787 英翻中 (487) On the mission field, it’s a team effort or it’s nothing. 在宣教的事工領域裡，它是團隊合作的成就, 否則空無一物. 03/03/2024

787 英翻中 (487)       On the mission field, it’s a team effort or it’s nothing.                                                               在宣教的事工領域裡，它是團隊合作的成就,   否則空無一物.       03/07/2024       

I was chatting one day with a foreign mission executive about a mutual friend who had been forced to resign from his work on the field. “There was no problem with sin or anything like that,” my friend explained. “His whole difficulty is that he is a loner. He can’t work well with other people. On the mission field, it’s a team effort or it’s nothing.”                                                 在與國外宣教執行人聊天，我們談論到同工的朋友，他被迫從國外宣教的領域中辭職。我的朋友解釋說，“這與罪或類似的事應該不同。 他的全部困難在於，他是獨來獨往的人。他不能和別人很好地的合作。在宣教的事工領域裡，它是團隊合作的成就，要不然就空無一物。”

One of the secrets of the ministry of Epaphras was his prayer life. Paul knew about this because Epaphras and Paul shared the same room, and when Epaphras prayed, Paul knew about it. What were the characteristics of this man’s prayer life?                                                                                  以巴弗事工的秘密之一，是他的祈禱生活。 保羅之所以知道這一點，是因為以巴弗和保羅同住一間房，並且當以巴弗祈禱時，保羅知道。這人的禱告生活的特徵是什麼？

He prayed constantly (v. 12—“always”). He was a good example of Paul’s admonition: “Continue in prayer” (Col. 4:2). Epaphras did not pray only when he felt like it, as do many Christians today. Nor did he pray when he was told to pray, or when the other believers prayed. He was constantly in prayer, seeking God’s blessing. He prayed fervently (v. 12—“laboring fervently”). The word used here means “agonizing.” It is the same word used for our Lord’s praying in the garden (Luke 22:44). We get the impression that prayer was serious business with Epaphras!     他繼續的祈禱（第12節中用的是 “常常”）。他是保羅對人警誡的好例子：“恆切的禱告” （西   4：2）。以巴弗不像今天的許多基督徒那樣，只在他願意時才祈禱。也不像當其他信徒告訴他要祈禱，或其他信徒在祈禱時，他才禱告。以巴弗是恆切的祈禱，尋求上帝的祝福。他竭力的祈求（在第12節中的 “竭力”）。這裡使用的單詞是說， “在痛苦中”。這個詞與我們的主在花園裡祈禱時所用的詞相同（路   22:44）。我們得到的印像是，禱告對以巴弗是極嚴重的事！

This Greek word was used to describe the athletes as they gave themselves fully to their sports. If church members today put as much concern and enthusiasm into their praying as they did into their baseball games or bowling, we would have revival!                                                                     這個希臘詞用來形容運動員的競賽，因為他們竭力的來發揮自己的運動潛能。如果今天的教會會友，像參加棒球比賽，或打保齡球那樣賣力，對他們的祈禱給予盡情的關注和熱誠，我們教會將要復興！

He prayed personally (v. 12—“for you”). Epaphras did not pray around the world for everybody in general and nobody in particular. He centered his intercession on the saints in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. No doubt he mentioned some of them by name. Prayer for Epaphras was not an impersonal religious exercise, for he carried these people in his heart and prayed for them personally.                                                                                                                                       他祈禱是個人的（第12節中用的是 “為你們”）。以巴弗沒有為世界所有的人禱告，也沒有特別為什麼人祈禱。他的代禱中心是為歌羅西，老底嘉，和希拉波立的聖徒身上。毫無疑問，他提到了其中的一些名字。以巴弗的禱告是個人的宗教活動，因為他把這些人懷著在他心中，一個一個的為他們祈禱。

He prayed definitely. If you had asked Epaphras, “What are you praying for?” he could have told you. His great desire was that the believe   words to summarize the prayer of Epaphras, and these four words also summarize the message of the book of Colossians: “perfect—complete—all—will.”                                                                                                                                                            以巴弗的禱告是有目的。如果你問以巴弗，“你為什麼祈禱？”  他可能會告訴你。他的強烈願望是，為這三個教會的信徒，可以在他們的基督信心中成熟。 保羅用四個重要的詞來概括以巴弗的祈禱，這四個詞也概括了歌羅西書中所傳達的信息：“完美—完全—整體—和心志”。

