41 英翻中 KNOWING AND GROWING 认识和成长 17/04/2025

41 英翻中                KNOWING AND GROWING                     认识和成长                                     17/04/2025

CHAPTER ONE                    KNOWING AND GROWING                          2 Peter 1:1–11            第一章                                           认识和成长                                                 彼得後書 1:1-11                                                                                                                                                                                He rushed ahead when he should have waited; he slept when he should have prayed; he talked when he should have listened. He was a courageous, but careless, Christian.                                    他本该等的，却冲了上去；他在该祈祷的时候睡着了；他在应该听的时候说话。他是一个勇敢但粗心的基督徒。 

If anybody in the early church knew the importance of being alert, it was the apostle Peter. He had a tendency in his early years to feel overconfident when danger was near and to overlook Master’s warnings.                                                                                                                      如果早期教会中有人知道警醒的重要性，那就是使徒彼得。他早年有一种倾向，当危险临近时，会过度自信，而忽视师父的警告。 

But he learned his lesson, and he wanted to help us learn it too. In his first epistle, Peter emphasized the grace of God (1 Peter 5:12), but in this second letter, his emphasis is on the knowledge of God. The word know or knowledge is used at least thirteen times in this short epistle. The word does not mean a mere intellectual understanding of some truth, though that is included. It means a living participation in the truth in the sense that our Lord used it in John 17:3—“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (italics mine)                                                                                                                    但他吸取了教训，他也想帮助我们学习。在他的第一封书信中，彼得强调了上帝的恩典（彼得前书 5:12），但在第二封信中，他的重点是对上帝的认识。在这封简短的书信中，知道或知识这个词至少使用了十三次。这个词并不仅仅意味着对某些真理的理智理解，尽管它包括在内。它意味着活生生地参与真理，正如我们的主在约翰福音 17:3 中使用的那样——“这就是永生，叫他们认识你唯一的真神，和你所差来的耶稣基督”（斜体字是我的)。

Peter opened his letter with a description of the Christian life. Before he described the counterfeits, he described the true believers. The best way to detect falsehood is to understand the characteristics of the truth. Peter made three important affirmations about the true Christian life.彼得在信的开头描述了基督徒的生活。在描述赝品之前，他描述了真正的信徒。检测谎言的最好方法是了解真相的特征。彼得对真正的基督徒生活做了三个重要的肯定。 

1.  The Christian Life Begins with Faith (1:1–4)                                                                                1. 基督徒的生活始于信心（1:1-4） 

Peter called it “like precious faith.” It means that our standing with the Lord today is the same as that of the apostles centuries ago. They had no special advantage over us simply because they were privileged to walk with Christ, see Him with their own eyes, and share in His miracles. It is not necessary to see the Lord with our human eyes in order to love Him, trust Him, and share His glory (1 Peter 1:8).                                                                                                                                    彼得称它“像宝贵的信心”。这意味着我们今天在主面前的地位与几个世纪前使徒的地位相同。他们对我们没有特别的优势，仅仅因为他们有幸与基督同行，亲眼看到他，分享他的神迹。为了爱他、相信他并分享他的荣耀，我们没有必要用我们的肉眼看到主（彼得前书 1:8）。 

This faith is in a person (vv. 1–2). That Person is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. From the very outset of his letter, Peter affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ. “God” and “our Saviour” are not two different Persons; they describe one Person, Jesus Christ. Paul used a similar expression in Titus 2:10 and 3:4.                                                                                                                                这种信心是在一个人身上（1-2 节）。那个人就是耶稣基督，神的儿子，救主。从书信的开头，彼得就肯定了耶稣基督的神性。 “上帝”和“我们的救主”不是两个不同的位格；他们描述了一个人，耶稣基督。保罗在提多书 2:10 和 3:4 中使用了类似的表达方式。 

Peter reminded his readers that Jesus Christ is the Savior by repeating this exalted title in 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:2, 18. A savior is “one who brings salvation,” and the word salvation was familiar to the people of that day. In their vocabulary, it meant “deliverance from trouble,” particularly “deliverance from the enemy.” It also carried the idea of “health and safety.” A physician was looked on as a savior because he helped deliver the body from pain and limitations. A victorious general was a savior because he delivered the people from defeat. Even a wise official was a savior because he kept the nation in order and delivered it from confusion and decay.                              彼得通过在彼得后书 1:11 中重复这个崇高的称号来提醒他的读者耶稣基督是救主； 2章20節； 3章2, 18兩節. 救主是“带来救恩的人”，救恩这个词是那个时代的人所熟悉的。在他们的词汇中，它的意思是“摆脱困境”，尤其是“摆脱敌人”。它还带有“健康和安全”的理念。一位医生被视为救世主，因为他帮助身体摆脱了痛苦和限制。胜利的将军是救世主，因为他使人民免于失败。即使是明智的官员也是救世主，因为他使国家保持秩序，使国家摆脱混乱和腐烂。

