第15章 研究圣经的价值
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第15章 研究圣经的价值
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Chap. 15 - The Value of Bible Study.
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“圣经都是上帝所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的，叫属上帝的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事”（提后3:16,17）。上帝的道就象一个宝库，含有叫属上帝的人得以完全的一切东西。我们没有照着所应当的赏识圣经。我们对它丰富的储藏没有正确的估计，也没有认识到极其需要亲自查考圣经。人们为了追求某种属世的利益或快乐时光而忽视学习上帝的道，提出某件微不足道的事作为对上帝所默示的圣经无知的藉口。然而任何属世性质的事都最好推迟到这种首要的圣经学习之后，好使我们在获得永生的事上聪明起来。{CE 115.1}[1]
§4
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [2 Timothy 3:16, 17.] The word of God is like a treasure-house, containing everything that is essential to perfect the man of God. We do not appreciate the Bible as we should. We do not have a proper estimate of the richness of its stores, nor do we realize the great necessity of searching the Scriptures for ourselves. Men neglect the study of the word of God in order to pursue some worldly interest, or to engage in the pleasures of the time. Some trivial affair is made an excuse for ignorance of the Scriptures given by inspiration of God. But anything of an earthly character might better be put off, than this all-important study, that is to make us wise unto eternal life. {CE 115.1}[1]
§5
我感到心痛，因为看到人们——甚至是那些自称期待基督降临的人——把时间和才干花在传播不含有关现代的特别真理的书上——故事书、传记、关于人的理论和臆测的书。世界充斥着这种书；到处都有；然而正当各地都显著需要上帝真理的时候，跟从基督的人岂可从事这么凡俗的工作吗？我们的使命并不是传播这种作品。有成千上万的其他人去做这种事，他们还不知道更好的事。我们有一个明确的使命，我们不应当转离我们的使命去注意枝节问题，花费人力物力使人们注意与现代真理无关的书。?{CE 115.2}[2]
§6
My heart aches as I see men--even those who profess to be looking for Christs coming,--devoting their time and talents to circulating books that contain nothing concerning the special truths for our time,--books of narrative, books of biography, books of mens theories and speculations. The world is full of such books; they can be had anywhere; but can the followers of Christ engage in so common a work when there is crying need for Gods truth on every hand? It is not our mission to circulate such works. There are thousands of others to do this, who have as yet no knowledge of anything better. We have a definite mission, and we ought not to turn from it to side issues, employing men and means to bring to the attention of the people books that have no bearing upon the present truth. {CE 115.2}[2]
§7
你为推进真理祷告了吗？若有的话就要为此而工作，表明你的祈祷是出于真诚恳切的心。上帝并不在已经提供了方法用来完成工作的地方行奇事。要用你们的光阴和才干侍奉祂，祂就必与你们的努力同工。农夫若不耕地不撒种，上帝就不行奇事消除他疏忽的结果。收获的时节就会发现他的田园没有结果——没有禾捆可以收割，没有麦子可以收进仓里。上帝提供了种子和土壤、阳光和雨露；经营农场的人若是利用了手下的方法，原会得到与他所撒的种子和他的劳动相称的收获。{CE 116.1}[3]
§8
Do you pray for the advancement of the truth? Then work for it, and show that your prayers rise from sincere and earnest hearts. God does not work miracles where he has provided means by which the work may be accomplished. Use your time and talents in his service, and he will not fail to work with your efforts. If the farmer fails to plow and sow, God does not work a miracle to undo the results of his neglect. Harvest-time finds his fields barren--there are no sheaves to be reaped, no grain to be garnered. God provided the seed and the soil, the sun and the rain; and if the agriculturist had employed the means that were at his hand, he would have received according to his sowing and his labor. {CE 116.1}[3]
§9
有伟大的律法管理着自然界，属灵的事也受同样确定的原则所支配；要获得想要的结果，必须使用达到目的手段。那些自己不做任何坚决努力的人，不是在与上帝的律法和谐同工。他们没有利用天父的供应，就只能得到极少的回报。圣灵不会强迫人们采取某种行动。我们是有道德自由的人。主既把关于我们责任的充分证据赐给了我们，就让我们自行决定我们的方针。{CE 116.2}[4]
§10
There are great laws that govern the world of nature, and spiritual things are controlled by principles equally certain; the means for an end must be employed, if the desired results are to be attained. Those who make no decided efforts themselves, are not working in harmony with the laws of God. They are not using the provisions of the heavenly Father, and they can expect nothing but meager returns. The Holy Spirit will not compel men to take a certain course of action. We are free moral agents; and when sufficient evidence has been given us as to our duty, it is left with us to decide our course. {CE 116.2}[4]
