Manna issue 68 - Succession and Passing the Baton 傳承與交棒
Passing on the ministry:
importance and implementation.
傳承福音事工：重要性和實施方法
Simon Chin—Singapore
新加坡 陳西門傳道
The preacher Solomon in the Book of
Ecclesiastes wrote, “One generation
passes away, and another generation
comes but the earth abides forever.”1
He was speaking of the vanity of
things done by man in his life on earth.
Every man will die and disappear. The
human life span is short in contrast
with the earth’s existence, which
seems to abide forever.
傳道者所羅門在傳道書中寫到：
"4一代過去，一代又來，地卻永遠長存。"1
他說到世上人們在生活中，所能作的事情都是虛空。
每一個人都會死去而消失。
相比於世上的存在，人們生命的長度是知暫的，
而地球看起來像是永遠存在。
Realizing the mortality of man and
the cyclical nature of each passing
generation, it is important for the
present workers of God to give
thought to the matter of succession
and passing the baton. This ensures
continuity and enables church work
to prosper when the next generation
takes over the helm to drive the
ministry.
因為我們都明白，人們生命的短暫，
每一代的流轉循環的本質，
對現在的神的工人而言，好好思考傳承和交棒的事情是很重要的。
這個工作可以確保教會可以延續，
當下一代開始接手教會方向的舵來推動福音事工，
讓教會工作可以更興盛。
Passing the baton of the ministry at
the right time with godly reverence
is a duty of faithful workers of God.
This should be done with the fear
of the Lord and love for the church,
undertaken out of concern for both
the successors and future progress of
the ministry of the truth. If the passing
of the baton is done reluctantly and
poorly, the church’s future ministry
will be impeded. Succeeding workers
who are ill-equipped to serve the
church may affect the faith of the
congregation. In short, if we do
not undertake succession or do it
inadequately, we are unfaithful to the
Master Jesus Christ.
在適當的時間，以敬虔的態度，作好福音事工的交接，
是神忠心工人的責任。
完成這件工作，要有敬畏神的心，愛教會的心，
著手進行這件事，是因為關心教會的繼承者，
以及真理福音事工的未來發展。
若是作交棒的工作，作的很不情願，交接的很不完整，
教會未來的福音事工就會受到阻礙。
而繼承的工人，若是沒有好好裝備自已，就來服事教會的話，
可以會影響教會眾信徒的信心。
簡而言之，若我們沒有進行傳承的工作，或是好好的作好傳承，
我們就愧對主人耶穌基督了。
HOW SHOULD SUCCESSION BE DONE?
要怎麼作傳承的工作。
Identify potential successors while
serving in the ministry
聖工服事的時候，認出潛在合適的繼承者
Moses identified Joshua as a potential
successor to the work of leading
the Israelite nation. He took Joshua
under his wing to serve the LORD.2
Apostle Paul brought Timothy into
the ministry at Lystra during his
second missionary journey, after he
saw that Timothy had faith, being
taught the word from childhood by
his grandmother Lois and mother
Eunice, and was well spoken of by
the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.3
Apostle Peter considered Mark
his son4, and he shared with Mark
the experience of his three–year
discipleship under the Lord Jesus
Christ: the miracles of Jesus he had
witnessed and the teachings he had
heard. Mark subsequently recorded
these in the second Gospel.5 Mark
was also deemed by Apostle Paul as
useful to him for the ministry.6
摩西認定約書亞是未來可能的繼承者，要繼續領導以色列國度的工作。
他帶著約書亞在身邊來服事主。2
使徒保羅在第二次海外佈道旅程的時候，
在路司得把提摩太帶在身邊，
在他發覺提摩太很有信心的時候，發現他從小就有祖母羅以和母親友尼基用神的話教導他，
而且被路司得和以哥念的弟兄姐妹很稱讚。
使徒彼得認為馬可就像他的兒子一樣，
他和馬可分享了自已三年跟在主耶穌基督下面，身為門徒的經驗：
他所見証耶穌所行的神蹟，他所聽見耶穌所說的教訓。
馬可接著就把這些事，記載下來，成為第二部福音書。
馬可也被使徒保羅認為是對幫忙福音事工的事，有所幫助。
Joshua, Timothy and Mark were
identified for their spiritual qualities
which later enabled them to become
exemplary leaders and faithful
stewards in the house of God.