It requires little insight to see how the title “Savior” applies to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is, indeed, the Great Physician who heals the heart from the sickness of sin. He is the victorious Conqueror who has defeated our enemies—sin, death, Satan, and hell— and is leading us in triumph (2 Cor. 2:14ff.). He is “God and our Saviour” (2 Peter 1:1), “our Lord and Saviour” (2 Peter 1:11), and “the Lord and Saviour” (2 Peter 2:20). In order to be our Savior, He had to give His life on the cross and die for the sins of the world.                                                                          无需深入了解“救主”这个称号如何适用于我们的主耶稣基督。的确，祂是治愈人心的大医生，祂从罪的病痛中解脱出来。祂战胜了我们的敌人   — 罪恶、死亡、撒旦和地狱   — 并带领我们取得胜利的胜利者（2 Cor. 2:14比照研讀）。他是“上帝和我们的救主”（2 彼得 1:1）、“我们的主和救主”（2 彼得 1:11）和“主和救主”（2 彼得 2:20）。为了成为我们的救主，他必须在十字架上舍命，为世人的罪而死。 

Our Lord Jesus Christ has three “spiritual commodities” that can be secured from nobody else: righteousness, grace, and peace. When you trust Him as your Savior, His righteousness becomes your righteousness, and you are given a right standing before God (2 Cor. 5:21). You could never earn this righteous[1]ness; it is the gift of God to those who believe. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5).                我们的主耶稣基督有三个“属灵的商品”，任何人都无法得到：公义、恩典和和平。当您相信他为您的救主时，祂的公义就成为您的公义，并且您在上帝面前被赋予了权利                                   （林後 5:21）。你永远无法赢得这种正义；这是上帝赐给相信的人的礼物。 “不是因我们所行的义，乃是照祂的怜悯拯救我们”（提多书 3:5）。

Grace is God’s favor to the undeserving. God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve; God in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve. Our God is “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10), and He channels that grace to us through Jesus Christ (John 1:16).                                                      恩典是上帝对不配的人的恩惠。上帝在祂的怜悯中没有给我们我们应得的；上帝在祂的恩典中给了我们我们不配得的东西。我们的上帝是“赐一切恩典的上帝”（彼得前书 5:10），祂通过耶稣基督将这种恩典传递给我们（约翰福音 1:16）。 

The result of this experience is peace, peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and the peace of God (Phil. 4:6–7). In fact, God’s grace and peace are “multiplied” toward us as we walk with Him and trust His promises.                                                                                                                                                      这种经历的结果是和平，与上帝和好（罗马书 5:1）和上帝的和平（腓立比书 4:6-7）。事实上，当我们与祂同行并相信祂的应许时，祂的恩典与平安就会“倍增”地临到我们。 

This faith involves God’s power (v. 3). The Christian life begins with saving faith, faith in the person of Jesus Christ. But when you know Jesus Christ personally, you also experience God’s power, and this power produces “life and godliness.” The unsaved sinner is dead (Eph. 2:1–3), and only Christ can raise him from the dead (John 5:24). When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He said, “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44). Get rid of the grave-clothes!                              这种信心涉及神的大能（第 3 节）。基督徒的生活始于得救的信心，对耶稣基督的信心。但是当你亲自认识耶稣基督时，你也会经历神的大能，而这大能会产生“生命和敬虔”。未得救的罪人已经死了（弗 2:1-3），只有基督才能使他从死里复活（约翰福音 5:24）。当耶稣使拉撒路从死里复活时，他说：“松开他，让他走”（约翰福音 11:44）。摆脱下葬的衣服！ 

When you are born into the family of God by faith in Christ, you are born complete. God gives you everything you will ever need “for life and godliness.” Nothing has to be added! “And ye are complete in him” (Col. 2:10). The false teachers claimed that they had a “special doctrine” that would add something to the lives of Peter’s readers, but Peter knew that nothing could be added. Just as a normal baby is born with all the “equipment” he needs for life and only needs to grow, so the Christian has all that is needed and only needs to grow. God never has to call back any of His “models” because something is lacking or faulty.                                                                          当你因信基督而生于上帝的家中时，你就生而完整。上帝会赐给你“为了生活和敬虔”所需要的一切。无需添加任何内容！ “你们在他里面就完全了”（西 2:10）。假教师声称他们有一个“特殊教义”，可以为彼得读者的生活增添一些东西，但彼得知道什么也不能增加。就像一个正常的婴儿出生时拥有他生活所需的所有“装备”，只需要成长，所以基督徒拥有一切所需，只需要成长。上帝永远不必因为缺少或错误的东西而召回他的任何“模型”。 

Just as a baby has a definite genetic structure that determines how he will grow, so the believer is “genetically structured” to experience “glory and virtue.” One day he will be like the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29; 1 John 3:2). We have been “called … to His eternal glory” (1 Peter 5:10), and we shall share that glory when Jesus Christ returns and takes His people to heaven.  The growth in knowledge—1:5–11.                                                                                                                              正如婴儿有确定的基因结构，它决定了他将如何成长，所以信徒是“基因结构”来体验“荣耀和美德”的。有一天，他会像主耶稣基督一样（罗马书 8:29；约翰一书 3:2）。我们已经“被呼召……进入祂永恒的荣耀”（彼得前书 5:10），当耶稣基督再来并带祂的子民上天堂时，我们将分享这种荣耀。知识的增长   — 1:5-11.

