5. Manna issue 88 - In Fear and Trembling 敬畏戰兢
Jachin—Singapore 新加坡 Jachin
When we reflect on the Christian message,
we often focus on the mercy and love of God,
but overlook the call to fear Him.
Yet, throughout the Bible, we are reminded to fear and tremble before the Lord.
In this article, we will consider why we need to fear God,
and how to manifest this attitude in our lives.
當我們反省基督教的信息時，
我們經常集中在神的憐憫和慈愛，
但忽略了敬畏祂的要求。
然而整本聖經中，我們得到警告，在耶和華面前恐懼和戰競。
在本篇文章，會來思考為什麼我們需要敬畏神，
以及如何在生活中體現出這種態度。
WHO OR WHAT DO WE FEAR? 該敬畏誰？該敬畏什麼呢？
It is part of the human condition
that we are beset by a multitude of fears.
These range from the rational to the irrational.
Some individuals are scared of the smallest things, such as insects,
which we have the power to control and destroy
—surely, such fear is irrational.
Others are afraid of the unknown things of the spiritual realm
—of ghosts, in particular.
In the Book of Job, Eliphaz claimed to have had an eerie encounter in the dead of night
(Job 4:14–15),
an experience which made him tremble and shake.
In the New Testament,
the disciples twice reacted in a similar way when they caught sight of the Lord Jesus
—once, when He was walking on the water at night
(Mt 14:25–26),
and again on meeting Him after He resurrected
(Lk 24:33–37).
Both times, the disciples thought they had seen a ghost.
But should we be afraid of ghosts?
這是人類的部份狀況，
我們被許多的恐懼所困擾。
受影響的範圍從理性到非理性都有。
有些人會害怕小東西，例如小蟲子，
而我們有能力控制和殺死小蟲子，
-當然，這種恐懼是不道理的。
其他人則害怕屬靈世界的未知事物，
-尤其是鬼魔。
約伯記中，以利法聲稱自己在夜深人靜時，遇到了令人毛骨悚然的情況。
（伯 4：14-15），
一種讓他發抖和顫驚的體驗。
在新約中，當門徒兩次看到主耶穌的時候，
他們有相同的反應，
-一次是，當耶穌晚上在水上行走
（太 14：25–26），
-另一次耶穌復活後再次見到祂
（路 24：33–37）。
這兩次，門徒都以為看到鬼。
但是我們要怕鬼嗎？
The Bible indicates that there are only three types of spirits
that a person will see or experience on earth:
the Spirit of God, angels, and demons.
Once a person passes away, his spirit does not remain in the world,
nor can it return.
Any ghosts people claim to see are nothing but the tricks of evil spirits.
聖經指出，只有三種靈，
是人在地上會看或體驗到的：
神，天使和魔鬼的靈。
人一旦過世，他的靈魂就不會留在世上，
它也不會返回。
人們聲稱，所看到的任何鬼魂，只不過是惡靈的把戲而已。
Most of us would be terrified by an encounter with a demon.
If we do not belong to God,
as in the case of King Saul after he departed from God’s grace,
the demon has the potential to harm or torment us.
But, as children of God, we have nothing to fear
—if we remain in the Lord and under His protection,
we cannot be brought under the devil’s dominion.
我們大多數人，都會因為遇到魔鬼而被驚嚇。
如果我們不屬神，
就像掃羅王離開神的恩典後的情況一樣，
惡魔可能會傷害或折磨我們。
但是，作為神的兒女，我們不會恐懼
-如果我們保守在主裡面，在祂的保護之下，
就不會受到魔鬼的轄制。
It is clear, then, that God’s children have little to fear.
So why should we fear our loving and merciful God?
很明顯地，神的子女無所畏懼。
那為什麼，我們要敬畏慈愛憐憫的神呢？
We all know the story of Daniel,
God’s faithful servant who continued to worship God despite the risk of death.
