读经：林后五20上，4，8~9，14~17，六1上，林前三9上。
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 5:20a, 4, 8-9, 14-17; 6:1a; 1 Cor. 3:9a
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 5:20a, 4, 8-9, 14-17; 6:1a; 1 Cor. 3:9a
壹
新约的执事乃是基督的大使─林后五20上，弗六20：
The ministers of the new covenant are ambassadors of Christ—2 Cor. 5:20a; Eph. 6:20:
The ministers of the new covenant are ambassadors of Christ—2 Cor. 5:20a; Eph. 6:20:
一
基督的大使是代表神─宇宙最高的权柄─的人：
An ambassador of Christ is one who represents God, the highest authority in the universe:
An ambassador of Christ is one who represents God, the highest authority in the universe:
１
神已将天上地上所有的权柄都赐给基督─太二八18。
God has given all authority in heaven and on earth to Christ—Matt. 28:18.
God has given all authority in heaven and on earth to Christ—Matt. 28:18.
２
神已经立基督为万王之王，万主之主─提前六15，启十七14，十九16。
God has appointed Christ to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords—1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16.
God has appointed Christ to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords—1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16.
３
今天耶稣是基督，是万人的主，是最高的权柄─徒二36，十36：
Today Jesus is the Christ, the Lord of all, the highest authority—Acts 2:36; 10:36:
Today Jesus is the Christ, the Lord of all, the highest authority—Acts 2:36; 10:36:
ａ
主在地上需要一些有资格代表祂的大使。
The Lord needs some ambassadors on earth who are qualified to represent Him.
The Lord needs some ambassadors on earth who are qualified to represent Him.
ｂ
新约的执事是受权有天上权柄，以代表最高权柄的人。
A new covenant minister is one who has been authorized with the heavenly authority to represent the highest authority:
A new covenant minister is one who has been authorized with the heavenly authority to represent the highest authority:
一
使徒受托付，代表基督完成神的定旨─太十40，约十三20，加四14下。
The apostles were commissioned to represent Christ to accomplish God's purpose—Matt. 10:40; John 13:20; Gal. 4:14b.
The apostles were commissioned to represent Christ to accomplish God's purpose—Matt. 10:40; John 13:20; Gal. 4:14b.
二
基督身体所有的肢体都是头的代表，是祂的大使─徒九6，10~17，二二12~16。
All the members of the Body are representatives of the Head, His ambassadors—Acts 9:6, 10-17; 22:12-16.
All the members of the Body are representatives of the Head, His ambassadors—Acts 9:6, 10-17; 22:12-16.
二
作为基督的大使，保罗乃是“代理的神”─林后一3~4，15~16，二10，八5，十1上，十一2，10上，腓四15~19。
As an ambassador of Christ Paul was "the acting God"—2 Cor. 1:3-4, 15-16; 2:10; 8:5; 10:1a; 11:2, 10a; Phil. 4:15-19.
As an ambassador of Christ Paul was "the acting God"—2 Cor. 1:3-4, 15-16; 2:10; 8:5; 10:1a; 11:2, 10a; Phil. 4:15-19.
三
保罗在林后五章描述作基督大使的资格：
In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul describes the qualifications of an ambassador of Christ:
In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul describes the qualifications of an ambassador of Christ:
１
不是凭我们的所是或我们所能作的而活，乃是凭那不死的生命，就是基督自己而活─4节。
Not living by what we are or what we can do but by the immortal life, which is Christ Himself—v. 4.
Not living by what we are or what we can do but by the immortal life, which is Christ Himself—v. 4.
２
怀着雄心大志，要讨主的喜悦─9节。
Determined to be well-pleasing to the Lord—v. 9.
Determined to be well-pleasing to the Lord—v. 9.
３
被基督的爱所困迫而向祂活着─14~15节。
Constrained by the love of Christ to live to Him—vv. 14-15.
Constrained by the love of Christ to live to Him—vv. 14-15.
４
在灵里按着基督认人─16节。
Knowing others according to Christ in the spirit—v. 16.
Knowing others according to Christ in the spirit—v. 16.
５
属于另一个范围而活于那个范围里─8节。
Belonging to another realm and living in that realm—v. 8.
Belonging to another realm and living in that realm—v. 8.
贰
新约的执事乃是神的同工─林后六1上，林前三9上：
The ministers of the new covenant are co-workers of God—2 Cor. 6:1a; 1 Cor. 3:9a:
The ministers of the new covenant are co-workers of God—2 Cor. 6:1a; 1 Cor. 3:9a:
一
主耶稣在地上尽祂的职事时，作父所交给祂要祂作的工─约十七4，十30，五19，十四10下，五17，19，十25，五30下，十四24，七16~18。
In His ministry on earth, the Lord Jesus did the work which the Father gave Him to do—John 17:4; 10:30; 5:19; 14:10b; 5:17, 19; 10:25; 5:30b; 14:24; 7:16-18.
