42 英翻中 WAKE UP AND REMEMBER! 醒來並記住！ 18/04/2025

42 英翻中                WAKE UP AND REMEMBER!                   醒來並記住！           18/04/2025  

Lesson two                             2 Peter 1:12–21                                 WAKE UP AND REMEMBER!          第二課                                 彼得後書 1:12-21                               醒來並記住！

The best defense against false teaching is true living. A church filled with growing Christians, vibrant in their faith, is not likely to fall prey to apostates with their counterfeit Christianity. But this Christian living must be based on the authoritative Word of God. False teachers find it easy to seduce people who do not know their Bible but who are desirous of “experiences” with the Lord. It is a dangerous thing to build on subjective experience alone and ignore objective revelation.                                                                                                                                                  抵禦錯誤教導的最好方法是真實的生活。一個充滿了不斷成長、信仰充滿活力的基督徒的教會不太可能成為叛教者和偽基督教的犧牲品。但基督徒的生活必須以上帝權柄的聖言為基礎。假教師很容易引誘那些不懂聖經但渴望與主「經歷」的人。僅僅依靠主觀經驗而忽略客觀啟示是一件危險的事。 

Peter discussed Christian experience in the first half of 2 Peter 1, and in the last half he discussed the revelation we have in the Word of God. His purpose was to show the importance of knowing God’s Word and rely[1]ing on it completely. The Christian who knows what he believes and why he believes it will rarely be seduced by the false teachers and their devious doctrines.                      彼得在彼得後書第 1 章的前半部分討論了基督徒的經歷，在後半部分討論了我們在上帝的話語中所得到的啟示。他的目的是表明了解上帝的話語並完全依賴[1]它的重要性。知道自己相信什麼以及為什麼相信的基督徒很少會被假教師和他們歪曲的教義所誘惑。                   

Peter underscored the dependability and durability of the Word of God by contrasting Scripture with men, experiences, and the world.                                                                                                      彼得透過將聖經與人類、經驗和世界進行對比，強調了上帝之言的可靠性和持久性。

1. Men Die, but the Word Lives (1:12–15)                                                                                                1. 人會死，道永存（1:12-15）

Through their preaching and teaching, the apostles and New Testament prophets laid the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20), and we in later generations are building on that foundation. However, the men were not the foundation; Jesus Christ is the Foundation (1 Cor. 3:11). He is also the chief Cornerstone that ties the building together (Eph. 2:20). If the church is to last, it cannot be built on mere men. It must be built on the Son of God.                                                                    使徒和新約先知透過他們的講道和教導奠定了教會的基礎（以弗所書 2:20），而我們後代正在此基礎上建造。然而，男人並不是基礎；耶穌基督是根基（哥林多前書 3:11）。他也是將建築物連結在一起的房角石（弗 2:20）。如果教會要持久，就不能只依賴人來建立。它必須建立在上帝之子之上。

Our Lord had told Peter when he would die and how he would die. “When thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” (John 21:18). This explains why, shortly after Pentecost, Peter was able to sleep in prison the night before he was scheduled to be killed; he knew that Herod could not take his life (Acts 12:1ff.). Tradition says that Peter was crucified in Rome. Like all of God’s faithful servants, Peter was immortal until his work was done.There were at least three motives behind Peter’s ministry as he wrote this letter. The first was obedience to Christ’s command. “I will not be negligent” (2 Peter 1:12). “When thou art converted,” Jesus had said to Peter, “strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). Peter knew that he had a ministry to fulfill.                                                                              我們的主告訴彼得他何時會死以及如何死。 「你老了，你要伸出手來，別人要把你束上，帶你去你不願意去的地方」（約翰福音 21：18）。這就解釋了為什麼五旬節後不久，彼得能夠在被處死的前一天晚上在監獄裡睡覺；他知道希律不能奪走他的生命（使徒行傳 12:1ff）。傳統上說彼得是在羅馬被釘死在十字架上的。像上帝所有忠實的僕人一樣，彼得在他的工作完成之前是不朽的。彼得寫這封信的背後至少有三個動機。第一是服從基督的命令。 「我必不疏忽」（彼得後書 1:12）。耶穌曾對彼得說：「你迴轉以後，你要堅固你的弟兄」（路 22：32）。彼得知道他有一個使命要完成

His second motive was simply that this reminder was the right thing to do. “I think it meet,” he wrote, which simply means, “I think it is right and suitable.” It is always right to stir up the saints and remind them of the Word of God!                                                                                                      他的第二個動機很簡單，就是這個提醒才是正確的。他寫道：“我認為這是合適的”，意思很簡單，“我認為這是正確且合適的。”激勵聖徒並提醒他們上帝的話總是正確的！

                                                                                                                                                                  His third motive is wrapped up in the word endeavor in 2 Peter 1:15. It is the same word that is translated “diligence” in 2 Peter 1:5 and 10. It means “to hasten to do something, to be zealous in doing it.” Peter knew that he would soon die, so he wanted to take care of his spiritual responsibilities before it was too late. You and I do not know when we will die, so we had better start being diligent today!                                                                                                                          他的第三個動機與彼得後書 1:15 中的「努力」一詞有關。它與彼得後書 1:5 和 10 中翻譯為「勤奮」的字相同。它的意思是「急於做某事，熱心地去做某事」。彼得知道自己很快就會死去，所以他想趁著還來得及的時候履行自己的精神責任。你我都不知道何時會死去，所以我們最好從今天開始勤奮起來！