After God delivered Daniel from the lions’ den, Darius
—a Gentile king
—magnified the Lord and commanded his subjects to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel:
我們都知道但以理的故事，
他是神忠心的僕人，儘管遇到死亡的危險，但仍繼續敬拜神。
神將但以理，救出獅子窩之後，大利烏王
-一位外邦人的君王
-大大提昇了耶和華的地位，命令他的臣民，在但以理的神面前，要保持敬畏戰兢：
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel
For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(Dan 6:26–27)
26現在我降旨曉諭我所統轄的全國人民，要在但以理的神面前，戰兢恐懼。
因為他是永遠長存的活神，他的國永不敗壞；他的權柄永存無極！
27他護庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神蹟奇事，救了但以理脫離獅子的口。
(但 6：26-27)
If we had been in Daniel’s shoes, who would we fear?
Most humans would naturally fear the king who has the power to put a man to death,
or the ferocious lions that could effortlessly rip a person to shreds.
In the face of such danger,
why did Daniel persist in his daily habit of praying to God in his upper room,
with the windows open toward Jerusalem,
in clear view of his enemies?
Surely it was because he was not afraid of the king or the lions,
but he feared and trembled before the Almighty God.
若我們身在但以理的處境時，該懼怕誰呢？
大多數的人會懼怕國王，因為他有權將人處死，
或兇猛的獅子，它可以輕易將人撕成碎片。
面對這種險境的時候，
但以理為何仍每天堅持在樓上的房間裡，保持向神祈禱的習慣，
並且窗戶打開朝著耶路撒冷的方向，
將自已清楚地曝露在敵人面前呢？
肯定是因為，他並不懼怕國王或獅子，
但他在全能的神面前，更加恐懼戰兢。
“Do you not fear Me?” says the LORD.
“Will you not tremble at My presence,
Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea,
By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it?
And though its waves toss to and fro,
Yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.”
(Jer 5:22)
22耶和華說：你們怎麼不懼怕我呢？我以永遠的定例，用沙為海的界限，水不得越過。
因此，你們在我面前還不戰兢麼？波浪雖然翻騰，卻不能逾越；雖然匉訇，卻不能過去。
(耶 5：22)
Here, God asks the Israelites,
“Do you not fear Me? Will you not tremble at My presence?”
After all, He is the One who created the heavens and the earth,
and has the power to set the boundary of the seas.
These words echo those He spoke to Job:
這裡神問以色列人，
"你們怎麼不懼怕我呢？你們在我面前還不戰兢麼？"
畢竟，祂是創造了天地的主，
有權柄可以為海洋立定疆界。
這些話震憾了那些與約伯說話的人：
“Or who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
When I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves must stop!’ ”
(Job 38:8–11)
8海水衝出，如出胎胞，那時誰將他關閉呢？
9是我用雲彩當海的衣服，用幽暗當包裹他的布，
10為他定界限，又安門和閂，
11說：你只可到這裡，不可越過；你狂傲的浪要到此止住。
(伯 38：8-11)
God is to be feared
because He controls the vast and tumultuous oceans with a wall of sand,
and they stay within the boundaries He has set.
In contrast, God’s people—the Israelites
—refused to listen to their Creator.
Indeed, they were a stubborn and rebellious nation
who did not fear and tremble before God.
敬畏神是應當的，
因為祂用一堵沙牆，控制那廣闊而波濤兇湧的海洋，
而大海就留在他所定的範圍。
相反，神的百姓-以色列人
拒絕聆聽他們的創造者。
是的，他們是一個很固執而且叛逆的國家
然而他們在神面前，並不懼怕顫抖。
Are we like the Israelites? Or are we like the oceans,
who acknowledge God’s sovereignty?
Or Daniel, who feared God more than death itself?
我們像以色列人一樣嗎？還是我們像海洋一樣，
誰會承認神的主權呢？
還是但以理，他懼怕神更勝於遇到死亡？
WHY SHOULD WE FEAR GOD? 為何要敬畏神？
God’s Righteousness 神的公義
Sometimes we have a misconception, or,
rather, we do not know enough about God.
We focus solely on His goodness and mercy and forget about His righteousness.
We assume that He will overlook any sins we commit,
and so neglect to fully follow His will.
有時候，我們有一個誤解，
或者相反，我們對神的了解還不夠。
我們只注重於祂的良善和憐憫，而忘記了祂的公義。
我們假設，祂會忽視我們犯下的任何罪過，
卻因而忽略了要完全遵從祂的旨意。
In Psalm 2, we learn that not only the Israelites rebelled against God’s command
—the nations and the kings of the world were also averse to having God rule over them
and placing restrictions on their lives.
