讀經: 提摩太後書三章10至17節 10但你已經服從了我的教訓、品行、志向、信心、寬容、愛心、忍耐, 11以及我在安提阿、以哥念、路司得所遭遇的逼迫、苦難。我所忍受是何等的逼迫!但從這一切苦難中,主都把我救出來了。 12不但如此,凡立志在基督耶穌裡敬虔度日的,也都要受逼迫。 13只是作惡的和迷惑人的,必越久越惡,他欺哄人,也被人欺哄。 14但你所學習的、所確信的,要存在心裡,因為你知道是跟誰學的。 15並且知道你是從小明白聖經;這聖經能使你因信基督耶穌有得救的智慧。 16聖經都是神所默示的(註:或作"凡神所默示的聖經"),於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的, 17叫屬神的人得以完全,預備行各樣的善事。 |
三章1至9節與我們今天選讀的這段經文,有著非常強烈的對比。前九節經文勾劃出離棄神的人會有甚麼結局。保羅提醒我們,在基督再來前的末世,情況將會愈演愈烈。 然而,保羅卻知道提摩太的生命和事奉,跟前述的人是完全兩樣的。他在一個基督教家庭中長大,自小就學習生命之道。這本身就是得天獨厚的優勢。可惜今天只有很少的年輕人能擁有這個福氣。由此可見,兒童主日學和青少年事工在任何教會都仍然十分重要。 保羅非常重視聖經的本質,他直言聖經是從神而來的(16節),但透過屬神的人寫出。「默示」一詞可直譯為「神的呼氣」。我們未必知道神如何感動聖經的筆者,但聖靈卻一直監管著他們的寫作,確保所寫的是神的說話。然而,這並沒有排除每位作者本身的個性和風格。默示不是聽寫,而是聖靈感動他們寫下神的信息。彼得後書一章21節用另一種方式來描述默示的過程。 這裡描述聖經在教訓、督責、使人歸正和教導人學義這四方面,有著無可取代的重要價值。教訓提醒我們,要從聖經中學習教義真理。許多異端就是將自己的教科書與聖經等同。我們若要試驗某個教派是否異端,一個辦法就是看它把聖經置於甚麼地位。 此外,當我們犯罪的時候,聖靈就會借聖經責備我們。詩人提出一個問題:「少年人用甚麼潔淨他的行為呢?」答案很簡單,就是「要遵行你的話」。聖靈會用神的話來指出我們的罪。因此,我們必須花時間勤讀和考察神的話語。 接著是歸正──聖經不僅指出我們的罪,還教導我們怎樣生活和信甚麼。當異端興起,神的話就會向我們顯明真理。我們在神的事工上還需要操練,以致我們能學義。這本奇妙而滿有能力的聖經,正是神賜給每位基督徒的禮物,能滿足我們的各項需要。 |
Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 3: 1 0-17 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. |
There is a marked contrast between the first nine verses of this chapter and our reading today. Those previous verses show the results in the lives of those who have turned away from God. Paul warns that this will only become worse and worse in the last days before Christ returns. But Paul recognises that Timothy's life and ministry were very different. He had grown up in a Christian home and had early learned the way of life. That in itself is a tremendous advantage. It is tragic today that so few young people have had that privilege. Our Sunday Schools and youth work are still among the most important activities in any church. Paul stresses the nature of what he calls the Holy Scriptures. He plainly states that they came from God (v.16) through men of God. The word inspired really means "God-breathed". We may not know exactly how God energized the writers but the Holy Spirit superintended their writing so that what was written was God's word. This did not do away with their personality. It was not dictation. It was the Spirit moving them to write God's message. Look at 2 Peter 1:21 for another way to describe this inspiration. Four ways are mentioned here in which the Scriptures are invaluable. They are for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Teaching reminds us that this is the book from which we learn our doctrine. Many cults put their own textbook alongside the Bible. One test of a cult is what place it gives to the Word of God? Then it is the book the Holy Spirit uses to rebuke us when we sin. The Psalmist asked the simple question: "How can a young man (or anyone) keep his way pure? By living according to your word." The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to convict us of sin. Again it is clear we need to spend time reading and studying the Word itself. For correction - the Scriptures not only convict but they show us how to live and what to believe. When heresy arises, the Word of God will show us the real truth. We need training in the things of God - the Word is there to do that for us also. What a wonderful, powerful book - the gift of God to meet our needs as we live the Christian life. |
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