But we are also “called … to virtue.” We have been saved so that we might “show forth the praises [virtues] of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We should not wait until we get to heaven to become like Jesus Christ! In our character and conduct, we should reveal His beauty and grace today.                                                                        但我们也“被称为……美德”。我们得救是为了“彰显那召我们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德”（彼得前书 2:9）。我们不应该等到上天堂才变得像耶稣基督一样！今天，我们应该在品格和行为上彰显祂的美丽和恩典。 

This faith involves God’s promises (v. 4). God has not only given us all that we need for life and godliness, but He has also given us His Word to enable us to develop this life and godliness. These promises are great because they come from a great God and they lead to a great life. They are precious because their value is beyond calculation. If we lost the Word of God, there would be no way to replace it. Peter must have liked the word precious, for he wrote about the “precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1; cf. 1 Peter 1:7), the “precious prom[1]ises” (2 Peter 1:4), the “precious blood” (1 Peter 1:19), the precious stone (1 Peter 2:4, 6), and the precious Savior (1 Peter 2:7).                      这种信心包括上帝的应许（第 4 节）。祂不仅给了我们生命和敬虔所需的一切，而且还给了我们祂的话语，使我们能够发展这种生活和敬虔。这些应许是伟大的，因为它们来自伟大的上帝，它们会带来伟大的生活。它们很珍贵，因为它们的价值是无法计算的。如果我们失去了上帝的话语，就没有办法取代它。彼得一定很喜欢“宝贵”这个词，因为他写了“宝贵的信心”（彼得后书 1:1；参见彼得前书 1:7）、“宝贵的应许”（彼得后书 1:4）、“宝贵的血”（彼得前书 1:19）、宝贵的宝石（彼得前书 2:4、6）和宝贵的救主（彼得前书 2:7）。

When the sinner believes on Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to impart the life and nature of God within. A baby shares the nature of its parents, and a person born of God shares the divine nature of God. The lost sinner is dead, but the Christian is alive because he shares the divine nature. The lost sinner is decaying because of his corrupt nature, but the Christian can experience a dynamic life of godliness because he has God’s divine nature within. Mankind is under the bondage of corruption (Rom. 8:21), but the believer shares the freedom and growth that is a part of possessing the divine nature. Nature determines appetite. The pig wants slop and the dog will even eat its own vomit (2 Peter 2:22), but the sheep desires green pastures. Nature also determines behavior. An eagle flies because it has an eagle’s nature, and a dolphin swims because that is the nature of the dolphin.                                                                                    当罪人相信耶稣基督时，上帝的灵使用祂的话来分赐祂的生命和本质。婴儿与父母有共同的本性，从上帝生的人也有祂的神性。失丧的罪人是死的，但基督徒是活着的，因为祂有上帝的性情。失丧的罪人因为他败坏的本性而正在腐朽，但基督徒可以经历一种充满活力的敬虔生活，因为他里面有上帝的神圣本性。人类处于败坏的捆绑之下（罗 8:21），但信徒分享自由和成长，这是拥有神性的一部分。自然决定食欲。猪想要粪便，狗甚至会吃自己的呕吐物（彼得后书 2:22），但羊想要绿色的牧场的草。自然也决定行为。鹰会飞，因为它有鹰的本性，而海豚会游泳，因为那是海豚的本性。

Nature determines environment: squirrels climb trees, moles burrow underground, and trout swim in the water. Nature also determines association: lions travel in prides, sheep in flocks, and fish in schools.                                                                                                                                              自然决定环境：松鼠爬树，鼹鼠在地下挖洞，鳟鱼在水中游泳。自然也决定了联想：狮子成群结队，羊成群结队，鱼群成群。 

If nature determines appetite, and we have God’s nature within, then we ought to have an appetite for that which is pure and holy. Our behavior ought to be like that of the Father, and we ought to live in the kind of “spiritual environment” that is suited to our nature. We ought to associate with that which is true to our nature (see 2 Cor. 6:14ff.). The only normal, fruitbearing life for the child of God is a godly life.                                                                                                    如果自然决定食欲，我们里面有上帝的性情，那么我们就应该对纯洁圣洁的事物有食欲。我们的行为应该像天父一样，我们应该生活在一种适合我们本性的“屬靈环境”中。我们应该与符合我们本性的事物联系起来（见 林後 6:14 比照研讀）。对上帝的孩子来说，唯一正常的、结果子的生活就是敬虔的生活。 

