1608 英翻中(腓力比書第九課) LET’S WIN THE RACE! 讓我們贏得這場比賽! 07/06/2026

1608 英翻中(腓力比書第九課)  LET’S WIN THE RACE!  讓我們贏得這場比賽!     07/06/2026

Lesson nine                LET’S WIN THE RACE!                 Philippians 3:12–16
第九課                        讓我們贏得這場比賽！                  腓立比書 3：12-16 

        Most people read biographies to satisfy their curiosity about great people, hoping also that they may discover the “secret” that made them great. I recall sitting in a grade school assembly program many years ago, listening to an aged doctor who promised to tell us the secret of his long, healthy life. (At one time he was a physician to the president of the United States. I’ve forgotten which one, but at that stage in my life, it seemed it must have been Washington or Jefferson.) All of us sat there with great expectation, hoping to learn the secret of a long life. At the climax of his address, the doctor told us, “Drink eight glasses of water a day!”                                                       很多人都為了滿足對偉人的好奇心，而閱讀他們的傳記，也希望能從閱讀中發現成為偉人的“秘密”。記得多年前，我坐在小學的一個集會中，聽一位年邁的醫生承諾，他會告訴我們長壽健康生活的秘訣。 （他曾經是美國總統的醫生。忘記是哪位，但在小候時的記憶裡，似乎是華盛頓，或杰斐遜。）所有人都滿懷期待地坐在那裡，希望知道長壽秘訣。在演講高潮時，醫生告訴我們，“每天喝八杯水！”

        In Philippians 3, Paul gave us his spiritual biography, his past (Phil. 3:1–11), his present (Phil. 3:12–16), and his future (Phil. 3:17–21). We have already met Paul “the accountant,” who discovered new values when he met Jesus Christ. In this section we meet Paul “the athlete” with his spiritual vigor, pressing toward the finish line in the Christian race. In the final section we will see Paul “the alien,” having his citizenship in heaven and looking for the coming  Jesus Christ. In each of these experiences, Paul was exercising the spiritual mind; he was looking at things on earth from God’s point of view. As a result, he was not upset by things behind him, around him, or before him — things did not rob him of his joy!
腓立比書第 3章，保羅述說他的屬靈傳記，他的過去（腓 3:1-11）現在（腓3:12-16）和未來（腓3:17-21）。我們已經知道保羅的“生世”，他在遇到耶穌基督時發現生命新的價值觀。在本段章節中，保羅談到“運動員”，他屬靈活力充沛，在基督徒的比賽中，向終點直奔。 在最後一段裡，將看到“外星人”保羅，他在天堂擁有公民的身份，並等待即將再來的耶穌基督。在每次的經歷中，保羅都在鍛煉他屬靈的心志；他是從上帝的角度來看地球上的事。 結果，他不為身後的，四周的當前的事而煩惱。沒有事能奪走他的喜樂！
 
         In his letters, Paul used many illustrations from the world to communicate truth about the Christian life. Four are prominent: the military (“Put on the whole armor of God”), architecture (“You are the temple of God”), agriculture (“Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap”), and athletics. In this paragraph, it is Paul the athlete. Bible students are not agreed as to the exact sport Paul was describing, whether the footrace or the chariot race. Either one will do, but my own preference is the chariot race. The Greek chariot, used in the Olympic Games and other events, was really only a small platform with a wheel on each side. The driver had very little to hold on to as he raced around the course. He had to lean forward and strain every nerve and muscle to maintain balance and control the horses. The verb “reaching forth” in Philippians 3:13 literally means “stretching as in a race.”
在他的書信中，保羅使用許多來自世界的例證，來闡釋有關基督徒生活的真理。有四件突出的事：軍事（“穿上上帝的全副軍裝”），建築（“你是上帝的殿”），農業（“人種的是什麼，收的也是什麼”），和體育。在這一段中，運動員是保羅。對於保羅所描述有關的運動項目，無論是賽跑還是戰車賽，聖經研究者並沒有達成一致意見。任何一種都行，但我的偏好是戰車比賽。用於奧運會和其他比賽的希臘戰車，實際上只是兩邊各有一個輪子的小平台。駕駛人在賽道上奔跑時，幾乎沒有什麼可以緊緊抓住的東西。他不得不身體前傾，繃緊每一根神經和肌肉，以保持賽車的平衡，並控制馬匹。腓立比書 3章13節中的動詞“得著”的字面意思是“向著標竿直奔”。
 