約書亞，提摩太和馬可，因為他們屬靈的程度被認為很好，
也因此後來，他們都變成模範的領導者，
成為神家中忠心的好管家。
Joshua feared the LORD and was a
man of truth who hated covetousness.
He was faithful, waiting for Moses to
descend from Mount Sinai even after
forty days and nights. He did not
depart from the tabernacle to return
to the camp of the Israelites.7
約書亞敬畏神，非常的誠實，厭惡一切的貪婪。
他很忠心，等候摩西從西奈山下來，即是等個50畫夜。
他也沒有因此離開始會幕，回到以色列人的帳幕區。
Timothy shared Apostle Paul’s
sincere concern for the state of the
brethren. Unlike others who sought
their own, Timothy sought the
things of Christ Jesus. With a proven
character, he served with Paul in the
gospel as a son with his father.8
提摩太分擔了使徒保羅對弟兄姐妹情況的關心。
不像有人只會尋求自已的好處，提摩太只追尋有關基督耶穌的事。
因著個性經過考驗，他可以在福音的事上，
和保羅一起服事，就如一對父子一般。
Although Mark left Paul and
Barnabas in Perga, Pamphylia
during the first missionary journey
and returned to Jerusalem, he later
traveled with Barnabas to Cyprus to
minister the word. Paul subsequently
found him to be a useful worker in
the ministry. He had the quality of
persistence, and his earlier failure did
not discourage him but strengthened
his determination to serve the Lord.9
雖然馬可於第一次宣道之旅，
在旁非利亞的別加離開了保羅和巴拿巴，並且回到耶路撒冷，
後來他和巴拿巴一行旅行到居比路(塞浦勒斯)，傳福音。
接著，保羅才發現他在福音的事上，是一個有用的工人。
他很有毅力，雖然他以前有失敗的情況，但這並不影響他，讓他灰心，
而且這更加強他的決心來服事主。9
Hence, effective succession
planning requires preachers, elders,
deacons and workers to keep a
lookout for believers with the
potential to serve the Lord. They
need to identify those with spiritual
qualities of faith, good reputation,
holiness, spiritual wisdom, patience
and endurance, and who are filled
with the Holy Spirit, fear the Lord
and hate covetousness.10
因此，成功的傳承規畫，需要傳道，長老，執事，教會工人，
不斷觀察那些有潛力服事主的信徒。
他們要能察驗出那些人，有好的屬靈信仰的程度，好名聲，
保守聖潔，有屬靈的智慧，有恆心，有耐心，
並且充滿聖靈，敬畏神，厭惡貪婪。10
Passing the baton of the ministry at the right time with godly reverence is
a duty of faithful workers of God. This should be done with the fear of
the Lord and love for the church, undertaken out of concern for both the
successors and future progress of the ministry of the truth.
在適當的時間，以敬虔的態度，作好福音事工的交接，
是神忠心工人的責任。
完成這件工作，要有敬畏神的心，愛教會的心，
著手進行這件事，是因為關心教會的繼承者，
以及真理福音事工的未來發展。
Equip potential successors
with knowledge of the faith,
spiritual character,
skills of administering church work
and the ability to serve the Lord
with humility
裝備好未來可能的繼承者，
讓他們有信仰的知識，屬靈的品格，教會行政工作的技能，
以及有能力以謙卑的心來服事主。
Purity of faith in the word of God,
obedience to the commandments
and submissiveness to the church
of the Lord are essential qualities
for every church worker. Besides
being filled with the Holy Spirit,
these successors must be pure in
their devotion to Jesus Christ and
to the word of truth according to
the teachings of the Bible.11 They
ought to hold fast to the pattern of
the sound words, which they have
heard from their predecessors.12 They
ought to be humble and ready to be
taught,13 willing to endure hardships,
and determined to imitate those
who live as examples for them14.