Because we possess this divine nature, we have “completely escaped” the defilement and decay in this present evil world. If we feed the new nature the nourishment of the Word, then we will have little interest in the garbage of the world. But if we “make provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13:14), our sinful nature will lust after the “old sins” (2 Peter 1:9) and we will disobey God. Godly living is the result of cultivating the new nature within.                                                                                  因为我们拥有上帝的本性，所以我们已经“完全摆脱”邪恶世界的污秽和腐烂。如果我们用圣经的营养喂养新的自然，那么我们对世界的垃圾就没有兴趣了。但如果我们“为肉体作准备”（罗马书 13:14），我们的罪性就会贪恋“旧罪”（彼得后书 1:9），我们就会违背上帝。敬虔的生活是培养内在新性情的结果。 

2.  Faith Results in Spiritual Growth (1:5–7)                                                                                            2. 信心带来属灵的成长（1:5-7）

Where there is life, there must be growth. The new birth is not the end; it is the beginning. God gives His children all that they need to live godly lives, but His children must apply themselves and be diligent to use the “means of grace” He has provided. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It requires cooperation with God and the application of spiritual diligence and discipline. “Work out your own salvation.… For it is God which worketh in you” (Phil. 2:12–13).                                        那裡有生命的地方，必有成长。重生不是结束；这是开始。上帝赐给祂的孩子们过敬虔生活所需的一切，但祂的孩子们必须自己努力并努力使用祂提供的“施恩之道”。属灵的成长不是自动的。它需要与上帝合作，并应用属灵的勤奋和纪律。 “作成你们自己的救恩……因为是上帝在你们心里运行”（腓立比书 2:12-13）。

Peter listed seven characteristics of the godly life, but we must not think of them as seven beads on a string or even seven stages of development. The word translated “add” really means “to supply generously.” In other words, we develop one quality as we exercise another quality. These graces relate to each other the way the branch relates to the trunk and the twigs to the branch. Like the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23), these qualities grow out of life and out of a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not enough for the Christian to “let go and let God,” as though spiritual growth were God’s work alone. Literally, Peter wrote, “Make every effort to bring alongside.” The Father and the child must work together.                                                                                      彼得列出了敬虔生活的七个特征，但我们不能把它们想象成一根绳子上的七颗珠子，甚至是七个发展阶段。译作“加”字的真正意思是“慷慨地供应”。换句话说，我们在锻炼另一种品质时, 会发展一种的品质。这些优雅彼此相关，就像树枝与树干的关系以及树枝与树枝的关系一样。就像“圣灵的果子”（加拉太书 5:22-23）一样，这些品质源于生命，源于与耶稣基督的重要关系。基督徒“放手让上帝”是不够的，好像属灵的成长是祂单独的工作。从字面上看，彼得写道，“尽一切努力与我们并肩作战。”父亲和孩子必须一起工作。

The first quality of character Peter listed was virtue. We met this word in 2 Peter 1:3, and it basically means “excellence.” To the Greek philosophers, it meant “the fulfillment of a thing.” When anything in nature ful[1]fills its purpose, that is “virtue—moral excellence.” The word was also used to describe the power of the gods to do heroic deeds. The land that produces crops is “excellent” because it is fulfilling its purpose. The tool that works correctly is “excellent” because it is doing what a tool is supposed to do.                                                                                                彼得列出的第一品格是美德。我们在彼得后书 1章3節 中遇到了这个词，它的基本意思是“卓越”。对希腊哲学家来说，它的意思是“事物的实现”。当任何事物在本质上满足其目的时，那就是“德   — 道德上的卓越”。这个词也被用来描述众上帝做英雄事迹的力量。生产莊稼的土地是“优秀的”，因为它正在实现其目的。正确工作的工具是“优秀的”，因为它正在做一个工具应该做的事情。 

We must never get the idea that godliness is an impractical thing, because it is intensely practical. The godly person makes the kinds of decisions that are right and noble. He does not take an easy path simply to avoid either pain or trial. He does what is right because it is right and because it is the will of God.                                                                                                                                            我们绝不能认为敬虔是不切实际的东西，因为它非常实际。敬虔的人会做出正确而高尚的决定。他不会为了避免痛苦或试炼而走捷径。他做正确的事，因为它是正确的，因为这是上帝的旨意。                                                                                                                                 

A Christian is supposed to glorify God because he has God’s nature within; so, when he does this, he shows “excellence” because he is fulfilling his purpose in life. True virtue in the Christian life is not “polishing” human qualities, no matter how fine they may be, but producing divine qualities that make the person more like Jesus Christ.                                                                                        基督徒应该荣耀上帝，因为他里面有祂的性情；因此，当他这样做时，他表现出“卓越”，因为他正在实现自己的人生目标。基督徒生活中真正的美德不是“打磨”人的品质，无论它们多么优秀，而是产生使人更像耶稣基督的神圣品质。  