         It is important to note that Paul was not telling us how to be saved. If he were, it would be a picture of salvation by works or self-effort, and this would contradict what he wrote in the first eleven verses of Philippians 3. In order to participate in the Greek games, the athlete had to be a citizen. He did not run the race to gain his citizenship. In Philippians 3:20, Paul reminded us that “our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven.” Because we are already the children of God through faith in Christ, we have the responsibility of “running the race” and achieving the goals God has set for us. This is a graphic picture of Philippians 2:12–13: “Work out your own salvation … for it is God which worketh in you.” Each believer is on the track; each has a special lane in which to run; and each has a goal to achieve. If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward. If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship. (Read 1 Cor. 3:11–15 for the same idea, only using architecture as the symbol.)
重要的是保羅並沒有告訴我們他如何得救。若是有的話，那將是幅藉由行為或自我努力得救的畫面，這與在腓立比書 3章 11 節中，他所寫的內容相矛盾。 為了參加希臘運動會，運動員必須是公民。他沒有因參加比賽以獲得公民身份。在腓立比書 3章20節中，保羅提醒我們“我們屬於 [公民身份] 天上的”。已經因為信基督而成為上帝的兒女，所以有責任“奔跑”，並實現上帝為我們設定的目標。這是腓立比書 2 章 12至13兩節的畫面：“要作成你們得救的工夫…都是上帝在你們心裡運行。”每個信徒都在軌道上；每人都有特定的軌道供以賽跑；並且每人都有要實現的目標。如果我們按照上帝計劃去達到目標，那麼就會得到獎賞。如果失敗了，我們會失去獎賞，但不會失去我們天國的公民身份。 （讀  林前 3:11-15 以獲得相同的想法，僅使用工程作為符號。）
 
         All of us want to be “winning Christians” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved. What are the essentials for winning the race and one day receiving the reward that is promised?
我們所有的人都想成為“得勝的基督徒”，並實現得救的目的。贏得多麼必要的比賽，將來並得到應許的獎賞？
 
1.  Dissatisfaction (3:12–13a)
1.  不滿意（3:12-13節上半段）
 
         “Not as though I had already attained!” This is the statement of a great Christian who never permitted himself to be satisfied with his spiritual attainments. Obviously, Paul was satisfied with Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10), but he was not satisfied with his Christian life. A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race.
“不是說我已經達到了！”這是偉大的基督徒的聲明，他從不滿足於自己屬靈的成就。 顯然，保羅對耶穌基督很滿意（腓 3:10），但對他自己的基督徒生活並不滿意。成聖的不滿意是基督徒競賽得勝的基本要件。
 
         Harry came out of the manager’s office with a look on his face dismal enough to wilt the roses on the secretary’s desk.
哈利(Harry)從經理辦公室出來，臉色陰沉得足以讓秘書桌上的玫瑰枯萎。
 
“You didn’t get fired?” she asked.
她問，“你沒有被解僱？”
 
         “No, it’s not that bad. But he sure did lay into me about my sales record. I can’t figure it out; for the past month I’ve been bringing in plenty of orders. I thought he’d compliment me, but instead he told me to get with it.”
“不，沒有那麼糟糕。但他確實把我的銷售記錄拿出來。我想不通；在過去的一個月裡，收到了大量訂單。我想他會稱讚我，但他卻告訴我要謹慎。”
 
