744 英翻中 (444) Jesus Christ's gosper is complete. 基督的福音是全備的. 4/25/2024 (第一課完)
This false teaching was a deceptive combination of many things: Jewish legalism, Eastern philosophy, pagan astrology, mysticism, asceticism, and even a touch of Christianity. There was something for everybody, and this was what made it so dangerous. The false teachers claimed that they were not denying the Christian faith, but only lifting it to a higher level. They offered fullness and freedom, a satisfying life that solved all the problems that people face. 這種錯誤的教導是集合各種欺騙性異端的組合：諸如 : 猶太律法主義，東方哲學，異教占星術，神秘主義，禁慾主義，甚至有的也碰到一點基督教。每個人都有某些東西，使它混亂變得非常危險。假教師聲稱他們不是在否認基督信仰，而只是將其提升到更高一層的水平。他們提供了完滿和自由，是解決人對滿意生活要求的所有問題。
Do we have any of this heresy today? Yes, we do; and it is just as deceptive and dangerous! When we make Jesus Christ and the Christian revelation only part of a total religious system or philosophy, we cease to give Him the preeminence. When we strive for “spiritual perfection” or “spiritual fullness” by means of formulas, disciplines, or rituals, we go backward instead of forward. Christian believers must beware of mixing their Christian faith with such alluring things as yoga, transcendental meditation, Eastern mysticism, and the like. We must also beware of “deeper life” teachers who offer a system for victory and fullness that bypasses devotion to Jesus Christ. In all things, He must have the preeminence! 今天我們仍有這些異端嗎？ 有；它具有欺騙性和危險性！當人只給耶穌基督和基督信仰者整個宗教制度或哲學部分的啟示，就等於不給主耶穌超越的地位。當人只為 “屬靈上的完美” 或 “屬靈上的豐盛” 努力，却只是以公式，紀律或儀式時，基督信仰者的信心沒有增加,反而後退。基督信仰者必須提防，避免將基督信仰與諸如 : 瑜伽，超然冥想，東方神秘主義等等誘人的異教學說混淆在一起。我們必須還要提防那些教導 “更深入生命” 的教師們，他們偏離對耶穌基督的委身，而提供不可能得到的勝利和充實的系統。在所有的萬物之中，主耶穌都必須在超越的地位！
This heresy was in direct contrast to the teaching of Paul. It took a negative view of life: “God is far away, matter is evil, and demonic forces are constantly threatening us.” The Christian faith teaches that God is near us, that God made all things good (though they can be used for evil), and that Christ has delivered His people from the powers of darkness (Col. 1:13). This heresy turned the world into a frightful prison, while Jesus made it clear that the Father is at work in this world caring for His own. Finally, these false teachers tried to change people from the outside, by means of diets and disciplines. But true spiritual growth comes from within. 這種異端與保羅的教導形成鮮明衝突。 使人對生活持負面的心態：“上帝離我們很遠，物質是邪惡的，惡魔力量不斷威脅著我們。” 教导基督信仰的人说，上帝於我们同在，祂創造的都美善（雖然它們可能會用于犯罪恶行），基督已将祂的子民从黑暗的權勢中拯救出来（西 1:13）。該异端将世界变成可怕的监狱，而耶稣明确宣稱，天父為照顾世上祂自己的子民而作工。最后，这些假教师试图通过素食和操練来改变人的外表。但真正的屬靈成长是来自内部。
The Correspondence with this background, we can now look at Paul’s letter to the Colossians and get an overview of what he has written. We know that his epistle to the Ephesians was written and sent about the same time as his Colossian letter. Keeping this in mind, we can discover many parallels between these two letters. However, the emphasis in Ephesians is on the church, the body of Christ, but the emphasis in Colossians is on Christ, the Head of the body. 保罗给歌罗西教會的書信是在這種背景下寫的，现在我们对他的信内容可进行總覽。我们知道他同時对以弗所教會也寫了信。我们要留意，在这两封信的內容有许多平行述說之处。然而，給以弗所教會的信, 其重点在教会 —— 基督的身体，而給歌罗西教會信的重点在基督 —— 祂是教會身体的頭。