What was it that Peter wanted to accomplish? The answer is found in the word that is repeated in 2 Peter 1:12–13 and 15—remembrance. Peter wanted to impress his readers’ minds with the Word of God so that they would never forget it! “I think it meet … to stir you up by putting you in remembrance” (2 Peter 1:13). The verb stir you up means “to awaken, to arouse.” This same word is used to describe a storm on the Sea of Galilee (John 6:18)! Peter knew that our minds have a tendency to get accustomed to truth and then to take it for granted. We forget what we ought to remember, and we remember what we ought to forget.                                                          彼得想要完成什麼？答案就在彼得後書 1:12-13 和 15 重複出現的字——記憶中。彼得想用上帝的話語印在讀者的心中，讓他們永遠不會忘記！ 「我想…應該提醒你們，激勵你們」(彼得後書 1:13)。動詞stirked you up的意思是「喚醒、激發」。這個字也用來描述加利利海上的風暴（約翰福音 6:18）！彼得知道我們的思想傾向於習慣真理，然後將其視為理所當然。我們忘了該記住的，卻記住了該忘記的

The readers of this letter knew the truth and were even “established” in it (2 Peter 1:12), but that was no guarantee they would always remember the truth and apply it. One reason the Holy Spirit was given to the church was to remind believers of the lessons already learned (John 14:26). In my own radio ministry, I have received letters from listeners who get upset when I repeat something. In my reply, I often refer them to what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:1: “To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.” Our Lord often repeated Himself as He taught the people, and He was the Master Teacher.                                                                                  這封信的讀者知道真理，甚至「確信」了真理（彼得後書 1:12），但這並不能保證他們會永遠記住真理並運用它。聖靈降臨教會的原因之一是提醒信徒已經學到的教訓（約翰福音 14:26）。在我自己的廣播事工中，我收到聽眾的來信，當我重複某些事情時，他們會感到不安。在我的回覆中，我常引用保羅在腓立比書3:1所寫的話：「我將這話寫給你們，於我非難事，於你們乃是平安。」我們的主在教導人們時常重複自己的話，他是一位大師級的教師。

Peter knew that he was going to die, so he wanted to leave behind something that would never die—the written Word of God. His two epistles became a part of the inspired Scriptures, and they have been ministering to the saints for centuries. Men die, but the Word of God lives on!              彼得知道他將會死去，所以他想留下一些永遠不會消亡的東西——上帝的聖言。他的兩封書信成為了受啟發的聖經的一部分，幾個世紀以來一直為聖徒服務。人會死，但上帝的話永存！

It is possible that Peter was also alluding to the gospel of Mark. Most Bible scholars believe that the Spirit used Peter to give John Mark some of the data for his book (see 1 Peter 5:13). One of the church fathers, Papias, said that Mark was “Peter’s disciple and interpreter.”                          彼得也可能暗指馬可福音。大多數聖經學者認為，聖靈透過彼得向約翰馬可提供了他書中的一些資料（參考彼得前書 5:13）。一位教父帕皮亞斯說馬可是「彼得的門徒和翻譯」。

The church of Jesus Christ is always one generation away from extinction. If there were no dependable written revelation, we would have to depend on word-of-mouth tradition. If you have ever played the party game “Gossip,” you know how a simple sentence can be radically changed when passed from one person to another! We do not depend on the traditions of dead men; we depend on the truth of the living Word. Men die, but the Word lives forever.                                    耶穌基督的教堂距離滅絕只有一代之遙。如果沒有可靠的書面啟示，我們就必須依靠口耳相傳的傳統。如果您曾經玩過聚會遊戲“八卦”，您就會知道，當一個簡單的句子從一個人傳到另一個人時，可能會發生根本性的變化！我們不依賴死人的傳統；我們依靠活著的道的真理。人會死，道卻永遠長存。

If we did not have a dependable written revelation, the church would be at the mercy of men’s memories. People who pride themselves on having good memories should sit on the witness stand in a courtroom! It is amazing that three perfectly honest witnesses can, with good conscience, give three different accounts of an automobile accident! Our memories are defective and selective. We usually remember what we want to remember, and often we distort even that.                                  如果我們沒有可靠的書寫啟示，教會就會受制於人的記憶。那些以擁有良好記憶力而自豪的人應該坐在法庭的證人席上！令人驚訝的是，三個完全誠實的證人能夠問心無愧地對一場車禍給出三種不同的說法！我們的記憶是有缺陷的和選擇性的。我們通常會記住我們想要記住的事情，而且我們常常甚至會扭曲這些事情。

Fortunately, we can depend on the written Word of God. “It is written” and it stands written forever. We can be saved through this living Word (1 Peter 1:23–25), nurtured by it (1 Peter 2:2), and guided and protected as we trust and obey.                                                                                    幸運的是，我們可以依靠上帝的書面聖言。 “它已被寫下來”，並且它永遠被寫下來。我們可以藉由這活潑的話語得著拯救（彼得前書 1：23-25），受其滋養（彼得前書 2：2），並在我們信靠和順服時得到引導和保護。

2.  Experiences Fade, but the Word Remains (1:16–18)                                                                        2. 經歷會消逝，但話語永存（1:16-18）