Faith helps us develop virtue, and virtue helps us develop knowledge (2 Peter 1:5). The word translated “knowledge” in 2 Peter 1:2–3 means “full knowledge” or “knowledge that is growing.”                                                                                                                                                    信心帮助我们发展美德，而美德帮助我们发展知识（彼得后书 1:5）。彼得后书 1章2-3等節 中翻译为“知识”的词的意思是“完全的知识”或“不断增长的知识”。

The word used here suggests practical knowledge or discernment. It refers to the ability to handle life successfully. It is the opposite of being “so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly good!” This kind of knowledge does not come automatically. It comes from obedience to the will of God (John 7:17). In the Christian life, you must not separate the heart and the mind, character and knowledge.                                                                                                                                                这里使用的词暗示实用知识或洞察力。它指的是成功地处理生活的能力。这与“心怀天国，对地上没有好处”相反！这种知识不会自动出现。它来自对上帝旨意的顺服（约翰福音 7:17）。在基督徒的生活中，你不可将心与意、品格与知识分开。

Temperance is the next quality on Peter’s list of spiritual virtues, and it means self-control. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Prov. 16:32). “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls” (Prov. 25:28). Paul in his letters often compared the Christian to an athlete who must exercise and discipline himself if he ever hopes to win the prize (1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 3:12–16; 1 Tim. 4:7–8).                                                                                                                                      节制是彼得列出的属灵美德的第二个品质，它意味着自制。 “不轻易发怒的，胜过勇士；治服己心的，胜似攻取城池”（箴 16:32）。 “不治己心的，好比拆毁无墙的城”                               （箴     25:28）。保罗在他的信中经常将基督徒比作一个运动员，如果他希望赢得奖品，就必须锻炼和训练自己（林前 9:24-27；腓 3:12-16；提前 4:7- 8）。

Patience is the ability to endure when circumstances are difficult. Self-control has to do with handling the pleasures of life, while patience relates primarily to the pressures and problems of life. (The ability to endure problem people is “longsuffering.”) Often, the person who gives in to pleasures is not disciplined enough to handle pressures either, so he gives up.                                    耐心是在困难的情况下忍受的能力。自我控制与处理生活中的快乐有关，而耐心主要与生活中的压力和问题有关。 （忍受问题人的能力是“持久的”。）通常，屈服于快乐的人也没有足够的自律来应对压力，所以他放弃了。 

                                                                                                                                                                        Patience is not something that develops automatically; we must work at it. James 1:2–8 gives us the right approach. We must expect trials to come, because with[1]out trials we could never learn patience. We must, by faith, let our trials work for us and not against us, because we know that God is at work in our trials. If we need wisdom in making decisions, God will grant that wisdom if we ask Him. Nobody enjoys trials, but we do enjoy the confidence we can have in trials that God is at work, causing everything to work together for our good and His glory.                                      耐心不是自动发展的东西。我们必须努力。雅各书 1:2-8 给了我们正确的方法。我们必须期待试炼的到来，因为没有试炼，我们永远无法学会耐心。我们必须凭着信心让我们的试炼为我们工作，而不是对我们不利，因为我们知道上帝在我们的试炼中工作。如果我们在做决定时需要智慧，只要我们祈求上帝，上帝就会赐予我们智慧。没有人喜欢试炼，但我们确实享受在试炼中我们可以拥有的信心，即上帝在工作，让一切为了我们的利益和祂的荣耀而共同努力。

Godliness simply means “God-likeness.” In the original Greek, this word meant “to worship well.” It described the man who was right in his relationship with God and with his fellow man. Perhaps the words reverence and piety come closer to defining this term. It is that quality of character that makes a person distinctive. He lives above the petty things of life, the passions and pressures that control the lives of others. He seeks to do the will of God and, as he does, he seeks the welfare of others.                                                                                                                                敬虔只是意味着“像上帝一样”。在希腊原文中，这个词的意思是“好好敬拜”。它描述了这个人在与上帝和同胞的关系上是正确的。也许崇敬和虔诚这两个词更接近于定义这个词。正是这种性格品质使一个人与众不同。他的生活超越了生活中的琐碎事物，超越了控制他人生活的激情和压力。他寻求遵行上帝的旨意，并且在他这样做的时候，他寻求他人的福祉。

Brotherly kindness (philadelphia in the Greek) is a virtue that Peter must have acquired the hard way, for the disciples of our Lord often debated and disagreed with one another. If we love Jesus Christ, we must also love the brethren. We should practice an “unfeigned [sincere] love of the brethren” (1 Peter 1:22) and not just pretend that we love them. “Let brotherly love continue” (Heb. 13:1). “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (Rom. 12:10). The fact that we love our brothers and sisters in Christ is one evidence that we have been born of God (1 John 5:1–2).                                                                                                                                                兄弟般的仁慈（希腊语中的philadelphia）是彼得必须通过艰难的方式获得的美德，因为我们主的门徒经常互相争论和不同意。如果我们爱耶稣基督，我们也必须爱弟兄们。我们应该实践“对弟兄的真诚的爱”（彼得前书 1:22），而不是假装我们爱他们。 “愿兄弟之爱常存”（来 13:1）。 “以兄弟之爱彼此相爱”（罗 12:10）。我们爱我们在基督里的兄弟姐妹这一事实是我们从神而生的一个证据（约翰一书 5:1-2）。 