Moreover, they have to undergo
training, formally through seminars
and informally by observing workers
in the field. Such training must be
given over a period of many years
before the baton can be passed to
them.
對聖經有純正的信仰，遵守誡命，順服主的教會，
是每個教會工人的基本特質。
除了要被聖靈充滿之外，
這些繼承者，要能根據聖經的教導，
對耶穌基督及真理的話語有單純奉獻的心志。11
他們要能堅守純正話語(真理)，教導的規模(模式)，
而這些教導是他們從自已的前輩所聽到領受的。
我們要能謙卑，隨時準備好能受教，13
願意忍受一切艱困的事，決心好好效法那些可以在他們中間活出好榜樣的人。14
不只這樣，他們需要經過訓練，
檯面上正式經過神學訓練班的訓練，
私底下非正式的方法，是他們可以實地觀察現役工人的工人方法。
在交棒給他們之前，
這樣的訓練方式，一定要經過一段長時間的訓練，才能交接。
Such a training approach can be
seen in the Bible. Timothy followed
Paul to foreign lands, enduring
hardship and suffering when the
apostle ministered the word of truth
to the Jews and the Gentiles in
Macedonia, Achaia and Asia.15 He
heard the sound words from Paul and
was nourished in the word.16
這樣的訓練方式，我們也能在聖經裡面看到。
當使徒在馬其頓，亞該亞，亞細亞(亞洲)時，
他們把真理的道理傳給猶太人和外邦人，
提摩太跟隨保羅到國外去，忍受一切艱困和苦難。
他從保羅接段了純正話語的教導，
在神的話語中，受到好好的裁培。16
After his conversion, Paul went
to the desert in Arabia17 where the
Holy Spirit taught him the mystery
of Christ and the word.18 He then
returned to Damascus where he
confounded the Jews proving that
Jesus is the Christ.19 He exhorted
Timothy to fight the good fight of
the faith and guard what had been
committed to his trust; he urged
Timothy to avoid profane and idle
babblings and contradictions of what
was falsely called knowledge.20
保羅改信之後，就去了阿拉伯的沙漠，17
在那裡聖靈教導他基督的奧秘及神的話。18
然後他回到大馬士革，讓猶太人都覺得很驚奇，
並且証明耶穌就是基督。19
他勸告提摩太在信仰上要打美好的仗，
並且好好持守已經交託他的真理；
也鼓勵提摩太要躲避世俗的虛談，
和那敵真道似是而非的學問。
Moses was trained in the wisdom
of Egypt until the age of forty21;
this was followed by forty years of
molding in the wilderness of Midian
by the hardship of life as a shepherd
looking after the flock of his fatherin-
law, before God used him.22 In
fact, Moses’ training started from
childhood when his mother Jochebed
nursed him and taught him the
faith in the LORD. At forty, he fled
from the fleeting pleasures of sin in
Egypt.23 After killing an Egyptian,
Moses escaped to the wilderness in
Midian. Though safe, he led a life
of self-denial and indignity, for he
was known as the Egyptian who had
fled from his land and the refugee
married to Zipporah. The flock he
was tending belonged to his fatherin-
law, and his sons were known as
the sons of Zipporah.24 Consequently,
at the age of eighty, the LORD called
him and commanded him to return
to Egypt to bring His people, the
children of Israel, out of Egypt. Moses
said, “Who am I that I should go to
Pharaoh, and that I should bring the
children of Israel out of Egypt.”25 Still,
Moses went. In the last forty years
of his life, he served the LORD as a
faithful servant in His house. 26 Moses
underwent eighty years of training
to serve for only forty years. At the
point of his death, he was 120 years
old, but his eyes were not dimmed
