1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. We are delighted that you have tuned in to this broadcast.
感谢你再次收听这个节目。
3. This is the last in a series of messages on the Word of God;
今天是“认识圣经”这个系列的最后一讲；
4. and I want to begin by telling you that most people don’t have patience,
首先我要提到的就是，绝大多数人都缺乏忍耐，
5. especially with the things that they do not know or understand.
特别是对他们不明白和不知道的事情。
6. For example, very few people can persevere in reading and following instruction manuals.
比方说，很少人有耐心慢慢读完说明书，并按照其中的指示来操作的。
7. Take the computer, for example.
就像电脑，
8. It takes a great deal of patience to know how to operate a computer;
需要很大的耐心来学习怎样操作它；
9. but, when it comes to our spiritual instruction manual,
然而，谈到我们属灵方面的说明书时，
10. it is vitally important to know how to read and follow directions.
学会怎样阅读并遵行它的指示，就显得越发重要了。
11. Many of you have written to us through the years,
多年来，很多朋友写信给我们，
12. and many of you have asked this question:
他们在来信中问到：
13. “How do I read the Bible?
“我怎样读圣经呢？
14. How do I understand the Bible?”
我怎样才能明白圣经呢？”
15. and, today, I want to answer these questions.
今天，我就要回答这些问题。
16. First, there are six things that you must not do when you read the Bible.
首先，在读圣经的时候，有六样事情你要特别小心。
17. Number one
第一件事情，
18. is what we call “proof-texting.”
不能断章取义。
19. You say, “What is that?”
也许你会问：“什么意思？”
20. This means that you do not take the text out of its context,
意思就是，不能抽离上下文的内容来理解经文，
21. and that’s what proof-texting is.
这就是不断章取义的意思。
22. Let me give you an example.
比如说，
23. We read in the Word of God, in 2 Corinthians 12:9,
我们读哥林多后书12章9节，
24. where the Word of God said, “My strength becomes perfect in weakness...”
神说：“我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全……”
25. so, if you take that text out of its context,
如果你脱离了上下文的话，
26. then, you’ll say to yourself, “Then, this verse means that I should not deal with my moral weakness in life.
那么，你就会说：“哦，这节经文的意思就是，这样，我就不需要对付我品格上的弱点了。
27. After all, the Scripture said that God’s strength becomes perfect in my weakness...”
毕竟圣经说，神的能力是在我的软弱上显得完全……”
28. but, in context, the Scripture does not mean that at all.
但是，从上下文来看，圣经并不是这个意思。
29. In context, you notice that Paul was suffering physically.
从圣经上文中，我们知道，保罗的身体经历了一些痛苦。
30. He had a physical problem
他的健康状况出现问题。
31. and he had prayed to the Lord three times, saying, “Lord, remove this ailment...”
他曾三次求过主，说：“主啊，求你为我挪去这些疾病……”
32. and the Lord said to Paul, “I’m not going to remove it...”
主对保罗说：“我不打算拿去这些痛苦……”
33. but, instead, God said to Paul, “My strength will become perfect in the middle of your physical problem...”
但，神对保罗说：”我的能力将在你身体的软弱上彰显得更加完全。……”
34. so, always put the text in its context,
因此，我们一定要从上下文来理解经文的意思。
35. because, as you see here, the problem had nothing to do with moral weakness.
从这里你也可以看到，这和品格的弱点毫无关系。
36. The problem had to do with physical illness that Paul had no control over.
这里指的是身体方面的疾病，保罗自己也无能为力的。
37. The second thing that you must understand is the figure of speech in the Bible.
第二件需要留心的是，我们必须明白圣经中的表达方式。
38. For example,
比如，
39. Jesus said, “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out.”
耶稣说：“若是你的右眼叫你跌倒，就剜出来丢掉。”
40. If you took that literally, what would happen?
假如你从字面上理解经文，后果会怎样呢？
41. We would have lots of eyeless people;
这世上，将会有很多失去眼睛的人；
42. but this is a Hebrew way of expressing the importance and the urgency of fleeing from temptation,
可这是希伯来人的一种表达方式，为了要强调逃避试探的重要性和紧迫性。
43. so, this verse is telling us, “Don’t allow your eye to lust after greed and money and people...”