In this letter, Paul used the vocabulary of the false teachers, but he did not use their definitions. He used these words in their true Christian meaning. As we study Colossians, we will find words such as fullness, perfect, and complete, all of which were used by the gnostic heretics. Over thirty times Paul used the little word all. He also wrote about wisdom, which was a key term in the gnostic vocabulary; he had a great deal to say about angels and spirit powers too. 在这封信中，保罗用假教师說的話，没有提到它们的定义。保羅用这些字来表达他们所謂真正的基督徒的意义。在研究歌罗西书的时候，我们会看到诸如丰满，完美和完備等字，所有这些都被诺斯底異教徒所使用。保罗三十次以上都用小學這個字。他还写了关于智慧，这是诺斯底词典中的关键词; 他也用了很多关于天使和邪靈能力。
His main theme was the preeminence of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:18;
Furthermore, nothing need be added to this relationship, because each believer is “complete in him” (Col. 2:10). All of God’s fullness dwells in Christ (Col. 2:9), and we share that fullness! “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ” (Col. 2:9–10 niv). 此外，在这种关系中没有什么需要另外加入，因为信徒都是 “完全的在祂里面”（西2:10）上帝所有的一切丰盛都住在基督里（西 2:9），我们都分享那丰盛！ “上帝的丰盛都有形再體的居住在基督里，你们已经在基督里也得了丰盛”（西2：9-10 新國際版）
While in an airport waiting
for my plane to be called, I was approached by a young man who wanted to sell
me a book. One look at the garish cover told me that the book was filled with
Eastern myths and philosophies. 當我在机场等候飞机的时候，遇到一位年轻人，他想卖書给我。
我一眼看到这書的封面，就知這本书充满了东方的神话和哲学。
“I have a book here that meets all my needs,” I told the young man, and I reached into my briefcase and took out my Bible. 我对那年轻人说，“在这里我有满足我的一切需要的书，” 便伸手到公文包拿出了我的圣经。
“Oh, we aren’t against the Bible!” he assured me. “It’s just that we have something more, and it makes our faith even better.” 他向我保证說，“ 哦，我们不是反对圣经！只是我们的書中擁有更多的內容，它使我们的信心更加美好。”
“Nobody can give me more than Jesus Christ has already given me,” I replied. I turned to Colossians 2, but by that time the young man was hurrying down the corridor. 我回答说，“没有人會比耶稣基督给我的更多，” 我翻到歌罗西书第2章，但那时候年轻人正離開，向走廊那邊走去。
Sad to say, there are many Christians who actually believe that some person, religious system, or discipline can add something to their spiritual experience. But they already have everything they ever will need in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 可悲的是，有很多基督徒实际上相信有些人，宗教制度或纪律可以为他们在屬靈的体验上添加一些东西。但他们已经拥有了耶稣基督和祂的聖工所需要的一切。
Paul did not begin by attacking the false teachers and their doctrines. He began by exalting Jesus Christ and showing His preeminence in five areas: the gospel message, redemption, creation, the church, and Paul’s own ministry. The people to whom Paul was writing had become Christians because of the gospel message brought to them by Epaphras. If this message was wrong, then they were not saved at all! 保罗并没有一开始就攻擊假教师和他们的教义。他却以高舉耶稣基督的超越开始，并在五方面顯现出祂的超越性：福音信息，救赎，创造，教会和保罗自己的事工。保罗在他的信中所提及的那些人，都是因为以巴弗传给他们的福音信息，才成为基督徒。如果福音是错误的，那么它们根本不會得救！
Once he had established the preeminence of Christ, then Paul attacked the heretics on their own ground. In Colossians 2, Paul exposed the false origin of their teachings and showed how their teachings contradicted everything Paul taught about Jesus Christ. The believer who masters this chapter is not likely to be led astray by some alluring and enticing “new-and-improved brand of Christianity.” 一旦保罗建立了基督的超越性，他就在異教假教師他們自己的信息中攻击他們。在歌罗西书2章中，保罗揭露了他们的教义的虚假來源，并揭曉他们的教導，如何与保罗所教导的耶稣基督的一切事物互相矛盾。了解这一章的信徒不可能被一些引人入胜的 “新改良的基督教招牌” 误入歧途。
