70 (林后10章) Ministereal misunderstandings 传道人的误解 28/5/2025
CHAPTER NINE MINISTEREAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS 2 Corinthians 10 第九章 传道人的误解 哥林多后书 10
Whenever I receive a critical letter from a reader or a radio listener, I usually set it aside in a special file until I feel I am really ready to answer it. On a few occasions, I have replied to letters too quickly, and I have regretted it. By waiting, I give myself time to think and pray, to read between the lines, and to prepare a reply that would do the most good and the least damage. 每当我收到来自读者或电台听众的批评信时，我通常会将它放在一个特殊的文件中，直到我觉得我真的准备好回复它了。有几次，我回信太快了，我很后悔。通过等待，我给自己时间去思考和祈祷，在字里行间阅读，并准备一个能带来最大好处和最小伤害的答复。
The Spirit led Paul to use a wise approach as he wrote to the Corinthians. He was writing to a divided church (1 Cor. 1:11ff.), a church that was resisting his authority, and a church that was being seduced by false teachers. So, first he explained his ministry so that they would no longer doubt his sincerity. He then encouraged them to share in the offering, for he knew that this challenge would help them grow in their spiritual lives. Grace giving and grace living go together.圣灵引导保罗在写信给哥林多人时采用了明智的方法。他正在写信给一个分裂的教会（林前 1:11 比照研讀），一个抵制他权威的教会，一个被假教师引诱的教会。所以，他首先解释了他的事工，让他们不再怀疑他的诚意。然后他鼓励他们分享奉献，因为他知道这个挑战将帮助他们在精神生活中成长。恩典给予和恩典生活是相辅相成的。
Now, in
the last section of the letter, Paul challenged the rebels in the church—including
the false teachers—and enforced his apostolic ministry. As you read 2
Corinthians 10—13, you will find Paul referring directly to his accusers (2
Cor. 10:7, 10–12; 11:4, 20–23, for example) and answering their false charges.
He does not hide the fact that the Judaizers in the church are ministers of
Satan who want to destroy the work of God (2 Cor.
Paul
used one word twenty times in 2 Corinthians 10—13, the word translated “boast”
or “glory.” When you first read these chapters, you get the impression that
Paul was bragging about himself; but such was not the case. Paul “gloried in
Jesus Christ” and not in him[1]self
or his achievements (Rom.
Keep in
mind that Paul was not defending himself personally; he was defending his
ministry and his apostolic authority. He was not involved in a “personality
contest” with other ministers. His enemies did not hesitate to accuse him
falsely, nor did they hesitate to promote themselves (2 Cor.
Finally,
when Paul did boast, he limited himself to the ministry God had given him (2
Cor.
Paul’s first step in enforcing his ministry was to correct the misunderstandings that existed in the minds of the people with reference to his work. They did not understand three important areas of ministry. 保罗执行他的事工的第一步是纠正人们对他工作的误解。他们不了解事工的三个重要领域。
1. How to Wage Spiritual Warfare (10:1–6) 1. 如何进行属灵争战（10:1-6）
The
accusation (vv. 1–2). This is not difficult to find. The rebels in the church
(led by the Judaizers) said that Paul was very courageous when he wrote letters
from a distance, but very timid and even weak when he was present with the
Corinthians (see also 2 Cor. 10:9–11). The Judaizers, of course, were
consistently overbearing in their attitudes—and the people loved them (2 Cor.
How
ignorant the Corinthians were, even after all that Paul had taught them. They
failed to realize that true spiritual power is in “meekness and gentleness” (2
Cor. 10:1), not in “throwing weight around.” Paul’s very attitude in these
opening verses disarmed his opponents. (In fact, his use of his own name is
significant; for Paul means “little.”) If Paul was a weakling, then so was
Jesus Christ; for Jesus exhibited meekness and gentleness (Matt.