The focus in this paragraph is on the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The experience is recorded by Matthew (17:1ff.), Mark (9:2–8), and Luke (9:28–36), yet none of those writers actually participated in it! Peter was there when it happened! In fact, the very words that he used in this section (2 Peter 1:12–18) remind us of his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration. He used the word tabernacle twice (2 Peter 1:13–14), and this suggests Peter’s words, “Let us make here three tabernacles” (Matt. 17:4). In 2 Peter 1:15, he used the word decease, which is “exodus” in the Greek and is used in Luke 9:31. Jesus did not consider His death on the cross a defeat; rather, it was an “exodus”—He would deliver His people from bondage the way Moses delivered Israel from Egypt! Peter wrote of his own death as an “exodus,” a release from bondage.                            本段的重點是耶穌基督的變容。馬太福音（17:1ff）、馬可福音（9:2-8）和路加福音（9:28-36）都記錄了這段經歷，但這些作者中沒有人真正參與其中！事情發生時彼得就在現場！事實上，祂在本節中使用的字詞（彼得後書 1:12-18）讓我們想起了祂在變形山上的經歷。他兩次使用了「帳幕」這個字（彼得後書 1:13-14），這讓人聯想到彼得的話：「我們可以在這裡搭三座棚」（太 17:4）。在彼得後書 1:15 中，他使用了 decease 這個詞，在希臘語中是「出埃及記」的意思，在路加福音 9:31 中也有使用。耶穌不認為他在十字架上的死亡是一種失敗；相反，這是一場「出埃及記」——他將把他的人民從奴役中解救出來，就像摩西把以色列人從埃及解救出來一樣！彼得將自己的死亡描述為一次“出埃及記”，一種從束縛中解脫出來。

Note the repetition of the pronoun “we” in 2 Peter 1:16–19. It refers to Peter, James, and John— the only apostles with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. (John referred to this experience in John 1:14—“We beheld His glory.”) These three men had to keep silent about their experience until after the Lord was raised from the dead (Matt. 17:9); then they told the other believers what had happened on the mountain.                                                                                                                請注意彼得後書 1:16-19 中代名詞「我們」的重複出現。指的是彼得、雅各、約翰──唯一與主一起登上變像山的使徒。 （約翰在約翰福音 1:14 中提到了這種經歷——「我們見過他的榮耀。」）這三個人必須對他們的經歷保持沉默，直到主從死裡復活之後（馬太福音 17:9）；然後他們把山上發生的事告訴了其他信徒。

What was the significance of the transfiguration? For one thing, it confirmed Peter’s testimony about Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:13–16). Peter saw the Son in His glory, and he heard the Father speak from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1:17). First we put our faith in Christ and confess Him, and then He gives us wonderful confirmation.                  變形有何意義？首先，它證實了彼得對耶穌基督的見證（太 16:13-16）。彼得看見了榮耀中的聖子，也聽見天父從天上說話：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的」（彼得後書 1：17）。首先，我們相信基督並承認他，然後他給我們奇妙的確認。

The transfiguration also had a special significance for Jesus Christ, who was nearing Calvary. It was the Father’s way of strengthening His Son for that terrible ordeal of being the sacrifice for the sins of the world. The law and the prophets (Moses and Elijah) pointed to His ministry, and now He would fulfill those Scriptures. The Father spoke from heaven and assured the Son of His love and approval. The Transfiguration was proof that suffering leads to glory when we are in the will of God.                                                                                                                                                    對即將抵達加略山的耶穌基督來說，這次變容也具有特殊的意義。這是天父讓祂的兒子堅強起來，讓祂能夠經受為世人罪孽犧牲的可怕考驗的方式。律法和先知（摩西和以利亞）指明了他的使命，現在他將實現這些經文。聖父從天上發話，向聖子保證他的愛與認可。耶穌顯聖容證明，當我們遵從上帝的旨意時，苦難會帶來榮耀。

But there is a third message, and it has to do with the promised kingdom. In all three gospels where the account of the transfiguration is recorded, it is introduced with a statement about the kingdom of God (Matt. 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27). Jesus promised that, before they died, some of the disciples would see the kingdom of God in power! This took place on the Mount of Transfiguration when our Lord revealed His glory. It was a word of assurance to the disciples, who could not understand our Lord’s teaching about the cross. If He were to die, what would happen to the promised kingdom that He had been preaching about all those months?                  但還有第三個訊息，它與承諾的王國有關。在所有記載耶穌顯聖容的福音書中，都以關於上帝國的陳述作為開端（馬太福音 16:28；馬可福音 9:1；路加福音 9:27）。耶穌承諾，在他們死前，有些門徒將會看到上帝國的強大！這發生在變形山上，當時我們的主顯露了祂的榮耀。對於那些無法理解主關於十字架的教導的門徒來說，這是一句安慰的話。如果他死了，那麼他這些月來一直宣揚的應許之國將會怎樣呢？

Now we can understand why Peter used this event in his letter: he was refuting the false teachings of the apostates that the kingdom of God would never come (2 Peter 3:3ff.). These false teachers denied the promise of Christ’s coming! In the place of God’s promises, these counterfeits put “cunningly devised fables” (2 Peter 1:16) that robbed the believers of their blessed hope.                現在我們可以理解為什麼彼得在他的書信中使用這個事件：他正在駁斥叛教者關於上帝之國永遠不會到來的錯誤教義（彼得後書 3:3 比照研讀）。這些假教師否認基督降臨的承諾！這些偽造的東西以「巧匠捏造的荒誕謊言」（彼得後書 1:16）取代了上帝的承諾，奪走了信徒們的幸福希望。