nor his natural vigor diminished.27
摩西接受埃及學識的訓練，直到40歲；
接著就是另一個40年在米甸曠野的操練和塑造，
過著牧羊人的生活，經歷生活中各種的艱困，
在神要用他之前，和他的岳父住一起照顧羊群。22
事實上，當他的母親約基別小時候乳養他的時候，
已經教導對神要有信心，信靠主，那時就開始摩西的訓練了。
40歲的時候逃避了享受埃及暫時的罪中之樂。
在殺人埃及人之後，摩西逃到米甸的曠野。
雖然生命安全了，他卻著放棄自我，沒有自尊的生活，
因為大家都知道，他就是逃離埃及地的人，和西坡拉結婚的難民。
他所照顧的羊群是屬於岳父的，而他的兒子人們都說是西坡拉的兒子。24
接著在80歲的時候，神呼叫他，叫他回去埃及帶領祂的子民，以色列的兒女，離開埃及。
"11摩西對神說：我是甚麼人，竟能去見法老，將以色列人從埃及領出來呢？"25
然而，摩西還是去了。
在他最後四十年的生命中，他服事主，在祂家中是一位忠心的僕人。26
摩西經過了80年的訓練才服事短短40年。
在他臨死之際，已經120歲了，
但是他的眼卻不昏暗，他自身的氣力也沒有衰減。
In the same way, successors ought
to be trained in the knowledge of
the word and in spiritual character,
nurtured in the spirit to love the
Lord and His church with a pure
heart. They have to be molded into
faithful servants of God who are able
to endure sufferings and hardships,
filled with humility to serve Him. They
must imitate Christ who came to
serve, not to be served. The length of
such training should not be too short,
so that when these successors take
over the work, they are spiritually
equipped to serve.
同樣的情況，繼承者應該要受訓練，
學習真道的知識，鍛練屬靈的品格，
在靈裡，用一棵單純的心，滋養出一個愛主，愛教會的繼承者。
他們要被形塑成一位神忠心的僕人，要能忍受各種痛苦和艱困的情況，
懷抱著一顆謙卑的心來服事神。
他們要效法基督，來到世上服事人，而不是讓人來服事。
這種訓練所要佔用的時間長度，應該不能太短，
這樣當這些繼承者要來承接工作的時候，
他們才能在屬靈上有好好的裝備自已，進而可以作好服事的工作。
Successors ought to be trained in the knowledge of the word and in spiritual
character, nurtured in the spirit to love the Lord and His church with
a pure heart. They have to be molded into faithful servants of God who are
able to endure sufferings and hardships, filled with humility to serve Him.
繼承者應該要受訓練，
學習真道的知識，鍛練屬靈的品格，
在靈裡，用一棵單純的心，滋養出一個愛主，愛教會的繼承者。
他們要被形塑成一位神忠心的僕人，要能忍受各種痛苦和艱困的情況，
懷抱著一顆謙卑的心來服事神。
Implement succession
with reverence
for the sovereignty of God
and absolute loyalty
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
灌注繼承者對神的主權懷著敬畏，
對主耶穌基督有絕對忠誠。
Although Moses had identified
Joshua as his potential successor,
when the time to hand over the baton
had come, Moses acknowledged the
sovereignty of God and spoke to the
Lord, saying, “Let the LORD, the
God of the spirits of all flesh, set a
man over the congregation, who may
go out before them and go in before
them, who may lead them out and
bring them in, that the congregation
of the LORD may not be like sheep
which have no shepherd.”28
雖然摩西已經認定約書亞是他可能的繼承者，
當要交棒的時刻來臨時，摩西認定這是神的主權，
15摩西對耶和華說：
16願耶和華萬人之靈的神，立一個人治理會眾，
17可以在他們面前出入，也可以引導他們，免得耶和華的會眾如同沒有牧人的羊群一般。
And the LORD said to Moses,
“Take Joshua the son of Nun with
you, a man in whom is the Spirit,
and lay your hand on him, set him
before Eleazar the priest and before
the congregation, and inaugurate
him in their sight. And you shall give
some of your authority to him that
all the congregation of the children
of Israel may be obedient. He shall
stand before Eleazar the priest who
shall inquire before the LORD for
him by the judgment of the Urim.