所以，这里经文的意思是：“不要容许你的眼睛去贪恋物质、钱财或其他的人。”
44. so, please understand the language of the Bible.
因此，我们需要认识圣经里文字的用法。
45. Understand the symbols of the Scripture.
要明白经文如何使用象征性的比喻。
46. The third mistake that you must not make, when you read the Bible, is this:
在读圣经的时候，我们要留心的第三个容易犯的毛病是：
47. understand the historical and cultural setting of the Bible.
要明白圣经里的历史和文化背景。
48. For example, just because Elijah was called by God to confront the wicked King Ahab and the prophets of Baal,
比如说，以利亚被神呼召出来，面对恶王亚哈和巴力的先知，
49. and God sent fire from Heaven and licked everything in sight, including the sacrifice,
神从天上降下火来烧尽了燔祭和祭坛周围的一切东西，
50. it doesn’t mean that we are all called to stand up and call for fire from Heaven.
这并不说明，每一个被神呼召出来侍奉祂的人都要呼风唤雨。
51. That was a specific call upon a specific man at a specific point in history.
这只不过是在历史的某一特定情况下的一个特例而已。
52. Why?
为了什么呢？
53. Because God wanted to accomplish what He wanted to accomplish at that particular time.
为要完成神在那个特定的时刻里所要做的一件特别的事情。
54. The fourth mistake in reading the Bible is that you do not read into the Bible what you want It to say.
第四点，在我们读圣经的时候要特别留心，不要按照自己的私意来解释经文。
55. I know it’s a temptation for all of us,
我知道，我们常常会落入这个试探中，
56. but don’t read into the Bible what you want It to say.
但是，请不要按照自己的私意来理解圣经。
57. Fifth,
第五，
58. don’t ever think that you are too knowledgeable to read God’s Word without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
千万别认为，你对圣经已经认识得很透彻了，于是不再倚靠圣灵的光照和引领。
59. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:7,
使徒保罗在提摩太后书2章7节那里，
60. he said, “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
他说：“我所说的话，你要思想，因为凡事主必给你聪明。”
61. If you try to understand the Word of God without the power of God’s own Holy Spirit,
如果你老想着，不需要依靠圣灵大能的带领，就能够明白神的话语，
62. you will end up, either, reading It intellectually and only understanding It intellectually, or, twisting It to suit your purpose.
到头来，你只能停留在知识学术的层面上，甚至，为了附和你自己的意见而曲解了圣经的原意。
63. The sixth mistake that you must watch out for-
要留心的第六个方面是──
64. don’t fail to apply the Word of God in your daily life.
不要忽略了把神的话语实践在你每日的生活当中。
65. Someone once said,
有人曾经这样说：
66. “God had hidden every precious thing in such a way that it is a reward for the diligent, a prize for the earnest;
“神把最宝贵的东西藏起来，作为那些殷懃寻求祂之人的奖赏；
67. but a disappointment to the slothful soul.”
却成为懒惰之人的绊脚石。”
68. The pearl is buried beneath the ocean’s waves.
珍珠通常都藏在海洋的最底层。
69. The gold is imprisoned in the rocky bosom of the mountain.
黄金都是埋在礁岩起伏的山峦中间。
70. The gem is found only after you crush the rock which enclosed it.
宝石只有在打碎岩石之后，才能够取出来。
71. The very soil gives its harvest as a reward for the laboring farmer,
土地把最肥美的庄稼回报给那些辛劳的农民，
72. and that is why reading God’s Word for five minutes on the run is not effective;
因此，我们急急忙忙花五分钟读圣经就算了事，根本起不了什么作用；
73. but spending time with God is the way to receive the benefits of His Word.