The word fables means “myths,” manufactured stories that have no basis in fact. The Greek and Roman world abounded in stories about the gods, mere human speculations that tried to explain the world and its origin. No matter how interesting these myths might be, the Christian is not to heed them (1 Tim. 1:4), but refuse them (1 Tim. 4:7). Paul warned Timothy that the time would come in the church when professed Christians would not want to hear true doctrine, but would “turn away their ears from the truth, and … be turned unto fables [myths]” (2 Tim. 4:4). Paul also warned Titus about “Jewish fables [myths]” (Titus 1:14), so even some of the Jews had abandoned their sacred Scriptures and accepted man-made substitutes.                                              寓言這個字的意思是“神話”，即沒有事實依據的虛構故事。希臘和羅馬世界充滿了有關神的故事，這些故事只是人類試圖解釋世界及其起源的猜測。不管這些神話有多有趣，基督徒都不應該理會它們（提摩太前書 1:4），而應該拒絕它們（提摩太前書 4:7）。保羅警告提摩太，時候將到，教會中自稱是基督徒的人不再願意聽取真正的教義，而是「掩耳不聽真道，…偏向荒渺的言語（神話）」（提摩太後書 4：4）。保羅也警告提多要提防「猶太人的寓言[神話]」（提多書 1:14），所以甚至一些猶太人也拋棄了他們的神聖經文，並接受了人造的替代品。

Peter wrote a summary of what he saw and heard on the Mount of Transfiguration. He saw Jesus Christ robed in majestic glory, and therefore witnessed a demonstration of the “power and coming” of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ came to earth at Bethlehem, He did not display His glory openly. To be sure, He revealed His glory in His miracles (John 2:11), but even this was primarily for the sake of His disciples. His face did not shine, nor did He have a halo over His head. “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2).                                                                                                                  彼得把他在變形山上的所見所聞寫下來。他看見耶穌基督身披威嚴的榮耀，因此見證了主耶穌基督「大能和降臨」的彰顯。當耶穌基督來到伯利恆時，他並沒有公開展示他的榮耀。確實，祂在祂的神蹟中展現了祂的榮耀（約翰福音 2:11），但即使這樣，主要也是為了祂的門徒。他的臉上沒有光芒，頭上也沒有光環。 「他無佳形美容；我們看見他的時候，也無美貌使我們羨慕他。」（以賽亞書 53:2）

Peter not only saw Christ’s glory, but he heard the Father’s voice “from the magnificent glory.” Witnesses are people who tell accurately what they have seen and heard (Acts 4:20), and Peter was a faithful witness. Is Jesus Christ of Nazareth the Son of God? Yes, He is! How do we know? The Father said so!                                                                                                                                      彼得不僅看到了基督的榮耀，也「從宏偉的榮耀中」聽到了天父的聲音。見證人是準確講述自己所見所聞的人（使徒行傳 4:20），而彼得就是一位忠實的見證人。拿撒勒人耶穌基督是上帝兒子嗎？是的，他是！我們怎麼知道？父親這麼說！

You and I were not eyewitnesses of the transfiguration. Peter was there, and he faithfully recorded his experience for us in the letter that he wrote, inspired by the Spirit of God. Experiences fade, but the Word of God remains! Experiences are subjective, but the Word of God is objective. Experiences may be interpreted in different ways by different participants, but the Word of God gives one clear message. What we remember about our experiences can be unconsciously distorted, but the Word of God remains the same and abides forever.                                                  你我都不是耶穌顯聖容的目擊者。彼得在那裡，他在聖靈的啟發下，忠實地在信中為我們記錄了他的經歷。經歷會消失，但上帝的話語永存！經驗是主觀的，但上帝的話是客觀的。不同的參與者可能會以不同的方式解釋經歷，但上帝的話語卻傳達了一個明確的訊息。我們對經歷的記憶可能會在不知不覺中被扭曲，但上帝的話語卻始終如一，永垂不朽。

When we study 2 Peter 2, we will discover that apostate teachers try to turn people away from the Word of God and into “deeper experiences” that are contrary to the Word. These false teachers use “feigned words” instead of God’s inspired Word (2 Peter 2:3), and they teach “damnable heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). In other words, this is really a matter of life and death! If a person believes the truth, he will live; if he believes lies, he will die. It is the difference between salvation and condemnation.                                                                                                                                              我們學習彼得後書第 2 章時，我們會發現叛教的教師試圖讓人們遠離上帝的話語，並進入與聖經相反的「更深層次的體驗」。這些假教師以「偽言」取代上帝所默示的話語（彼得後書 2：3），並且教導「可惡的異端」（彼得後書 2：1）。也就是說，這真的是一件生死攸關的大事！人若相信真理，他就會活下去；如果他相信謊言，他就會死。這是救贖與譴責之間的差別。

By reminding his readers of the transfiguration, Peter affirmed several important doctrines of the Christian faith. He affirmed that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God. The test of any religion is “What do you say about Jesus Christ?” If a religious teacher denies the deity of Christ, then he is a false teacher (1 John 2:18–29; 4:1–6).                                                                                                  透過提醒讀者耶穌變容，彼得肯定了基督教信仰的幾個重要教義。他肯定耶穌基督確實是上帝之子。任何宗教的考驗都是「你對耶穌基督有何看法？」如果一個宗教教師否認基督的神性，那麼他就是一個假教師（約翰一書 2：18-29；4：1-6）。