But there is more to Christian growth than brotherly love; we must also have the sacrifical love that our Lord displayed when He went to the cross. The kind of love (“charity”) spoken of in 2 Peter 1:7 is agape love, the kind of love that God shows toward lost sinners. This is the love that is described in 1 Corinthians 13, the love that the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts as we walk in the Spirit (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22). When we have brotherly love, we love because of our likenesses to others, but with agape love, we love in spite of the differences we have.                                            但基督徒的成长不仅仅是兄弟般的爱。我们也必须拥有我们的主在上十字架时所表现出的牺牲之爱。彼得后书 1章7節 所说的那种爱（“慈善”）是上帝的愛(agape)，是祂对迷失的罪人所表现的那种爱。这就是哥林多前书 13 章所描述的爱，当我们在圣灵中行走时，圣灵在我们心中产生的爱（罗马书 5:5；加拉太书 5:22）。当我们有兄弟般的爱时，我们爱是因为我们与他人的相似，但有了爱，尽管我们有差异，我们仍然爱。 

It is impossible for fallen human nature to manufacture these seven qualities of Christian character. They must be produced by the Spirit of God. To be sure, there are unsaved people who possess amazing self-control and endurance, but these virtues point to them and not to the Lord. They get the glory. When God produces the beautiful nature of His Son in a Christian, it is God who receives the praise and glory.                                                                                                            堕落的人性不可能制造出基督徒品格的这七种品质。它们必须由上帝的灵产生。诚然，有些未得救的人具有惊人的自制力和耐力，但这些美德指向他们，而不是指向主。他们得到了荣耀。当上帝在基督徒身上产生祂儿子的美丽本性时，就是上帝得着赞美和荣耀。

Because we have the divine nature, we can grow spiritually and develop this kind of Christian character. It is through the power of God and the precious prom[1]ises of God that this growth takes place. The divine “genetic structure” is already there: God wants us to be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). The life within will reproduce that image if we but diligently cooperate with God and use the means He has lavishly given us.                                                        因为我们有神圣的性情，我们才能在灵性上成长，发展出这种基督徒的品格。这种成长是通过上帝的力量和祂宝贵的应许而发生的。神圣的“基因结构”已经存在：上帝希望我们“效法祂儿子的形象”（罗 8:29）。如果我们勤奋地与上帝合作，并使用祂慷慨赐给我们的手段，里面的生命就会再现那个形象。 

And the amazing thing is this: as the image of Christ is reproduced in us, the process does not destroy our own personalities. We still remain uniquely ourselves!                                                      令人惊奇的是：当基督的形象在我们身上再现时，这个过程并没有破坏我们自己的个性。我们仍然是独一无二的自己！ 

One of the dangers in the church today is imitation. People have a tendency to become like their pastor, or like a church leader, or perhaps like some “famous Christian.” As they do this, they destroy their own uniqueness while failing to become like Jesus Christ. They lose both ways! Just as each child in a family resembles his parents and yet is different, so each child in God’s family comes more and more to resemble Jesus Christ and yet is different. Parents don’t duplicate themselves, they reproduce themselves, and wise parents permit their children to be themselves.    今天教会的危险之一是模仿。人们倾向于变得像他们的牧师，或者像教会领袖，或者可能像某个“著名的基督徒”。当他们这样做时，他们会破坏自己的独特性，同时无法变得像耶稣基督一样。他们两败俱伤！就像在家庭中的每个孩子都像他的父母，但又是不同的，所以上帝家中的每个孩子都越来越像耶稣基督，但又是不同的。父母不会复制自己，他们会复制自己，明智的父母会允许孩子做自己。

 3.  Spiritual Growth Brings Practical Results (1:8–11)                                                                   3. 属灵成长带来实际的结果（1:8-11

How can the believer be certain that he is growing spiritually? Peter gave three evidences of true spiritual growth.                                                                                                                                        信徒怎樣確知他的靈性在成長?     彼得說出三個特徵証明靈性真是在成長.

