哥林多前書 第01章 中英摘要

paving-110215_1920-1000

  哥林多是羅馬第四大城市,人口約有25萬;哥林多有不同的人種,有一半的人是從外面移民進來的,大部分是奴隸,因此在原住民和新移民之間,就會產生很多的矛盾。哥林多教會和我們台灣現在教會情形相似,神賜他們凡事富足,口才、知識都全備。所以哥林多教會所遇到的問題,也有可能是我們的問題,因此實在是感謝保羅寫下哥林多前後書,讓我們有從神來的教導可以遵循。哥林多前後書,一共有29章,是保羅所寫的書信裡面最長的,前書16章、後書13章,而哥林多前書又分二大段,1-6章是保羅所聽說的,是哥林多教會的問題,7-16章,則是講到這些問題的解決辦法。

  當保羅在以弗所的時候,從革來氏家中聽見哥林多教會有紛爭的消息,就是他們分黨派,為何會分黨派,其實都有他的原因在。首先哥林多教會是保羅用了一年半的時間開拓、創立的,於是感念保羅的人就說他是屬保羅的。磯法(彼得)是猶太人,當時教會很多是猶太人,但有一些猶太人,雖然受了洗,對猶太人的律法念念不忘,覺得一定要受割禮、守安息日、分潔淨、不潔淨的,所以一些比較注重律法的人,就說他是屬磯法的。而亞波羅是個知識份子,比較有知識或重視知識的,都會比較支持亞波羅。

  保羅說有人取笑十字架,自以為聰明,神就用人以為愚拙的方式,來救那些願意相信的人,你願意相信,才會明白這是神的大能。在世人看來,死在十字架上是羞辱的,君王怎麼可能死在十字架上呢?君王應該指揮千軍萬馬,打敗敵人。他們不明白神第一次來,是帶著恩典而來,最卑微的出生,最痛苦的死亡,但三日後復活,將神與人之間,被造的人類與創造的神,兩造之間的幔子裂開,使人跟神可以兩造合而為一,去掉了冤仇,所以我們現在才可以禱告神,稱神為我們的阿爸父。所以福音是二面,一面是神來到地上,為我們死在十字架上,流出寶血洗淨我們的罪,之後祂從死裡復活,賜給我們永遠的生命;另一面則是人需要悔改、接受主耶穌,才能得到救恩。

  教會是行神的旨意的地方,我們不要去愛世界,這世界神已經放棄了,但是神沒有放棄世上的人,神愛世人,所以我們要去傳福音,為主多救一個靈魂。

2016.1.7 葉志偉牧師信息/林天運 弟兄 摘要

【Corinthians 1】

  Corinth is the fourth largest city of Rome; in the city lived about 250 thousand people of different races. Half of its population were immigrants (mostly salves). Imaginably, there were many conflicts between the native people and the new comers. The situations of the church in Corinth are similar to the ones of churches in Taiwan nowadays. We have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge. It is likely that the problems the church in Corinth faced are the problems we are facing now, so we really should thank Paul for having written the first and the second Corinthians. Both of the books contain teachings from God for us to follow. There are 29 chapters in total (16 chapters in 1 Corinthians, 13 chapters in 2 Corinthians), which makes it the longest letter by Paul. The first Corinthians can be divided into two parts. The first part includes chapters 1-6, which describes the problems of the church in Corinth that Paul had heard of. The second part includes chapter 7-16, which provides solutions to the problems mentioned in the first part.

  While Paul was in Ephesus, some people from Chloe’s household informed him of the conflicts within the church in Corinth. That is, there were divisions among the people in the church. There must be a reason why people are divided. Paul spent one-and-a-half year to establish the church in Corinth, so, some people believed they should follow Paul. Cephas (Peter) was a Jew, therefore, many Jews in the church, who didn’t want to let go of the Jewish laws (e.g., the circumcision, the Sabbath, and separating clean/unclean things), wanted to follow Peter. Apollos was an intellectual, so educated people, or those who valued knowledge more, supported Apollos.

  Paul said that some people thought that they are so smart that they made fun of the cross. God then saves those who believe through a way that is considered foolish by the Gentiles. Only when you are willing to believe that you realize it is the power and wisdom of God. For people in this world, cross is a sign of shame; how can the king of kings die on a cross? He should be leading a magnificent army with thousands of men and horses and overcome His enemy. People couldn’t understand that when Jesus came to this world for the first time, He came with grace; He was born in a humble family, suffered a painful death, and resurrected three days after His death. He torn the curtain that barred men from their creator, so that people can be once again unified with God. The holy blood of Jesus Christ washed our sins away, that is why we can pray to our Lord now and call Him our heavenly father. Two things are essential for our salvation. The first thing is that Jesus Christ had to come to this world and be crucified for us; His holy blood cleans us of our sins, and His resurrection brings us eternal life. The second thing is that we have to accept Jesus Christ as our savior and repent. Our salvation can only be complete through these two things.

  A Church should be the place where God’s will is fulfilled! We should not love this world. God has given up on this world, but He hasn’t forsaken the people. God loves everyone on earth! Therefore, we should spread the Gospel, and save as many souls as possible for God.

2016/1/7 Message by Elder Yeh