But could they really escape from the living God?
在詩篇第2篇，我們了解到，不僅以色列人會反抗了神的命令
-各國和世上諸王，也不願讓神統治他們，
並限制他們的生活。
但是他們真的能逃離永生的真神嗎？
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
(Ps 2:10–12)
10現在，你們君王應當省悟！你們世上的審判官該受管教！
11當存畏懼事奉耶和華，又當存戰兢而快樂。
12當以嘴親子，恐怕他發怒，你們便在道中滅亡，因為他的怒氣快要發作。凡投靠他的，都是有福的。
(詩 2：10-12)
It is true that God is slow to anger,
but to say that He will never be angry is untrue.
Sometimes we behave like children,
pushing the boundaries of our forbearing Father
until His goodwill and patience expire.
We see such an outcome in the Book of Acts,
when Ananias and Sapphira experienced the swift and decisive judgment of God.
Perhaps Ananais and Sapphira,
who were Jewish believers,
had forgotten that this God is the same God of righteousness and judgment
they had feared in their recent past.
Not surprisingly, after they died, fear and trembling came upon the church
(Acts 5:11).
Although the believers learned a tough lesson,
the positive outcome was that they saw God in a more holistic light.
的確，神很慢才會生氣，
但若說祂永遠不會生氣，就是不對的。
有時候我們表現得像個小孩，
觸及我們父親容忍的界限
直到他失去的善意和耐心。
我們在使徒行傳中，發現有這樣的結果，
就是亞拿尼亞（Amanias）和撒非喇（Sapphira）體驗到神即時而果斷的審判。
也許亞拿尼亞和撒非喇，他們是猶太信徒
已經忘記了，這位神同時是公義又會審判人，
他們最近才曾經有過這樣擔心。
另人不出意外的，他們死後，教會的人感到恐懼和顫驚
（徒 5:11）
儘管眾信徒得到了慘痛的教訓，
正向的結果是，他們會以更加全面的角度看待神。
The Psalmist of Psalm 2 sings about rejoicing with trembling
(Ps 2:11).
How do these two seemingly contradictory emotional states coexist in our relationship with God?
Of course, we rejoice in God because of His salvation.
But we need to fear Him as well,
to ensure that we conduct ourselves in such a way that does not anger our kind and forbearing God.
詩篇第2篇的詩人，戰兢而快樂歌頌
（詩 2:11）。
在我們與神的關係中，這兩個看似矛盾的情感狀態如何能共存呢？
當然，我們因為神的救恩而歡喜。
但是我們也要敬畏祂，
確保我們的行為方式，不會觸怒了仁慈忍耐的神。
Work Out Our Salvation 做成得救的工夫。
In Philippians 2:12,
Paul exhorts us to
“work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling.”
And yet, many writers in the wider Christian community conveniently ignore this teaching,
choosing instead to emphasize God’s mercy.
They believe that once a person is saved,
he can never lose this entitlement.
To them, fear is an emotion incompatible with the gospel and salvation.
However, Paul is clear: salvation is a journey
—one that needs to be embarked upon and continued with a lifelong attitude of fear and trembling.
腓立比書2章12節，
保羅勸勉我們，
“恐懼戰兢做成你們得救的工夫。”
但是，大部份基督教團體有許多作家，趁機忽略了這個教義，
而是選擇只強調神的憐憫。
他們相信，一個人一旦得救，
就永遠不會失去這個特權。
對他們來說，恐懼是一種與福音和救贖不協調的情感。
但是，保羅很清楚：救贖的過程是一段旅程
-人需要終身以恐懼和戰兢的態度開始，而持續走下去。
There are also Christians who quote Elder John’s words:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment”
(1 Jn 4: 18a).
So is John contradicting Paul?