Fruitfulness (v. 8). Christian character is an end in itself, but it is also a means to an end. The more we become like Jesus Christ, the more the Spirit can use us in witness and service. The believer who is not growing is idle (“barren”) and unfruitful. His knowledge of Jesus Christ is producing nothing practical in his life. The word translated “idle” also means “ineffective.” The people who fail to grow usually fail in everything else!                                                                        多结果子（第 8 节）。基督徒品格本身就是目的，但也是达到目的的手段。我们越像耶稣基督，圣灵就越能在见证和服务中使用我们。没有成长的信徒是闲散的（“贫瘠的”）和不结果子的。他对耶稣基督的认识在他的生活中没有产生任何实际的东西。翻译为“闲置”的词也意味着“无效”。没有成长的人通常会在其他所有事情上都失败！ 

Some of the most effective Christians I have known are people without dramatic talents and special abilities, or even exciting personalities, yet God has used them in a marvelous way. Why? Because they are becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. They have the kind of character and conduct that God can trust with blessing. They are fruitful because they are faithful; they are effective because they are growing in their Christian experience.                                                      我所认识的一些最有效的基督徒是没有戏剧才能和特殊能力的人，甚至没有令人兴奋的个性，但上帝却以奇妙的方式使用了他们。为什么？因为他们越来越像耶稣基督。他们的品格和行为是上帝可以赐福给他们的。他们結果累累，因为他们忠诚；他们做事有成效的，因为他们在基督徒的经历中成长。 

These beautiful qualities of character do exist “within us” because we possess the divine nature. We must cultivate them so that they increase and produce fruit in and through our lives.              这些美好的品格的品质确实存在于“我们的内心”，因为我们拥有神圣的本性。我们必须培养它们，使它们在我们的生活中增加并结出果实。 

Vision (v. 9). Nutritionists tell us that diet can certainly affect vision, and this is especially true in the spiritual realm. The unsaved person is in the dark because Satan has blinded his mind (2 Cor. 4:3–4). A person has to be born again before his eyes are opened and he can see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). But after our eyes are opened, it is important that we increase our vision and see all that God wants us to see. The phrase cannot see afar off is the translation of a word that means “shortsighted.” It is the picture of somebody closing or squinting his eyes, unable to see at a distance.                                                                                                                                                        异象（第 9 节）。营养学家告诉我们，饮食肯定会影响视力，在屬靈命中的领域尤其如此。未得救的人处于黑暗中，因为撒旦已经蒙蔽了他的思想（林后 4:3-4）。一个人必须在他的眼睛被打开之前重生，他才能看到上帝的国度（约翰福音 3:3）。但是在我们的眼睛被打开之后，重要的是我们增加了我们的视野，看到了上帝想让我们看到的一切。 “不能远看”这个词翻译的意思是“目光短浅”。这是人闭上或眯着眼睛，无法看到远处的画面。 

There are some Christians who see only their own church or their own denomination, but who fail to see the greatness of God’s family around the world. Some believers see the needs at home but have no vision for a lost world. Someone asked Phillips Brooks what he would do to revive a dead church, and he replied, “I would preach a missionary sermon and take up a collection!” Jesus admonished His disciples, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).                                                                                                                                有些基督徒只看到他们自己的教会或他们自己的教派，却看不到上帝在世界各地的大家庭的伟大。一些信徒看到了家庭的需要，但对迷失的世界没有异象。有人问菲利布鲁克(Phillips Brooks)他会做什么来复兴一个死去的教堂，他回答说：“我会传教布道并收集現象(异象)”耶稣告诫门徒：“举目观看田野；因为它们已经是白色的，可以收割了”（约翰福音 4:35） 

Some congregations today are like the church at Laodicea: they are proud that they are “rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” and do not realize that they are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). It is a tragedy to be “spiritually nearsighted,” but it is even a greater tragedy to be blind!                                                                    今天的教會的一些会众就像老底嘉的教会一样：他们自以為傲的認為他們“富足而繼續富足，一无所缺”为荣，却不知道自己是“困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身露体”（启 3:17）。 “属灵的近视”是悲剧，但盲人更是更大的悲剧！ 

If we forget what God has done for us, we will not be excited to share Christ with others. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have been purged and for[1]given! God has opened our eyes! Let’s not forget what He has done! Rather, let’s cultivate gratitude in our hearts and sharpen our spiritual vision. Life is too brief and the needs of the world too great for God’s people to be walking around with their eyes closed!                                                                                                      如果我们忘记了上帝为我们所做的，我们就不会兴奋地与他人分享基督。通过耶稣基督的宝血，我们得到了净化和赐予！上帝开了我们的眼睛！让我们不要忘记他所做的一切！相反，让我们在心中培养感恩，并提高我们的靈命的视野。生命太短暂，世界的需要太大，上帝的子民不能闭着眼睛四处走动！ 

Security (vv. 10–11). If you walk around with your eyes closed, you will stumble! But the growing Christian walks with confidence because he knows he is secure in Christ. It is not our profession of faith that guarantees that we are saved; it is our progression in the faith that gives us that assurance. The person who claims to be a child of God but whose character and conduct give no evidence of spiritual growth is deceiving himself and heading for judgment.                                    安全（10-11 兩节）。如果你闭着眼睛走来走去，你会绊倒的！但是成长中的基督徒行走在信心中，因为他知道他在基督里是安全的。保证我们得救的不是我们的信仰告白；正是我们在信仰上的进步给了我们这种保证。声称自己是上帝的孩子，但其品格和行为没有证明属灵成长的人, 是在欺骗自己并走向审判。  