         Later in the day, the secretary talked to her boss about Harry. The boss chuckled. “Harry is one of our best salesmen and I’d hate to lose him. But he has a tendency to rest on his laurels and be satisfied with his performance. If I didn’t get him mad at me once a month, he’d never produce!”
當天晚些時候，秘書和她的老闆談論到哈利。老闆笑著說，“哈利是我們最好的推銷員之一，我不想失去他。但他傾向於滿足於自己的成就，並對自己的表現感到滿意。若有一個月不惹他生氣一次，他就永遠不會長進！”
 
         Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their “running” with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress. Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit. After all, there were not too many believers in Paul’s day who had experienced all that he had! But Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself with himself and with Jesus Christ! The dual use of the word perfect in Philippians 3:12 and 15 explains his thinking. He has not arrived yet at perfection (Phil. 3:12), but he is “perfect” [mature] (Phil. 3:15), and one mark of this maturity is the knowledge that he is not perfect! The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself and strives to do better.
許多基督徒自滿，因為他們將自己的“賽跑”與其他基督徒的“賽跑”比較，通常是那些不大長進的基督徒比較。 若保羅將自己與別人比較，他會引起自傲，也許會鬆懈下來。畢竟，在保羅的時代，有他的經歷的信徒並不多！但保羅却沒有和別人比較；他將自己與自己比較，並且與耶穌基督相比較！腓立比書 3章12節 和 15節 中，兩次使用 “完美” 一詞，來解釋了他的想法。他還沒有達到完美（腓 3:12），但他是“完美的”[成熟]（腓 3:15），這種成熟的標誌是知道他並不完美！成熟的基督徒誠實地評價自己並努力要做得更好。
 
         Often in the Bible we are warned against a false estimate of our spiritual condition. The church at Sardis had “a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1). They had reputation without reality. The church at Laodicea boasted that it was rich, when in God’s sight it was “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). In contrast to the Laodicean church, the believers at Smyrna thought they were poor when they were really rich! (Rev. 2:9). Samson thought he still had his old power, but in reality it had departed from him (Judg. 16:20).
聖經常常警告我們不要錯誤地估計自己的屬靈狀況。撒狄教會有“按名你是活的，其實是死的”（啟3:1）。他們有名聲而沒有實際。老底嘉的教會誇口說它很富有，但在上帝看來，它是“困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身”（啟  3:17）。與老底嘉教會不同的是，士每拿的信徒在真正富有的時候還認為自己很窮！（啟 2:9）。參孫以為他仍然擁有原來的能力，但實際上那能力早已經離開了他（士 16:20）。
 
          Self-evaluation can be a dangerous thing, because we can err in two directions: (1) making ourselves better than we are, or (2) making ourselves worse than we really are. Paul had no illusions about himself; he still had to keep “pressing forward” in order to “lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold” of him. A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:1–2).
自我評估是件危險的事情，因為我們可能會在兩個方向上犯錯：（1）讓自己比現在更好，或（2）讓自己比實際情況更糟。保羅對自己沒有幻想；他仍然必須繼續“向前奔跑”，以“抓住基督為他設立的目標”。屬靈的不滿是屬靈進步的必要條件。 “上帝啊，我的心切慕祢，如鹿切慕溪水，我的心渴想上帝，就是永生的上帝”（詩篇 42:1-2）。
 
