存在他里面。主为我们舍命，我们从此就知道何为爱，我们也当为弟兄舍命。”[9]{AA 548.3 }
§21
Of the special sense in which this love should be manifested by believers, the apostle writes: A new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. {AA 548.3 }[9]
§22
那最足以危害教会的，并不是世人的反对。那造成他们最严重的祸害，最足以阻碍上帝圣工进展的，乃是信徒心中所怀藏的恶念。没有什么比怀藏嫉妒、猜疑、吹毛求疵和以恶意臆度人更足以削弱人的灵性。反之，那证明上帝已经差遣他儿子到世上来的最有力的见证，却是那存于组成他教会的禀性互异之人中间的协调与团结。凡跟从基督的人都有特权向世人作这种见证。但他们若想作到这一点，就必须服从基督的命令。他们的品格必须符合他的圣德，他们的意志必顺服他的旨意。[10]{AA 549.1 }
§23
It is not the opposition of the world that most endangers the church of Christ. It is the evil cherished in the hearts of believers that works their most grievous disaster and most surely retards the progress of Gods cause. There is no surer way of weakening spirituality than by cherishing envy, suspicion, faultfinding, and evil surmising. On the other hand, the strongest witness that God has sent His Son into the world is the existence of harmony and union among men of varied dispositions who form His church. This witness it is the privilege of the followers of Christ to bear. But in order to do this, they must place themselves under Christs command. Their characters must be conformed to His character and their wills to His will. {AA 549.1 }[10]
§24
基督说：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。”（约13:34）这是多么美妙的话；但实行的该是多么地不足啊！今日上帝的教会非常缺乏弟兄的友爱。许多自称爱主的人却并不真正彼此相爱。不信主的人正在注意着，要看那些自称是基督徒之人的信仰，是否会在他们的生活上发挥其成圣的影响；这些人是敏于辨识品格上的缺点与言行上的矛盾的。基督徒不可让仇敌有机会指着他们说：且看这班站在基督旗帜之下的人如何自相仇恨。原来基督徒都是一个家庭的成员，都是同一位天父的儿女，都具有同一永生的洪福之望。所以他们彼此之间的关系应当是非常密切、非常亲爱的。[11]{AA 550.1 }
§25
A new commandment I give unto you, Christ said, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34. What a wonderful statement; but, oh, how poorly practiced! In the church of God today brotherly love is sadly lacking. Many who profess to love the Saviour do not love one another. Unbelievers are watching to see if the faith of professed Christians is exerting a sanctifying influence upon their lives; and they are quick to discern the defects in character, the inconsistencies in action. Let Christians not make it possible for the enemy to point to them and say, Behold how these people, standing under the banner of Christ, hate one another. Christians are all members of one family, all children of the same heavenly Father, with the same blessed hope of immortality. Very close and tender should be the tie that binds them together. {AA 550.1 }[11]
§26
当神圣之爱激励我们表现基督所表现的同一温柔慈悲时，它乃是向人心作其最动人的劝告。唯有以无私之爱爱弟兄的才是真正爱上帝的人。真正的基督徒决不甘心听任一个人处于危险与窘迫之中而不予以警告，不加以照顾的。他决不至自命清高，而任凭犯错误的人更进一步的陷入不幸与沮丧之中，或仆倒在撒但的战场上。[12]{AA 550.2 }
§27
Divine love makes its most touching appeals to the heart when it calls upon us to manifest the same tender compassion that Christ manifested. That man only who has unselfish love for his brother has true love for God. The true Christian will not willingly permit the soul in peril and need to go unwarned, uncared for. He will not hold himself aloof from the erring, leaving them to plunge farther into unhappiness and discouragement or to fall on Satans battleground. {AA 550.2 }[12]
§28
那些从未体验过基督温柔而得人之爱的人，决不能引领别人到生命的泉源来。他的爱在心中乃是一种激励人的能力，导致人在言语上，在温柔、慈怜的精神上，在提高那与他们接触之人们的生活上，都表现他。凡欲在自己的努力上获得成功的基督徒工作人员必须认识基督；欲求认识他，就必须先认识他的爱。在天国，他们的适宜作为工作人员与否，乃是根据他们像基督一样爱人并像他一样作工的能力而衡量的。[13]{AA 550.3 }