§11
你们正无所事事地等着，指望上帝行某种奇事来将真理光照世界的人哪，我要问问你们，你们有没有利用上帝为推进祂的圣工而提供的方法呢？你们祈求天来的亮光和真理的人，有没有研究圣经呢？你们有没有“爱慕那纯净的灵奶”（彼前2:2），叫你们因此渐长呢？你们有没有顺从主的明令呢？“当”和“不可”乃是明确的要求，在基督徒的人生中，没有闲懒的地位。你们哀叹自己属灵缺乏的人，有没有寻求知道和遵行上帝的旨意呢？你们在努力进入那窄门吗？有一项认真的工作要为主做成。必须克服上帝的道所谴责的诸恶。你们必须个别地与世界、肉体及魔鬼作战。上帝的道被称作“圣灵的宝剑”（弗6:17），你们若要冲破反对和黑暗的众军勇往直前，就应当熟练地使用它。{CE 116.3}[5]
§12
You who are waiting in idle expectation that God will perform some wonderful miracle to enlighten the world in regard to the truth, I want to ask you if you have employed the means that God has provided for the advancement of his cause? You who pray for light and truth from heaven, have you studied the Scriptures? Have you desired the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby? Have you submitted yourselves to the revealed command? Thou shalt, and thou shall not, are definite requirements, and there is no place for idleness in the Christian life. You who mourn your spiritual dearth, do you seek to know and to do the will of God? Are you striving to enter in at the straight gate? There is work, earnest work, to be done for the Master. The evils condemned in Gods word, must be overcome. You must individually battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The word of God is called the sword of the Spirit, and you should become skillful in its use, if you would cut your way through the hosts of opposition and darkness. {CE 116.3}[5]
§13
你要猛然挣脱有害的同伴。计算跟从耶稣的代价，并且跟从耶稣，用坚决的意志洁净自己脱离身体灵魂一切的污秽。永生值得你付上一切，耶稣说过：“这样，你们无论什么人，若不撇下一切所有的，就不能作我的门徒”（路14:33）。那什么都不做，却等着受某种超自然的力量推动的人，会在冷淡黑暗中服侍。上帝已赐下祂的话。祂用明白的言语对你的心灵讲话。祂口中的言语不足以说明你的责任，并且敦促你履行你的责任吗？ {CE 117.1}[6]
§14
Wrench yourself away from hurtful associations. Count the cost of following Jesus, and make it, with a determined purpose to cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Eternal life is worth your all, and Jesus has said, Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. [Luke 14:33.] He who does nothing, but waits to be compelled by some supernatural agency, will wait on in lethargy and darkness. God has given his word. God speaks in unmistakable language to your soul. Is not the word of his mouth sufficient to show you your duty, and to urge its fulfillment? {CE 117.1}[6]
§15
那些谦卑虔诚地研究圣经、要知道和遵行上帝旨意的人，不会疑惑自己对上帝的义务。因为“人若立志遵着祂的旨意行，就必晓得这教训”（约7:17）。你若要知道敬虔的奥秘，就必须听从真理的明言——不管有没有感觉，有没有感动。必须出于原则感而献上顺从，也必须在任何环境下都追求正义。这是上帝的选民得救要有的品格。在上帝的道中赐下了真基督徒的试验。耶稣说：“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。”“有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。……人若爱我，就必遵守我的道；我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。不爱我的人就不遵守我的道。你们所听见的道不是我的，乃是差我来之父的道”（约14:15,21,23,24）。?{CE 117.2}[7]
§16
Those who humbly and prayerfully search the Scriptures, to know and to do Gods will, will not be in doubt of their obligations to God. For if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine. [John 7:17.] If you would know the mystery of godliness, you must follow the plain word of truth,-- feeling or no feeling, emotion or no emotion. Obedience must be rendered from a sense of principle, and the right must be pursued under all circumstances. This is the character that is elected of God unto salvation. The test of a genuine Christian is given in the word of God. Says Jesus, If ye love me, keep my commandments. [John 14:15.] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . . If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me. [John 14:21, 23, 24.] {CE 117.2}[7]