Peter pointed out that “calling” and “election” go together. The same God who elects His people also ordains the means to call them. The two must go together, as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.… whereunto he called you by our gospel” (2 Thess. 2:13–14). We do not preach election to unsaved peo[1]ple; we preach the gospel. But God uses that gospel to call sinners to repentance, and then those sinners discover that they were chosen by God!                                                                                                                                            彼得指出“呼召”和“拣选”是相辅相成的。拣选祂子民的同一位上帝, 也规定了召唤他们的方法。正如保罗写信给帖撒罗尼迦前书的那样，这两者必须并存：“上帝从起初就拣选了你们，以致获得救恩……他用我们的福音呼召你们”（帖撒罗尼迦后书 2:13-14）。我们不向未得救的人宣扬拣选；我们传福音。但上帝用福音呼召罪人悔改，然后那些罪人发现他们是被上帝拣选的！ 

Peter also pointed out that election is no excuse for spiritual immaturity or for lack of effort in the Christian life. Some believers say, “What is going to be is going to be. There is nothing we can do.” But Peter admonished us to “be diligent.” This means “make every effort.” (He used this same verb in 2 Peter 1:5.) While it is true that God must work in us before we can do His will (Phil. 2:12–13), it is also true that we must be willing for God to work, and we must cooperate with Him. Divine election must never be an excuse for human laziness.                                                彼得还指出，拣选不是属灵不成熟或基督徒生活缺乏努力的借口。一些信徒说,“将要成就的就是将要成为的。我们无能为力。”但彼得告诫我们要“勤奋”。这意味着“尽一切努力”。 （他在彼得后书 1:5 中使用了同样的动词。）虽然上帝必须在我们里面工作，我们才能遵行祂的旨意（腓 2:12-13），但我们必须愿意上帝要工作，我们必须与祂合作。神圣的拣选绝不能成为人类懒惰的借口。 

The Christian who is sure of his election and calling will never “stumble” but will prove by a consistent life that he is truly a child of God. He will not always be on the mountaintop, but he will always be climbing higher. If we do “these things” (the things listed in 2 Peter 1:5–7, cf. v. 8), if we display Christian growth and character in our daily lives, then we can be sure we are converted and will one day be in heaven.                                                                                                                    确信自己的拣选和呼召的基督徒永远不会“跌倒”，而是会通过一贯的生活证明他确实是上帝的孩子。他不会一直在山顶，但他会一直爬得更高。如果我们做“这些事情”（彼得后书 1：5-7 中列出的事情，請與第 8 节比較），如果我们在日常生活中表现出基督徒的成长和品格，那么我们可以确定, 我们已经悔改, 并愿意有一天成为天堂的國民。

In fact, the growing Christian can look forward to “an abundant entrance” into the eternal kingdom! The Greeks used this phrase to describe the welcome given Olympic winners when they returned home. Every believer will arrive in heaven, but some will have a more glorious welcome than others. Alas, some believers “shall be saved, yet so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15).                              事实上，成长中的基督徒可以期待“丰富的進入”进入永恒的国度！希腊人用这个短语来形容奥运冠军回国时受到的欢迎。每个信徒都会到达天堂，但有些人会比其他人受到更荣耀的欢迎。唉，有些信徒“必得救，但還沒有如被火烧”（林前 3:15）。

The word ministered in 2 Peter 1:11 is the same as the word add in 2 Peter 1:5, and is the translation of a Greek word that means “to bear the expenses of a chorus.” When the Greek theatrical groups presented their dramas, somebody had to underwrite the expenses, which were very great. The word came to mean “to make lavish provision.” If we make lavish provision to grow spiritually (2 Peter 1:5), then God will make lavish provision for us when we enter heaven!在彼得后书 1章11節 中的“支助”一词与彼得后书 1章5節 中的“加上”一词相同，是希腊词的翻译，意思是“承担合唱团的费用”。希腊剧团演出剧目时，必须有人承担费用，费用非常高。这个词的意思是“提供奢侈的食物”。如果我们为灵性成长提供丰富的供应（彼得后书 1:5），那么当我们进入天堂时，上帝会为我们提供丰富的供应！

Just think of the blessings that the growing Christian enjoys: fruitfulness, vision, security—and heaven’s best! All this and heaven too!                                                                                                      想想成长中的基督徒所享有的祝福：结果子、远见、安全   — 以及天堂最好的！所有这一切还有天堂！ 

The Christian life begins with faith, but that faith must lead to spiritual growth—unless it is dead faith. But dead faith is not saving faith (James 2:14–26). Faith leads to growth, and growth leads to practical results in life and service. People who have this kind of Christian experience are not likely to fall prey to apostate false teachers.                                                                                          基督徒的生活始于信心，但这种信心必须导致属灵的成长   — 除非它是死的信心。但死的信心不是得救的信心（雅各书 2：14-26）。信心会带来成长，成长会带来生活和服务的实际结果。有这种基督徒经历的人不太可能成为背道假教师的牺牲品。