惟有愛心能造就人 — 哥林多前書讀經隨筆 第8章

哥林多前書第八章，保羅對能否吃用於拜偶像的貢品問題進行了闡述。保羅說偶像在這個世界裏什麽都不是，因為神隻有一位就是我們的天父，和隻有一位主就是耶穌基督；並且我們吃什麽食物或不吃什麽食物並不能叫神喜悅，因為我們不吃的話沒什麽壞處，吃了的話也沒什麽好處。但並不是每個人都有這樣的知識，因為有的人對偶像的意識強，就以為所吃的肉是給偶像上過供的，其實他們的良心是軟弱也是汙穢的。保羅說若有這樣的弟兄在身邊，我們就寧願不吃肉，免得傷了他們軟弱的良心。這樣作就是愛弟兄，因為惟有愛心能造就人，而知識是叫人自高自大。

 

林前8:1 論到祭偶像之物、我們曉得我們都有知識．但知識是叫人自高自大、惟有愛心能造就人。

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

林前8:2 若有人以為自己知道甚麽、按他所當知道的、他仍是不知道．

But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know.

林前8:3 若有人愛　神、這人乃是　神所知道的。

But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.

林前8:4 論到吃祭偶像之物、我們知道偶像在世上算不得甚麽．也知道　神隻有一位、再沒有別的　神。

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

林前8:5 雖有稱為　神的、或在天、或在地．就如那許多的　神、許多的主．

For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords";

林前8:6 然而我們隻有一位　神、就是父萬物都本於他、我們也歸於他．並有一位主、就是耶穌基督、萬物都是借著他有的、我們也是借著他有的。

yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

林前8:7 但人不都有這等知識．有人到如今因拜慣了偶像、就以為所吃的是祭偶像之物．他們的良心既然軟弱、也就汙穢了。

However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

林前8:8 其實食物不能叫　神看中我們．因為我們不吃也無損、吃也無益。

But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

林前8:9 隻是你們要謹慎、恐怕你們這自由、竟成了那軟弱人的絆腳石。

But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

林前8:10 若有人見你這有知識的、在偶像的廟裏坐席、這人的良心、若是軟弱、豈不放膽去吃那祭偶像之物麽。

For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

林前8:11 因此、基督為他死的那軟弱弟兄、也就因你的知識沉淪了。

And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

林前8:12 你們這樣得罪弟兄們、傷了他們軟弱的良心、就是得罪基督。

Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

林前8:13 所以食物若叫我弟兄跌倒、我就永遠不吃肉、免得叫我弟兄跌倒了。

Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble.