第343号 地方教会的长老
§1
第343号 地方教会的长老
§2
MR No. 343 - Local Elders of the Church
§3
长老和执事选举出来是要关注教会的兴旺。但是这些领袖，特别是年轻教会里的领袖，不可觉得能凭着自己的判断和职权，随便把冒犯他们的信徒开除出教会。他们没有得到这样的授权。许多人像耶户那样过度热心，在重大的事情上卤莽匆促地作出决定，而他们自己却不与上帝联系。他们应该谦卑真诚地寻求把他们放在岗位上之主的智慧。要非常谦虚地负起责任。他们还应该把事情摆在他们的区会会长面前，与他商量。（《文稿》1878年第1号，〈致印得安那州利戈尼尔教会〉，1878年10月）{5MR447.1}[1]
§4
Elders and deacons are chosen to have a care for the prosperity of the church; yet these leaders, especially in young churches, should not feel at liberty, on their own judgment and responsibility, to cut off offending members from the church; they are not invested with such authority. Many indulge a zeal like that of Jehu, and rashly venture to make decisions in matters of grave importance, while they themselves have no connection with God. They should humbly and earnestly seek wisdom from the One who has placed them in their position, and should be very modest in assuming responsibilities. They should also lay the matter before the president of their conference; and counsel with him.--Manuscript 1, 1878. (To the church at Ligonier, Indiana, October, 1878.) {5MR 447.1}[1]
§5
他所说的资格对于执事难道不重要吗？对于长老难道不一样重要吗？执事是教会的职员。林后6:4说：“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。”提前5:22说：“给人行按手的礼，不可急促。不要在别人的罪上有分。要保守自己清洁。”这个问题值得考虑。在21节里布置了严肃的任务：“我在上帝和基督耶稣并蒙拣选的天使面前嘱咐你，要遵守这些话，不可存成见，行事也不可有偏心。”需要认真虔诚地思考21节和22节。要斥责罪恶。教会的长老因为自己的忠诚，不论遭遇什么反对和试炼，都不要背离真正的原则。（《文稿》1890年1a号，〈神圣的工作〉，1890年2月13日）{5MR447.2}[2]
§6
Are not the qualifications which he says are essential in the deacon, equally essential in the elder of the church? The deacons were church officers. 2 Corinthians 6:4: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses. 1 Timothy 5:22: Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other mens sins: keep thyself pure. Here is a matter that is worthy of consideration. In the twenty-first verse the solemn charge is given: I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. These verses, 21 and 22, need to be carefully and prayerfully considered. Sin should be rebuked. Whatever opposition and trial might come to the elder of the church because of his faithfulness, he should not swerve from true principles.--Manuscript 1a, 1890. (A Consecrated Ministry, February 13, 1890.) {5MR 447.2}[2]
§7
“离了我你们就不能做什么”（约15:5）。要把这句话摆在每一批会众面前。上帝所接纳的是完整的心志；但教会的长老和职员为什么不以真诚的祈祷起来设法让教会的信徒工作。这些教会的长老是在承担着责任吗？他们有没有看顾上帝牧场上的羊群？他们有没有在上帝面前降卑自己的心，凭着信心把握基督的恩典，放弃自己的罪恶，相信自己的悔改已在上帝面前蒙悦纳呢？他们虔诚吗？他们献身给上帝了吗？教会的长老，教会的职员愿不愿意亲近上帝呢？他们愿不愿意在这宽容的时期中学习并实行耶稣基督的教训，直到他们攀上信心的高地，获得更清晰、更属灵的视野呢？（《文稿》1893年20号，〈传道工作〉1893年5月9日）{5MR448.1}[3]
§8
Without me ye can do nothing. Keep this before every congregation, that it is entireness, wholeness of purpose that God will accept: but what is the matter that the church elders and officers do not arouse and seek with earnest prayer and determined effort to set the people in the church to work. Are elders in these churches carrying any burden? Do they feel any care for the souls of the sheep of Gods pasture? Do they humble their heart before God and by faith lay hold on the grace of Christ and put away their sins and believe their repentance is accepted before God? Have they piety? Have they devotion to God? Will the elders of the church, the officers of the church, draw nigh to God, will they now in probationary time learn the lessons of Jesus Christ and practice them until they shall ascend the high places of faith and command a clearer, more spiritual view of the situation?--Manuscript 20, 1893. (Missionary Work, May 9, 1893.) {5MR 448.1}[3]
§9
我奉耶稣的名要求你们不要因不耐烦人们的无知而得罪和伤害他们。主曾用自己的血偿付了赎价，使人能成为祂的同工。……{5MR448.2}[4]
§10
In the name of Jesus, who with His own blood has paid the purchase money, that men may be co-workers with Him, I ask you not to offend or hurt any souls by your impatience at their ignorance. . . . {5MR 448.2}[4]
§11
将会有各种性情、身具某些弱点的人参加圣工。被选为教会长老或执事的人要在一些问题上受到试探。但不论遇到什么试探，他们都可以得胜。他们愿意与敌人作战吗？他们是愿意驱逐仇敌，获取胜利呢？还是要做撒但希望他们做的工作，把他们受到诱惑所抱有的邪恶思想放到别人心中？他们为撒但所做的好事就是把邪恶的思想放到别人心中，使那人对别人进行严密的监视，对弟兄抱有恶念，说他们的坏话，传递撒但所预备的菜肴，毒害别人。这是毒根的生长，污染许多的人。（《文稿》1896年40号，〈库兰邦所需要的工人〉，1896年12月31日）{5MR448.3}[5]
§12
There will come into this work men of varied temperaments, weak on some points. Men chosen as elders of the church or as deacons will be tempted on some points; but whatever the temptation may be, they may conquer it. Will they fight the enemy? Will they drive him from them, and stand as victor, or will they do the work Satan wishes them to do, by putting into anothers mind the thoughts of evil they have been tempted to cherish? They do good service for Satan by communicating those evil thoughts to another mind, setting him to watch with keen scrutiny, to think and speak evil of his brethren, and to pass along the dish prepared by Satan to poison others. This is the root of bitterness springing up, whereby many are defiled.--Manuscript 40, 1896. (The Workers Needed in Cooranbong, December 31, 1896.) {5MR 448.3}[5]
§13
在我们的各教会里，应当开展果断的工作。被选为教会长老的人应当是经验丰富、拥有真理知识、信心坚定的人。{5MR449.1}[6]
§14
There is a decided work to be done in our churches. Those chosen as elders of the churches are to be men of experience, who have a knowledge of the truth and are sound in the faith. {5MR 449.1}[6]
§15
保罗在《提多书》中指出了管理上帝羊群的人所应当具备的资格。（《文稿》1900年67号，〈给教会的教导〉，1900年11月29日）{5MR449.2}[7]
§16
In his letter to Titus, Paul points out the qualifications which should be possessed by those placed in charge of the flock of God.--Manuscript 67, 1900. (Words of Instruction to the Church, November 29, 1900.) {5MR 449.2}[7]
§17
使徒保罗清楚地阐明了长老的资格：“若有无可指责的人，只作一个妇人的丈夫，儿女也是信主的，没有人告他们是放荡不服约束的，就可以设立。监督既是上帝的管家，必须无可指责，不任性，不暴躁，不因酒滋事，不打人，不贪无义之财，乐意接待远人，好善，庄重，公平，圣洁，自持。坚守所教真实的道理，就能将纯正的教训劝化人。又能把争辩的人驳倒了”（多1:6,7）。{5MR449.3}[8]
§18
The qualifications of an elder are plainly stated by the apostle Paul: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. {5MR 449.3}[8]
§19
一个人如果没有在自己家中表现出管理教会的智慧，他又怎么能在管理外面更大的教会中表现出智慧呢？他如果管不好自己的儿女，又怎么能负起如此重大的责任呢？在这件事上没有显示出智慧的辨别力。上帝福气不会临到那些疏忽教育和训练自己儿女的传道人身上。他负有神圣的责任，决不可把管理家庭的不良榜样摆在教会的信徒面前。（《文稿》1901年104号，〈改革的需要〉1901年10月8日）{5MR449.4}[9]
§20
If a man does not show wisdom in the management of the church in his own house, how can he show wisdom in the management of the larger church outside? How can he bear the responsibilities which mean so much, if he cannot govern his own children? Wise discrimination is not shown in this matter. Gods blessing will not rest upon the minister who neglects the education and training of his children. He has a sacred trust, and he should in no case set before church members a defective example in the management of his home.--Manuscript 104, 1901. (The Need of Reform, October 8, 1901.) {5MR 449.4}[9]
§21
“我这作长老，作基督受苦的见证，同享后来所要显现之荣耀的，劝你们中间与我同作长老的人。务要牧养在你们中间上帝的群羊，按着上帝旨意照管他们。不是出于勉强，乃是出于甘心。也不是因为贪财，乃是出于乐意。也不是辖制所托付你们的，乃是作群羊的榜样”（彼前5:1-3）。{5MR450.1}[10]
§22
The elders who are among you I exhort, who also am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over Gods heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. {5MR 450.1}[10]
§23
负责喂养上帝的羊群有三重责任。“牧养上帝的群羊”需要对他们传达上帝的道，给他们作认真的个人之工，为他们树立正确的榜样。“牧养上帝的群羊”，“照管他们”，需要亲自看顾交给你管理的宝血所买来的产业，“作群羊的榜样”——效法基督的克己牺牲，过归耶和华为圣的生活。这一切都要甘心乐意地去做，“不是辖制所托付你们的”，把人为的试验标准强加于他们。要以圣经的真理作为试验的标准。（《信函》1902年108号，致N.D.福克海德，1902年7月14日）{5MR450.2}[11]
§24
In the charge to feed the flock of God there is a threefold duty. Feed the flock of God--by preaching to them His word, by giving them earnest, personal labor, by setting them a right example. Feed the flock of God, taking the oversight thereof, having a personal care for the blood-bought heritage committed to your charge, being ensamples to the flock--following Christ in self-denial and self-sacrifice, in the life revealing holiness to the Lord. All this is to be done of a ready, cheerful mind, neither as being lords over Gods heritage, tyrannizing over them the human tests. The truth of Gods word is to be the test.--Letter 108, 1902. (To N. D. Faulkhead, July 14, 1902.) {5MR 450.2}[11]
§25
彼的继续说：“我这作长老，作基督受苦的见证，同享后来所要显现之荣耀的，劝你们”（彼前5:1）。蒙拣选担任长老的人不能因此而自高自大。他要记住职位并不能造就人。在天使和世人面前，他要给他的职位带来荣誉。……{5MR451.1}[12]
§26
The elders which are among you, Peter continues, I exhort, who also am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed. He who is chosen to fill the office of elder is not, because of this, to become self-exalted. Let him remember that the office does not make the man, but that before angels and before men he is to honor his office. . . . {5MR 451.1}[12]
§27
亚伦和户珥在蒙允许得见上帝荣耀显示的众长老协助之下，于摩西不在时负责管理上帝的子民。亚伦曾长期站在摩西旁边，户珥则是一个曾担负过重大职责的人。这些人应该何等谨慎地在摩西上山会见上帝期间看守好旷野中的教会啊！…….{5MR451.2}[13]
§28
To Aaron and Hur, assisted by the elders who had been granted a revelation of Gods glory, was given the charge of the people in the absence of Moses. Aaron had long stood side by side with Moses, and Hur was a man who had been entrusted with weighty responsibilities. How carefully these men should have guarded the church in the wilderness while Moses was in the mount with God. . . . {5MR 451.2}[13]
§29
今天与古时一样，需要有意志坚决的人——愿意在任何时候、任何环境下为真理而坚定站立。他们看见别人不忠于原则的时候，就要扬声警告背道的危险。（《信函》1904年69号，致J.E.怀特，1904年2月9日）{5MR451.3}[14]
§30
Today as then men of determination are needed--men who will stand stiffly for the truth at all times and under all circumstances, men who, when they see that others are becoming untrue to principle, will lift their voice in warning against the danger of apostasy.--Letter 69, 1904. (To J. E. White, February 9, 1904.) {5MR 451.3}[14]
§31
那些在教会里担任牧者，比如长老职务的人，应该勤勤恳恳地看守主的羊群。这不是专横独断式的监管，而是要鼓励和加强群羊。（《文稿》1907年43号，〈对教会成员和长老忠诚的劝勉〉，1907年3月12日）1973年10月31日发布。{5MR451.4}[15]
§32
Those who occupy the position of under shepherds, as elders of the church, are to exercise a watchful diligence over the Lords flock. This is not to be a lording, dictatorial vigilance. They are to encourage and strengthen.--Manuscript 43, 1907. (Exhortation to Faithfulness to Church Members and Elders, March 12, 1907.) Released October 31, 1973. {5MR 451.4}[15]