The answer (vv. 3–6). This reveals what spiritual warfare is all about. Because the Corinthians (led by the false teachers) judged Paul’s ministry by the outward appearance, they completely missed the power that was there. They were evaluating things “according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 10:2) and not according to the Spirit. The Judaizers, like some “great” religious personalities today, impressed the people with their overpowering abilities, their oratorical powers, and their “commendations” from church leaders. 答案（3-6 节）。这揭示了属灵争战的意义。因为哥林多人（由假教师领导）以外表来判断保罗的事工，他们完全错过了那里的能力。他们是在“按肉体”（林后 10:2）而不是按圣灵来评估事物。犹太教徒和今天一些“伟大”的宗教人士一样，以其压倒性的能力、演讲的能力和教会领袖的“赞扬”给人们留下了深刻的印象。
Paul took a different approach; for, though he was as human as anyone else, he did not depend on the human but on the divine, the spiritual weapons pro[1]vided by the Lord. His warfare was not according to the flesh, because he was not fighting against flesh and blood (see Eph. 6:10ff.). You cannot fight spiritual bat[1]tles with carnal weapons. 保罗采取了不同的方法。因为，虽然他和其他人一样是人，但他并不依靠人，而是依靠神，即上帝提供的属灵武器。他的争战不是按着肉体，因为他不是与血肉之躯争战（见弗 6:10 比照研讀）。你不能用属肉体的武器来打属灵的争战。
The
word warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:4 means “campaign.” Paul was not simply
fighting a little skirmish in
There
are walls of resistance in the minds of people, and these walls (like the walls
of
Paul’s
attitude of humility was actually one of his strongest weapons, for pride plays
right into the hands of Satan. The meek Son of God had far more power than
Pilate (see John
Many
believers today do not realize that the church is involved in warfare, and
those who do understand the seriousness of the Christian battle do not always
know how to fight the battle. They try to use human methods to defeat demonic
forces, and these methods are doomed to fail. When Joshua and his army marched
around
When I
was pastoring in
6. How to Use Spiritual Authority (10:7–11) 6. 如何使用属灵权柄（10:7-11）
One of
the most difficult lessons Christ’s disciples had to learn was that, in the
But the Corinthians were not spiritually minded enough to discern what Paul was doing. They contrasted his meekness with the “personality power” of the Judaizers, and they concluded that Paul had no authority at all. To be sure, he wrote powerful letters; but his physical appearance was weak, and his speech “unimpressive.” They were judging by the outward appearance and were not exercising spiritual discernment. 但是哥林多人没有足够的属灵头脑来辨别保罗在做什么。他们将他的温顺与犹太教徒的“人格力量”进行对比，得出结论说保罗根本没有权威。可以肯定的是，他写了强有力的信件。但他的外貌很虚弱，说话“没有印象”。他们是根据外表来判断，并没有运用属灵的分辨力。
Some
friends and I once listened to a man preach whose entire sermon was made up of
impressive “big” words, an occasional quotation from the Bible (usually taken
out of context), and many references to world events and the “signs of the times.”
As we left the meeting, one of my friends said, “First Kings
Paul
did not deny that he had authority, but he did refuse to exercise that authority
in an unspiritual manner. The purpose for his authority was to build them up,
not tear them down; and it requires much more skill to build than to destroy.
Furthermore, it takes love to build up (1 Cor. 8:1); and the Corinthians interpreted
Paul’s love and meekness as a sign of weakness.