Epaphras was concerned that these Christians know and do the will of God. But he wanted them to be involved in all the will of God, not just in part of it. (All is a key word in Colossians, used over thirty times.) He also wanted them to stand perfect and complete in God’s will. The gnostic teachers offered these Christians “perfection and maturity,” but they could not deliver the goods. Only in Jesus Christ can we have these blessings. “And ye are complete in him,” for only in Christ does the fullness of God dwell (Col. 2:9–10).                                                                                           以巴弗擔心這些基督徒認識，並遵行上帝的旨意。但是他希望他們參與上帝全部的旨意，而不僅僅是其中的一部分。 （在歌羅西書中， “全備” 是關鍵詞，已使用了30多次。）他還希望他們在上帝的旨意中,  是完美和整體。諾斯底的教師為這些基督徒提供了 “完美和成熟” 的條件，但他們無法說出它的實質。只有在耶穌基督裡，我們才能得到這些祝福。  “你們在祂裡面是全備的。”  因為上帝本性的一切豐盛，都有形有體的居住在基督裡（西     2：9-10）。

This request carries the thought of being mature and perfectly assured in the will of God, and parallels Paul’s prayer burden (Col. 2:2). “Full assurance in the will of God” is a tremendous blessing! It is not necessary for the believer to drift in life. He can know God’s will and enjoy it. As he learns God’s will and lives it, he matures in the faith and experiences God’s fullness.              這要求帶有在上帝的旨意中成熟，和完全的保證思想，並且與保羅的禱告負擔平行                  （西   2：2）。 “在上帝的旨意中完全的確據” 是極大的祝福！信徒不必在生活中漂移。他可以了解上帝的旨意，並享受它。當他悟出上帝豐盛的的旨意，並享受它時，他在信心中成熟，並經歷上帝的豐滿。

He prayed sacrificially (v. 13—“great zeal” or “much distress”). Real prayer is difficult. When Jesus prayed in the garden, He sweat great drops of blood. Paul had “great conflict” (agony) as he prayed for the Colossians (2:1), and Epaphras also experienced “much distress.” This does not mean that we must wrestle with God in order to get Him to answer. But it does mean that we must throw ourselves into our praying with zeal and concern. If there is no burden, there can be no blessing. To rephrase what John H. Jowett said about preaching, “Praying that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”                                                                                                                            以巴弗牺牲的祈禱（第13節中 “極大熱心”， 或 “竭力”）。真正的祈禱很難。耶穌在客西馬尼花園裡的祈禱，他流出了很多血汗。保羅在為歌羅西教會（2：1）祈禱時，遇到了 “極大衝突”（痛苦），而以巴弗也經歷了同樣的 “極大壓力”。這並不意味著我們必須與上帝搏鬥才能讓祂回答。但這確實是說，我們必須全心全意竭力地投入祈禱。如果沒有壓力，就沒有祝福。改撰關於約翰·喬維（John H. Jowett）講道的話，“祈禱沒有負擔，就不會得到回答。”

 All of the men with Paul were named and commended in one way or another, but Epaphras was the only one commended for his prayer ministry. This does not mean that the other men did not pray, but it does suggest that prayer was his major interest and ministry. Epaphras was Paul’s fellow prisoner (Philem. 23)—but even confinement could not keep him from entering the courts of heaven and praying for his brothers and sisters in the churches.                                                  所有與保羅同工的人，都以一種或另一種方式被提名和稱讚，但只有以巴弗是唯一為他的禱告事工受到稱讚的人。這並不說，其他人沒有祈禱，但這確實表明祈禱是以巴弗的主要興趣和事工。他是與保羅同坐監（門  23節），但是，即他使被囚禁，也無法阻止他進入天上家庭，並為他教堂里的兄弟姐妹們祈禱。

E. M. Bounds was a prayer warrior of the last generation. He would often rise early in the morning and pray for many hours before he began the work of the day. His many books on prayer testify to the fact that Bounds, like Epaphras, knew how to agonize in prayer before God. (If you have never read Power in Prayer [Baker] by E.M. Bounds, by all means do so.)                 旁茲(E.M. Bounds)是上一代的祈禱戰士。他通常會在清晨起床，祈禱許多小時後，再開始一天的工作。他撰寫的許多祈禱書說明了這一點，像以巴弗一樣，知道如何在上帝面前痛苦的祈禱。 （若你從未讀過旁茲的 “在禱告中的力量”[Baker]出版，請一定要閱讀它。）