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这是每一个人蒙拣选得永生的条件。你顺从上帝的诫命会证明你有权利与众圣徒在光明中同得基业。上帝选中了一种优秀的品格；每一个藉着基督的恩典达到祂要求之标准的人，都会丰丰富富地进入荣耀之国。凡要达到这个品格标准的人，都必须使用上帝为这个目的而提供的方法。你若要承受那为上帝的子民所存留的安息，就必须成为与上帝同工的人。你蒙拣选要负基督的轭——担祂的担子，背祂的十字架。你应当殷勤，使你“所蒙的恩召和拣选坚定不移”（彼后1:10）。要查考圣经，你就会发现没有一个亚当的儿女在违背上帝律法的时候蒙选得救。世界使上帝的律法无效；但基督徒蒙选要藉着顺从真理成圣。他们蒙选要背十字架，才能戴冠冕。{CE 118.1}[8]
§18
Here are the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal life. Your obedience to Gods commandments will prove your right to an inheritance with the saints in light. God has elected a certain excellence of character; and every one who, through the grace of Christ, shall reach the standard of his requirement, will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of glory. All who would reach this standard of character, will have to employ the means that God has provided to this end. If you would inherit the rest that remaineth for the children of God, you must become a co-laborer with God. You are elected to wear the yoke of Christ, --to bear his burden, to lift his cross. You are to be diligent to make your calling and election sure. [2 Peter 1:10.] Search the Scriptures, and you will see that not a son or a daughter of Adam is elected to be saved in disobedience to Gods law. The world makes void the law of God; but Christians are chosen to sanctification through obedience to the truth. They are elected to bear the cross, if they would wear the crown. {CE 118.1}[8]
§19
圣经是信仰与教义的唯一准则。没有什么比研究圣经更能激活头脑、增强智力了。没有什么别的书能象圣经中广泛高尚的真理那样有效地提高人的思想、振奋的人心智。如果圣经受到人应有的研究，就会出现现代所罕见的广阔的心智、高尚的品格和坚定的意志。成千在讲台上讲道的人缺乏品格和心灵上重要的素质，因为他没有亲自研究圣经。他们满足于肤浅的真理知识，而这些真理的意义却是非常深奥的。他们宁愿按老一套行事，不喜欢勤奋地探寻隐藏的财宝，所以各方面都遭受损失。{CE 118.2}[9]
§20
The Bible is the only rule of faith and doctrine. And there is nothing more calculated to energize the mind, and strengthen the intellect, than the study of the word of God. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If Gods word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose, that is rarely seen in these times. Thousands of men who minister in the pulpit are lacking in essential qualities of mind and character, because they do not apply themselves to the study of the Scriptures. They are content with a superficial knowledge of the truths that are full of rich depths of meaning; and they prefer to go on, losing much in every way, rather than to search diligently for the hidden treasure. {CE 118.2}[9]
§21
研究真理会使寻求的人各方面都得到好处。每一次的发现都会打开更丰富的领域供他研究。人是随着他所思想的事物而变化的。人若注意于平庸的思想和事物，他就必碌碌无成。他若忽略追求，只满足于对上帝真理肤浅的认识，就不会得到上帝本来要赐给他的丰盛福气。心理的一个定律是，它可以因经常接触的事物而狭隘或扩大。人的智力若不用来殷勤不懈地研究真理，就一定会退化，并失去领会圣经更深意义的能力。人的心智若用来探求圣经主题的关系，以经文对照经文，以属灵的事对照属灵的事，就会得到扩大，向深层发展。最丰富的思想宝藏正等候着殷勤而聪明的学生去挖掘。{CE 119.1}[10]
§22
The search for truth will reward the seeker at every turn, and each discovery will open up richer fields for his investigation. Men are changed in accordance with what they contemplate. If commonplace thoughts and affairs take up the attention, the man will be commonplace. If he is too negligent to obtain anything but a superficial understanding of Gods truth, he will not receive the rich blessings that God would be pleased to bestow upon him. It is a law of the mind, that it will narrow or expand to the dimensions of the things with which it becomes familiar. The mental powers will surely become contracted, and will lose their ability to grasp the deep meanings of the word of God, unless they are put vigorously and persistently to the task of searching for truth. The mind will enlarge, if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual. Go below the surface; the richest treasures of thought are waiting for the skillful and diligent student. {CE 119.1}[10]
§23