The difference between Paul and the Judaizers was this: Paul used his authority to build up the church, while the Judaizers used the church to build up their authority. 保罗和犹太派的区别是：保罗用权柄建立教会，而犹太派则用教会建立他们的权柄。
In my many years of pastoral and itinerant ministry, I have never ceased to be amazed at how some local churches treat their pastors. If a man shows love and true humility, they resist his leadership and break his heart. The next pastor will be a “dictator” who “runs the church”—and he gets just what he wants. And the people love him and brag about him! Our Lord was treated the same way, so perhaps we should not be surprised. 在我多年的牧师和巡回事工中，我从未停止对一些地方教会如何对待他们的牧师感到惊讶。如果一个人表现出爱和真正的谦卑，他们会抗拒他的领导并伤透他的心。下一位牧师将是一个“管理教会”的“独裁者”——他得到了他想要的。人们爱他，吹嘘他！我们的主受到了同样的对待，所以也许我们不应该感到惊讶。
The opponents in the church were accusing Paul of not being a true apostle; for, if he were a true apostle, he would show it by using his authority. On the other hand, if Paul had thrown his weight around, they would have found fault with that. No matter what course Paul took, they were bound to condemn him. This is what always happens when church members are not spiritually minded, but evaluate ministry from a worldly viewpoint. 教会的反对者指责保罗不是真正的使徒。因为，如果他是一个真正的使徒，他会用他的权威来表明这一点。另一方面，如果保罗全力以赴，他们就会发现错误。无论保罗采取什么方针，他们都注定要定他的罪。当教会成员没有属灵的思想，而是从世俗的角度评估事工时，总是会发生这种情况。
But
their accusation backfired. If Paul was not an apostle, then he was a
counterfeit and not even a believer. But if that were true, then the church at
Paul also pointed out that there was no contradiction between his preaching and his writing. He was bold in his letters because that was what was needed at the time. How much more would he have enjoyed being able to write with gentleness. But it would not have achieved the desired purpose. And, even when he wrote “weighty and powerful” letters, he wrote from a heart of love. “You had better prepare for my next visit,” he was saying, “because if it is necessary, I will show you how powerful I can be.” 保罗还指出，他的讲道和他的写作之间没有矛盾。他在信中很大胆，因为那是当时所需要的。他会更喜欢能够温柔地写作。但它不会达到预期的目的。而且，即使他写了“沉重而有力”的信，他也是发自一颗爱的心。 “你最好为我的下一次访问做好准备，”他说，“因为如果有必要，我会向你展示我的强大。”
How a Christian uses authority is an evidence of his spiritual maturity and character. An immature person swells as he uses his authority, but a mature person grows in the use of authority, and others grow with him. The wise pastor, like the wise parent, knows when to wait in loving patience and when to act with deter[1]mined power. It takes more power to wait than to strike. A mature person does not use authority to demand respect, but to command respect. Mature leaders suffer while they wait to act, while immature leaders act impetuously and make others suffer. 基督徒如何使用权柄是他属灵成熟和品格的证据。不成熟的人用权势膨胀，成熟的人用权势长大，别人也跟着长大。聪明的牧师，就像聪明的父母一样，知道什么时候该怀着慈爱的耐心等待，什么时候该以坚定的力量行动。等待比罢工需要更多的力量。成熟的人不是用权威来要求尊重，而是要求尊重。成熟的领导者在等待行动时受苦，而不成熟的领导者则行动浮躁，让别人受苦。
The
false teachers depended on “letters of recom[1]mendation” for
their authority, but Paul had a divine commission from heaven. The life that he
lived and the work that he did were “credentials” enough, for it was evident
that the hand of God was on his life. Paul could dare to write, “From
henceforth let no man trou[1]ble
me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal.
When my
wife and I have ministered in
7. How to Measure Spiritual Ministry (
I
suppose more problems have been caused by people “measuring the ministry” than
by any other activity in the church. If the work of the church is the work of
God, and if the work of God is a miracle, how do we go about measuring a
miracle? In His personal exami[1]nation
of the seven churches named in Revelation 2 and 3, the Lord Jesus measured them
far differently than they measured themselves. The church that thought it was
poor, He considered to be rich; and the church that boasted of its wealth, He
declared to be poor (Rev. 2:8–11;
Some
people measure ministry only by statistics. While it is true that the early
church did take note of numbers (Acts
False measurement (v. 12). The Judaizers were great on measuring their ministry, because a religion of external activities is much easier to measure than one of internal transformation. The legalist can measure what he does and what he does not do, but the Lord is the only One who can see spiritual growth in a believer’s heart. Sometimes those who are growing the most feel like they are less than the least. 错误的测量（第 12 节）。犹太教徒在衡量他们的事工方面做得很好，因为外部活动的宗教比内部转变的宗教更容易衡量。律法主义者可以衡量他做什么和不做什么，但只有主才能看到信徒内心的属灵成长。有时，那些成长最多的人会觉得自己比最少的少。
In a
sense, the Judaizers belonged to a “mutual admiration society” that set up its
own standards and measured everybody by them. Of course, those inside the group
were successful; those outside were failures. Paul was one of the outsiders, so
he was considered a failure. Unfortunately, they did not measure themselves by
Jesus Christ (see Eph.