I am impressed with the fact that Epaphras prayed for believers in three different cities. We are fortunate today if church members pray for their own pastor and church, let alone believers in other places! Perhaps one reason that revival tarries is because we do not pray fervently for one another.                                                                                                                                                     以巴弗為三個不同的城市的信徒祈禱，這事實委實給我留下了非常深刻的印象。今天，若教會的會友為自己的牧師和教會祈禱，我們是幸運的，更不用說其他地方的信徒了！復興的延遲的一個原因，可能是因為我們沒有為彼此代禱。

 3.  The Man Who Strayed (4:14b)                                                                                                         3.  背叛的底馬（西     4：14節後半段）

Demas is mentioned only three times in Paul’s letters, and these three references tell a sad story. First he is called “Demas … my fellow laborer” and is linked with three good men—Mark, Aristarchus, and Luke (Philem. 24). Then he is simply called “Demas,” and there is no special word of identification or commendation (Col. 4:14). But the third reference tells what became of Demas: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10).                 在保羅的書信中，有三次提到底馬（Demas），這三次參考文獻是講述一個可悲的故事。首先，他被稱為  “底馬…我的同工”，並與三個好人聯繫在一起：馬可，亞里達古和路加         （門  24節）。然後，他被簡單地稱為  “底馬”，沒有特別的辨別或稱讚詞（西     4:14）。但是最後的一個參考文獻講述了底馬的故事：“因為底馬愛當今的世界，拋棄了我”                   （提後   4:10）。

At one point in his life, John Mark had forsaken Paul, but he was reclaimed and restored. Demas forsook Paul and apparently was never reclaimed. His sin was that he loved this present world. The word world refers to the whole system of things that runs this world, or “society without God.” In the first of his epistles, John the apostle pointed out that the world entices the believer with “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:15–17). Which of these traps caught Demas, we do not know; perhaps he fell into all three.                                         馬可在生命中曾遺棄過保羅，但他得到了糾正與重建。底馬遺棄保羅，顯然他從未被糾正過。因他的罪過是貪愛當今世界。世界是指運行這個世界的事物的整個系統，或  “沒有上帝的社會”。  使徒約翰在他的約翰壹書中，描述世界以 “肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾和今生的驕傲” 來吸引信徒（約壹   2：15-17）。不知道底馬是被哪一種誘惑抓住了；也許他墜入所有的陷阱。

But we do know that Christians today can succumb to the world just as Demas did. How easy it is to maintain a religious veneer, while all the time we are living for the things of this world. Demas thought that he could serve two masters, but eventually he had to make a decision; unfortunately, he made the wrong decision.                                                                                                                      但是，今天的基督徒確實有些是這樣，像底馬一樣愛當今的世界。當一直生活在這世上事物的同時，我們要維持宗教信仰的假面具是多麼容易。底馬認為他可以服侍兩位主人，但最終他不得不做出決定。不幸的是，他做了錯誤的決定。

It must have hurt Paul greatly when Demas forsook him. It also hurt the work of the Lord, for there never has been a time when the laborers were many. This decision hurt Demas most of all, for he wasted his life in that which could never last. “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:17).                                                                                                                             當底馬遺棄保羅時，一定對保羅造成了極大的傷害。這也傷害了主基督的工作，因為在那個時代須少發生。底馬的決定傷害了他自己所有，因為他浪費了自己的生命，這是永遠不會持久的。 “遵行上帝旨意的人才會永遠存留”（約壹2:17）。

 After conveying greetings from his friends and fellow servants, Paul himself sent greetings to the sister churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis. These people had never seen Paul (Col. 2:1), yet he was interested in them and concerned about their spiritual welfare.                                                 保羅轉達了他的朋友和同工等人的問候後，他本人向老底嘉和希拉波立的姐妹教堂致以問候。保羅從未見過他們（西     2：1），但他對他們很感興趣，並關心他們的屬靈事項。

4.  Final Greetings (4:15–18)                                                                                                                      4.  最後的問候（4：15–18）

We know nothing about Nymphas, except that he had a church meeting in his house. (Some versions read “Nympha” and seem to indicate that this believer was a woman.) In the first centuries of the church, local assemblies met in private homes. Even today, many new local churches get their start this way. It was not until the Christian faith emerged from persecution into official government approval that church buildings were constructed. It really matters little where the assembly meets, so long as Jesus Christ is the center of the fellowship. (For other examples of “the church in the home,” see Rom. 16:5 and 1 Cor. 16:19.)                                           我們對來飛(Nymphas)一無所知，只知道在他的家裡有聚會處。 （有些版本讀作  “寧法( Nympha)”，似乎說明這信徒是婦女。）在初期幾世紀中的教會中，集會處多在私人住宅內。即使在今天，有許多新的地方教會也以這種方式開始。直到基督教信仰者從迫害變成正式為政府批准後，教堂才開始建造。只要耶穌基督是團契的中心，集會在哪里相遇都無關緊要。 （有關 “家庭教會” 的其他示例，請參見  羅     16：5  和  林前     16:19。）

