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

一．使徒是神在教会中设立的第一等属灵职份
1. In the church God has appointed first of all apostles

【林前12:28】 神在教会所设立的，第一是使徒。第二是先知，第三是教师。其次是行异能的。再次是得恩赐医病的。帮助人的。治理事的。说方言的。
I Corinthians 12:28 – And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

【弗4:11-12】 他所赐的有使徒，有先知。有传福音的。有牧师和教师。为要成全圣徒，各尽其职，建立基督的身体。
Ephesians 4:11-12 – It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

二．只有使徒才能立定教会的根基，并且成为神奥秘事的管家
2. Only apostle can build up the foundation of a church

【林前3:10】 我照神所给我的恩，好像一个聪明的工头，立好了根基，有别人在上面建造。只是各人要谨慎怎样在上面建造。
I Corinthians 3:10 – By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

【弗2:20】 并且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶稣自己为房角石。
Ephesians 2:20 – Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

【弗3:5】 这奥秘在以前的世代，没有叫人知道，像如今借着圣灵启示他的圣使徒和先知一样。
Ephesians 3:5 – Which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

三．使徒是神福音的执事，也是辩明福音的职事，真理的断案在于使徒
3. Apostle is the deacon of gospel, the one who identify the gospel, and the one who preaches the true gospel

【腓1:16】 这一等是出于爱心，知道我是为辩明福音设立的。
The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

【罗2:16】 就在神借耶稣基督审判人隐秘事的日子，照着我的福音所言。
This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

【加 1:6-9】 我希奇你们这么快离开那借着基督之恩召你们的，去从别的福音。那并不是福音不过有些人搅扰你们，要把基督的福音更改了。但无论是我们，是天上来的使者，若 传福音给你们，与我们所传给你们的不同，他就应当被咒诅。我们已经说了，现在又说，若有人传福音给你们，与你们所领受的不同，他就应当被咒诅。
Galatians 1:6-9 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

*Some English translation might not be so exact!