True measurement (vv. 13–18). Paul suggests three questions we may ask ourselves as we seek to measure our ministries by the will of God. 真实的量度（13-18 节）。保罗提出了三个问题，当我们寻求以上帝的旨意来衡量我们的事工时，我们可能会问自己三个问题。
Am I
where God wants me to be (vv. 13–14)? God “assigned a field” in which Paul was
to work: he was the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts
Paul
used a bit of sanctified sarcasm in his defense. “The area God assigned to me
included even you Corinthians!” (see 2 Cor. 10:13). It was not the Judaizers
who had come to
Churches and ministers are not competing with each other; they are competing with themselves. God is not going to measure us on the basis of the gifts and opportunities that He gave to Charles Spurgeon or Billy Sunday. He will measure my work by what He assigned to me. God requires faithfulness above every[1]thing else (1 Cor. 4:2). 教会和牧师不是互相竞争的；他们在与自己竞争。上帝不会根据他给查尔斯·司布真或比利·星期天的礼物和机会来衡量我们。他会根据他分配给我的工作来衡量我的工作。上帝要求信实高于一切（林前 4:2）。
There is something intimidating about attending a pastors’ conference or a denominational convention, because the people on the program are usually the “front-runners” with the best records. Young pastors and older men in narrow places often go home carry[1]ing feelings of guilt because their faithful work does not seem to produce as much fruit. Some of these discour[1]aged men then try all kinds of programs and promotions, only to have more disappointment; and then they contemplate leaving the ministry. If only they would realize that God measures their ministries on the basis of where He has put them, and not on the basis of what is going on in some other city, it would encourage them to stay on the job and keep being faithful. 参加牧师会议或宗派大会有些令人生畏，因为参加该计划的人通常是记录最好的“领跑者”。在狭窄地方的年轻牧师和年长的男人常常带着负罪感回家，因为他们忠心的工作似乎没有产生那么多的果子。这些灰心丧气的老人有的尝试各种节目和促销活动，结果却更加失望；然后他们考虑离开该部。如果他们能意识到上帝是根据他把他们放在哪里来衡量他们的事工，而不是根据其他城市正在发生的事情，这将鼓励他们继续工作并保持忠诚。
Is God glorified by my ministry (vv. 15–17)? This is another jibe at the Judaizers, who stole other men’s converts and claimed them as their own. Paul would not boast about another man’s work, nor would he invade another man’s territory. Whatever work he did, God did through him, and God alone should receive the glory. 我的事工是否荣耀上帝嗎（15-17 节）？这是对犹太教徒的另一个嘲讽，他们偷走了其他人的皈依者并声称他们是自己的。保罗不会吹嘘别人的工作，也不会侵犯别人的领地。无论他做什么工作，神都是借着他做的，只有神才能得着荣耀。
I once
listened to a man give a lecture on how to build a large Sunday school.
