38 英翻中 FACTS ABOUT FURNACES 关于炉子的事实 14/04/2025 38 英翻中 14/04/2025 沒有做

38 英翻中                 FACTS ABOUT FURNACES                关于炉子的事实                          14/04/2025  

CHAPTER 10             FACTS ABOUT FURNACES                     1 Peter 4:12–19                                第 10 章                                          关于炉子的事实                                           彼得前書 4:12-19 

Every Christian who lives a godly life experiences a certain amount of persecution. On the job, in school, in the neighborhood, perhaps even in the family, there are people who resist the truth and oppose the gospel of Christ. No matter what a believer says or does, these people find fault and criticize. Peter dealt with this kind of “normal persecution” in the previous part of his letter.        每个过敬虔生活的基督徒都会经历一定程度的逼迫。在工作中，在学校里，在邻里，甚至在家里，都有人抵挡真理，抵挡基督的福音。不管信徒说什么，做什么，这些人都挑剔批评。彼得在信的前一部分谈到了这种“正常的逼迫”。 

But in this section, Peter explained about a special kind of persecution—a “fiery trial”—that was about to overtake the entire church. It would not be occasional personal persecution from those around them, but official persecution from those above them. Thus far, Christianity had been tolerated by Rome because it was considered a “sect” of Judaism, and the Jews were permitted to worship freely. That attitude would change and the fires of persecution would be ignited, first by Nero, and then by the emperors that followed.                                                                                      但在这一部分，彼得解释了一种特殊的逼迫   — 一种“火热的试炼”— 即将席卷整个教会。不是偶尔来自周围的人的个人迫害，而是来自上级的官方迫害。迄今为止，罗马一直容忍基督教，因为它被认为是犹太教的“教派”，犹太人被允许自由敬拜。这种态度会改变，迫害之火会被点燃，首先是尼禄，然后是随后的皇帝。

Peter gave the believers four instructions to follow in the light of the coming “fiery trial.”            鉴于即将到来的“烈火试炼”，彼得给了信徒四项指示。 

1.  Expect Suffering (4:12)                                                                                                                    1. 期待痛苦 (4:12)

Persecution is not something that is alien to the Christian life. Throughout history the people of God have suffered at the hands of the unbelieving world. Christians are different from unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14–18), and this different kind of life produces a different kind of lifestyle. Much of what goes on in the world depends on lies, pride, pleasure, and the desire to “get more.” A dedicated Christian builds his life on truth, humility, holiness, and the desire to glorify God.    逼迫与基督徒的生活并不陌生。纵观历史，上帝的子民一直在不信的世界手中受苦。基督徒与非信徒不同（林后 6:14-18），这种不同的生活产生了不同的生活方式。世界上发生的很多事情都取决于谎言、骄傲、快乐和“获得更多”的愿望。一个献身的基督徒将他的生活建立在真理、谦卑、圣洁和荣耀上帝的愿望之上。 

This conflict is illustrated throughout the Bible. Cain was a religious man, yet he hated his brother and killed him (Gen. 4:1–8). The world does not persecute “religious people,” but it does persecute righteous people. Why Cain killed Abel is explained in 1 John 3:12: “Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” The Pharisees and Jewish leaders were religious people, yet they crucified Christ and persecuted the early church. “But beware of men,” Jesus warned His disciples, “for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues” (Matt. 10:17). Imagine scourging the servants of God in the very house of God!这种冲突在整本圣经中都有说明。该隐是一个虔诚的人，但他恨他的兄弟并杀了他（创世记 4:1-8）。世界不迫害“宗教的人”，但它确实迫害正义的人。约翰一书 3:12 解释了该隐为何杀死亚伯：“因为他自己的行为是邪恶的，他的兄弟是正义的。”法利赛人和犹太领袖都是虔诚的人，但他们却将基督钉在十字架上，迫害了早期的教会。 “但要提防人，”耶稣警告他的门徒，“因为他们会把你们送到公会，他们会在他们的会堂里鞭打你们”（马太福音 10:17）。想象一下在上帝的家里鞭打上帝的仆人！