2.  Devotion (3:13a– “this one thing I do”)
2.  獻身（3:13節上半段–“我做的這一件事”）
 
         “One thing” is a phrase that is important to the Christian life. “One thing thou lackest,” said Jesus to the self-righteous rich young ruler (Mark 10:21). “One thing is needful,” He explained to busy Martha when she criticized her sister (Luke 10:42). “One thing I know,” exclaimed the man who had received his sight by the power of Christ (John 9:25). “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after,” testified the psalmist (Ps. 27:4). Too many Christians are too involved in “many things,” when the secret of progress is to concentrate on “one thing.” It was this decision that was a turning point in D. L. Moody’s life. Before the tragedy of the Chicago fire in 1871, Mr. Moody was involved in Sunday school promotion, YMCA work, evangelistic meetings, and many other activities, but after the fire, he determined to devote himself exclusively to evangelism. “This one thing I do!” became a reality to him. As a result, millions of people heard the gospel.
“一件事”是對基督徒生活很重要的短語。 “你缺少一件事，”耶穌對自以為是富有的年輕官說（可 10:21）。 當瑪莎批評她的妹妹時，耶穌向忙碌的瑪莎解釋，“有一件事是必要的，”（路 10:42）。基督的大能醫治那位重見光明的人大聲說，“有一件事我知道。”（約 9:25）。詩人作證說，“有一件事我曾向主求過，我仍要尋求。”（詩 27:4）。太多的基督徒過度關心“很多事”，而上進的秘訣只是專注於“一件事”。正是這個秘訣成為慕迪宣教士( D. L. Moody) 人生的轉折點。在 1871 年芝加哥火災悲劇之前，慕迪宣教士參與了主日學推廣，基督教青年會工作，佈道會和許多其他活動，但在火災之後，他決定專心致力於傳福音。 “我只做這一件事！”對他來說變成實存。結果，數以百萬計的人聽到了福音。
 
        The believer must devote himself to “running the Christian race.” No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing. There are those few athletes who seem proficient in many sports, but they are the exception. The winners are those who concentrate, who keep their eyes on the goal and let nothing distract them. They are devoted entirely to their calling. Like Nehemiah the wall-building governor, they reply to the distracting invitations, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down” (Neh. 6:3). “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Concentration is the secret of power. If a river is allowed to overflow its banks, the area around it becomes a swamp. But if that river is dammed and controlled, it becomes a source of power. It is wholly a matter of values and priorities, living for that which matters most.
信徒必須致力於“參加基督徒的賽跑”。沒有運動員能成功的做每件事；他靠專心一致取得成功。有少數運動員似乎精通許多運動，但那是例外。勝利者是集中註意力的人，他們把注意力集中在一個目標上，不讓任何事情分散他們的注意力。他們完全獻身於主的呼召。就像修城牆的總督尼希米一樣，他們回應那些令人分心的邀請，“我正在做偉大的工作，不能下來”（尼  6:3）。 “心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的事上都不穩靠”（雅 1：8）。專心是能力來源的秘訣。如果一條河流漫過河岸，它周圍的區域就會變成沼澤。但如果這條河被築堤所控制，它就會成為動力之源頭。這完全是價值觀和優先事項的問題，為最重要的事情而活。
 
3. Direction (3:13b)
3. 方向 (3:13節後半段)
 
        The unsaved person is controlled by the past, but the Christian running the race looks toward the future. Imagine what would happen on the race course if the charioteers (or the runners) started looking behind them! It is bad enough for a plowman to look back (Luke 9:62), but for a charioteer to do so means a possible collision and serious injury.
未得救的人被過去所控制，但賽跑的基督徒卻著眼於未來。想像一下，如果車夫（或賽跑者）開始向他們身後看，在跑道上將會發生什麼事！拿著鋤頭回頭看的農夫已經夠糟糕的了（路 9:62），但對於車夫來說，更可能發生碰撞，和造成嚴重傷害。
 
         We are accustomed to saying “past, present, future,” but we should view time as flowing from the future into the present and then into the past. At least, the believer should be future-oriented, “forgetting those things which are behind.” Please keep in mind that in Bible terminology, “to forget” does not mean “to fail to remember.” Apart from senility, hypnosis, or a brain malfunction, no mature person can forget what has happened in the past. We may wish that we could erase certain bad memories, but we cannot. “To forget” in the Bible means “no longer to be influenced by or affected by.” When God promises, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17), He is not suggesting that He will conveniently have a bad memory! This is impossible with God. What God is saying is, “I will no longer hold their sins against them. Their sins can no longer affect their standing with Me or influence My attitude toward them.”
我們習慣說“過去，現在，未來”，但我們應該把時間看作是從未來流向現在，然後流向過去。至少，信徒應該面向未來，“忘記後面的那些”。請記住，在聖經術語中，“忘記”並不是說“不記得”。除了衰老，催眠或大腦故障，沒有任何成熟的人會忘記過去發生的事。 可能我們希望抹去過去不好的記憶，但我們做不到。在聖經中“忘記”的意思是“不再受其影響或受其左右”。當上帝應許：“我不再記念他們的罪孽”（來 10:17）時，並不是在暗示祂常常會很記憶他們不好的事！對上帝來說是不可能的。祂的意思是：“我不再追究他們的罪過。他們的罪不能再影響他們在我面前的地位，或我對他們的態度。”        

