腓立比書3:1-14

 

3:1 弟兄們，我還有話說，你們要靠主喜樂。我把這話再寫給你們，於我並不為難，於你們卻是妥當。
3:2 應當防備犬類，防備作惡的，防備妄自行割的。
3:3 因為真受割禮的，乃是我們這以上帝的靈敬拜、在基督耶穌裡誇口、不靠著肉體的。
3:4 其實，我也可以靠肉體；若是別人想他可以靠肉體，我更可以靠著了。
3:5 我第八天受割禮；我是以色列族、便雅憫支派的人，是希伯來人所生的希伯來人。就律法說，我是法利賽人；
3:6 就熱心說，我是逼迫教會的；就律法上的義說，我是無可指摘的。
3:7 只是我先前以為與我有益的，我現在因基督都當作有損的。
3:8 不但如此，我也將萬事當作有損的，因我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶。我為他已經丟棄萬事，看作糞土，為要得著基督；
3:9 並且得以在他裡面，不是有自己因律法而得的義，乃是有信基督的義，就是因信上帝而來的義，
3:10 使我認識基督，曉得他復活的大能，並且曉得和他一同受苦，效法他的死，
3:11 或者我也得以從死裡復活。
3:12 這不是說我已經得著了，已經完全了；我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得著基督耶穌所以得著我的（所以得著我的：或譯所要我得的）。
3:13 弟兄們，我不是以為自己已經得著了；我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前的，
3:14 向著標竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞。

 

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. ² Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. ³ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

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    保羅在這裡說明真正的敬虔不是外表的規矩或禮儀，而是在心裡尊主耶穌為大，正如這裡所說：「因為真受割禮的，乃是我們這以上帝的靈敬拜、在基督耶穌裡誇口、不靠著肉體的。」

 

    這也就是說一切的資格不是人靠著在肉體上做了甚麼，而是要人在基督裡得著因信基督而有的義才有的。換句話說，人要服事和敬拜上帝的資格是來自上帝的恩典，不是個人的意願或別人的要求。

 

    也因為這樣，我們服事上帝，是來自被上帝恩典所感動。所以，我們服事是心被恩感，是在聖靈的帶領！而上帝也應許我們服事祂，將以基督為我們的獎賞，基督的王權和榮耀也是屬於我們的，我們更是要為此讚美上帝！

 

 

 

腓立比書1:12-26

 

1:12 弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺，
1:13 以致我受的捆鎖在御營全軍和其餘的人中，已經顯明是為基督的緣故。
1:14 並且那在主裡的弟兄多半因我受的捆鎖就篤信不疑，越發放膽傳上帝的道，無所懼怕。
1:15 有的傳基督是出於嫉妒紛爭，也有的是出於好意。
1:16 這一等是出於愛心，知道我是為辯明福音設立的；
1:17 那一等傳基督是出於結黨，並不誠實，意思要加增我捆鎖的苦楚。
1:18 這有何妨呢？或是假意，或是真心，無論怎樣，基督究竟被傳開了。為此，我就歡喜，並且還要歡喜；
1:19 因為我知道，這事藉著你們的祈禱和耶穌基督之靈的幫助，終必叫我得救。
1:20 照著我所切慕、所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。只要凡事放膽，無論是生是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。
1:21 因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。
1:22 但我在肉身活著，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道該挑選甚麼。
1:23 我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。
1:24 然而，我在肉身活著，為你們更是要緊的。
1:25 我既然這樣深信，就知道仍要住在世間，且與你們眾人同住，使你們在所信的道上又長進又喜樂，
1:26 叫你們在基督耶穌裡的歡樂，因我再到你們那裡去，就越發加增。

 

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^{[d] 20} I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

 

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    保羅寫這封信是在監獄之中，讓我們感受到他為福音付出的代價。而保羅入監是世界之人處事的方法，他們總是利用權勢來壓迫人，好達成他們控制人的目的。正如我們今日也會遇到這樣的壓迫，通常世界的力量會用經濟和性命安全做為控制的手段。

 

    然而上帝會保守祂的兒女十分平安，不受世界的力量所影響。正如保羅在這裡所見證的：「弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺，以致我受的捆鎖在御營全軍和其餘的人中，已經顯明是為基督的緣故。並且那在主裡的弟兄多半因我受的捆鎖就篤信不疑，越發放膽傳上帝的道，無所懼怕。」

 

    保羅這樣說的目的，就是要我們看見魔鬼利用世界權勢的力量來壓迫我們是無效的，反而讓主的福音更廣傳。這更是見證基督的大能，必定勝過魔鬼和世界，我們要靠主堅立，不要害怕惡者的力量，主必永遠得勝！

 

腓立比書1:1-11

 

1:1 基督耶穌的僕人保羅和提摩太寫信給凡住腓立比、在基督耶穌裡的眾聖徒，和諸位監督，諸位執事。
1:2 願恩惠、平安從上帝我們的父並主耶穌基督歸與你們！
1:3 我每逢想念你們，就感謝我的上帝；
1:4 每逢為你們眾人祈求的時候，常是歡歡喜喜地祈求。
1:5 因為從頭一天直到如今，你們是同心合意地興旺福音。
1:6 我深信那在你們心裡動了善工的，必成全這工，直到耶穌基督的日子。
1:7 我為你們眾人有這樣的意念，原是應當的；因你們常在我心裡，無論我是在捆鎖之中，是辯明證實福音的時候，你們都與我一同得恩。
1:8 我體會基督耶穌的心腸，切切地想念你們眾人；這是上帝可以給我作見證的。
1:9 我所禱告的，就是要你們的愛心在知識和各樣見識上多而又多，
1:10 使你們能分別是非（或譯：喜愛那美好的事），作誠實無過的人，直到基督的日子；
1:11 並靠著耶穌基督結滿了仁義的果子，叫榮耀稱讚歸與上帝。

 

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons^[a]:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

 

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    保羅用禱告的心來和腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹交流，使他們感受到不只是保羅自己與他們交往，還有保羅背後的基督也與他們有關係。而保羅這樣做的目的，就是要腓立比教會與基督建立關係！

 

    而保羅的作法對於教會的傳道人或是小組的服事同工有很大的啟發作用，讓我們看見帶領弟兄姊妹需要付出禱告的代價。禱告更是讓上帝的大能介入我們事工的途徑，是我們享受上帝的同在所必需的！

 

    求主保守我們，讓我們因著禱告來保守我們所事奉的弟兄姊妹，讓他們快快和主耶穌建立正確合宜的關係，這樣的人生才是合乎上帝旨意的人生，才是真正蒙福的生命！

 

以弗所書6:21-24

6:21 今有所親愛、忠心事奉主的兄弟推基古，他要把我的事情，並我的景況如何全告訴你們，叫你們知道。
6:22 我特意打發他到你們那裡去，好叫你們知道我們的光景，又叫他安慰你們的心。
6:23 願平安、仁愛、信心從父上帝和主耶穌基督歸與弟兄們！
6:24 並願所有誠心愛我們主耶穌基督的人都蒙恩惠！

 

 ²¹ Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

²³ Peace to the brothers and sisters,^[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^[d]

 

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    這是問候與祝福，也願上帝賜福大家！