Let us read carefully what John wrote:
也有基督徒引用約翰長老的話：
“18愛裡沒有懼怕；愛既完全，就把懼怕除去。因為懼怕裡含著刑罰。”
（約壹 4：18a）。
約翰與保羅的觀點互相矛盾了嗎？
讓我們仔細閱讀約翰所寫的文章：
Love has been perfected among us in this:
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment;
because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
(1 Jn 4:17–18)
17這樣，愛在我們裡面得以完全，我們就可以在審判的日子坦然無懼。因為他如何，我們在這世上也如何。
18愛裡沒有懼怕；愛既完全，就把懼怕除去。因為懼怕裡含著刑罰，懼怕的人在愛裡未得完全。
(約壹 4：17-18)
John explains that this type of fear arises when we are not perfected in love and are,
therefore, unprepared for the day of judgment.
As the writer of Hebrews points out,
all we can do in such a situation would be to wait for that day with a fearful expectation
(Heb 10:27).
This type of fear is different from the one that Paul refers to in Philippians.
The fear Paul speaks of is godly fear,
a positive force that motivates us to work on our salvation and to perfect our love.
When we do this, we will not have the trepidation that John describes.
約翰解釋說，當我們沒有在愛裡得到完全的時候，
也因此，沒有為審判之日做好準備，
就會產生這種恐懼。
就像希伯來書的作者指出來，
在這種情況下，我們所能做的，就是懷著恐懼期待的心情，等待那天來臨
(來10:27)
這種恐懼，不同於保羅在腓立比書中，所提到的恐懼。
保羅所說的恐懼，是敬虔的恐懼，
是一種積極的力量，激勵我們努力完成自已的救贖，在愛的事上得以完全。
當我們這樣做的時候，就不會有約翰所說的驚恐。
So what does godly fear look like?
It is similar to being a conscientious student,
who not only studies hard,
but also constantly reviews his progress to see
if there are any areas he needs to improve upon before the exam.
If we know that we will stand before the judgment seat of God one day,
would we not constantly review the state of our faith
and ask for God’s help to become perfect and more like Him
(Mt 5:48)?
那麼虔誠的敬畏又是什麼樣的狀態呢？
這就像是一個有責任心的學生，
他不僅努力學習，
而且還不斷地檢視他的進度，
看看考試前，是否有任何需要改進的地方。
如果我們知道，有一天將會站在神的審判台前，
我們難道不會一直檢視自己的信仰狀態嗎？
並且尋求神的幫助能變得更加完美，更像祂一樣
（太 5:48）？
For thus says the LORD:
“We have heard a voice of trembling,
Of fear, and not of peace.
Ask now, and see,
Whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins
Like a woman in labor,
And all faces turned pale?
Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,
But he shall be saved out of it.”
(Jer 30:5–7)
5耶和華如此說：我們聽見聲音，是戰抖懼怕而不平安的聲音。
6你們且訪問看看，男人有產難麼？我怎麼看見人人用手掐腰，像產難的婦人，臉面都變青了呢？
7哀哉！那日為大，無日可比；這是雅各遭難的時候，但他必被救出來。
(耶 30：5-7)
Here, the prophet Jeremiah warns the Israelites of the impending judgment of God at the hands of the Babylonians.
God describes how every man will grip his loins like a woman in labor, faces pale with fear.
The effect of God’s judgment day in the end time will be like this,
if we have not been perfected in love.
Will we stand before God with confidence or with trepidation?
It all depends on whether we fear and tremble before Him on our faith journey,
as we work out our salvation.
在這裡，先知耶利米警告以色列人，
神即將經由巴比倫人手，作出審判。
神描述每個男人，將如何像分娩的婦女一樣，痛苦抓住自己的腰部，面對恐懼臉色蒼白。
如果我們還沒有在愛裡得到完全，末日神審判日的影響就會是這樣。
站在神面前，我們是信心滿滿還是戰兢恐懼呢？
這完全取決於，在我們信仰旅程中，
當我們進行拯救自已的時候，是否在祂面前恐懼戰兢。
HOW CAN WE MANIFEST OUR FEAR AND TREMBLING?
我們如何能表現出自已的恐懼戰兢呢？
Aside from the exhortation to work out our salvation with fear and trembling,
Paul mentions other areas of our faith and life where we need this attitude.