At his word they shall go out, and at
his word they shall come in, he and
all the children of Israel with him--all
the congregation.” Moses obeyed,
as the LORD commanded him. He
took Joshua and set him before
Eleazar the priest and before all the
congregation. And he laid hands on
him and inaugurated him, just as the
LORD commanded by the hand of
Moses.29
18耶和華對摩西說：嫩的兒子約書亞是心中有聖靈的；你將他領來，按手在他頭上，
19使他站在祭司以利亞撒和全會眾面前，囑咐他，
20又將你的尊榮給他幾分，使以色列全會眾都聽從他。
21他要站在祭司以利亞撒面前；以利亞撒要憑烏陵的判斷，
在耶和華面前為他求問。他和以色列全會眾都要遵以利亞撒的命出入。
22於是摩西照耶和華所吩咐的將約書亞領來，使他站在祭司以利亞撒和全會眾面前。
23按手在他頭上，囑咐他，是照耶和華藉摩西所說的話。
From the inauguration of Joshua,
the man who succeeded Moses to
lead the Israelites across the Jordan
and take possession of the promised
land of Canaan, we learn that
succession and passing the baton is
carried out in full submission to the
sovereignty of God. There should
be no nepotism or favoritism when
identifying potential workers and
appointing successors. Spiritual
conditions and factors of faith as well
as suitability of the persons according
to God’s will should be the only
considerations when successors are
appointed, trained and inaugurated.
從約書亞被按立開始，他繼承了摩西，
帶領以色列民越過約旦河，占領應許的迦南地遵業，
我們學到了，繼承和交棒的事，是基於完全順服在神的主權之下，而來執行的。
當認定了可能的繼承者，指定繼承者之時，
即沒有親戚關係，也沒有偏心的情況。
當要指定，訓練，按立繼承者的時候，
只會根據神的旨意來考量，繼承者屬靈的程度，
各種信仰上的因素，以及這個人合不合適。
Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of
Aaron, were consumed in fire when
they offered profane fire.30 They
did not succeed their father in the
priesthood. Joel and Abijah, the sons
of Samuel, were judges in Beersheba,
but they did not walk in their father’s
way. They sought after dishonest
gain, took bribes and perverted
justice. They did not continue to be
judges over the people.31 The LORD
permitted the Israelites to choose a
king for themselves instead.
亞倫的其中二個兒子，拿答和亞比戶，
因為獻了凡火，而被火滅了。
他們在祭司的職份上，他們並沒有好好繼承父親的工作。
撒母耳的二個兒子，約珥和亞比亞，
他們是別是巴的士師，但是卻他們沒有行走父親的正路。
卻想要得到一些不正當的財利，收受賄賂，扭曲公義。
所以他們就不能繼續當眾民的審判官。31
反而主就應許了以色列民，可為自已選一位君王。
Nepotism in appointing potential
workers and successors to church
leadership, with little consideration
given to their spirituality, faith
and character, is tantamount to
dishonoring God and defying His
sovereignty. Such an approach will
impede the spiritual growth of the
church and greatly disrupt the work
of the ministry. It may even weaken
the faith of the church.32
若教會在指定可能的聖工人員，或是領導繼承者的時候，
若沒有好好考慮他們的屬靈程度，信心狀況和品德，
扯上了親戚關係，就如同是不願敬畏神，藐視他的主權一樣。
這樣的方法，只有妨礙教會屬靈的成長，
大大的干擾傳福音的工作。
甚至可以會影響到教會其他人的信心，讓人變得很軟弱。
In conclusion, for continuity in
spreading the gospel of salvation
and tending the sheep of the
Lord, succession and passing the
baton ought to be given priority.
