聖經365恩典之旅

本日經文提要  ( 哥林多後書 8:1~10:18)

 

林後8:1弟兄們，我把神賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩告訴你們。
林後8:2就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間，還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。
林後8:3我可以證明他們是按著力量，而且也過了力量，自己甘心樂意的捐助。
林後8:4再三的求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分。
林後8:5並且他們所作的，不但照我們所想望的，更照神的旨意，先把自己獻給主，又歸附了我們。
林後8:6因此我勸提多，既然在你們中間開辦這慈惠的事，就當辦成了。
林後8:7你們既然在信心，口才，知識，熱心，和待我們的愛心上，都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上，也格外顯出滿足來。
林後8:8我說這話，不是吩咐你們，乃是藉著別人的熱心，試驗你們愛心的實在。
林後8:9你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典，他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。
林後8:10我在這事上把我的意見告訴你們，是與你們有益，因為你們下手辦這事，而且起此心意，已經有一年了。
林後8:11如今就當辦成這事，既有願作的心，也當照你們所有的去辦成。
林後8:12因為人若有願作的心，必蒙悅納，乃是照他所有的，並不是照他所無的。
林後8:13我原不是要別人輕省，你們受累，
林後8:14乃要均平，就是要你們的富餘，現在可以補他們的不足，使他們的富餘，將來也可以補你們的不足，這就均平了。
林後8:15如經上所記，『多收的也沒有餘，少收的也沒有缺。』
林後8:16多謝神，感動提多的心，叫他待你們殷勤，像我一樣。
林後8:17他固然是聽了我的勸，但自己更是熱心，情願往你們那裡去。
林後8:18我們還打發一位弟兄和他同去，這人在福音上得了眾教會的稱讚。
林後8:19不但這樣，他也被眾教會挑選，和我們同行，把所託與付我們的這捐貲送到了，可以榮耀主，又表明我們樂意的心。
林後8:20這就免得有人因我們收的捐銀很多，就挑我們的不是。
林後8:21我們留心行光明的事，不但在主面前，就在人面前，也是這樣。
林後8:22我們又打發一位兄弟同去，這人的熱心，我們在許多事上，屢次試驗過，現在他因為深信你們，就更加熱心了。
林後8:23論到提多，他是我的同伴，一同為你們勞碌的，論到那兩位弟兄，他們是眾教會的使者，是基督的榮耀。
林後8:24所以你們務要在眾教會面前，顯明你們愛心的憑據，並我所誇獎你們的憑據。

林後9:1論到供給聖徒的事，我不必寫信給你們。
林後9:2因為我知道你們樂意的心，常對馬其頓人誇獎你們，說亞該亞人豫備好了，已經有一年了，並且你們的熱心激動了許多人。
林後9:3但我打發那幾位弟兄去，要叫你們照我的話豫備妥當，免得我們在這事上誇獎你們的話落了空。
林後9:4萬一有馬其頓人與我們同去，見你們沒有豫備，就叫我們所確信的，反成了羞愧，你們的羞愧，更不用說了。
林後9:5因此，我想不得不求那幾位弟兄，先到你們那裡去，把從前所應許的捐貲，豫備妥當，就顯出你們所捐的，是出於樂意，不是出於勉強。
林後9:6少種的少收，多種的多收，這話是真的。
林後9:7各人要隨本心所酌定的，不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人，是神所喜愛的。
林後9:8神能將各樣的恩惠，多多的加給你們，使你們凡事常常充足，能多行各樣善事。
林後9:9如經上所記，『他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮，他的仁義存到永遠。』
林後9:10那賜種給撒種的，賜糧給人吃的，必多多加給你們種地的種子，又增添你們仁義的果子。
林後9:11叫你們凡事富足，可以多多施捨，就藉著我們使感謝歸於神。
林後9:12因為辦這供給的事，不但補聖徒的缺乏，而且叫許多人越發感謝神。
林後9:13他們從這供給的事上得了憑據，知道你們承認基督順服他的福音，多多的捐錢給他們和眾人，便將榮耀歸與神。
林後9:14他們也因神極大的恩賜，顯在你們心裡，就切切的想念你們，為你們祈禱。
林後9:15感謝神，因他有說不盡的恩賜。

林後10:1我保羅，就是與你們見面的時候是謙卑的，不在你們那裡的時候向你們是勇敢的，如今親自藉著基督的溫柔和平，勸你們。
林後10:2有人以為我是憑著血氣行事，我也以為必須用勇敢待這等的人，求你們不要叫我在你們那裡的時候，有這樣的勇敢。
林後10:3因為我們雖然在血氣中行事，卻不憑著血氣爭戰。
林後10:4我們爭戰的兵器，本不是屬血氣的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破堅固的營壘，
林後10:5將各樣的計謀，各樣攔阻人認識神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又將人所有的心意奪回，使他都順服基督。
林後10:6並且我已經豫備好了，等你們十分順服的時候，要責罰那一切不順服的人。
林後10:7你們是看眼前的麼，倘若有人自信是屬基督的，他要再想想，他如何屬基督，我們也是如何屬基督的。
林後10:8主賜給們權柄，是要造就你們，並不是要敗壞你們，我就是為這權柄稍微誇口，也不至於慚愧。
林後10:9我說這話免得你們以為我寫信是要威嚇你們。
林後10:10因為有人說：他的信，又沉重，又利害，及至見面，卻是氣貌不揚，言語粗俗的。
林後10:11這等人當想，我們不在那裡的時候，信上的言語如何，見面的時候，行事也必如何。
林後10:12因為我們不敢將自己和那自薦的人同列相比，他們用自己度量自己，用自己比較自己，乃是不通達的。
林後10:13我們不願意分外誇口，只要照神所量給我們的界限，搆到你們那裡。
林後10:14我們並非過了自己的界限，好像搆不到你們那裡，因為我們早就到你們那裡，傳了基督的福音。
林後10:15我們不仗著別人所勞碌的，分外誇口，但指望你們信心增長的時候，所量給我們的界限，就可以因著你們更加開展，
林後10:16得以將福音傳到你們以外的地方，並不是在別人界限之內，藉著他現成的事誇口。
林後10:17但誇口的當指著主誇口。

 

 

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[b]

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

 

 

2 Corinthians 9 

9 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a]
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry
10 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

7 You are judging by appearances.[a] If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b] 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.