In His ministry on earth, the Lord Jesus did the work which the Father gave Him to do—John 17:4; 10:30; 5:19; 14:10b; 5:17, 19; 10:25; 5:30b; 14:24; 7:16-18.
二
作为新约的执事，我们是神的同工，与祂一同工作─林后六1下，林前三9：
As ministers of the new covenant, we are God's fellow workers, working together with Him—2 Cor. 6:1b; 1 Cor. 3:9:
As ministers of the new covenant, we are God's fellow workers, working together with Him—2 Cor. 6:1b; 1 Cor. 3:9:
１
神是工人；当新约的执事，神的同工，在工作时，神也在工作~约五17，可十六20。
God is a worker, and while the new covenant ministers, God's fellow workers, are working, He too is working—John 5:17; Mark 16:20.
God is a worker, and while the new covenant ministers, God's fellow workers, are working, He too is working—John 5:17; Mark 16:20.
２
何等的权利和荣耀，我们竟能成为神的同工，与神一同工作！
What a privilege and glory that we can be God's fellow workers, working together with God!
What a privilege and glory that we can be God's fellow workers, working together with God!
三
神的同工是与神绑在一起的人。
A co-worker of God is one who is bound together with God.
A co-worker of God is one who is bound together with God.
四
我们与之一同工作的神，乃是复活的神；因此，我们作祂同工的，也该在复活里─林前一9，四14。
The God with whom we are working is the God of resurrection; thus, we as His co-workers should also be in resurrection—1 Cor. 1:9; 4:14.
The God with whom we are working is the God of resurrection; thus, we as His co-workers should also be in resurrection—1 Cor. 1:9; 4:14.
五
我们若要作神的同工，就必须看见，神中心的工作乃是要将祂自己作到人里面─弗三14~21：
If we would be co-workers of God, we need to see that God's central work is to work Himself into man—Eph. 3:14-21:
If we would be co-workers of God, we need to see that God's central work is to work Himself into man—Eph. 3:14-21:
１
神作工的原则是要得着人，并且借着得着他们，而有路可以往前。
The principle in God's work is to gain persons and by gaining them to have a way to go on.
The principle in God's work is to gain persons and by gaining them to have a way to go on.
２
神作工所用的材料乃是祂自己，祂的心意是要使祂自己成为我们里面的成分。
The material with which God works is God Himself, and His intention is to make Himself our inward elements.
The material with which God works is God Himself, and His intention is to make Himself our inward elements.
３
神渴望将祂自己分赐到我们里面，好使祂的生命能在我们里面流通经过，并从我们里面流出来。
God desires to dispense Himself into us so that His life can flow through us and out of us.
God desires to dispense Himself into us so that His life can flow through us and out of us.
４
神的目的是要将祂自己作到我们里面，离了这个，基督徒的生活是毫无意义的。
Apart from God's purpose to work Himself into us, the Christian life is meaningless.
Apart from God's purpose to work Himself into us, the Christian life is meaningless.
５
属灵的长进，乃在于让神在我们里面得着地位，并让神将祂自己作到我们里面。
Spiritual progress consists in allowing God to gain ground in us and to work Himself into us.
Spiritual progress consists in allowing God to gain ground in us and to work Himself into us.
六
我们要与主工作，就必须在生命上成熟，教导高的真理，并且与主是一，而我们的工作必须是为着祂的身体─歌七9下~13。
To work with the Lord we need to be mature in life, teach the high truths, and be one with the Lord, and our work must be for His Body—S. S. 7:9b-13.
To work with the Lord we need to be mature in life, teach the high truths, and be one with the Lord, and our work must be for His Body—S. S. 7:9b-13.
七
神的同工应当只作一个工作─使神所拣选、救赎并重生的人，成为在新耶路撒冷里的人。
The co-workers of God should do only one work—to make God's chosen, redeemed, and regenerated people beings in the New Jerusalem.
The co-workers of God should do only one work—to make God's chosen, redeemed, and regenerated people beings in the New Jerusalem.
八
作为神的同工，我们该跟从主耶稣这第一个神人的榜样，祂的工作就是祂的生活，祂的行动也就是祂的所是。
As co-workers of God we should follow the pattern of the Lord Jesus as the first God-man, whose work was His living and whose move was His being.
As co-workers of God we should follow the pattern of the Lord Jesus as the first God-man, whose work was His living and whose move was His being.