以弗所書3:1-13

 

3:1 因此，我─保羅為你們外邦人作了基督耶穌被囚的，替你們祈禱（此句是照對十四節所加）。
3:2 諒必你們曾聽見上帝賜恩給我，將關切你們的職分託付我，
3:3 用啟示使我知道福音的奧祕，正如我以前略略寫過的。
3:4 你們念了，就能曉得我深知基督的奧祕。
3:5 這奧祕在以前的世代沒有叫人知道，像如今藉著聖靈啟示他的聖使徒和先知一樣。
3:6 這奧祕就是外邦人在基督耶穌裡，藉著福音，得以同為後嗣，同為一體，同蒙應許。
3:7 我作了這福音的執事，是照上帝的恩賜，這恩賜是照他運行的大能賜給我的。
3:8 我本來比眾聖徒中最小的還小，然而他還賜我這恩典，叫我把基督那測不透的豐富傳給外邦人，
3:9 又使眾人都明白，這歷代以來隱藏在創造萬物之上帝裡的奧祕是如何安排的，
3:10 為要藉著教會使天上執政的、掌權的，現在得知上帝百般的智慧。
3:11 這是照上帝從萬世以前，在我們主基督耶穌裡所定的旨意。
3:12 我們因信耶穌，就在他裡面放膽無懼，篤信不疑地來到上帝面前。
3:13 所以，我求你們不要因我為你們所受的患難喪膽，這原是你們的榮耀。

 

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹ according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ¹³ I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

 

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    保羅敘述自己得了啟示，明白上帝要透過基督拯救外邦人，使非猶太人也可以在基督裡承受永生，並且與上帝和好，同為上帝的兒女，藉由福音。而保羅自己就是領受這樣使命的使徒，是出於上帝的恩典！雖然為這樣的使命，成為基督耶穌的囚犯，也覺得是件榮耀的事情，要以弗所教會的弟兄姊妹以此為榮，不要覺得害怕和失去勇氣。

 

    而外邦人靠基督而得救，是上帝永恆的旨意，正如保羅所論述：「為要藉著教會使天上執政的、掌權的，現在得知上帝百般的智慧。這是照上帝從萬世以前，在我們主基督耶穌裡所定的旨意。」

 

    而基督的拯救是透過教會進行，這個教會是指主耶穌的身體，也就是全體基督徒的組合，是超越宗派與組織的！但是，在執行上還是要透過組織，但是這組織要遵照聖經的教導來進行，是以基督為教會唯一的根基！