         So, “forgetting those things which are behind” does not suggest an impossible feat of mental and psychological gymnastics by which we try to erase the sins and mistakes of the past. It simply means that we break the power of the past by living for the future. We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past. There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back (1 Tim. 1:12–17), but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed.
因此，“忘記那些背後的東西”並不是說，藉由不可能的頭腦和心理的靈巧操練，試圖消除過去的罪和錯誤。它只是說，藉由未來的存活，我們來消除過去的陰影。我們無法改變過去，但可以改變過去對我們的意義。保羅過去的一些事情可能會成為阻礙他向善邁進的重擔（提前 1:12-17），但它們却成為激勵他向善的動力。過去的事件沒有改變，但保羅對它們的理解發生了變化。
 
         A good example of this principle is Joseph (Gen. 45:1–15). When he met his brothers the second time and revealed himself to them, he held no grudge against them. To be sure, they had mistreated him, but he saw the past from God’s point of view. As a result he was unable to hold anything against his brothers. Joseph knew that God had a plan for his life—a race for him to run—and in fulfilling that plan and looking ahead, he broke the power of the past.
針對該原則在聖經裡有個很好的例子來解說，就是約瑟的身世（創 45:1-15）。當約瑟第二次見到他的兄弟，並向他們展示自己時，約瑟對他們沒有怨恨。誠然，他們虐待了他，但他從上帝的角度看待過去的事。總結，約瑟沒法對待他的兄弟。但約瑟知道，這是上帝在他的生命中的計劃，就像一場要他出面的比賽一樣，在實現上帝對他的計劃，和他展望未來的過程中，他粉碎了過去事件對他的壓力。
 
         Too many Christians are shackled by regrets of the past. They are trying to run the race by looking backward! No wonder they stumble and fall and get in the way of other Christians! Some Christian runners are being distracted by the successes of the past, not the failures, and this is just as bad. “The things which are behind” must be set aside and “the things which are before” must take their place.
太多的基督徒被過去的遺憾所束縛。他們正試圖藉由回想過去的事來進行賽跑！難怪他們會跌倒，並妨礙其他基督徒！ 有些基督徒被過去的成功引致分心，使賽跑雖未失敗，却是同樣的糟糕。 “後來發生事”必須擱置，“以前的事”必須取而代之。
 
         It is possible to have dissatisfaction, devotion, and direction and still lose the race and the reward. There is a fourth essential.
可能仍因為有不滿意，獻身的事，有關方向，仍然會輸掉比賽和獎賞。還有第四件必不可少的事。
 
4.  Determination (3:14)
4.  決心 (3:14)
 
         “I press.” This same verb is translated “I follow after” in Philippians 3:12, and it carries the idea of intense endeavor. The Greeks used it to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey. A man does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the games. He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win! The same zeal that Paul employed when he persecuted the church (Phil. 3:6), he displayed in serving Christ. Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christians put as much determination into their spiritual life as they do their golfing, fishing, or bowling?
“我竭力追求。”這個動詞在腓立比書 3章12節中被翻譯為“我追求”， 但帶有竭盡所有能力的意味。希臘人用它來描述渴望追逐獵物的獵人。光聽講座，看電影，看書或在比賽中歡呼的人，並不能成為獲勝的運動員。他必須進入比賽，並決心要獲勝，才能成為獲勝的運動員！保羅使用他逼迫教會時所發的熱心（腓 3:6），他以同樣的熱情來服侍基督。想想看，如果基督徒像下決心打高爾夫球，釣魚，或打保齡球那樣，把這決心對待自己屬靈生活上，那不是很好嗎？
 