But Paul did not think his task completed when he had refuted the heretics, for he still had some important words for the church. In Colossians 3—4, Paul explained the greatest antidote to false teaching—a godly life. Those who say,“I don’t care what you believe, just so long as you live a good life” are not thinking logically. What we believe determines how we behave. If we believe that matter is evil, we will use our bodies one way, but if we believe that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we will live accordingly. 但是，当保罗驳斥了异端时，他并没有认为他的任务已经完成，因为他仍然有一些重要的话要對教会說。在歌罗西书3和4兩章中，保罗解释了最伟大的虚假教学，來解决所謂的敬虔生活。有人说，“我不在乎你相信什么，只要你一直过的生活很美好” 這不是逻辑的想法。信仰决定了我们的行为。如果我们认为物質是邪恶的，它們将以一种方式使用我们的身体，但如果认为我们的身体是圣灵的殿，就会相应的過我们虔誠的生活。
Wrong doctrine always leads to wrong living. Right doctrine should lead to right living. In the two concluding chapters, Paul applied the preeminence of Christ to the daily affairs of life. If Christ is truly preeminent in our lives, then we will glorify Him by keeping pure, by enjoying fellowship with other saints, by loving each other at home and being faithful at work, and by seeking to witness for Christ and serve Him effectively. Unless doctrine leads to duty, it is of no use to us. 错误的教义总是导致错误的生活。正确的教義肯定導致生活虔誠。在這两章的结論中，保罗将基督的超越性应用于日常生活中。如果基督在我们的生命中真正超越，那么我们将榮耀祂，保持纯洁，与其他圣徒的交往，在家里相爱的和忠心的事奉，寻求為基督作见证，有效地为祂的荣耀而事奉祂。除非這教义只是責任，那就對我们没有用。
Many Bible scholars have concluded that Colossians is the most profound letter Paul ever wrote. This must not keep us from reading and studying this wonderful letter. But we must be cautioned against a superficial approach to these chapters. Unless we depend on the Spirit of God to teach us, we will miss the truths God wants us to learn. 许多圣经学者得出结论，認為歌罗西书是保罗曾写过的最深奧的信。但这绝对不會阻止我们去阅读和学习这封美妙的信。可是，必须警惕这些章节的表面方式。除非依靠上帝的灵引导我们，否则会失去上帝要我们去学习的真理。
The church today desperately needs the message of Colossians. We live in a day when religious toleration is interpreted to mean “one religion is just as good as another.” Some people try to take the best from various religious systems and manufacture their own private religion. To many people, Jesus Christ is only one of several great religious teachers, with no more authority than they. He may be prominent, but He is definitely not preeminent. 今天的教会迫切需要歌罗西书的信息。我们現在生活在宗教被宽容解释为 “一个宗教与另一个宗教一样” 的日子里。有些人试图从各种宗教制度中获得最大利益，制造自己的私人宗教。对许多人来说，耶稣基督只是几位伟大的宗教教师之一，没有比他们更卓越。祂可能很突出，但祂绝对不是超越的。
This is an age of
“syncretism.” People are trying to harmonize and unite many different schools
of thought and come up with a superior religion. Our evangelical churches are
in danger of diluting the faith in their loving attempt to understand the
beliefs of others.
Mysticism, legalism, Eastern religions, asceticism, and man-made philosophies are secretly creeping into churches. They are not denying Christ, but they are dethroning Him and robbing Him of His rightful place of preeminence. 神秘主义，律法主义，东方宗教，禁欲主义和人為的哲学正在秘密地潛入教堂。他们并不否认基督，但他们正在搶夺祂，并剥夺祂超越的地位。
As we study this exciting letter, we must heed Paul’s warnings: “Lest any man should beguile you” (Col. 2:4), “Lest any man spoil you” (Col. 2:8), “Let no man therefore judge you” (Col. 2:16). 当我们研討这封激勵人心的信时，必须要听从保罗的警告，“免得有人用花言巧語迷惑你”（西 2:4），“免得人用世上的小學把你们擄去”（西 2:8），“不可讓人論斷你” （西 2:16）。
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