God declared war on Satan after the fall of man (Gen. 3:15), and Satan has been attacking God through His people ever since. Christians are “strangers and pilgrims” in an alien world where Satan is the god and prince (John 14:30; 2 Cor. 4:3–4). Whatever glorifies God will anger the enemy, and he will attack. For believers, persecution is not a strange thing. The absence of satanic opposition would be strange!                                                                                                                  人类堕落后，上帝向撒旦宣战（创世记 3:15），从那时起，撒旦就一直通过他的子民攻击上帝。在撒旦是神和王子的外星世界中，基督徒是“陌生人和朝圣者”（约翰福音 14:30；哥林多後書 4:3-4）。任何荣耀上帝的东西都会激怒敌人，他会攻击。对于信徒来说，迫害并不奇怪。没有撒旦的反对会很奇怪！

Jesus explained to His disciples that they should expect opposition and persecution from the world (John 15:17—16:4). But He also gave them an encouraging promise: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). It was through His death on the cross of Calvary, plus His resurrection, that He overcame sin and the world (John 12:23–33; see Gal. 6:14).                                                                                                                  耶稣向他的门徒解释说，他们应该期待来自世界的反对和迫害（约翰福音 15:17-16:4）。但他也给了他们一个鼓舞人心的应许：我已经胜过了世界”（约翰福音 16:33）。正是通过他在髑髅地十字架上的死，加上他的复活，他战胜了罪和世界（约翰福音 12：23-33；见加拉太书 6：14）。 

The image of “fire” is often applied to testing or persecution even in modern conversation. “He is really going through the fire,” is a typical statement to describe someone experiencing personal difficulties. In the Old Testament, fire was a symbol of the holiness of God and the presence of God. The fire on the altar consumed the sacrifice (Heb. 12:28–29). But Peter saw in the image of fire a refining process rather than a divine judgment (see Job 23:10; 1 Peter 1:7).                            即使在现代谈话中，“火”的形象也经常被用于测试或迫害。 “他真的经历了大火”，​​这是描述遇到个人困难的人的典型说法。在旧约中，火是神的圣洁和神的同在的象征。祭坛上的火烧尽了祭物（希伯来書 12:28-29）。但彼得在火的形象中看到了一个精炼过程，而不是神圣的审判（见    约伯记 23:10；彼得前书 1:7）。

It is important to note that not all of the difficulties of life are necessarily fiery trials. There are some difficulties that are simply a part of human life and almost everybody experiences them. Unfortunately, there are some difficulties that we bring on ourselves because of disobedience and sin. Peter mentioned these in 1 Peter 2:18–20 and 3:13–17. The fiery trial he mentioned in 1 Peter 4:12 comes because we are faithful to God and stand up for that which is right. It is because we bear the name of Christ that the lost world attacks us. Christ told His disciples that people would persecute them, as they had Him, because their persecutors did not know God (John 15:20–21).  重要的是要注意，并非生活中的所有困难都必然是激烈的考验。有些困难只是人类生活的一部分，几乎每个人都经历过。不幸的是，由于不服从和犯罪，我们给自己带来了一些困难。彼得在彼得前书 2章18-20等節 和 3章13-17 等節中提到了这些。他在彼得前书 4 章 12 节中提到的火热试炼的到来，是因为我们对上帝忠心，并为正义的事挺身而出。正是因为我们背负了基督的名，失丧的世界才攻击我们。基督告诉祂的门徒，人们会迫害他们，就像他们拥有祂一样，因为迫害他们的人不认识上帝（约翰福音 15：20-21）。

 The word happened is important; it means “to go together.” Persecution and trials do not just “happen,” in the sense of being accidents. They are a part of God’s plan, and He is in control. They are a part of Romans 8:28 and will work out for good if we let God have His way.                    发生的词很重要；意思是“一起去”。迫害和试炼不只是“发生”，在事故的意义上。它们是上帝计划的一部分，他在掌控之中。它们是罗马书 8 章 28 节的一部分，如果我们让上帝为所欲为，它们将永远有效。