§29
Those who have never experienced the tender, winning love of Christ cannot lead others to the fountain of life. His love in the heart is a constraining power, which leads men to reveal Him in the conversation, in the tender, pitiful spirit, in the uplifting of the lives of those with whom they associate. Christian workers who succeed in their efforts must know Christ; and in order to know Him, they must know His love. In heaven their fitness as workers is measured by their ability to love as Christ loved and to work as He worked. {AA 550.3 }[13]
§30
这位使徒写道：“我们相爱，不要只在言语和舌头上，总要在行为和诚实上。”当内心经常发出帮助人并为人造福的难禁之情时，基督徒品格的完全就达到了。因有这种爱的气氛环绕着信徒的心灵，才使他成为活的香气叫人活，并使上帝赐福给他的工作。[14]{AA 551.1 }
§31
Let us not love in word, the apostle writes, but in deed and in truth. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. {AA 551.1 }[14]
§32
对上帝的无上之爱以及彼此间的无私之爱，这就是我们的天父所能赋予的最佳恩赐。这种爱并不是一时的冲动，而是一项神圣的原则，一种持久不变的力量。未曾奉献成圣的心决不能发动或产生这种爱。唯有一颗有耶稣在其内作王的心，才能发现有这种爱。“我们爱，因为上帝先爱我们。”在一颗得因上帝的恩典而更新的心里，爱乃是行动的主要原则。它陶冶品格，管辖冲动，控制欲念，并提高感情。这种爱若怀存在心中，就使人生舒适，并在四周的众人身上发挥高尚的感化力。[15]{AA 551.2 }
§33
Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another--this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. We love Him, because He first loved us. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. {AA 551.2 }[15]
§34
约翰竭力要导使信徒了解那借着实施亲爱精神所能获得的崇高特权。这种恢复的能力既然充满心内，就必控制一切其它的动机，并使具有这种能力的人超脱世俗腐化的影响。当这种爱得以完全控制人、并成为人一生原动力时，他们就必全然倚靠并信赖上帝和他对待他们的方式了。于是他们就能凭完全的信心来到他面前，因为他们确知自己必能从他领受有关今生和来生幸福所需要的一切。他写道：“这样，爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子，坦然无惧；因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。爱里没有惧怕；爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。”“我们若照他的旨意求什么，他就听我们；这是我们向他所存坦然无惧的心。既然知道他听我们一切所求的，就知道我们所求于他的无不得着。”[16]{AA 551.3 }
§35
John strove to lead the believers to understand the exalted privileges that would come to them through the exercise of the spirit of love. This redeeming power, filling the heart, would control every other motive and raise its possessors above the corrupting influences of the world. And as this love was allowed full sway and became the motive power in the life, their trust and confidence in God and His dealing with them would be complete. They could then come to Him in full confidence of faith, knowing that they would receive from Him everything needful for their present and eternal good. Herein is our love made perfect, he wrote, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. {AA 551.3 }[16]
§36
“若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位中保，就是那义者耶稣基督；他为我们的罪作了挽回祭；不是单为我们的罪，也是为普天下人的罪。”“我们若认自己的罪，上帝是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。”得蒙上帝怜悯的条件原是简单而合理的。主并不要我们作什么艰难的事以求获得赦免。我们既不需要长途跋涉去圣地朝拜，也不需要刻苦修行以求得天上的上帝悦纳我们或豁免我们的罪孽。凡“承认离弃罪过的，必蒙怜恤。”（箴28:13）[17]{AA 552.1 }
§37
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The conditions of obtaining mercy from God are simple and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order to gain forgiveness. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13. {AA 552.1 }[17]
§38
