惟有爱心能造就人 — 哥林多前书读经随笔 第8章

哥林多前书第八章，保罗对能否吃用于拜偶像的贡品问题进行了阐述。保罗说偶像在这个世界里什么都不是，因为神只有一位就是我们的天父，和只有一位主就是耶稣基督；并且我们吃什么食物或不吃什么食物并不能叫神喜悦，因为我们不吃的话没什么坏处，吃了的话也没什么好处。但并不是每个人都有这样的知识，因为有的人对偶像的意识强，就以为所吃的肉是给偶像上过供的，其实他们的良心是软弱也是污秽的。保罗说若有这样的弟兄在身边，我们就宁愿不吃肉，免得伤了他们软弱的良心。这样作就是爱弟兄，因为惟有爱心能造就人，而知识是叫人自高自大。

 

林前8:1 论到祭偶像之物、我们晓得我们都有知识．但知识是叫人自高自大、惟有爱心能造就人。

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

林前8:2 若有人以为自己知道甚么、按他所当知道的、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 若有人爱　神、这人乃是　神所知道的。

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

林前8:4 论到吃祭偶像之物、我们知道偶像在世上算不得甚么．也知道　神只有一位、再没有别的　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 虽有称为　神的、或在天、或在地．就如那许多的　神、许多的主．

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 然而我们只有一位　神、就是父万物都本于他、我们也归于他．并有一位主、就是耶稣基督、万物都是借着他有的、我们也是借着他有的。

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 但人不都有这等知识．有人到如今因拜惯了偶像、就以为所吃的是祭偶像之物．他们的良心既然软弱、也就污秽了。

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 其实食物不能叫　神看中我们．因为我们不吃也无损、吃也无益。

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 只是你们要谨慎、恐怕你们这自由、竟成了那软弱人的绊脚石。

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

林前8:10 若有人见你这有知识的、在偶像的庙里坐席、这人的良心、若是软弱、岂不放胆去吃那祭偶像之物么。

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、基督为他死的那软弱弟兄、也就因你的知识沉沦了。

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

林前8:12 你们这样得罪弟兄们、伤了他们软弱的良心、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、我就永远不吃肉、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.