< 2 Corinthians 1 >
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
因天主的旨意,做基督耶穌宗徒的保祿和弟茂德弟兄,致書於格林多天主的教會和在全阿哈雅的眾位聖徒:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
願恩寵及平安由我們的父天主,和耶穌基督賜給你們!
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
願我們的主耶穌基督的天主和父,仁慈的父和施與各種安慰的天主受讚揚,
4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
是衪在我們各種磨難中,常安慰我們,為使我們能以自己由天主所親受安慰,去安慰那些在各種因難中的人。
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.
因為基督所受的苦難,加於我們身上的越多,我們藉著基督,得所的安慰也越多。
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
我們如果受磨難,那是為叫你們受安慰與得救;我們如果受安慰,那也是為叫你們受安慰;這安慰足以能使你們堅忍那我們所受的同樣苦難。
7 And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as all of you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall all of you be also of the consolation.
為此,我們對你們所懷的希望是不移的,因為我們知道:你們怎樣分受了痛苦,他要怎樣同享安慰。
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
弟兄們,我們深願你們知道,我們在亞細亞所的磨難:我們受到了非人力所能忍受的重壓,甚至連活的希望也沒有了;
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:
而且我們自己也認為必死無疑,這是為叫我們不要倚靠自己,而倚靠只那使死人復活的天主。
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
衪由這麼多的死亡危險中救了我們,而令仍在施救,我們切薶將來還要施救,
11 All of you also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
只要你們以祈禱協助我們;這樣因有許多人為我們求得恩賜,好使將來也有許多人替我們感恩。
12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
我們認為光榮的事,就是有我們的良心作證:我們處世是本著由天主而來的直爽與真誠,並不是本著本性的智慧,而是本著天主的恩寵;對於你們尤其如此,
13 For we write no other things unto you, than what all of you read or acknowledge; and I trust all of you shall acknowledge even to the end;
因為我們給你們所寫的,無非是你們所能郎誦,所能瞭解的。我盻望你們能完全瞭解我們,
14 As also all of you have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as all of you also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
就如你們對我們已有了幾分瞭解,好在我們的主耶穌的日子上,我們是你們的誇耀,而你們也是我們的誇耀。
15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that all of you might have a second benefit;
懷著這種信念,我原先有意到你們那裏去,為使你們獲得第二次的恩惠,
16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
並經過你們那裏到馬其頓,再由馬其頓回到你們那裏,然後由你們送我往猶太去。
17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use levity? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
那麼,我懷著這種意思,難道是我行事輕浮嗎﹖或者我定主意,是隨感情定的,以致在我內有「是」而又「非「嗎﹖
18 But as God is true, our word (logos) toward you was not yea and nay.
天主是忠實的,我們對你們所說火話,並不是「是」而又「非」的,
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
因為藉我們,既藉我和息耳瓦諾同弟茂德,在你們中間所宣講的天主子耶穌基督,並不是「是」而又「非」的,在衪內只有一個「是」
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
因為天主的一切恩許,在衪內都成了「是」,為此也藉著衪,我們才答應「阿們」,使光榮藉我們歸於天主。
21 Now he which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;
那堅固我們和你們在基督內的,並給我們傳油的,就是天主;
22 Who has also sealed us, and given the earn of the Spirit (pneuma) in our hearts.
衪在我們身上蓋了印,並在我們心裡賜下聖神作為抵押。
23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
我指著我的性命呼號天主作證:我沒有再到格林多去,是為了顧惜你們。
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith all of you stand.
這並不是說:在信仰方面我們願管制你們,而是說:我們願作你們喜樂的合作者,因為你們在信仰上已站穩了。