Paul’s great concern was that the Word of God be read and studied in these churches. The verb “read” means “to read aloud.” There would not be copies of these letters for each member. It is a strong conviction of mine that we need to return to the public reading of the Word of God in many of our churches. “Give attendance to reading” (1 Tim. 4:13) means the public reading of God’s Word.                                                                                                                                               保羅最關心的事，是這些教會對閱讀和研究上帝的聖言。動詞  “閱讀” 的意思是 “大聲朗讀”。那時會友不會都有這書信的副本。我的堅信是需要在許多教堂公開的大聲閱讀上帝的聖言。 “宣讀”（提前 4:13）是指在公眾前面宣讀上帝的聖言。

It is worth noting that the various letters from Paul were good for all of these assemblies. In my ministry, I have shared God’s Word in many different places and situations, and it has always reached the heart and met the need. Even in different cultures. God’s Word has a message for the heart. God’s Word does not have to be edited or changed to meet different problems in various situations, for it is always applicable.                                                                                                     值得注意的是，保羅的各本書信，對所有集會處都是有益的。在我的事工中，我曾在許多不同的地方和境況下，都分享上帝的聖言，它一直深深地摸著人的心，和滿足他們的需要。即使在不同的文化中。上帝的話語傳達了心靈的信息。上帝的聖言無需修改或變更來滿足在不同境況的問題上，因為祂的話是真理，永遠適用。

What was “the epistle from Laodicea”? We do not know for sure. Some scholars think that the epistle to the Ephesians was this missing letter, but this idea is pure speculation. The fact that this letter has been lost does not mean we are missing a part of God’s inspired Word. Some of Paul’s correspondence with the church at Corinth has also been lost. God not only inspired His Word, but He providentially watched over it so that nothing would be lost that was supposed to be in that Word. Instead of wondering about what we do not have, we should be applying ourselves to what we do have!                                                                                                                                       保羅寫給  “老底嘉的書信” 出了什麼問題？ 我們不能確定。一些學者認為，寫給以弗所教會的信，就是這封遺失的信，但這種想法純粹是猜測。丟失了這封信，並不意味著我們就缺少了上帝啟發的話語的一部分。保羅與哥林多教堂的往來信件也丟失了。上帝不僅啟發了祂的話，而且祂照天意地注意到它，不會因丟失那封信，就失去了什麼。與其想知道我們所沒有的，不如使自己適應於我們所擁有的！

When we compare Colossians 4:17 with Philemon 2, we get the impression that Archippus belonged to the family of Philemon. Possibly, he was Philemon’s son and the pastor of the church that met in Philemon’s house. We cannot prove this, of course, but it does seem a logical conclusion. This would make Apphia the wife of Philemon.                                                                 當我們將歌羅西書4章17節，與腓利門書第2節進行比較時，得到亞基布(Archippus)是屬於腓利門家族的一員的印證。可能他是腓利門的兒子，在腓利門的家中遇到的教堂的牧師。當然我們無法來證明這一點，但這似乎是合乎邏輯的結論。這將使亞腓亞(Apphia)成為腓利門的妻子。

Paul’s last words before his salutation are directed at Archippus as an encouragement to continue faithfully in his ministry. Was Archippus discouraged? Had the gnostic false teachers invaded his church and created problems for him? We do not know. But we do know that pastors of local churches face many problems and carry many burdens, and they often need a word of encouragement.                                                                                                                                         保羅在致最後的問安的話之前，而指導亞基布務要謹慎，以鼓勵他忠實地繼續他的事工。這使亞基布沮喪了嗎？那些精明的假教師是否入侵了他的教堂，並給他造成了麻煩沒有？  我們不知道。但是確知當地教會的牧師，會面臨許多問題，並承擔許多重負，他們常常需要鼓勵。

Paul reminded Archippus that his ministry was a gift from God, and that he was a steward of God who would one day have to give an account of his work. Since the Lord gave him his ministry, the Lord could also help him carry it out in the right way. Ministry is not something we do for God; it is something God does in and through us.                                                                     保羅提醒亞基布，他的事工是上帝的恩賜，他是祂的管家，有一天他必須在祂的面前交帳。自從主賜給他事工以來，主也可以幫助他，以正確的方法達成。服侍不是我們為上帝做的事；這是祂在我們裡面，和經過我們要去做的事情。