         There are two extremes to avoid here: (1) “I must do it all” and (2) “God must do it all!” The first describes the activist, the second the quietist, and both are heading for failure. “Let go and let God!” is a clever slogan, but it does not fully describe the process of Christian living. What quarterback would say to his team, “OK, men, just let go and let the coach do it all!” On the other hand, no quarterback would say, “Listen to me and forget what the coach says!” Both extremes are wrong.
這裡有兩個極端要避免：（1）“我必須做這一切”和（2）“上帝必須做這一切！”前者描述激進主義者，後者描述安靜主義者，兩者都在走向失敗。 “放手讓上帝！”是聰明的口號，但它並沒有完全描述基督徒生活的過程。就像打足球時，投手會對他的球隊隊員說，“好吧，伙計們，放手讓教練做這一切吧！”從另一方面看，沒有足球投手會說，“聽我的，忘記教練說什麼！”這兩個極端都是錯誤的。
 
         The Christian runner with the spiritual mind realizes that God must work in him if he is going to win the race (Phil. 2:12–13). “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). God works in us that He might work through us. As we apply ourselves to the things of the spiritual life, God is able to mature us and strengthen us for the race. “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7–8). Some Christians are so busy “dying to self ” that they never come back to life again to run the race! And others are so sure they can make it on their own that they never stop to read the Word, pray, or ask for the power of the Lord.
有屬靈心志的基督徒參與賽跑時，他會意識到，若要贏得比賽，上帝就必須在他身上動工（腓  2:12-13）。 “沒有我，你們什麼也不能做”（約 15：5）。上帝在我們裡面的作為，以便祂可以藉由我們作工。當我們將自己屬靈生命應用在服事上時，上帝就能夠使我們成熟，並加強我們的比賽。 “要操練敬虔”（提前 4:7-8）。一些基督徒忙於“向自己死”，以至於他們再也無法復活來參與賽跑！而另一些人則非常確信他們可以靠自己做到這一點，以至於他們從不停止閱讀聖經，祈禱，或祈求主的大能。
 
         Toward what goal is the runner pressing with such spiritual determination? “The prize of the high [upward] calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). When he reaches the goal he will receive the reward! Again, Paul was not suggesting that we attain to heaven by our own efforts. He was simply saying that just as the athlete is rewarded for his performance, so the faithful believer will be crowned when Jesus Christ returns. (See 1 Cor. 9:24–27 for a parallel, and note that while only one athlete may receive a prize, all Christians may receive the reward. Furthermore, the laurel wreath of the Olympic Games will fade, but the crown Christ gives will never fade.) The important thing is that we reach the goal He has established for us. No matter how successful we may be in the eyes of men, we cannot be rewarded unless we “take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of [us]” (Phil. 3:12 niv).
賽跑者以這樣的屬靈決心，竭力向著什麼目標前進？ “要得上帝在基督耶穌裡從[上面]召我來得的獎賞”（腓 3:14）。當他達到目標時，他將獲得獎勵！再一次，保羅並不是建議我們靠自己的努力到達天堂。他只是說，正如運動員因其表現而獲得獎勵一樣，當耶穌基督回來時，忠心的信徒也會得到加冕。 （參見  林前9:24-27 的相似之處，並注意雖然只有一名運動員可能獲得獎品，但所有基督徒都可能獲得獎賞。此外，奧運會的桂冠會褪色，但基督賜予的冠冕會永不褪色。）重要的是我們達到了耶穌為我們設立的目標。無論我們在人眼中多麼成功，除非“持定基督耶穌為[我們]保守的”（腓3:12 新國際版），我們就無法得到獎賞。
 