基督正在天庭为他的教会代求，为他以自己的宝血作赎价所拯救的人代求。世纪与时代毫不足以减弱他那赎罪祭的效能。无论是死、是生、是高处的、是低处的，都不能叫我们与上帝的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的；这并不是因为我们紧握住基督，而是因为他紧握住我们。如果我们的救恩全在乎我们自己的努力，那么我们就不能得救了；然而我们的得救乃是在于那支持一切所应许的主。虽然我们握住他的力量似乎是软弱的，但他以长兄的爱爱我们；只要我们与他保持联合，就没有人能把我们从他手中夺去。[18]{AA 552.2 }
§39
In the courts above, Christ is pleading for His church--pleading for those for whom He has paid the redemption price of His blood. Centuries, ages, can never lessen the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice. Neither life nor death, height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus; not because we hold Him so firmly, but because He holds us so fast. If our salvation depended on our own efforts, we could not be saved; but it depends on the One who is behind all the promises. Our grasp on Him may seem feeble, but His love is that of an elder brother; so long as we maintain our union with Him, no one can pluck us out of His hand. {AA 552.2 }[18]
§40
随着岁月的流转，信徒的人数增多了，约翰便以日益增进的忠贞与热忱为弟兄们效劳。时势对于教会是充满危险的。撒但的欺骗随时皆有。撒但的使者设法利用诬蔑的虚假的手段引起众人反对基督的道理；结果教会受到纷争不和与异端邪说的危害。有一些自称信奉基督的人，声称他的爱已经解除了他们服从上帝律法的义务。另一方面又有一些人，则教导人说必须遵守犹太人的风俗和礼节；并说人仅靠遵守律法，而不需要依靠基督的宝血就可以得救。有一些人承认基督是好人，却否认他的神性。有一些假装效忠上帝的人简直是自欺欺人，他们在行动上否定了基督和他的福音。他们自己既然仍在罪中生活，他们就把许多异端邪说带进了教会。这样，许多人就被引入怀疑和迷惑的歧途中了。[19]{AA 553.1 }
§41
As the years went by and the number of believers grew, John labored with increasing fidelity and earnestness for his brethren. The times were full of peril for the church. Satanic delusions existed everywhere. By misrepresentation and falsehood the emissaries of Satan sought to arouse opposition against the doctrines of Christ, and in consequence dissensions and heresies were imperiling the church. Some who professed Christ claimed that His love released them from obedience to the law of God. On the other hand, many taught that it was necessary to observe the Jewish customs and ceremonies; that a mere observance of the law, without faith in the blood of Christ, was sufficient for salvation. Some held that Christ was a good man, but denied His divinity. Some who pretended to be true to the cause of God were deceivers, and in practice they denied Christ and His gospel. Living themselves in transgression, they were bringing heresies into the church. Thus many were being led into the mazes of skepticism and delusion. {AA 553.1 }[19]
§42
约翰看到这些有毒害性的谬道潜入教会，心中便充满忧伤。他既看出教会所面临的危险，便迅速而坚决地起来应付危机。约翰的书信洋溢着爱的气氛。似乎是用那浸润在爱里的笔所写出来的。但每当他接触到那些一面违犯上帝律法、而犹一面自夸无罪的人们时，他就毫不踌躇地警告他们有关他们所受的可怕欺骗。[20]{AA 554.1 }
§43
John was filled with sadness as he saw these poisonous errors creeping into the church. He saw the dangers to which the church was exposed, and he met the emergency with promptness and decision. The epistles of John breathe the spirit of love. It seems as if he wrote with a pen dipped in love. But when he came in contact with those who were breaking the law of God, yet claiming that they were living without sin, he did not hesitate to warn them of their fearful deception. {AA 554.1 }[20]
§44
他写给一位声望良好而影响广泛的，协助福音工作的妇女，说：“世上有许多迷惑人的出来，他们不认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的。这就是那迷惑人、敌基督的。你们要小心，不要失去你们所作的工，乃要得着满足的赏赐。凡越过基督的教训，不常守着的，就没有上帝。常守这教训的，就有父又有子。若有人到你们那里，不是传这教训，不要接他到家里，也不要问他的安；因为问他安的，就在他的恶行上有份。”[21]{AA 554.2 }
