第09章 外邦人的使徒——保罗
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第09章 外邦人的使徒——保罗
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Chap.09 Paul, The Apostle to the Gentiles
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使徒保罗在蒙召传扬基督福音的人中名列前茅。他是每一位传道人忠心、献身和不倦努力的榜样。他的经验和他有关传道工作神圣性质的教诲，是从事福音工作的人帮助和鼓舞的泉源。{GW 58.1}[1]
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Foremost among those called to preach the gospel of Christ stands the apostle Paul, to every minister an example of loyalty, devotion, and untiring effort. His experiences and his instruction regarding the sacredness of the ministers work, are a source of help and inspiration to those engaged in the gospel ministry. {GW 58.1}[1]
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保罗在悔改之前，曾残酷地迫害基督的门徒。但是在大马士革的城门口，有声音对他说话，有天上的光照进他的心。在被钉之主的启示中，他所看的改变他整个人生的方向。他曾在圣徒身上无情地逼迫了主，此后他却把敬爱荣耀的主放在万事之前。他奉命担任显明“永古隐藏不言的奥秘”的执事。（罗16:25）。向亚拿尼亚显现的天使宣布说：“他是我所拣选的器皿，要在外邦人和君王并以色列人面前，宣扬我的名”（徒9:15）。{GW 58.2}[2]
§6
Before his conversion, Paul was a bitter persecutor of the followers of Christ. But at the gate of Damascus a voice spoke to him, light from heaven shone into his soul, and in the revelation that there came to him, of the Crucified One, he beheld that which changed the whole current of his life. Henceforth love for the Lord of glory, whom he had so relentlessly persecuted in the person of His saints, came before all else. To him had been given the ministry of making known the mystery which had been kept secret since the world began. [Romans 16:25.] He is a chosen vessel unto Me, declared the Angel who appeared to Ananias, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. [Acts 9:15.] {GW 58.2}[2]
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保罗在他长期的服务中，从来没有在效忠救主的事上犹豫畏缩。他写信给腓立比信徒说：“我不是以为自己已经得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向着标竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏”（腓3:13-14）。{GW 58.3}[3]
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And throughout his long term of service, Paul never faltered in his allegiance to his Saviour. I count not myself to have apprehended, he wrote to the Philippians; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ. [Philippians 3:13, 14.] {GW 58.3}[3]
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保罗的生活充满了不息不倦的服务。他从这城到那城，这国到那国，来回奔波，宣讲十字架的故事，到处引领人悔改相信福音，到处建立教会。他经常看顾这些教会，并写了许多书信教导他们。有时他从事手艺，以求糊口。但他在一切忙碌的活动中，始终没有忘记一个伟大的宗旨——向着标竿直跑。{GW 58.4}[4]
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Pauls was a life of intense and varied activities. From city to city, from country to country, he journeyed, telling the story of the cross, winning converts to the gospel, and establishing churches. For these churches he had a constant care, and he wrote many letters of instruction to them. At times he worked at his trade to earn his daily bread. But in all the busy activity of his life, he never lost sight of the one great purpose,--to press toward the mark of his high calling. {GW 58.4}[4]
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保罗身上常带着上天的气氛。凡与他接近的人都感受到他那与基督联合的影响。他自己的生活为他所传的真理作见证，这就使他所传讲的道具有感服人心的能力。真理的能力就在于此。圣洁的生活自然而然，不知不觉地发出影响，乃是为基督教所能作最有力的见证。辩论纵然极其有理，甚至叫人无言可答，却只能惹起人的反对；而一个敬虔的榜样却有一种不能抵抗的力量。{GW 59.1}[5]
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Paul carried with him the atmosphere of heaven. All who associated with him felt the influence of his union with Christ. The fact that his own life exemplified the truth he proclaimed, gave convincing power to his preaching. Here lies the power of the truth. The unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power that it is impossible wholly to resist. {GW 59.1}[5]
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使徒心中火热，怜爱罪人。他将全部精力都投入救灵的工作。没有哪一个工人比他更加克己更坚定。他所领受的恩赐，他都珍视为足资造福别人的方法。他善于利用每一个为救主作见证或帮助人的机会。无论在什么地方，只要有人听他讲道，他就尽力抵制邪恶、并使人们掉转脚步走上公义的道路。{GW 59.2}[6]
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The apostles heart burned with love for sinners, and he put all his energies into the work of soul-winning. There never lived a more self-denying, persevering worker. The blessings he received he prized as so many advantages to be used in blessing others. He lost no opportunity of speaking of the Saviour or of helping those in trouble. Wherever he could find a hearing, he sought to counteract wrong and to turn the feet of men and women into the path of righteousness. {GW 59.2}[6]
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保罗从来没有忘记自己作为基督仆人所应负的责任。他也没有忘记如果有人因他的不忠心而灭亡，上帝是一定要他负责的。他宣告说：“我今日向你们证明，你们中间无论何人死亡，罪不在我身上”（徒20:26）。他论到福音说：“我照上帝为你们所赐我的职分，作了教会的执事，要把上帝的道理传得全备；这道理就是历世历代所隐藏的奥秘，但如今向祂的圣徒显明了。上帝愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀；就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。我们传扬祂，是用诸般的智慧，劝戒各人，教导各人；要把各人在基督里完完全全的引到上帝面前。我也为此劳苦，照着祂在我里面运用的大能，尽心竭力”（西1:25-29）。{GW 59.3}[7]