那些把世上最严肃的信息教导别人的人，应当训练心智领会它的意义。救赎的主题要受到最专心的研究，而其深度决不会得到充分的探测。你不必担心会用尽这个奇妙的主题。要深饮于救恩之泉。要亲自去那泉源，以便你充满恢复的活力，使耶稣可以在你里面成为活水的泉源，直涌到永生。惟有圣经的真理和圣经的宗教才会经受住审判的考验。我们不要歪曲上帝的道来迎合我们的便利和属世的利益，而要真诚地询问：“祢要我做什么？”“你们不是自己的人；因为你们是重价买来的”（林前6:19,20）。而那是何等重的代价啊！不是“凭着能坏的金银等物，乃是凭着基督的宝血”（彼前1:18,19）。当人类失丧时，上帝的儿子说：我要救赎他，我要成为他的中保和替身。祂撇下自己的王袍，以人性披覆祂的神性，走下了宝座，以便下到人类祸患和试探的最深处，提拔我们堕落的人性，使我们可能成为得胜者，作为上帝的众子，承受永远的国度。这样，我们还要允许任何属地的考虑使我们转离真理的道路吗？我们岂不要挑战每一项要道和理论，使它受上帝之道的检验吗？T{CE 119.2}[11]
§24
Those who are teaching the most solemn message ever given to the world, should discipline the mind to comprehend its significance. The theme of redemption will bear the most concentrated study, and its depth will never be fully explored. You need not fear that you will exhaust this wonderful theme. Drink deep of the well of salvation. Go to the fountain for yourself, that you may be filled with refreshment, that Jesus may be in you a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. Only Bible truth and Bible religion will stand the test of the judgment. We are not to pervert the word of God to suit our convenience, and worldly interests, but to honestly inquire, What wilt thou have me to do? Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price. [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] And what a price! Not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . but with the precious blood of Christ. [1 Peter 1:18, 19.] When man was lost, the Son of God said, I will redeem him, I will become his surety and substitute. He laid aside his royal robes, clothed his divinity with humanity, stepped down from the royal throne, that he might reach the very depth of human woe and temptation, lift up our fallen natures, and make it possible for us to be overcomers,--the sons of God, the heirs of the eternal kingdom. Shall we then allow any consideration of earth to turn us away from the path of truth? Shall we not challenge every doctrine and theory, and put it to the test of Gods word? {CE 119.2}[11]
§25
我们不应允许任何人的论据使我们转离对圣经真理的充分研究。不要把人们的意见和习俗接受为出于神圣的权威。上帝已在祂的话中揭示了人的全部责任是什么，我们不可偏离公义的伟大标准。祂差了祂的独生子来作我们的榜样，吩咐我们要听祂和跟从祂。我们不可受影响离开那在耶稣里的真理，因为自称良善的伟人们会极力主张他们的想法在上帝之道的明言之上。CE 120.1}[12]
§26
We should not allow any argument of mans to turn us away from a thorough investigation of Bible truth. The opinions and customs of men are not to be received as of divine authority. God has revealed in his word what is the whole duty of man, and we are not to be swayed from the great standard of righteousness. He sent his only begotten Son to be our example, and bade us to hear and to follow him. We must not be influenced from the truth as it is in Jesus, because great and professedly good men urge their ideas above the plain statements of the word of God. {CE 120.1}[12]
§27
基督的工作是要吸引人们离开虚假归向真实。“跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光”（约8:12）。我们在跟从“世上的光”的脚踪时就不会陷入错谬之中。我们要做基督的工作。我们必须尽心尽性侍奉祂；我们必须查考生命之道，并且将之传给他人。我们必须教育人们认识到其教训的重要性，以及偏离其明令的危险。{CE 121.1}[13]
§28
The work of Christ is to draw men from the false and spurious to the true and genuine. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. [John 8:12.] There is no danger of going into error while we follow in the footsteps of the Light of the world. We are to work the works of Christ. We must engage heart and soul in his service; we must search the word of life, and present it to others. We must educate the people to realize the importance of its teaching, and the danger of deviating from its plain commands. {CE 121.1}[13]
§29
犹太人被带入了错谬和灭亡中，拒绝了荣耀的主，因为他们不明白圣经，也不晓得上帝的大能。一项大工摆在我们面前——要引导人们以上帝的道为人生的准则，丝毫不与传统和习俗妥协，而要行在主的一切命令和典章中。——《评论与通讯》1888年7月17日。{CE 121.2}[14]
§30
The Jews were led into error and ruin, and to the rejection of the Lord of glory, because they knew not the Scriptures, nor the power of God. A great work is before us,--to lead men to take Gods word as the rule of their lives, to make no compromise with tradition and custom, but to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.--Review and Herald, July 17, 1888. - {CE 121.2}[14]