§45
Writing to a helper in the gospel work, a woman of good repute and wide influence, he said: Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds. {AA 554.2 }[21]
§46
我们业经授权要与蒙爱的门徒一样，评判那些自称住在基督里面、而同时却仍在违犯上帝律法中度日的人。现代教会中也存在着一些与威胁早期教会兴盛的相同弊病；因此，应当谨守使徒约翰对于这方面的教训。“你必须有爱”乃是处处，尤其是从那些自以为圣洁的人那里听到的口号。但真正的爱是十分纯洁而决不能掩盖一件没有承认的罪的。我们固然要爱那些基督为之受死的人，但我们决不应与罪恶妥协。我们不可与悖逆之徒联合，而说这就是爱。上帝要他这一世代的子民像约翰一样，毫不畏缩地主持正义，反对一切足以危害心灵的谬论。[22]{AA 554.3 }
§47
We are authorized to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple those who claim to abide in Christ while living in transgression of Gods law. There exist in these last days evils similar to those that threatened the prosperity of the early church; and the teachings of the apostle John on these points should be carefully heeded. You must have charity, is the cry heard everywhere, especially from those who profess sanctification. But true charity is too pure to cover an unconfessed sin. While we are to love the souls for whom Christ died, we are to make no compromise with evil. We are not to unite with the rebellious and call this charity. God requires His people in this age of the world to stand for the right as unflinchingly as did John in opposition to soul-destroying errors. {AA 554.3 }[22]
§48
这位使徒教训我们一方面必须表现基督化的礼貌，但我们也有权用率直的言辞对付罪恶与罪人；而这种作法是与真正的爱并无不合的。他写道：“凡犯罪的，就是违背律法；违背律法就是罪。你们知道主曾显现，是要除掉人的罪；在他没有罪。凡住在他里面的，就不犯罪；凡犯罪的，是未曾看见他，也未曾认识他。”[23]{AA 555.1 }
§49
The apostle teaches that while we should manifest Christian courtesy we are authorized to deal in plain terms with sin and sinners; that this is not inconsistent with true charity. Whosoever committeth sin, he writes, transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. {AA 555.1 }[23]
§50
约翰身为基督的见证人，既不从事论争，也不参加令人厌烦的辩论。他只将自己所明白，自己所曾经看见和听到的讲述出来。他曾与基督有亲密的交往，也曾聆听他的教训，目睹他大能的神迹。很少人能像约翰一样看到基督圣德的优美。在他，黑暗已经过去，真光正在照耀着他。他为救主的生和死所作的见证乃是清楚而有力的。他所讲的话乃是出自一颗洋溢着对救主之爱的心，因此任何势力都不能堵住他的口。[24]{AA 555.2 }
§51
As a witness for Christ, John entered into no controversy, no wearisome contention. He declared what he knew, what he had seen and heard. He had been intimately associated with Christ, had listened to His teachings, had witnessed His mighty miracles. Few could see the beauties of Christs character as John saw them. For him the darkness had passed away; on him the true light was shining. His testimony in regard to the Saviours life and death was clear and forcible. Out of the abundance of a heart overflowing with love for the Saviour he spoke; and no power could stay his words. {AA 555.2 }[24]
§52
他声称：“论到从起初原有的生命之道，就是我们所听见、所看见、亲眼看过、亲手摸过的；……我们将所看见、所听见的、传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。”[25]{AA 555.3 }
§53
That which was from the beginning, he declared, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; . . . that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. {AA 555.3 }[25]
§54
因此，但愿每一位真实信徒都能借着自己的经验“印上印，证明上帝是真的。”（约3:32）他能为自己所看见、所听见、所感到的基督之能力作见证。[26]{AA 556.1 }
§55
So may every true believer be able, through his own experience, to set to his seal that God is true. John 3:33. He can bear witness to that which he has seen and heard and felt of the power of Christ. {AA 556.1 }[26]