如果我们想要从神的话语中获益，就要肯花时间与神共处。
74. Now, I want to give you some practical examples of how to read the Word of God and understand It.
现在，我要给你举一些实例，让你知道如何研读和明白神的话语。
75. The Bible said that you will literally be transformed every single day when you read the Word.
圣经提醒我们，当你每天读圣经时，你的心也会每天更新而变化。
76. If you have been stagnant in your Christian life,
如果你的属灵生命停滞不前，
77. it is because you have not spent time before God with His Word;
那是因为你没有在神的话语上下功夫；
78. and there are three questions that you must ask yourself daily, as you read the Scripture.
在读圣经的时候，你每天都要问自己以下这三个问题：
79. Question number one,
第一个问题是：
80. what does the Bible say to the original reader?
圣经对当初的读者说了些什么？
81. Secondly,
第二，
82. what does the Bible mean by what It says,
圣经所说的，和其中所包涵的意义是什么，
83. and, thirdly,
第三，
84. how can this apply to me today?
这些话今天如何应用到我自己的身上？
85. First, what does the Bible say to the original reader?
首先，圣经对当初的读者说了些什么？
86. Remember that God, the Holy Spirit, had inspired over 40 writers in a span of 1,500 years,
要知道，圣经是圣灵默示了40多位作者，历经1,500年的时间才写成的，
87. and, that is why the Bible is truly miraculous.
所以，圣经真的是非常奇妙的一本书。
88. There is not a book on God’s earth written by different people at different times and, yet, the message is consistent throughout.
世界上没有一本书像圣经那样，即使有不同背景的作者在不同的时期写成，却能够保持其思想的一致和连贯性。
89. The Holy Spirit inspired these people to write to a specific people at a specific time;
圣灵启示某些作者，在某一时期内，写给某些读者；
90. and, therefore, you must ask yourself the question:
因此，我们必须要问问自己：
91. what did It mean for those people who received that original writing?
对那些读者来说，这些书卷到底表达了什么信息？
92. Moses, for example, was speaking to a group of people that were very different from the ones Ezekiel spoke to.
比如说，摩西和以西结所传达的对象就截然不同。
93. Moses was speaking to a group of people who had very little knowledge of God,
摩西的受众对神的认识少之又少，
94. because they were involved in paganism for 400 years;
因为他们在异教徒中间，生活了400年之久；
95. but, a thousand years later, Ezekiel, the Prophet, was speaking to a group of people who knew the Word of God,
但是，一千年之后的先知以西结，却是对着一群已经认识神话语的人讲话，
96. but they rejected It.
然而，他们却抗拒神的话语。
97. They twisted It and rationalized It.
他们歪曲神的话语并找出许多借口。
98. They tried to get It to suit them.
他们老想着要使神的话语迎合他们自己的心意。
99. Let me give you another example.
我再举一个例子。
100. Paul wrote many letters.
保罗写了很多书信。
101. He wrote to the Colossians and the Corinthians and the Thessalonians;
他写信给歌罗西、哥林多和帖撒罗尼迦教会的信徒；
102. but, in each letter that he writes, he is dealing with a specific problem that had arisen for that particular church.
但在他每一封书信当中，他都是要解决那个教会当时所出现的一些问题。
103. The Holy Spirit of God was working His purpose out as Paul answered these questions;
圣灵通过保罗来处理这些问题；
104. and, 2,000 years later, we cannot find a single problem that the Apostle Paul does not answer.
2,000年之后，今天我们所面对的问题，没有一样是保罗没有处理过的。
105. The second method by which you can read the Bible is this:
读圣经第二种行之有效的方法是：
106. ask yourself the question, “What does the Bible mean by what It says?”
要问问自己说：“圣经所说的，和其中所包涵的意义是什么？”
107. Some people spurn the teaching of Christ because His teaching does not make sense like the world makes sense.
有些人轻视基督的道理，因为他们觉得，听起来不像世界上其他的言论那么振振有词，合情合理。
108. Let me give you some examples.
我给你举一个例子。
109. The world says, “Kick your enemy in the teeth...”
世人说：“要以牙还牙”
110. but Jesus said, “Love your enemy. Bless those who curse you.