2. Rejoice in Suffering (4:13–14)                                                                                                                2. 在受苦中喜乐（4:13-14）

Literally, Peter wrote, “Be constantly rejoicing!” In fact, he mentioned joy in one form or another four times in these two verses! “Rejoice … be glad also with exceeding joy.…Happy are ye!” The world cannot understand how difficult circumstances can produce exceeding joy, because the world has never experienced the grace of God (see 2 Cor. 8:1–5). Peter named several privileges that we share that encourage us to rejoice in the midst of the fiery trial.                                            从字面上看，彼得写道，“要经常喜乐！”事实上，他在这两节经文中以一种或另一种形式提到了快乐四次！ “欢喜……也欢喜无比。……你们有福了！”世人无法理解艰难的环境如何能产生极大的喜乐，因为世人从未经历过上帝的恩典（见林后 8:1-5）。彼得列举了我们分享的几项特权，这些特权鼓励我们在激烈的试炼中喜乐 

Our suffering means fellowship with Christ (v. 13).  It is an honor and a privilege to suffer with Christ and be treated by the world the way it treated Him. “The fellowship of his sufferings” is a gift from God (Phil. 1:29; 3:10). Not every believer grows to the point where God can trust him with this kind of experience, so we ought to rejoice when the privilege comes to us. “And they [the apostles] departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41).                                                                                                    我们的苦难意味着与基督相交（第 13 节）。与基督一起受苦，并以世人对待他的方式对待他，这是一种荣誉和特权。 “与他一同受苦”是上帝的礼物（腓 1:29；3:10）。不是每一个信徒都能成长到神可以把这种经历托付给他的地步，所以当特权临到我们时，我们应该欢欣鼓舞。 “他们［使徒］离开公会，欢喜他们配为他的名受辱”（使徒行传 5:41）。 

Christ is with us in the furnace of persecution (Isa. 41:10; 43:2). When the three Hebrew children were cast into the fiery furnace, they discovered they were not alone (Dan. 3:23–25). The Lord was with Paul in all of his trials (Acts 23:11; 27:21–25; 2 Tim. 4:9–18), and He promises to be with us “to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20 nasb). In fact, when sinners persecute us, they are really persecuting Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4).                                                                                                          基督在逼迫的熔炉中与我们同在（以赛亚书 41:10；43:2）。当三个希伯来孩子被扔进火炉时，他们发现他们并不孤单（但 3:23-25）。主在保罗的所有考验中与他同在（使徒行传 23:11；27:21-25；2 Tim. 4:9-18），并且他应许会与我们“直到世界的末了”（马太福音28:20 NASB）。事实上，当罪人逼迫我们时，他们实际上是在逼迫耶稣基督（使徒行传 9:4）。 

Our suffering means glory in the future (v. 13). “Suffering” and “glory” are twin truths that are woven into the fabric of Peter’s letter. The world believes that the absence of suffering means glory, but a Christian’s outlook is different. The trial of our faith today is the assurance of glory when Jesus returns (1 Peter 1:7–8). This was the experience of our Lord (1 Peter 5:1), and it shall also be our experience.                                                                                                                              我们的苦难意味着未来的荣耀（第 13 节）。 “苦难”和“荣耀”是交织在彼得书信结构中的双重真理。世人相信没有苦难就意味着荣耀，但基督徒的观点不同。今天对我们信仰的考验是耶稣再来时荣耀的保证（彼得前书 1：7-8）。这是我们主的经历（彼得前书 5:1），也将是我们的经历。 

