第93章 传道人资格的审查
§1
第93章 传道人资格的审查
§2
Chap. 93 Examination for the Ministry
§3
人若没有蒙祂呼召的明确无误的证据，就不该得到鼓励进入园地。主不愿把祂羊群的重担委托给不够格的人。上帝所召的人必须具有深刻的经验，受过考验与试验，有健全的判断力，会本着柔和的精神敢于责备罪恶，知道如何喂养羊群。上帝知道人心，祂也知道要拣选谁。——《教会证言》卷一第209页{GW 437.1}[1]
§4
Men should not be encouraged to go into the field as ministers without unmistakable evidence that God has called them. The Lord will not entrust the burden for His flock to unqualified individuals. Those whom God calls must be men of deep experience, tried and proved, men of sound judgment, men who will dare to reprove sin in the spirit of meekness, men who understand how to feed the flock. God knows the heart, and He knows whom to select.-- Testimonies for the Church, Vol. I, page 209. {GW 437.1}[1]
§5
传道人的审查工作进行得太少了，因此教会中就有了尚未悔改，庸碌无能的工人。他们非但没有激发信徒对上帝的圣工更加热心和诚恳，反而安抚他们入睡。有些传道人参加祷告会，一再重复陈旧无生命的祷告；一周又一周，一月又一月，讲一样枯燥的道理。他们没有鼓舞人的新东西提供给会众，这证明他们与上帝的性情无分，基督也没有因信而住在他们心里。{GW 437.2}[2]
§6
There has been too little done in examining ministers; and for this very reason churches have had the labors of unconverted, inefficient men, who have lulled the members to sleep, instead of awakening them to greater zeal and earnestness in the cause of God. There are ministers who come to the prayer-meeting, and pray the same old, lifeless prayers over and over; they preach the same dry discourses from week to week and from month to month. They have nothing new and inspiring to present to their congregations, and this is evidence that they are not partakers of the divine nature. Christ is not abiding in the heart by faith. {GW 437.2}[2]
§7
凡自称遵守和教导上帝神圣律法的人，若不断违犯律法，他就是罪人和真理信徒的绊脚石。许多人对耶和华的律法和圣子的恩赐所抱的冷淡态度，侮辱了上帝。纠正这一普遍弊端的唯一方法，就是严格审查每一个要成为真理教师的人。负责审查的人，应熟悉对方信道以来的经历，了解他的基督徒经验，圣经知识，和对现代真理的看法。无论何人，若没有表现出在上帝的事上有真实活泼的经验，就不得被接纳为上帝圣工的工人。{GW 437.3}[3]
§8
Those who claim to keep and teach the holy law of God, and yet are continually transgressing that law, are stumbling-blocks both to sinners and to believers in the truth. The loose, lax way in which many regard the law of Jehovah and the gift of His Son, is an insult to God. The only way in which we can correct this wide-spread evil, is to examine closely every one who would become a teacher of the Word. Those upon whom this responsibility rests, should acquaint themselves with his history since he professed to believe the truth. His Christian experience and his knowledge of the Scriptures, the way in which he holds present truth, should all be understood. No one should be accepted as a laborer in the cause of God, until he makes it manifest that he has a real, living experience in the things of God. {GW 437.3}[3]
§9
凡即将参加圣工向世人教导圣经真理的人，必须受忠心而有经验之人的细心考问。等这些人有一些经验之后，还有一番当为他们作的事。应当藉着恳切祷告，把他们奉献在主前，以便上帝可以藉着圣灵指示他们是否蒙祂悦纳。使徒说：“给人行按手的礼，不可急促”（提前5:22）。在使徒时代，上帝的传道人不敢凭自己的判断，去选择或接受人来担当上帝代言人的圣职。使徒选择了所认可的人之后，便把他们置于主前，看祂是否同意他们出去作祂的代表。现今至少也当如此行。{GW 438.1}[4]
§10
Those who are about to enter upon the sacred work of teaching Bible truth to the world, should be carefully examined by faithful, experienced persons. After they have had some experience, there is still another work to be done for them: they should be presented before the Lord in earnest prayer, that He may indicate by His Holy Spirit whether they are acceptable to Him. The apostle says, Lay hands suddenly on no man. [1 Timothy 5:22.] In the days of the apostles, the ministers of God did not dare to rely upon their own judgment in selecting or accepting men to take the solemn and sacred position of mouthpiece for God. They chose the men whom their judgment accepted, and then placed them before the Lord to see if He would accept them to go forth as His representatives. No less than this should be done now. {GW 438.1}[4]
§11
在许多地方，我们见到那些尚未具备相当资格的人，被仓卒地选任教会长老等要职。他们还不能好好地管理自己，感化力也欠佳。教会时常因其领袖品格上的缺点而遭遇困难。这些人被按立得太急促了。{GW 438.2}[5]
§12
In many places we meet men who have been hurried into responsible positions as elders of the church, when they are not qualified for such a position. They have not proper government over themselves. Their influence is not good. The church is in trouble continually in consequence of the defective character of the leaders. Hands have been laid too suddenly upon these men. {GW 438.2}[5]