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Paul never forgot the responsibility resting on him as a minister of Christ; or that if souls were lost through unfaithfulness on his part, God would hold him accountable. I take you to record this day, he declared, that I am pure from the blood of all men. [Acts 20:26.] Whereof I am made a minister, he said of the gospel, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily. [Colossians 1:25-29] {GW 59.3}[7]
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这些话向每一个为基督作工的人提供了一个崇高的目标，而每一个人也尽可以达到这个目标，只要他让自己接受基督的指挥，天天在基督的“学校”里学习。上帝所掌握的能力是没有穷尽的。所以一个传道人若因感到自己的需要而在祈祷的密室里与主亲近，他就可以确信自己一定能得到能力，成为听众“活的香气”叫他们活。{GW 60.1}[8]
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These words present before the worker for Christ a high standard of attainment, yet this standard all can reach who, putting themselves under the control of the great Teacher, learn daily in the school of Christ. The power at Gods command is limitless; and the minister who in his great need shuts himself in with the Lord, may be assured that he will receive that which will be to his hearers a savor of life unto life. {GW 60.1}[8]
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保罗的书信说明一个传道人应当实践自己所教导的真理。“凡事都不叫人有妨碍，免得这职分被人毁谤”（林后6:3）。他写信给提多说：“又劝少年人要谨守。你自己凡事要显出善行的榜样，在教训上要正直、端庄，言语纯全，无可指责，叫那反对的人，既无处可说我们的不是，便自觉羞愧”（多2:6-8）。{GW 60.2}[9]
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Pauls writings show that the gospel minister should be an example of the truths that he teaches, giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed. [2 Corinthians 6:3.] To Titus he wrote, Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. [Titus 2:6-8.] {GW 60.2}[9]
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他在写给哥林多信徒的信中，为我们描写了他自己的工作：“反倒在各样的事上，表明自己是上帝的用人，就如在许多的忍耐、患难、穷乏、困苦、鞭打、监禁、扰乱、勤劳、警醒、不食、廉洁、知识、恒忍、恩慈、圣灵的感化、无伪的爱心、真实的道理、上帝的大能；仁义的兵器，在左在右；荣耀羞辱，恶名美名；似乎是诱惑人的，却是诚实的；似乎不为人所知，却是人所共知的；似乎要死，却是活着的；似乎受责罚，却是不至丧命的；似乎忧愁，却是常常快乐的；似乎贫穷，却是叫许多人富足的；似乎一无所有，却是样样都有的”（林后6:4-10）。{GW 60.3}[10]
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Of his own work he has left us a picture in his letter to the Corinthian believers: In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich. [2 Corinthians 6:4-10.] {GW 60.3}[10]
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保罗的心充满了深切的责任感。他一面工作，一面与那为公义、恩慈和真理之根源的主保持亲密的交通。他坚守基督的十字架为他成功的唯一保证。救主的爱乃是他不变的动机，这爱支持了他，使他在与自我斗争，与邪恶挣扎，并为基督服务时，能冒着世人的敌视与仇敌的反对奋勇前进。{GW 61.1}[11]
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Pauls heart was filled with a deep, abiding sense of his responsibility; and he labored in close communion with Him who is the fountain of justice, mercy, and truth. He clung to the cross of Christ as his only guaranty of success. The love of the Saviour was the undying motive that upheld him in his conflicts with self and in his struggle against evil, as in the service of Christ he pressed forward against the unfriendliness of the world and the opposition of his enemies. {GW 61.1}[11]
§25
教会在现今危险的日子中所需要的乃是大队工人，就像保罗一样已经造就自己在上帝的事上有深切的经验，并心中充满恳挚与热诚的工人。教会需要一班圣洁和牺牲的工人；需要勇敢真诚的工人；需要有基督在心里“成了有荣耀的盼望”的工人；需要嘴唇沾过圣火愿意传道的工人。正因教会缺少这样的工人，所以上帝的圣工衰弱无力，种种严重的异端像致命的毒物一样，败坏德行，挫折了大部分人类的希望。{GW 61.2}[12]
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What the church needs in these days of peril, is an army of workers who, like Paul, have educated themselves for usefulness, who have a deep experience in the things of God, and who are filled with earnestness and zeal. Sanctified, self-sacrificing men are needed; men who are brave and true; men in whose hearts Christ is formed, the hope of glory, [Colossians 1:27.] and who with lips touched with holy fire will preach the word. [2 Timothy 4:2.] For the want of such workers the cause of God languishes, and fatal errors, like a deadly poison, taint the morals and blight the hopes of a large part of the human race. {GW 61.2}[12]
§27
当忠心尽职而年力已衰的执掌真理旗帜的勇士，为真理献上他们的性命时，有谁前来接替他们的位置呢？我们的青年人是否愿意从他们的父老手中接受这神圣的委托呢？他们是否准备补充因忠心使者之死而留下的空缺？在蛊惑青年的私心和野心的刺激之下，有谁注意到保罗的遗嘱，聆听本分的召唤呢？{GW 61.3}[13]
§28
As the faithful, toil-worn standard-bearers are offering up their lives for the truths sake, who will come forward to take their place? Will our young men accept the holy trust at the hand of their fathers? Are they preparing to fill the vacancies made by the death of the faithful? Will the apostles charge be heeded, the call to duty be heard, amid the incitements to selfishness and ambition that allure the youth? {GW 61.3}[13]