使徒的重要性 The Importance of Apostle - part II

四． 使徒是使众人在真道上合一的关键性职事。使徒是建造教会、关切教会（生教会、养教会、监护教会），把教会献给基督的职事。
4. Apostle is a ministry that unite all in true gospel. Apostle builds the church, concern for the church (born, support, guardianship church), dedicate church to Christ.

a. 生教会 (born the church)
【林前4:14-15】 我写这话，不是叫你们羞愧，乃是警戒你们，好像我所亲爱的儿女一样。你们学基督的，师傅虽有一万，为父的却是不多，因我在基督耶稣里用福音生了你们。
I Corinthians 4:14-15 – I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

【加4:19】 我小子阿，我为你们再受生产之苦，直等到基督成形在你们心里。
Galatians 4:19 – My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.

b. 养教会 (support the church)
【帖前2:6-8，11】 我们作基督的使徒，虽然可以叫人尊重，却没有向你们或向别人求荣耀，只在你们中间存心温柔，如同母亲乳养自己的孩子。我们既是这样爱你们，不但愿意将神的福音给你们，连自己的性命也愿意给你们，因你们是我们所疼爱的。你们也晓得我们怎样劝勉你们，安慰你们，嘱咐你们各人，好像父亲待自己的儿女一样。
I Thessalonians 2:6-8, 11 – We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,

【林后11:28】 除了这外面的事，还有为众教会挂心的事，天天压在我身上。
II Corinthians 11:28 – Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

【徒20:20】 你们也知道，凡与你们有益的，我没有一样避讳不说的。或在众人面前，或在各人家里，我都教导你们。
Acts 20:20 – You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

【林后12:14-15】 如今我打算第三次到你们那里去，也必不累着你们，因我所求的是你们，不是你们的财物。儿女不该为父母积财，父母该为儿女积财。我也甘心乐意为你们的灵魂费财费力。
II Corinthians 12:14-15 – Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

c. 监护教会 – 把教会如同童女许配给一个丈夫（基督） (Guardianship the church - betroth the church like a virgin to a husband (Christ)
【林后11:2】 我为你们起的愤恨，原是神那样的愤恨。因为我曾把你们许配一个丈夫，要把你们如同贞洁的童女，献给基督。我只怕你们的心或偏于邪，失去那向基督所存纯一清洁的心，就像蛇用诡诈诱惑了夏娃一样。
II Corinthians 11:2 – I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

【帖前2:19】 我们的盼望和喜乐，并所夸的冠冕，是什么呢？岂不是我们主耶稣来的时候，你们在他面前站立得住吗？因为你们就是我们的荣耀，我们的喜乐。
I Thessalonians 2:19 – For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

*Some English translation might not be so exact!