But it is necessary to understand that God is not going to replace suffering with glory; rather He will transform suffering into glory. Jesus used the illustra[1]tion of a woman giving birth (John 16:20–22). The same baby that gave her pain also gave her joy. The pain was transformed into joy by the birth of the baby. The thorn in the flesh that gave Paul difficulty also gave him power and glory (2 Cor. 12:7–10). The cross that gave Jesus shame and pain also brought power and glory.    但有必要明白，上帝不会用荣耀代替苦难；相反，他会将苦难变为荣耀。耶稣使用了一个女人分娩的例子（约翰福音 16：20-22）。那个给她带来痛苦的婴儿也给了她快乐。宝宝的出生，痛苦变成了喜悦。给保罗带来困难的肉中刺也给了他力量和荣耀（2 Cor. 12:7-10）。让耶稣感到羞耻和痛苦的十字架也带来了力量和荣耀。

Mature people know that life includes some “postponed pleasures.” We pay a price today in order to have enjoyments in the future. The piano student may not enjoy practicing scales by the hour, but he looks forward to the pleasure of playing beautiful music one day. The athlete may not enjoy exercising and practicing his skills, but he looks forward to winning the game by doing his best. Christians have something even bet[1]ter our very sufferings will one day be transformed into glory, and we will be “glad also with exceeding joy” (see Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 3:11).                      成熟的人知道生活中包含一些“被推迟的快乐”。我们今天付出代价，是为了在未来有享受。钢琴学生可能不喜欢按小时练习音阶，但他期待有一天能演奏出优美的音乐。运动员可能不喜欢锻炼和练习他的技能，但他希望通过尽力而为来赢得比赛。基督徒有更好的东西，我们的苦难有一天会转变为荣耀，我们将“因极大的喜乐而高兴”（见罗马书 8:17；2 Tim. 3:11）。 

Our suffering brings to us the ministry of the Holy Spirit (v. 14). He is the Spirit of glory and He has a special ministry to those who suffer for the glory of Jesus Christ. This verse can be translated “for the presence of the glory, even the Spirit, rests on you.” The reference is to the Shekinah glory of God that dwelt in the tabernacle and in the temple (Ex. 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10–11). When the people stoned Stephen, he saw Jesus in heaven and experienced God’s glory (Acts 6:15; 7:54–60). This is the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” that Peter wrote about in 1 Peter 1:7–8.我们的苦难给我们带来了圣灵的事工（第 14 节）。祂是荣耀的灵，祂对那些为耶稣基督的荣耀受苦的人有特殊的使命。这节经文可以翻译成“因为荣耀的同在，就是圣灵，都在你身上”。指的是住在会幕和圣殿中的上帝的 Shekinah 荣耀（出埃及记 40:34；列王纪上 8:10-11）。当人们用石头打斯蒂芬时，他在天上看到了耶稣并经历了神的荣耀（使徒行传 6:15；7:54-60）。这就是彼得在彼得前书 1 章 7-8 节中所写的“无法形容的充满荣耀的喜乐”。

In other words, suffering Christians do not have to wait for heaven in order to experience His glory. Through the Holy Spirit, they can have the glory now. This explains how martyrs could sing praises to God while bound in the midst of blazing fires. It also explains how persecuted Christians (and there are many in today’s world) can go to prison and to death without complaining or resisting their captors.                                                                                                    换句话说，受苦的基督徒不必等到天堂才能经历祂的荣耀。借着圣灵，他们现在可以得着荣耀。这解释了殉道者如何在熊熊烈火中被捆绑时歌颂上帝。它还解释了受迫害的基督徒（当今世界有许多基督徒）如何在不抱怨或反抗俘虏的情况下入狱和死亡。