§13
上帝的传道人应有好名声，在激起慕道的兴趣之后，能够贤明的管理该项事工。我们极其需要有能力的人，他们会使所代表的圣工得荣耀，而不是蒙受羞辱。{GW 439.1}[6]
§14
Ministers of God should be men of good repute, capable of discreetly managing an interest after they have aroused it. We stand in great need of competent men, who will bring honor instead of disgrace upon the cause which they represent. {GW 439.1}[6]
§15
应当特别审查传道人，看他们对于现代真理是否通达理会，以致能在预言或实际题目上讲解有联贯性的讲题。他们若是不能清楚的讲解圣经道理，就应当仍旧作听道的人和学习的人。他们若要作圣经真理的教师去教导别人，就当恳切热心的研究圣经，并熟习精通它。在差派人进入工作园地之前，所有这一切都应当慎重虔诚地加以考虑。——《教会证言》卷四第406-407页{GW 439.2}[7]
§16
Ministers should be examined especially to see if they have an intelligent understanding of the truth for this time, so that they can give a connected discourse upon the prophecies or upon practical subjects. If they cannot clearly present Bible subjects, they need to be hearers and learners still. In order to be teachers of Bible truth, they should earnestly and prayerfully search the Scriptures, and become conversant with them. All these things should be carefully and prayerfully considered before men are sent into the field of labor.--Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IV, pages 406, 407. {GW 439.2}[7]
§17
保罗看出提摩太能体会到传道人之工作的神圣性质，也看出他不怕吃苦，能忍受逼迫，愿意领教。虽然如此，保罗必须先对提摩太的品格和历史作彻底的调查，然后才敢训练这个没有经受过考验的青年去作传道的工作。{GW 439.3}[8]
§18
In Timothy, Paul saw one who appreciated the sacredness of the work of a minister, who was not appalled at the prospect of suffering and persecution, and who was willing to be taught. Yet the apostle did not venture to take the responsibility of giving Timothy, an untried youth, a training in the gospel ministry, without first fully satisfying himself in regard to his character and his past life. {GW 439.3}[8]
§19
提摩太的父亲是希腊人，母亲是犹太人。他从小就熟悉圣经，而且在家庭中所看到的敬虔生活是实际而合理的。他母亲和外祖母对于圣经的信心，不住地使他看出遵行上帝旨意的人所蒙受的福。这两位敬虔的妇女所采用来指导提摩太的标准，乃是上帝的圣言。她们给他的教训所含的属灵力量，保守了他，使他言语纯洁，而生活不受当时邪恶环境的影响。可见他的两个家庭教师很早已同上帝合作，准备他担负重大责任的事。{GW 440.1}[9]
§20
Timothys father was a Greek and his mother a Jewess. From a child he had known the Scriptures. The piety that he saw in his home life was sound and sensible. The faith of his mother and his grandmother in the sacred oracles was to him a constant reminder of the blessing in doing Gods will. The word of God was the rule by which these two godly women had guided Timothy. The spiritual power of the lessons that he had received from them kept him pure in speech and unsullied by the evil influences with which he was surrounded. Thus his home instructors had co-operated with God in preparing him to bear burdens. {GW 440.1}[9]
§21
保罗看出提摩太是忠实、坚定、正直的，所以拣选他为工作与旅行的同伴。在提摩太幼年时教育他的两位妇女，竟看到自己所抚养的孩子与这位伟大的使徒亲密联合，这真是她们一生辛苦的报赏。……{GW 440.2}[10]
§22
Paul saw that Timothy was faithful, steadfast, and true, and he chose him as a companion in labor and travel. Those who had taught Timothy in his childhood were rewarded by seeing the son of their care linked in close fellowship with the great apostle.... {GW 440.2}[10]
§23
保罗很爱提摩太，并说他是“因信主”而成了他的“真儿子”（提前1:2）。大使徒保罗时常考问这个青年的门徒关于圣经的历史。在他们旅行的时候，他也用心教导他如何作有效的工作。保罗和西拉在他们与提摩太所有的接触上，都设法加深那已经给予他的印象，就是福音工作者的任务是何等神圣，何等严肃。——《使徒行述》第203-204页{GW 440.3}[11]
§24
Paul loved Timothy, his own son in the faith. [1 Timothy 1:2.] The great apostle often drew the younger disciple out, questioning him in regard to Scripture history; and as they traveled from place to place, he carefully taught him how to do successful work. Both Paul and Silas, in all their association with Timothy, sought to deepen the impression that had already been made upon his mind, of the sacred, serious nature of the work of the gospel minister.--Acts of the Apostles, pages 203, 204. {GW 440.3}[11]
§25
提摩太在工作中常请求保罗的意见和指教。这个青年不敢感情用事，却多方考虑，慎重思索，步步询问：这是耶和华的道路么？——《使徒行述》第205页。{GW 440.4}[12]
§26
In his work, Timothy constantly sought Pauls advice and instruction. He did not move from impulse, but exercised consideration and calm thought, inquiring at every step, Is this the way of the Lord? --Idem, page 205. {GW 440.4}[12]