5.  Discipline (3:15–16)
5.  操練（3:15-16）
 
         It is not enough to run hard and win the race; the runner must also obey the rules. In the Greek games, the judges were very strict about this. Any infringement of the rules disqualified the athlete. He did not lose his citizenship (though he disgraced it), but he did lose his privilege to participate and win a prize. In Philippians 3:15–16, Paul emphasized the importance of the Christian remembering the “spiritual rules” laid down in the Word.
努力贏得賽跑比賽是不夠的；參與者也必須遵守規則。在希臘的比賽中，裁判對此非常嚴格。任何違反規則的行為，都將取消運動員的比賽資格。他雖沒有失去他的公民身份（可是他使它失去榮譽），但他確實失去了參與和獲獎的特權。在腓立比書 3 章 15-16 兩節中，保羅強調基督徒要牢記聖經中“屬靈規則”的重要性。
 
         One of the greatest athletes ever to come out of the United States was Jim Thorpe. At the 1912 Olympics at Stockholm, he won the pentathlon and the decathlon, and was undoubtedly the hero of the games. But the next year officials found that Thorpe had played semiprofessional baseball and therefore had forfeited his amateur standing. This meant that he had to return his gold medals and his trophy, and that his Olympic achievements were erased from the records. It was a high price to pay for breaking the rules.
有史以來最偉大的美國運動員之一是吉姆 · 索普(Jim Thorpe)。在1912年瑞典省城斯德哥爾(Stockholm)奧運會上，他贏得了五項全能和十項全能，無疑是奧運會的英雄。但第二年，官方發現索普打的是半職業棒球，因此失去了他的業餘地位。這意味著他必須歸還他的金牌和獎杯，而他的奧運成就也從記錄中抹去。違反規則要付出高昂的代價。
 
         This is what Paul had in mind in 1 Corinthians 9:24–27. “Any man who enters an athletic contest practices rigid self-control in training” (Phil. 3:25, wms). If the athlete breaks training, he is disqualified; if he breaks the rules of the game, he is disqualified. “No contestant in the games is crowned, unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5 wms). The issue is not what he thinks or what the spectators think but what the judges say. One day each Christian will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10–12). The Greek word for “judg[1]ment seat” is bema, the very same word used to describe the place where the Olympic judges gave out the prizes! If we have disciplined ourselves to obey the rules, we shall receive a prize.
這就是保羅在哥林多前書 9章24-27等節中的想法。 “任何參加運動會比賽的人都會在訓練中嚴格控制自己”（腓 3:25，wms版本）。如果運動員中斷訓練，他會被取消資格；如果他違反遊戲規則，將取消他參賽的資格。 “除非他按照規則比賽，否則，任何參賽者都不會加冕。”（提後 2:5 wms版本）。問題不在於他怎麼想，也不在於觀眾怎麼想，而在於奧運會裁判怎麼說。有一天，每個基督徒都會站在基督的審判台前（羅 14:10-12）。 “審判席”的希臘詞是bema，這個詞用來描述奧運會評委頒發獎品的地方！如果我們自律遵守規則，我們就會得到獎品。
 
         Bible history is filled with people who began the race with great success but failed at the end because they disregarded God’s rules. They did not lose their salvation, but they did lose their rewards (1 Cor. 3:15). It happened to Lot (Gen. 19), Samson (Judg. 16), Saul (1 Sam. 28; 31), and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). And it can happen to us! It is an exciting experience to run the race daily, “looking unto Jesus” (Heb. 12:1–2). It will be even more exciting when we experience that “upward calling” and Jesus returns to take us to heaven! Then we will stand before the bema to receive our rewards! It was this future prospect that motivated Paul, and it can also motivate us.
聖經歷史上充斥著開始比賽時，先取得巨大成功但最終失敗的人，因為他們無視上帝的規則。他們沒有失去救恩，但確實失去了獎賞（林前   3:15）。它發生在羅得（創 19 章），參孫（士 16 章），掃羅（撒上  28 章；31 章）以及亞拿尼亞和撒非喇（徒  5 章）身上。也可能發生在我們身上！每天作 “仰望耶穌”的賽跑，是令人興奮的經驗（來 12:1-2）。當我們體驗到“天上的呼召”，耶穌再來帶我們上天堂時，會更令人興奮！那我們就站在發獎品台(bema)前，領取我們的獎品吧！ 正是這種未來的前景激勵著保羅，也能激勵著我們。