Our suffering enables us to glorify His name (v. 14). We suffer because of His name (John 15:21). You can tell your unsaved friends that you are Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Methodist, or even an agnostic, and there will be no opposition; but tell them you are a Christian—bring Christ’s name into the conversation—and things will start to happen. Our authority is in the name of Jesus, and Satan hates that name. Every time we are reproached for the name of Christ, we have the opportunity to bring glory to that name. The world may speak against His name, but we will so speak and live that His name will be honored and God will be pleased.                                                我们的苦难使我们能够荣耀他的名（第 14 节）。我们因他的名受苦（约翰福音 15:21）。你可以告诉你未得救的朋友你是浸信会、长老会、卫理公会，甚至是不可知论者，不会有人反对；但是告诉他们你是基督徒——把基督的名字带入谈话中——事情就会开始发生。我们的权威是奉耶稣的名，而撒旦讨厌这个名。每次我们因基督的名而受到责备时，我们就有机会为这个名带来荣耀。世界可能会反对他的名字，但我们会这样说话和生活，以便他的名字会得到尊重，上帝会很高兴。

The word Christian is found only three times in the entire New Testament (1 Peter 4:16; Acts 11:26; 26:28). The name was originally given by the enemies of the church as a term of reproach, but in time, it became an honored name. Of course, in today’s world, the word Christian means to most people the opposite of “pagan.” But the word carries the idea of “a Christ one, belonging to Christ.” Certainly it is a privilege to bear the name and to suffer for His name’s sake (Acts 5:41).  基督徒这个词在整个新约圣经中只出现了三次（彼得前书 4:16；使徒行传 11:26；26:28）。这个名字最初是由教会的敌人作为一种谴责而起的，但随着时间的推移，它变成了一个尊贵的名字。当然，在当今世界，基督徒这个词对大多数人来说意味着“异教徒”的反义词。但这个词带有“一个基督的人，属于基督”的意思。当然，为他的名受苦是一种特权（使徒行传 5:41）。 

Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna about the middle of the second century. He was arrested for his faith and threatened with death if he did not recant. “Eighty and six years have I served Him,” the saintly bishop replied, “and He never did me any injury. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”                                                                                                                                              波利卡普是二世纪中叶士麦那的主教。他因信仰被捕，如果不改宗，他将受到死亡威胁。 “我为他服务了八十六年，”圣洁的主教回答说，“他从未伤害过我。我怎么能亵渎我的王和我的救主呢？”

 “I have respect for your age,” said the Roman officer. “Simply say, “Away with the atheists!’ and be set free.” By “the atheists” he meant the Christians who would not acknowledge that Caesar was “lord.”                                                                                                                                            “我尊重你的年龄，”罗马军官说。 “只要说，‘远离无神论者！’然后就可以自由了。”他所说的“无神论者”是指不承认凯撒是“主”的基督徒。

The old man pointed to the crowd of Roman pagans surrounding him, and cried, “Away with the atheists!” He was burned at the stake and in his martyrdom brought glory to the name of Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                                        老人指了指围在他身边的罗马异教徒，喊道：“无神论者走开！”他被烧死在火刑柱上，并在他的殉道中为耶稣基督的名带来了荣耀。 

3.  Examine Your Life (4:15–18)                                                                                                              3. 审视你的生活（4:15-18） 

In the furnace of persecution and suffering, we often have more light by which we can examine our lives and ministries. The fiery trial is a refining process, by which God removes the dross and purifies us. One day, a fiery judgment will overtake the whole world (2 Peter 3:7–16). Meanwhile, God’s judgment begins “at the house of God,” the church (1 Peter 2:5). This truth ought to motivate us to be as pure and obedient as possible (see Ezek. 9 for an Old Testament illustration of this truth). There are several questions we should ask ourselves as we examine our own lives.        在逼迫和苦难的熔炉中，我们常常有更多的亮光，我们可以借此来审视我们的生活和事工。火热的试炼是一个提炼的过程，神借此除去渣滓，净化我们。有一天，一场激烈的审判将笼罩整个世界（彼得后书 3：7-16）。与此同时，上帝的审判从“上帝的殿”，即教会开始（彼得前书 2:5）。这个真理应该激励我们尽可能地纯洁和顺从（参见以西结书第 9 章，了解旧约对这一真理的说明）。当我们审视自己的生活时，我们应该问自己几个问题。 