Everything in the lecture was correct and certainly had worked in some of the
large ministries in the
“Those people ought to be talking to you,” I said to him. “You’ve done it and you know more about Sunday school work than he does!” “那些人应该和你说话，”我对他说。 “你已经做到了，而且你比他更了解主日学的工作！”
“Let him enjoy himself,” said my friend with a kind smile. “We’re all doing the same work, and all that counts is that God is glorified.” “让他尽情享受吧，”我的朋友笑着说。 “我们都在做同样的工作，重要的是上帝得到了荣耀。”
Paul added another bit of “holy irony” when he told the Corinthians that the only thing that had kept him from going to “the regions beyond” them was their own lack of faith. Had they been submissive to his leadership and obedient to the Word, he could have reached other lost souls; but they created so many problems for him that he had to take time from mis[1]sionary evangelism to solve the problems in the church. “I would have better statistics to report,” he was saying, “but you hindered me.” 当保罗告诉哥林多人时，他又补充了一点“神圣的讽刺”，唯一阻止他去“他们以外的地区”的是他们自己缺乏信心。如果他们顺从他的领导并顺从圣言，他本可以接触到其他迷失的灵魂；但是他们给他制造了很多问题，以至于他不得不从宣教布道中抽出时间来解决教会中的问题。 “我本来可以报告更好的统计数据，”他说，“但你阻碍了我。”
Paul quoted Jeremiah 9:24 in 2 Corinthians 10:17, a statement he had also quoted in 1 Corinthians 1:31. The Corinthians were prone to glory in men, especially now that the Judaizers had taken over in the church. When the Corinthians heard the “reports” of what these teachers had done, and when they saw the “letters of recommendation” that they carried, the church was quite carried away with them. As a result, Paul and his ministry looked small and unsuccessful. 保罗在哥林多前书 10:17 中引用了耶利米书 9:24，他也在哥林多前书 1:31 中引用了这句话。哥林多人很容易以人为荣，尤其是现在犹太教已经接管了教会。当哥林多人听到这些教师所做的“报告”，当他们看到他们携带的“推荐信”时，教会对他们很感兴趣。结果，保罗和他的事工看起来很小而且不成功。
But the final test is not when the reports are published for the annual meeting. The final test comes at the judgment seat of Christ, “and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:5). If men get the glory, then God cannot be glorified. “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isa. 42:8). 但最终的考验不是为年会发布报告的时间。最后的考验出现在基督的审判台上，“那时每个人都将得到上帝的赞美”（林前 4:5）。人若得荣耀，神就不能得荣耀。 “我是耶和华，那是我的名，我的荣耀必不赐给别人”（赛 42:8）。
This is not to suggest that well-known ministers with flourishing works are robbing God of glory. As we grow and bear “much fruit,” we bring glory to the Father (John 15:1–8). But we must be careful that it is “fruit” that comes from spiritual life and not “results” that appear when we manipulate people and manufacture statistics. 这并不是说工作兴旺的知名传道人正在抢夺上帝的荣耀。当我们成长并结出“许多果实”时，我们就将荣耀归给了天父（约翰福音 15：1-8）。但我们必须小心，这是来自精神生活的“果实”，而不是当我们操纵人和制造统计数据时出现的“结果”。
Can the
Lord commend my work (v. 18)? We may commend ourselves or be commended by
others and still not deserve the commendation of God. How does God approve our
work? By testing it. The word approved in 2 Corinthians
Over the years, I have seen ministries tested by financial losses, the invasion of false doctrine, the emergence of proud leaders who want to run the church, and the challenge of change. Some of the churches have fallen apart and almost died because the work was not spiritual. Other ministries have grown because of the trials and have become purer and stronger; and, through it all, God was glorified. 多年来，我看到事工经受经济损失、错误教义入侵、想要管理教会的骄傲领袖的出现以及变革的挑战。一些教会已经分崩离析，几乎死亡，因为工作不是属灵的。其他事工因试炼而成长，变得更纯洁、更强大；并且，通过这一切，上帝得到了荣耀。
Certainly our ministries must keep records and issue reports, but we must not fall into the “snare of statistics” and think that numbers are the only measurement of ministry. Each situation is unique, and no ministry can honestly be evaluated on the basis of some other ministry. The important thing is that we are where God wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do so that He might be glorified. Motive is as much a part of God’s measurement of our work as is growth. If we are seeking to glorify and please God alone, and if we are not afraid of His evaluation of our hearts and lives, then we need not fear the estimates of men or their criticisms. 当然，我们的事工必须记录和发布报告，但我们不能落入“统计的陷阱”，认为数字是衡量事工的唯一标准。每种情况都是独一无二的，任何事工都不能诚实地根据其他事工来评估。重要的是，我们在神要我们到的地方，做祂要我们做的事，好让祂得着荣耀。动机与成长一样，是上帝衡量我们工作的一部分。如果我们只寻求荣耀和取悦上帝，并且如果我们不害怕他对我们的心灵和生活的评价，那么我们就不必害怕人们的评价或他们的批评。
“But he
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (2 Cor.
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