2 Corinthians 2
In 2 Cor 2, Paul reminds the Corinthians and us of an important truth concerning our identity – that, as a church and as individuals, we are the fragrance of Christ to the whole world. What is…
2 Corinthians 1: Comfort in Times of Tribulation
Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” When…
哥林多后书第一章 : 患难中的安慰
耶稣在约翰福音16:33说: “ 我将这些事告诉你们,是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难。但你们可以放心,我已经胜了世界。”因此,我们信耶稣,不象世俗的善男信女,以为拜对了神,就不会受到苦难;而受苦难是因为拜错了神。 相反的,耶稣已经说了这话,让我们有心理准备,明白信对了神在世反而必遭苦难,患难。但是,同样在这个章节里,耶稣应许我们必从他得到切实的安慰–因为他要将真正的平安赐给我们。 我们活在世上,会因为得罪神,信仰软弱而受到患难。好比硬着颈项的以色列民在旷野中悖逆,试探神,因而吃了不少苦头,受了许多患难。哥林多信徒因为信仰的缺欠与肉体的软弱,教会受到彼此纷争,淫乱等患难。在前书里,他们被保罗严厉地责备后,确实有些信徒悔改了。 保罗写了后书来安慰这些接受纠正而悔过的信徒们,让他们不至于自惭形秽,反而应当相信神是“发慈悲的父”(1:3),必然以慈爱对待祂回头的儿女。因此对于我们同灵中有过失,后悔改的,我们要以神的慈爱安慰他们。我们自己若有过犯,悔改后也要接受同灵们给我们的安慰。 然而,患难不只临到犯罪软弱的信徒。保罗在这里8-11节讲述了他与同工们在亚该亚遭遇极大的患难,甚至以为自己当时就要丧命了,但后来神拯救了他们。因此,保罗与同工们不是因为犯罪,乃是因为做主工而受患难。其实保罗在哥林多后书里更描述了他为主的工作,被下到监牢,受鞭打,棍打,石头打,海难等各种危险,患难(11:16-33)。 然而保罗却在这一切患难里得到安慰,因为众信徒“以祈祷帮助”他们,又有“许多人”为他们所得的恩“谢恩”(1:11)。保罗勉励信徒要信心坚定,相信神是信实的,神曾经拯救了保罗等人,将来仍要在信徒们受患难是拯救他们(1:10)。到时,他们必想起保罗的体验和安慰的话,而不至于胆怯,失信。 我曾听过一位传道人说,“受患难是得安慰的机会,得安慰是受患难得报赏”。保罗在腓利比书4:14说“你们和我同受患难原是美事”。对患难要有这样得理解方能得到安慰。这也带出了保罗在哥林多前书里所说的,教会一体的精神(林前12:12-31)。 我们原是基督身体的肢体,神允许肢体受患难,是期望其他曾经历类似体验的肢体,能起来用神曾赐予的安慰来安慰他。并鼓励他依靠基督(1:5)。因神的安慰是“各样”,表示多方的,可指肉体,精神及灵性上。教会肢体之间这样的互动,不但建立信徒之间彼此相爱相顾的关系,也坚固各人对神的信心,的确是美事啊! 因此,曾经受患难得到神的安慰的,不要白白得恩惠。就如耶稣变饼喂饱众人时,先把饼递给门徒们,门徒又将耶稣变的饼传给众人。
1 Corinthians 16: Loving the Saints, Loving the Lord
The final chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is an exhortation to love and ends with “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus”. In what sense is love is the greatest (Ch 13),…
1 Corinthians 15: “Love Crucified” Arose!
Chapter 15 might seem abrupt when Paul switched from exercising spiritual gifts to the gospel. Unless we follow his train of thought from chapter 13 – it’s all about love. Love crucified Love does not seek its…
1 Corinthians 14: “Barbarians” & “Idiots”?
Language evolves. Barbaros in ancient Greece simply meant one whose speech is rude, rough and harsh, often used to describe foreigners. Hence Paul advised the Corinthians who flaunted their glossolalia to not use their tongues meant for…
1 Corinthians Chapter 12
Every Sabbath, I would be reminded of this verse. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.~ 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) ~ From the start of the Sabbath evening…
1 Corinthians Chapter 11
Paul starts off with this famous phrase in this chapter and seems to jumped off onto a tangent in the rest of this chapter where he discusses: If anyone has a good explanation for this, I would…
1 Corinthians Chapter 10
This chapter begins with a throwback to the Israelites in the wilderness and reminds us not to follow in their footsteps. “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil…
1 Corinthians Chapter 9
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul bares his heart as he openly discusses his feelings and his attitude towards his ministry to all his readers. While Paul was addressing certain people in those times, we today also get…