Why am I suffering (v. 15)? We noted before that not all suffering is a “fiery trial” from the Lord. If a professed Christian breaks the law and gets into trouble or becomes a meddler into other people’s lives, then he ought to suffer! The fact that we are Christians is not a guarantee that we escape the normal consequences of our misdeeds. We may not be guilty of murder (though anger can be the same as murder in the heart, Matt. 5:21–26), but what about stealing or meddling? When Abraham, David, Peter, and other Bible “greats” disobeyed God, they suffered for it; so, who are we that we should escape? Let’s be sure we are suffering because we are Christians and not because we are criminals.                                                                                                                      我为什么受苦（第 15 节）？我们之前提到，并非所有的苦难都是来自主的“火热试炼”。如果一个自称是基督徒的人触犯了法律，惹上麻烦，或者成为干涉别人生活的人，那么他应该受苦！我们是基督徒这一事实并不能保证我们可以避免我们的不当行为的正常后果。我们可能不会犯谋杀罪（尽管愤怒可能与心中的谋杀相同，马太福音 5:21-26），但偷窃或干涉呢？当亚伯拉罕、大卫、彼得和其他圣经“伟人”不服从上帝时，他们为此受苦。那么，我们是谁，我们应该逃避？让我们确定我们受苦是因为我们是基督徒，而不是因为我们是罪犯。 

Am I ashamed, or glorifying Christ? (v. 16) This statement must have reminded Peter of his own denial of Christ (Luke 22:54–62). Jesus Christ is not ashamed of us (Heb. 2:11)—though many times He surely could be! The Father is not ashamed to be called our God (Heb. 11:16). On the cross Jesus Christ despised shame for us (Heb. 12:2), so surely we can bear reproach for Him and not be ashamed. The warning in Mark 8:38 is worth pondering.                                                          我感到羞耻，还是荣耀基督？ （第 16 节）这句话一定让彼得想起他自己否认基督（路加福音 22：54-62）。耶稣基督并不以我们为耻（来 2:11）——尽管很多时候他确实可以！父不以被称为我们的上帝为耻（来 11:16）。在十字架上，耶稣基督鄙视我们的羞辱（来 12:2），所以我们当然可以为他承担责备而不至于羞愧。马可福音 8:38 中的警告值得深思。 

“Not be ashamed” is negative; “glorify God” is positive. It takes both for a balanced witness. If we seek to glorify God, then we will not be ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ. It was this determination not to be ashamed that encouraged Paul when he went to Rome (Rom. 1:16), when he suffered in Rome (Phil. 1:20–21), and when he faced martyrdom in Rome (2 Tim. 1:12).      “不要害臊”是否定的； “荣耀神”是积极的。两者都需要平衡的见证。如果我们寻求荣耀上帝，那么我们就不会以耶稣基督的名为耻。保罗去罗马（罗马书 1:16）、在罗马受苦（腓 1:20-21）和在罗马殉道时（提後 1:12）。 

Am I seeking to win the lost (vv. 17–18)? Note the words that Peter used to describe the lost: “Them that obey not the gospel.… the ungodly and the sinner.” The argument of this verse is clear: If God sends a “fiery trial” to His own children, and they are saved “with difficulty,” what will happen to lost sinners when God’s fiery judgment falls?                                                                                                          我是否在寻求赢得失丧的人（17-18 节）？请注意彼得用来形容失丧者的话：“那些不听从福音的人……不敬虔的人和罪人。”这节经文的论点很清楚：如果上帝给他自己的孩子一个“火热的试炼”，他们“艰难地”得救，那么当上帝火热的审判落下时，迷途的罪人会发生什么？                      