但是，耶稣却说：“要爱你们的仇敌，为那咒诅你的祝福。
111. Do good to those who hate you.
善待那恨你的人。
112. Pray for those who persecute you.”
为那逼迫你的人祷告。”
113. The world says,
世界的声音说：
114. “Look out for yourself, because that’s all that matters…”
“要学会保护你自己，人不为己，天诛地灭嘛……”
115. but Jesus said,
但耶稣却说：
116. “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it,
”凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命，
117. but he who loses his life for My sake and for the Gospel will save it.”
凡为我和我的福音丧掉生命的，必救了生命。”
118. Jesus’ teaching does not make sense to the world,
耶稣的教导在世人看来很不合情理，
119. but it makes sense to those who love the Lord Jesus;
但对那些爱主耶稣的人看来，是非常合理的；
120. so, always ask yourself, “What did the Bible mean by what It says?”
因此，要常常问自己：“圣经所说的，和其中所包涵的意义是什么？”
121. You say, “How can I know this?”
也许你会问：“我怎么才能知道呢？”
122. Well, when you begin your Bible reading,
那么，在你开始读圣经之前，
123. ask the Holy Spirit of God to give you insights
就求圣灵来光照你，
124. and He will help you.
神一定会帮助你的。
125. Finally, ask yourself, “How can this apply to me today?”
最后一点，要问问自己：“今天这些话如何应用到我自己的身上？”
126. If you begin your Bible reading by asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you insight,
如果在每次读经之前，你都求圣灵的光照和启发，
127. He will.
神就会帮助你。
128. As I read the Word of God, I often sense the Spirit of God saying to me, “This is for you.”
每逢我读神的话语时，圣灵总会提醒我说：“这是对你说的话。”
129. “This encouragement is for you.”
“这是对你的鼓励。”
130. “This rebuke is meant for you.”
“这是对你的责备。”
131. “This challenge is for you.”
“这是对你的挑战。”
132. “This warning is for you.”
“这是对你的警戒。”
133. “This exhortation is meant for you.”
“这是对你的劝告。”
134. A well-known teacher said the following about reading the Bible:
一位著名的老师在谈到读经问题的时候这样说：
135. he said, “The Bible has wrestled with me.
他说：“圣经和我在较量。
136. The Bible has comforted me.
圣经安慰了我。
137. The Bible has confronted me.
圣经征服了我。
138. The Bible has clasped my hands.
圣经紧握着我的手。
139. The Bible has warmed my heart.
圣经温暖着我的心。
140. The Bible weeps with me and sings with me.
圣经和我一起哭、一起笑。
141. It whispers to me and It preaches to me.
圣经轻声细语对我诉说祂的信息。
142. It maps out my way and holds up my goings.
圣经为我制定蓝图，并引导我走当行的道路。
143. It is the young man’s best companion.
圣经是我少年时代最好的同伴。
144. It is still my morning and evening chaplain.”
到如今，圣经依然是我从早到晚的牧者。”
145. As you spend time with God and feed upon His Word, He will speak to you.
如果你愿意与神同行，并用神的话语来喂养你，祂一定会对你说话。
146. He is going to show you.
祂要向你表明祂的旨意。
147. He is going to make you grow,
祂要让你成熟、长大，
148. and, you will move from one point of glory into another.
而且，祂要带领你进入一切荣耀里。
149. My prayer for you is that you will hunger for God’s Word more than for food.
但愿你能够渴慕神的话语胜过喜爱食物。
150. My prayer is that your thirst for the Truth be quenched as you drink deeply from God’s message to you.
盼望你不断汲取神的话语，就能解除你心灵上对真理的饥渴。
151. My listening friend, until next time,
我亲爱的朋友，我们下次再见，
152. with a new series of messages,
让我们相约在一个新的系列当中，
153. I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你。