But the person of Jesus Christ is only one test; we must also ask, “And what is the work of Jesus Christ? Why did He come and what did He do?” Again, the Transfiguration gives us the answer; for Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory, and spake of his decease [exo[1]dus] which he should accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). His death was not simply an example, as some liberal theologians want us to believe; it was an exodus, an accomplishment. He accomplished something on the cross—the redemption of lost sinners!                                                                                          但耶穌基督自己只是一個考驗；我們也必須問：「耶穌基督的工作是什麼？他為什麼來？他做了什麼？」再，《變形記》給了我們答案；因為摩西和以利亞「在榮耀裡顯現，談論耶穌的去世，就是他將在耶路撒冷所要成就的事」（路加福音 9:31）。他的死並不像一些自由派神學家希望我們相信的那樣，只是一個例子；這是一個大遷徙，也是一個成就。祂在十字架上完成了一件事－救贖迷失的罪人！

The transfiguration was also affirmation of the truth of the Scriptures. Moses represented the law; Elijah represented the prophets; both pointed to Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1–3). He fulfilled the law and the Prophets (Luke 24:27). We believe the Bible because Jesus believed the Bible and said it was the Word of God. Those who question the truth and authority of the Scriptures are not arguing with Moses, Elijah, or Peter, but with the Lord Jesus Christ.                                                耶穌顯聖容也證實了聖經的真實性。摩西代表律法；以利亞代表先知；都指向耶穌基督（希伯來書 1:1-3）。他履行了律法和先知的教導（路加福音 24:27）。我們相信聖經，因為耶穌相信聖經，並說聖經是上帝的話。那些質疑聖經真實性和權威性的人並不是在與摩西、以利亞或彼得爭論，而是在與主耶穌基督爭論。

This event also affirmed the reality of God’s kingdom. We who have a completed Bible can look back and understand the progressive lessons that Jesus gave His disciples about the cross and the kingdom, but at that time those twelve men were very confused. They did not understand the relationship between His suffering and His glory (Peter’s first epistle discusses this theme) and the church and the kingdom. At the transfiguration, our Lord made it clear to His followers that His suffering would lead to glory and that the cross would ultimately result in the crown.                      這事件也證實了上帝國的真實性。我們這些擁有完整聖經的人可以回顧並理解耶穌給他的門徒們關於十字架和王國的漸進式教訓，但當時那十二個人非常困惑。他們不明白他的苦難和他的榮耀（彼得的第一封書信討論了這個主題）以及教會和王國之間的關係。在變容時，我們的主向祂的跟隨者明確表示，祂的苦難將帶來榮耀，而十字架最終將帶來王冠。

There was also a very practical lesson that Peter, James, and John needed to learn, because each of these would also suffer. James was the first of the apostles to die (Acts 12:1–2). John lived a long life, but it led to exile and suffering (Rev. 1:9). Peter suffered for the Lord during his ministry, and then laid down his life just as the Lord had prophesied. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John learned that suffering and glory go together, and that the Father’s special love and approval are given to those who are willing to suffer for the sake of the Lord. We need this same lesson today.                                                                                                      彼得、詹姆斯和約翰也需要學習一個非常實用的教訓，因為他們每個人也會受苦。詹姆斯是第一個去世的使徒（使徒行傳 12：1-2）。約翰的壽命很長，但卻導致了流放和苦難（啟 1:9）。彼得在傳道期間為主受苦，然後正如主所預言的獻出生命。在登山變像中，彼得、雅各和約翰明白了苦難與榮耀是相伴而行的，天父特別的愛和認可只給予那些願意為主受苦的人。今天我們也需要同樣的教訓。

Peter could not share his experience with us, but he could share the record of that experience so that we could have it permanently in the Word of God. It is not necessary for us to try to duplicate these experiences; in fact, such attempts would be dangerous, for the devil could give us a counterfeit experience that could lead us astray.                                                                                      彼得無法與我們分享他的經歷，但他可以分享那段經歷的記錄，以便我們可以在《聖經》中永久地擁有它。我們沒有必要試圖複製這些經驗；事實上，這樣的嘗試是危險的，因為魔鬼可能會給我們一種虛假的體驗，從而讓我們誤入歧途。

Remember Peter’s wonderful news at the beginning of this letter: “like precious faith.” This means that our faith gives us “an equal standing” with the apostles! They did not travel first-class and leave us to travel second-class! “Like precious faith with us” is what he wrote (italics mine). We were not on the Mount of Transfiguration, but we can still benefit from that experience as we meditate on it and permit the Spirit of God to reveal the glories of Jesus Christ.                                記住彼得在這封信的開頭所說的好消息：「像寶貴的信仰。」這意味著我們的信仰使我們與使徒「具有同等地位」！他們不坐頭等艙，卻讓我們坐二等艙！他寫道：「就像我們心中珍貴的信念一樣」（斜體字是我的）。我們並沒有到達變形山，但只要我們沉思並讓上帝的靈揭示耶穌基督的榮耀，我們仍然可以從那次經歷中受益。                  

We have learned two important truths as we have seen these contrasts: men die, but the Word lives, and experiences fade, but the Word remains. Peter added a third contrast.                              看到這些對比，我們學到了兩個重要的真理：人會死，但道會長存；經驗會消逝，但道會長存。彼得加入了第三個對比。

3.  The World Darkens, but the Word Shines (1:19–21).                                                                    3. 世界黑暗，但聖言閃耀（1:19-21）