When a believer suffers, he experiences glory and knows that there will be greater glory in the future. But a sinner who causes that suffering is only filling up the measure of God’s wrath more and more (Matt. 23:29–33). Instead of being concerned only about our[1]selves, we need to be concerned about the lost sinners around us. Our present “fiery trial” is nothing compared with the “flaming fire” that shall punish the lost when Jesus returns in judgment (2 Thess. 1:7–10). The idea is expressed in Proverbs 11:31—“If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” (niv).                                                                                                            信徒受苦时，经历荣耀，知道将来会有更大的荣耀。但是造成这种痛苦的罪人只会越来越多地充满上帝的愤怒（马太福音 23:29-33）。与其只关心我们自己，我们还需要关心我们周围迷失的罪人。我们目前的“烈火试炼”与耶稣在审判中再来时惩罚失丧者的“烈火”相比是微不足道的（帖撒罗尼迦后书 1:7-10）。箴言 11章31節 表达了这个想法——“义人若在世上得到应得的，何况恶人和罪人呢！” (新國際版) 

The phrase scarcely be saved means “saved with difficulty,” but it does not suggest that God is too weak to save us. The reference is probably to Genesis 19:15–26, when God sought to rescue Lot from Sodom before the city was destroyed. God was able—but Lot was unwill[1]ing! He lingered, argued with the angels, and finally had to be taken by the hand and dragged out of the city! Lot was “saved as by fire” and everything he lived for went up in smoke (see 1 Cor. 3:9–15).                勉强得救的意思是“得救困难”，但这并不是说神太软弱不能拯救我们。这可能是指创世记 19：15-26，当时上帝试图在所多玛城被毁之前拯救罗得。上帝有能力——但罗得不愿意！他流连忘返，与天使争吵，最后不得不被人牵手，被拖出城外！罗得“像被火烧了一样”，他赖以生存的一切都化为乌有（见林前 3：9-15）。 

Times of persecution are times of opportunity for a loving witness to those who persecute us (see Matt. 5:10–12, 43–48). It was not the earthquake that brought that Philippian jailer to Christ, because that frightened him into almost committing suicide! No, it was Paul’s loving concern for him that brought the jailer to faith in Christ. As Christians, we do not seek for vengeance on those who have hurt us. Rather, we pray for them and seek to lead them to Jesus Christ.                          迫害时期是为迫害我们的人作爱心见证的好时机（见马太福音 5：10-12、43-48）。不是地震把那个腓立比狱卒带到了基督面前，因为地震把他吓得差点自杀！不，是保罗对他的关爱使狱卒相信了基督。作为基督徒，我们不会向伤害我们的人寻求报复。相反，我们为他们祈祷，并寻求带领他们归向耶稣基督。

4.  Commit Yourself to God (4:19)                                                                                                        4. 将自己交托给上帝（4:19）

When we are suffering in the will of God, we can com[1]mit ourselves into the care of God. Everything else that we do as Christians depends on this. The word is a banking term; it means “to deposit for safekeeping” (see 2 Tim. 1:12). Of course, when you deposit your life in God’s bank, you always receive eternal dividends on your investment.                                                            当我们在上帝的旨意中受苦时，我们可以将自己交托在上帝的看顾中。我们作为基督徒所做的一切其他事情都取决于此。这个词是一个银行术语；它的意思是“存放保管”（见 提後 1:12）。当然，当您将生命存入上帝的银行时，您的投资总会获得永恒的红利。 

This picture reminds us that we are valuable to God. He made us, redeemed us, lives in us, guards, and protects us. I saw a savings and loan association advertisement in the newspaper, reaffirming the financial stability of the firm and the backing of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In days of financial unsteadiness, such assurances are necessary to deposi[1]tors. But when you “deposit” your life with God, you have nothing to fear, for He is able to keep you.  这幅画提醒我们，我们对上帝来说是宝贵的。他创造了我们，救赎了我们，住在我们里面，守护着我们，保护着我们。我在报纸上看到了储蓄贷款协会的广告，重申了公司的财务稳定性和联邦存款保险公司的支持。在金融不稳定的日子里，这种保证对存款人来说是必要的。但是当你把你的生命“交托”给上帝时，你就没有什么好害怕的了，因为他能够留住你。