除了勸勉我們，要以恐懼和戰兢的態度，來完成自已的救贖之外，
保羅還提到了我們信仰和生活中，需要這種態度的其他方面。
In the Ministry of Evangelism 宣道事工
And I, brethren, when I came to you,
did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
(1 Cor 2:1–5)
1弟兄們，從前我到你們那裡去，並沒有用高言大智對你們宣傳神的奧祕。
2因為我曾定了主意，在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督並他釘十字架。
3我在你們那裡，又軟弱又懼怕，又甚戰兢。
4我說的話、講的道，不是用智慧委婉的言語，乃是用聖靈和大能的明證，
5叫你們的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎神的大能。
(林前 2：1-5)
We often associate preaching the gospel with attributes such as confidence and authority.
But here, Paul says that when he was preaching to the Corinthians,
he did so with fear and trembling.
It indicates that he was aware of his inadequacy.
However, when he ministered with such humility,
God worked through him with great power.
More importantly, it meant that the Corinthians could see that the message Paul delivered was divine,
and they were able to place their faith in God and not on Paul.
我們經常將傳福音，與信心和權威等屬性聯繫起來。
保羅在這裡說，當他向哥林多傳道時，
他帶著恐懼戰兢執行任務。
這表示，他有意識到自己的不足。
但是，當他用這樣謙卑來服事的時候，
神通過他施實大能。
更重要的是，這表示了，哥林多的信徒，可以看出保羅傳達的信息是神聖的，
他們就相信神，而不是保羅。
When a person serves God, especially if he is eloquent,
there is a danger that others will focus their attention
and admiration on the worker rather than on God.
Alert to such a risk, Paul took care to undertake his ministry with the right attitude,
making sure that God would be given all the honor and glory.
Do we fear and tremble when we preach the gospel?
當一個人事奉神的時候，特別是他的口才很好，
就會有一種危機，就是其他人會把注意力和景仰的心，放在工人身上，而不是敬重神。
保羅意識到這種風險之後，就小心翼翼地以正確的態度承接他所從事的聖工，
確保神會得到一切的尊貴和榮耀。
當我們傳福音的時候，我們會感到害怕戰兢嗎？
In Showing Hospitality to God’s Workers 歡喜接待神的工人
And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all,
how with fear and trembling you received him.
(2 Cor 7:15)
15並且提多想起你們眾人的順服，是怎樣恐懼戰兢的接待他，他愛你們的心腸就越發熱了。
(林後 7：15)
Here, Paul writes of how the Corinthians received Titus with fear and trembling.
They understood that they were not merely receiving a friend,
but a servant and ambassador of Jesus Christ
(Mt 10:40; Jn 13:20).
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Translation results
保羅在這裡寫下，哥林多教會的信徒，是如何以恐懼戰兢的態度，來接待提多。
他們了解到，自已不僅是在接待朋友，
但是耶穌基督的僕人和使者。
(太 10：40；約 13：20)
In Submission to Our Employer 順服主人
Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh,
with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.
(Eph 6:5)
5你們作僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。
(弗 6：5)
Employers come in all shapes and sizes: some are good and fair;
others, harsh and unreasonable.
Paul reminds all workers to serve and obey their superiors with fear and trembling.
We may question why we should do this, and Paul’s answer is that
the One we serve is not the person we see before us,
but rather Jesus Christ.
Knowing this,
we should do our work with sincerity and with fear and trembling.
主人有各式各樣的形態：有些又好又公平；
其他的，苛刻又不合理的。
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保羅提醒所有工人，要以恐懼和戰兢的心，服從上司。
我們可能會質疑，為什麼我們應該要這樣做，而保羅提出的答案是，
我們所服務的那個人，不是面前所看到的人，
而是耶穌基督。
因為深深明白，
應該要以真誠，恐懼和戰栗的心態，開展工作。
CONCLUSION 結論
As a Christian, our life should have God at its center:
from our personal salvation, to preaching the gospel, receiving a worker of God,
and being a good employee in the workplace.
Daniel and Paul knew how to conduct their lives with fear and trembling for the glory of God.
Are we able to do the same?
作為基督徒，我們的生活應該以神為中心：
從個人的救恩，傳福音，接待神的工人，
在工作場所成為好員工。
但以理和保羅知道，如何為神的榮耀，而恐懼戰兢過自己的生活。
我們能做到同樣的事情嗎？
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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