In some respects, the world is getting better. I thank God for the advances in medicine, transportation, and communication. I can speak to more people in one radio program than the apostles preached to in their entire lifetimes. I can write books that can be spread abroad and even translated into different languages. In areas of scientific achievement, the world has made great progress. But the human heart is still wicked, and all of our improvements in means have not improved our lives. Medical science enables people to live longer, but there is no guarantee they will live better. Modern means of communication only enable lies to travel faster! And jet planes enable us to get places faster, but we do not have better places to go!                                        從某些方面來看，世界正在變得越來越好。我感謝上帝賜給醫學、交通和通訊方面的進步。我在一檔廣播節目中向更多人講話，比使徒們一生佈道的人數還要多。我可以寫出可以在國外傳播甚至翻譯成不同語言的書。在科學成就領域，世界取得了巨大進步。但人心依然是邪惡的，我們所有手段的改進並沒有改善我們的生活。醫學科學使人們能夠活得更長，但不能保證他們生活得更好。現代的通訊手段只能讓謊言傳播得更快！噴射機讓我們能夠更快到達目的地，但我們卻沒有更好的地方可去！

We should not be surprised that our world is engulfed in spiritual darkness. In the Sermon on the Mount our Lord warned that there would be counter[1]feits who would invade the church with their false doctrines (Matt. 7:13–29). Paul gave a similar warning to the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20:28–35), and he gave further warnings when he wrote his epistles (Rom. 16:17–20; 2 Cor. 11:1–15; Gal. 1:1–9; Phil. 3:17–21; Col. 2; 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3–4). Even John, the great “apostle of love,” warned about antichristian teachers who would seek to destroy the church (1 John 2:18–29; 4:1–6).                                                                                                                                                                  我們的世界陷入精神黑暗之中，我們不應該感到驚訝。在登山寶訓中，我們的主警告說，將會有假冒[1]的人用他們的假教義侵入教會（馬太福音 7:13-29）。保羅也向以弗所的長老們發出了類似的警告（使徒行傳 20:28-35），並且在寫他的書信時給出了進一步的警告（羅馬書 16:17-20；哥林多後書 11:1-15；加拉太書 1:1-9；腓立比書 3:17-21-15；加拉太書 1:1-9；腓立比書 3:17-21-15；加拉太書 1:1-9；腓立比書 3:17-21-15；甚至偉大的「愛的使徒」約翰也警告說，敵基督教的教師會試圖摧毀教會（約翰一書 2：18-29；4：1-6）。

In other words, the apostles did not expect the world to get better and better either morally or spiritually. They all warned the church that false teachers would invade the local churches, introduce false doctrines, and lead many people astray. The world would get darker and darker; but as it did, the Word of God would shine brighter and brighter.                                                      換句話說，使徒們並不期望世界在道德或精神上變得越來越好。他們都警告教會，假教師會侵入地方教會，引入錯誤的教義，並使許多人誤入歧途。世界會變得越來越黑暗；但隨著它的發生，上帝的話語將變得越來越明亮。

Peter made three affirmations about this Word.                                                                                      彼得對這句話作出了三點肯定。

It is the sure Word (v. 19a). Peter was not suggesting that the Bible is more certain than the experience he had on the Mount of Transfiguration. His experience was real and true, and the record in the Bible is dependable. As we have seen, the Transfiguration was a demonstration of the promise given in the prophetic Word; and this promise now has added certainty because of what Peter experienced. The Transfiguration experience corroborated the prophetic promises. The apostates would attempt to discredit the promise of His coming (2 Peter 3:3ff), but the Scriptures were sure. For, after all, the promise of the kingdom was reaf[1]firmed by Moses, Elijah, the Son of God, and the Father! And the Holy Spirit wrote the record for the church to read! “The testimony of the Lord is sure” (Ps. 19:7).                                                                              這是確實的話語（第 19 節上半部）。彼得並不是說聖經比他在登山變像上的經驗更可靠。他的經歷是真實存在的，聖經的記載也是可靠的。正如我們所見，耶穌顯聖容是預言之言的承諾的體現；而現在，由於彼得的經歷，這個承諾變得更加確定了。耶穌顯聖容的經驗證實了預言的承諾。叛教者會試圖詆毀他即將到來的承諾（彼得後書 3:3ff），但聖經是肯定的。畢竟，天國的承諾已經被摩西、以利亞、上帝之子和天父重申[1]了！聖靈寫下了記錄給教會閱讀！ 「耶和華的法度確定」（詩篇 19:7）。

“Thy testimonies are very sure” (Ps. 93:5). “All his 2 Peter 1 936 commandments are sure” (Ps. 111:7). “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:128).                                                                                                                        「你的法度極為確定」（詩篇 93:5）。 「祂的誡命盡都確定」（詩篇 111:7）。 「因此，我看重你一切的訓詞，以為正直；我恨惡一切虛假的道路。」（詩篇 119:128）

It is interesting to put together 2 Peter 1:16 and 19: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables.… We have also a more sure word of prophecy.” As I travel, I often meet zealous cultists in airports, all of whom want me to buy their books. I always refuse because I have the sure Word of God and have no need for the religious fables of men. “‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ saith the Lord” (Jer. 23:28).                                                                                                                                    將彼得後書 1:16 和 19 放在一起很有趣：「因為我們不是隨從乖巧捏造的荒誕話語……我們並有先知更確的預言。」我在旅行時經常在機場遇到狂熱的邪教徒，他們都想讓我買他們的書。我總是拒絕，因為我有上帝確切的話語，不需要人類的宗教寓言。 「耶和華說：『糠秕和麥子相比，又算得了什麼？』」（耶利米書 23:28）