This commitment is not a single action but a con[1]stant attitude. “Be constantly committing” is the force of the admonition. How do we do this? “By means of welldoing.” As we return good for evil and do good even though we suffer for it, we are committing our[1]selves to God so that He can care for us. This commitment involves every area of our lives and every hour of our lives.      这种承诺不是单一的行动，而是一种不变的态度。 “不断承诺”是警告的力量。我们如何做到这一点？ “通过善行。”当我们以善报恶并行善时，即使我们为此受苦，我们也将自己交托给上帝，以便他可以照顾我们。这一承诺涉及我们生活的每一个领域和我们生活的每一个小时。 

If we really have hope, and believe that Jesus is coming again, then we will obey His Word and start laying up treasures and glory in heaven. Unsaved people have a present that is controlled by their past, but Christians have a present that is controlled by the future (Phil. 3:12–21). In our very serving, we are committing ourselves to God and making investments for the future.              如果我们真的有希望，相信耶稣会再来，那么我们就会听从他的话，开始在天上积攒财宝和荣耀。未得救的人有一个受过去控制的现在，但基督徒有一个受未来控制的现在（腓立比书 3：12-21）。在我们的服务中，我们将自己委身于上帝并为未来进行投资。 

There is a striking illustration of this truth in Jeremiah 32. The prophet Jeremiah had been telling the people that one day their situation would change and they would be restored to their land. But at that time, the Babylonian army occupied the land and was about to take Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, gave Jeremiah an option to purchase the family land, which was now occupied by enemy soldiers. The prophet had to “put his money where his mouth was.” And he did it! As an act of faith, he purchased the land and became, no doubt, the laughingstock of the people in Jerusalem. But God honored his faith because Jeremiah lived according to the Word that he preached.                                                                                                                                                    耶利米书 32 章对这个真理有一个惊人的例证。先知耶利米一直告诉人们，有一天他们的处境会改变，他们会回到自己的土地上。但此时，巴比伦军队占领了这片土地，即将攻占耶路撒冷。耶利米的表弟哈拿麦让耶利米可以选择购买家庭土地，现在这块土地已被敌军占领。先知必须“把钱放在嘴边”。他做到了！出于信心，他买下了这片土地，毫无疑问，他成了耶路撒冷人民的笑柄。但上帝尊重他的信仰，因为耶利米按照他所传讲的道生活。

Why did Peter refer to God as “a faithful Creator” rather than “a faithful Judge” or even “a faithful Savior”? Because God the Creator meets the needs of His people (Matt. 6:24–34). It is the Creator who provides food and clothing to persecuted Christians, and who protects them in times of danger. When the early church was persecuted, they met together for prayer and addressed the Lord as the “God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is” (Acts 4:24). They prayed to the Creator!                                                                                                            为什么彼得称上帝为“信实的创造者”而不是“信实的审判者”甚至“信实的救主”？因为造物主上帝满足了祂子民的需要（马太福音 6：24-34）。是造物主为受迫害的基督徒提供衣食，在危难之时保护他们。当早期教会受到迫害时，他们聚集在一起祷告，称主为“创造天、地、海和其中万物的神”（使徒行传 4:24）。他们向造物主祈祷！

Our heavenly Father is “the Lord of heaven and earth” (Matt. 11:25). With that kind of a Father, we have no need to worry! He is the faithful Creator, and His faithfulness will not fail.                    我们的天父是“天地的主”（马太福音 11:25）。有这样的父亲，我们就不用担心了！祂是信实的造物主，祂的信实不会失败。

Before God pours out His wrath on this evil world, a “fiery trial” will come to God’s church, to unite and purify it, that it might be a strong witness to the lost. There is nothing for us to fear if we are suffering in the will of God. Our faithful Father-Creator will victoriously see us through!  在上帝向这个邪恶的世界发怒之前，一场“火热的试炼”将临到上帝的教会，将它联合起来净化它，让它成为失丧者的有力见证。如果我们在神的旨意中受苦，我们就没有什么好害怕的了。我们忠实的父造物主将胜利地带领我们度过难关！