W3 2012-02-08 (林後12)
經文: 哥林多後書 12:9-10 他對我說：我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的；因我什麼時候軟弱，什麼時候就剛強了。
默想: 保羅在此討論到軟弱與剛強之間的弔詭 (paradox) 關係。保羅說，我什麼時後軟弱，什麼時候就剛強了。這是因為自知軟弱者，比較願意去依靠主的恩典與能力。自以為剛強的人，比較會依靠自己的聰明與能力。求主幫助我，常常看清楚自己的軟弱與不足，更常常信靠主耶穌基督復活的大能與恩典，謙卑服侍主。
題目: 「我的恩典夠你用的」主耶穌曾向保羅說：你只要有我的恩典就夠了。試問，你曾有保羅的體驗嗎？(8節)
12:1 我自誇固然無益，但我是不得已的。如今我要說到主的顯現和啟示。
I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:2 我認得一個在基督裡的人，他前十四年被提到第三層天上去；或在身內，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道；只有 神知道。
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
12:3 我認得這人；或在身內，或在身外，我都不知道，只有 神知道。
And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --
12:4 他被提到樂園裡，聽見隱祕的言語，是人不可說的。
and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
12:5 為這人，我要誇口；但是為我自己，除了我的軟弱以外，我並不誇口。
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
12:6 我就是願意誇口也不算狂，因為我必說實話；只是我禁止不說，恐怕有人把我看高了，過於他在我身上所看見所聽見的。
Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
12:7 又恐怕我因所得的啟示甚大，就過於自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉體上，就是撒但的差役要攻擊我，免得我過於自高。
And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.
12:8 為這事，我三次求過主，叫這刺離開我。
Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
12:9 他對我說：我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10 我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的；因我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11 我成了愚妄人，是被你們強逼的。我本該被你們稱許才是。我雖算不了甚麼，卻沒有一件事在那些最大的使徒以下。
I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
12:12 我在你們中間，用百般的忍耐，藉著神蹟、奇事、異能，顯出使徒的憑據來。
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
12:13 除了我不累著你們這一件事，你們還有甚麼事不及別的教會呢？這不公之處，求你們饒恕我吧。
For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
12:14 如今，我打算第三次到你們那裡去，也必不累著你們；因我所求的是你們，不是你們的財物。兒女不該為父母積財，父母該為兒女積財。
Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.
12:15 我也甘心樂意為你們的靈魂費財費力。難道我越發愛你們，就越發少得你們的愛嗎？
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?
12:16 罷了，我自己並沒有累著你們，你們卻有人說，我是詭詐，用心計牢籠你們。
But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by guile.
12:17 我所差到你們那裡去的人，我藉著他們一個人佔過你們的便宜嗎？
Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?
12:18 我勸了提多到你們那裡去；又差那位兄弟與他同去。提多佔過你們的便宜嗎？我們行事，不同是一個心靈（或作：聖靈）嗎？不同是一個腳蹤嗎？
I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
12:19 你們到如今，還想我們是向你們分訴；我們本是在基督裡當 神面前說話。親愛的弟兄啊，一切的事都是為造就你們。
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
12:20 我怕我再來的時候，見你們不合我所想望的，你們見我也不合你們所想望的；又怕有紛爭、嫉妒、惱怒、結黨、毀謗、讒言、狂傲、混亂的事。
For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, and that you may find me not what you wish; that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
12:21 且怕我來的時候，我的 神叫我在你們面前慚愧，又因許多人從前犯罪，行污穢、姦淫、邪蕩的事不肯悔改，我就憂愁。
I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they have practiced.
I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:2 我認得一個在基督裡的人，他前十四年被提到第三層天上去；或在身內，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道；只有 神知道。
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
12:3 我認得這人；或在身內，或在身外，我都不知道，只有 神知道。
And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --
12:4 他被提到樂園裡，聽見隱祕的言語，是人不可說的。
and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
12:5 為這人，我要誇口；但是為我自己，除了我的軟弱以外，我並不誇口。
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
12:6 我就是願意誇口也不算狂，因為我必說實話；只是我禁止不說，恐怕有人把我看高了，過於他在我身上所看見所聽見的。
Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
12:7 又恐怕我因所得的啟示甚大，就過於自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉體上，就是撒但的差役要攻擊我，免得我過於自高。
And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.
12:8 為這事，我三次求過主，叫這刺離開我。
Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
12:9 他對我說：我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10 我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的；因我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11 我成了愚妄人，是被你們強逼的。我本該被你們稱許才是。我雖算不了甚麼，卻沒有一件事在那些最大的使徒以下。
I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
12:12 我在你們中間，用百般的忍耐，藉著神蹟、奇事、異能，顯出使徒的憑據來。
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
12:13 除了我不累著你們這一件事，你們還有甚麼事不及別的教會呢？這不公之處，求你們饒恕我吧。
For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
12:14 如今，我打算第三次到你們那裡去，也必不累著你們；因我所求的是你們，不是你們的財物。兒女不該為父母積財，父母該為兒女積財。
Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.
12:15 我也甘心樂意為你們的靈魂費財費力。難道我越發愛你們，就越發少得你們的愛嗎？
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?
12:16 罷了，我自己並沒有累著你們，你們卻有人說，我是詭詐，用心計牢籠你們。
But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by guile.
12:17 我所差到你們那裡去的人，我藉著他們一個人佔過你們的便宜嗎？
Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?
12:18 我勸了提多到你們那裡去；又差那位兄弟與他同去。提多佔過你們的便宜嗎？我們行事，不同是一個心靈（或作：聖靈）嗎？不同是一個腳蹤嗎？
I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
12:19 你們到如今，還想我們是向你們分訴；我們本是在基督裡當 神面前說話。親愛的弟兄啊，一切的事都是為造就你們。
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
12:20 我怕我再來的時候，見你們不合我所想望的，你們見我也不合你們所想望的；又怕有紛爭、嫉妒、惱怒、結黨、毀謗、讒言、狂傲、混亂的事。
For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, and that you may find me not what you wish; that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
12:21 且怕我來的時候，我的 神叫我在你們面前慚愧，又因許多人從前犯罪，行污穢、姦淫、邪蕩的事不肯悔改，我就憂愁。
I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they have practiced.
腓利比書 4:19 我的神必照他榮耀的豐富，在基督耶穌裡，使你們一切所需用的都充足。
回覆刪除這節經文也常常陪伴著我們，上帝的話也不斷地提醒我：上帝照祂榮耀的豐富，在基督耶穌裡，使我們一切所需用的都充足。
沒錯，主的恩典確實夠我們用的！阿門！
『他對我說：「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我』。（哥林多後書 12:9）
回覆刪除是的，正如保羅的體驗，我從小出生在牧師的家庭，隨著家父母牧會，學校，唸書，當兵，出國進修，研所畢業，上班，娶妻生子，成家立業，後來適逢1990，1999，2006經濟不景氣，前後被公司裁員三次，在生活中經歷神，學習順服，依靠神，有祂作主！但無論在任何環境，我和麗玲及家人，確實體驗到神是信實的，祂的慈愛，永不改變。每次都打擊都是真利益。祂要磨練我們，成為祂可使用的器皿。是的，主的恩典確實夠我們用的！