Critically, succession planning and
implementation must be undertaken
with fear of God, love for the church
and consideration for the faith of the
brethren.
總之，要繼續傳播得救的福音，好好照顧主的羊群，
繼承和交棒該有其值得重視之處。
更慎重的來看，繼承的規劃和實施方式，
一定要帶著敬畏神的心，對教會的疼愛，
及為弟兄姐妹的信心考量，加以好好的進行。
1 Eccl 1:4 傳 1：4
2 Ex 17:9–13; 24:13; 32:17; 33:11; Num 27:18–23
出 17：9-13；24：13；32：17；33：11；民 27：18-23
3 Acts 16:1–3; 1 Tim 1:5; 3:15
徒 16：1-3；提前 1：5；3：15
4 1 Pet 5:13 彼前 5：13
5 Peter was Mark’s primary informant when the
latter wrote the Gospel of Mark. Most scholars agree
that Mark wrote his gospel in Rome under Peter’s
supervision, for Mark was with Peter in Rome around
AD 60-62 and may have returned around AD 65 at
Paul’s request.
5 當馬可在寫馬可福音的時候，彼得是馬可最主要的資料提供者。
大部份的學者都同意，馬可在羅馬寫福音書的時候，是彼得在指導的，
因為馬可和彼得大約在 AD 60-62 年間一起在羅馬，
而或許大約在 AD 65 年的時候，因為保羅要求而回來。
6 2 Tim 4:11 提後 4：11
7 Ex 18:21; 32:17; 33:11 出 18：21；32：17；33：11
8 Phil 2:19–22 腓 2：19-22
9 Acts 13:4–5, 13; 15:37–40; 2 Tim 4:11
徒 13：4-5，13；15：37-40；提後 4：11
10 Ex 18:21; Acts 6:3, 5; 1 Cor 4:2; 2 Tim 2:22
出 18：21；徒 6：3，5；林前 4：2；提後 2：22
11 2 Cor 6:4–6; 1 Tim 1:5
林後 6：4-6；提前 1：5
12 2 Tim 1:13
提後 1：13
13 Isa 50:4
賽 50：4
14 2 Tim 1:8–9; 2: 3; 3:10–12
提後 1：8-9；2：3；3：10-12
15 Acts 16:4–12; 17:1; 18:5, 22–23; 20; 5–6, 13–16;
21:1–8,17
徒 16：4-12；17：1；18：5，22-23；20；5-6，13-16；21：1-8，17
16 1 Tim 4:6, 12, 15–16; 2 Tim 1:13
提前 4：6，12，15-16；提後 1：13
17 Gal 1:17 加 1：17
18 1 Cor 11:23; Eph 3:2-6, 8-11 林前 11：23；弗 3：2-6，8-11
19 Acts 9:18–22 徒 9：18-22
20 1 Tim 6:12, 20 提前 6：12，20
21 Acts 7:22 徒 7：22
22 Acts 7:29–30; Num 12:3 徒 7：29-30；民 12：3
23 Heb 11:24–26 來 11：24-26
24 Ex 2:19–22; 3:1; 18:2 出 2：19-22；3：1；18：2
25 Ex 3:11 出 3：11
26 Heb 3:3, 5 來 3：3，5
27 Deut 34:7 申 34：7
28 Num 27:15–17 民 27：15-17
29 Num 27:18–21 民 27：18-21
30 Lev 10:1–2 利 10：1-2
31 1 Sam 8:1–5 撒上 8：1-5
32 1 Sam 8:1–5 撒上 8：1-5
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)