The word fulfill carries with it the idea that God has definite purposes for His servants to accomplish. He works in us and through us to complete those good works that He has prepared for us (see Eph. 2:10). Of course, fulfill also parallels the theme of Colossians— the fullness of Jesus Christ available to each believer. We are able to fulfill our ministries because we have been “filled full” through Jesus Christ.                                                                                                            “達成”這個詞帶有這樣的意念，即上帝對祂的僕人有明確的任務要他去達成。祂在我們裡面，並以我們為祂工作的管道，完成祂為我們準備的善事（弗     2:10）。當然，成就也與歌羅西書的主題相似，每個信徒都能充滿耶穌基督的豐盛。我們能夠履行我們的事工，因已經由耶穌基督的豐盛所 “充滿”。

Unless we make a practical application of Bible doctrine, our study is in vain. After reading this letter and studying it, we cannot help but see that we have in Jesus Christ all that we can ever want or need. All of God’s fullness is in Jesus Christ and we have been made complete in Him. What an encouragement this must have been to Archippus! What an encouragement it should be to us today!                                                                                                                                                   除非我們實際應用聖經教義，否則我們的研究是徒勞的。在讀完這封信，並對其進行研究之後，我們無法不看到，在耶穌基督裡，我們擁有了一切所需要的。上帝本性的一切豐盛，都有形有體的居住在耶穌基督裡，我們在祂裡面也得了豐盛。這一定對亞基布很大的鼓勵！今天對我們來說應該也是很大的鼓舞！

Paul usually dictated his letters to a secretary (see Rom. 16:22) and then signed his name at the end. He always added a sentence about the grace of God, for this was his “trademark” (see 2 Thess. 3:17–18). The combination of his signature and “grace” gave proof that the letter was authentic.                                                                                                                                                       保羅一般都是經過秘書錄寫後，再簽字寄出去（見  羅     16:22）。他總是在結尾處，加一句關於上帝恩典的句子，因為這是他寫信的 “商標”（參見  帖前  3：17-18）。他的簽名和  “恩典” 的相結合，證明了這封信的真實性。

The New Testament contains many references to Paul’s bonds and the fact that he was a prisoner (see Acts 20:23; 23:18, 29; 26:29; Phil. 1:7, 13–14, 16; 2 Tim. 1:8; 2:9; Philem. 10, 13; Eph. 3:1; 4:1). Why did Paul want them to remember his bonds? Primarily because those bonds were a reminder of his love for lost souls, especially the Gentiles. He was “the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles” (Eph. 3:1). Paul’s bonds were evidence of his obedience to the Lord and his willingness to pay any price so that the Gentiles might hear the gospel.                                             新約中記載了許多有關保羅的捆綁，和他坐監的事（見  徒   20:23; 23:18，29; 26:29;  門   7，13-14，16;  提後   1：8; 2：9;  門  10，13;  弗     3：1; 4：1）。保羅為什麼要他們記住他的受捆綁？ 主要是因為這些捆綁的事，提醒了他愛喪失的靈魂，特別是對外邦人的愛。保羅說 “我為你們外邦人作了基督耶穌被囚的”（弗3：1）。保羅的捆綁證明了他對上帝的順服，以及他願意付出任何代價使外邦人聽到福音的意願。

Even today, there are devoted Christians who are in bonds because of their faithfulness to the Lord. We ought to remember them and pray for them. “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them” (Heb. 13:3).                                                                                                                  即使在今天，仍然有很多虔誠的基督徒，因為對主的忠心而被捆綁。我們應該記念他們，並為他們祈禱。 “你們要記念被捆綁的人，好像與他們同受捆綁”（來     13：3）。

As we come to the close of our study of this remarkable letter, we must remind ourselves that we are complete in Jesus Christ. We should beware of any teaching that claims to give us “something more” than we already have in Christ. All of God’s fullness is in Him, and He has perfectly equipped us for the life that God wants us to live. We do not live and grow by addition, but by appropriation.                                                                                                                                          當我們結束對這封出色的書信的研究時，必須要提醒自己，我們在耶穌基督裡是完滿的。我們應該提防任何聲稱給我們 “比我們在基督裡已經擁有的東西” 更多的教義。上帝所有的豐盛都在祂裡面，祂為我們提供了上帝希望我們生活的完美裝備。我們不是靠再增加什麼，而是以感謝的心來生活和成長。

May the Lord help us to live as those who are complete in Christ.                                                      願主幫助我們在祂裡面，過豐盛完備的生活。

親愛的訪友, 求主幫助我們過豐盛完備的生活.     謝謝上帝.