But one day I found one of those books left behind in the men’s room, so I decided to take it with me and read it. How anybody could believe such foolish fables is more than I can understand. The book claimed to be based on the Bible, but the writer so twisted the Scriptures that the verses quoted ended up meaning only what he wanted them to mean. Cunningly devised fables! Yet there was spiritual death between those covers to anyone who would believe those lies.                              但有一天，我在男廁發現了一本被遺忘的書，所以我決定把它帶走並閱讀它。我無法理解怎麼會有人相信如此愚蠢的寓言。這本書聲稱以《聖經》為基礎，但作者對《聖經》進行了嚴重曲解，以致所引用的經文最終只代表了他想要的意思。精心編造的寓言！然而，對於那些相信這些謊言的人來說，這些謊言背後卻隱藏著精神上的死亡。

It is the shining Word (v. 19b). Peter called the world “a dark place,” and the word he used means “murky.” It is the picture of a dank cellar or a dismal swamp. Human history began in a lovely garden, but that garden today is a murky swamp. What you see when you look at this world system is an indication of the spiritual condition of your heart. We still see beauty in God’s creation, but we see no beauty in what mankind is doing with God’s creation. Peter did not see this world as a garden of Eden, nor should we.                                                                                      這是閃耀的聖言（第 19b 節）。彼得稱世界為“黑暗的地方”，他所用的字的意思是“渾濁的”。這是一幅陰暗的地下室或沼澤的圖畫。人類歷史起源於一座美麗的花園，但如今這座花園卻變成了一片渾濁的沼澤。當你觀察這個世界體系時，你所看到的東西顯示了你內在的精神狀態。我們仍然看到上帝創造的美麗，但我們看不到人類對上帝創造物的所作所為的美麗。彼得不認為這個世界是伊甸園，我們也不該這麼認為。

God is light and His word is light. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105). When Jesus Christ began His ministry, “the people which sat in darkness saw great light” (Matt. 4:16). His coming into this world was the dawning of a new day (Luke 1:78). We Christians are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14–16), and it is our privilege and responsibility to hold forth the Word of life—God’s light—so that men might see the way and be saved (Phil. 2:14–16).                                                                                                                                                                上帝是光，祂的話語也是光。 「祢的話是我腳前的燈，是我路上的光」（詩篇 119:105）。當耶穌基督開始傳道時，「坐在黑暗裡的百姓看見了大光」（馬太福音 4:16）。祂的來到這個世界，標誌著新一天的開始（路 1:78）。我們基督徒是世界的光（太 5:14-16），我們有權利也有責任將生命的道－上帝的光－傳揚出去，叫人看見道路，得救（腓立比書 2:14-16）。

As believers, we must heed this Word and govern our lives by what it says. For unbelievers, things will get darker and darker, until they end up in eternal dark[1]ness, but God’s people are looking for the return of Jesus Christ and the dawning of the new day of glory. The false teachers scoffed at the idea of Christ’s return and the dawning of a new day, but Peter affirmed the truth of the sure Word of God. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10).            身為信徒，我們必須留意這句話，並按照它來管理我們的生活。對不信的人來說，事情會越來越黑暗，直到最終陷入永恆的黑暗[1]，但上帝的子民正在期待耶穌基督的回歸和新榮耀時代的到來。假教師嘲笑基督再來和新一天的到來，但彼得卻肯定了上帝聖言的真實性。 「但主的日子來到，好像夜間的賊一樣」（彼得後書 3：10）。

Before the day dawns, the “day star” (or morning star) shines brightly as the herald of the dawn. To the church, Jesus Christ is “the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16). The promise of His coming shines brightly, no matter how dark the day may be (see Num. 24:17). He is also the “Sun of righteousness,” who will bring healing to believers but judgment to unbelievers (Mal. 4:1–2). How thankful we ought to be for God’s sure and shining Word, and how we ought to heed it in these dark days!                                                                                                                                            天亮之前，「晨星」明亮地閃耀，預示著黎明的到來。對教會來說，耶穌基督是「明亮的晨星」（啟 22:16）。無論日子有多黑暗，祂來臨的應許總是閃耀著光芒（參考《民數記》24:17）。他也是“公義的日頭”，將為信徒帶來醫治，但為不信者帶來審判（瑪拉基書 4：1-2）。我們應該多麼感謝上帝那可靠而光輝的話語，在這些黑暗的日子裡我們應該多麼留意它！

It is the Spirit-given Word (vv. 20–21). This is one of two important Scriptures affirming the divine inspiration of the Word of God. The other is 2 Timothy 3:14–17. Peter affirmed that the Scriptures were not written by men who used their own ideas and words, but by men of God who were “moved by the Holy Spirit.” The word translated “moved” means “to be carried along, as a ship is carried by the wind.” The Scriptures are “God-breathed”; they are not the inventions of men.                                                                                                                                                            這是聖靈所賜的話語（20-21節）。這是兩段肯定上帝聖言神聖啟示的重要經文之一。另一本是提摩太後書 3:14-17。彼得肯定地說，聖經不是由人用自己的思想和言語寫成的，而是由上帝的使者「被聖靈感動」而寫的。翻譯為「移動」的字的意思是「被帶走，就像船被風吹動一樣」。聖經是「神所默示的」；它們不是人類的發明。

Again, Peter was refuting the doctrines of the apostates. They taught with “feigned words” (2 Peter 2:3) and twisted the Scriptures to make them mean some[1]thing else (2 Peter 3:16). They denied the promise of Christ’s coming (2 Peter 3:3–4), and thus denied the very prophetic Scriptures.                                                                                                                                                    彼得再次駁斥了叛教者的教義。他們用「捏造的言語」教導（彼得後書 2:3），並曲解聖經，使它們具有其他意義（彼得後書 3:16）。他們否認基督降臨的承諾（彼得後書 3：3-4），因而否認了聖經的預言。

Since the Spirit gave the Word, only the Spirit can teach the Word and interpret it accurately (see 1 Cor. 2:14–15). Of course, every false teacher claims that he is “led by the Spirit,” but his handling of the Word of God soon exposes him. Since the Bible did not come by the will of man, it cannot be understood by the will of man. Even religious Nicodemus, a leading teacher among the Jews, was ignorant of the most essential doctrines of the Word of God (John 3:10–12).                    因為聖靈賜下了聖言，所以只有聖靈才能教導聖言並準確地解釋聖言（參考哥林多前書 2：14-15）。當然，每個假教師都聲稱自己是「受聖靈引導」的，但他對上帝之言的解釋很快就會暴露他的真實面目。因為聖經不是出於人的意志，所以它也不能被人的意誌所理解。即使是虔誠的尼哥底母，猶太人中一位著名的教師，也不知道上帝聖言中最基本的教義（約翰福音 3：10-12）。

In 2 Peter 1:20, Peter was not prohibiting the private study of the Bible. Some religious groups have taught that only the “spiritual leaders” may interpret Scripture, and they have used this verse as their defense. But Peter was not writing primarily about the interpretation of Scripture, but the origin of Scripture: it came by the Holy Spirit through holy men of God. And since it came by the Spirit, it must be taught by the Spirit.                                                                                            在彼得後書 1:20 中，彼得並沒有禁止私下學習聖經。一些宗教團體教導說，只有「精神領袖」才能解釋聖經，他們用這節經文作為自己的辯護。但彼得主要寫的不是關於聖經的解釋，而是聖經的起源：它是由聖靈透過上帝的聖人而來的。既然它是由聖靈而來的，那麼它就必須由聖靈來教導。

The word translated “private” simply means “one’s own” or “its own.” The suggestion is, since all Scripture is inspired by the Spirit it must all “hang together,” and no one Scripture should be divorced from the others. You can use the Bible to prove almost anything if you isolate verses from their proper context, which is exactly the approach the false teachers use. Peter stated that the witness of the apostles confirmed the witness of the prophetic Word; there is one message with no contradiction. Therefore, the only way these false teachers can “prove” their heretical doctrines is by misusing the Word of God. Isolated texts, apart from contexts, become pretexts.  翻譯為“私人”的詞僅僅意味著“自己的”或“它自己的”。建議是，由於所有聖經都是受聖靈啟發的，因此它們必須“連貫一致”，並且任何一節聖經都不應與其他聖經分離。如果你將經文脫離其適當的上下文，你幾乎可以用聖經來證明任何事情，這正是假教師所使用的方法。彼得說，使徒們的見證證實了預言之言的見證；有一個信息沒有矛盾。因此，這些假教師「證明」其異端教義的唯一方法就是誤用上帝的話語。脫離脈絡的孤立文本成為藉口。

The Word of God was written to common people, not to theological professors. The writers assumed that common people could read it, understand it, and apply it, led by the same Holy Spirit who inspired it. The humble individual believer can learn about God as he reads and meditates on the Word of God; he does not need the “experts” to show him truth. However, this does not deny the ministry of teachers in the church (Eph. 4:11), special people who have a gift for explaining and applying the Scriptures. Nor does it deny the “collective wisdom” of the church as, over the ages, these doctrines have been defined and refined. Teachers and creeds have their place, but they must not usurp the authority of the Word over the conscience of the individual believer.上帝的話是寫給一般人看的，而不是寫給神學教授看的。作者認為，在啟發它的聖靈的引導下，一般人也能閱讀、理解並應用它。謙卑的信徒個體可以透過閱讀和冥想上帝的話語來了解上帝；他不需要「專家」來告訴他真相。然而，這並不否認教會中教師的職責（弗 4:11），他們是具有解釋和應用聖經天賦的特殊人士。它也不否認教會的“集體智慧”，因為這些教義經過多個世紀的發展已經得到明確和完善。教師和信條有其地位，但它們不能篡奪聖言對個別信徒良知的權威。

Until the day dawns, we must be sure that the love for His coming is like a shining star in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19). Unless we love His appearing, we will not look for His appearing, and it is the Word that keeps that expectation bright.                                                                                          直到天亮的時候，我們必須確信，對祂降臨的愛就像一顆閃亮的星星在我們心中（彼得後書 1:19）。除非我們熱愛祂的出現，否則我們就不會尋求祂的出現，而正是聖言使這種期望保持光明。

Men die, but the Word lives. Experiences fade, but the Word remains. The world grows darker, but the prophetic light shines brighter. The believer who builds his life on the Word of God and who looks for the coming of the Savior is not likely to be led astray by false teachers. He will be taught by the Spirit and grounded on the sure Word of God.                                                                人會死，道卻永存。經歷會消逝，但言語會永存。世界變得越來越黑暗，但預言的光芒越來越明亮。以上帝的話語為生活基礎並期待救世主降臨的信徒不太可能被假教師誤導。他將受到聖靈的教導，並以上帝確切的聖言為基礎。

Peter’s message is “Wake up—and remember!” A sleeping church is the devil’s playground. It is while men slept that the enemy came in and sowed the tares (Matt. 13:24ff.).                                    彼得的訊息是「醒來並記住！」沉睡的教堂是魔鬼的遊樂場。當人們睡覺時，敵人就進來並撒下稗子（馬太福音 13:24 比照研讀）。

“Be alert!” is the apostle’s message. “Wake up and remember!"                                                      「提高警覺！」是宗徒的信息。 “醒來並記住！”