也许你会想知道圣经形成的简史

提摩太后书 3:14-17

但你所学习的、所确信的,要存在心里,因为你知道是跟谁学的, 15 并且知道你是从小明白圣经,这圣经能使你因信基督耶稣有得救的智慧。16 圣经都是神所默示的,于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的, 17 叫属神的人得以完全,预备行各样的善事。

旧约(犹太人称为《希伯来圣经》)主要由摩西五经(律法书)、历史书、诗歌智慧书及先知书所组成。从西元前15世纪(摩西时代)到西元前4世纪陆续完成,主要用希伯来文写成,少部分(但以理书部分章节、以斯拉记)使用亚兰文。旧约定典在主前2世纪至主后1世纪逐渐被确定,犹太人在主后90年左右的「雅米尼亚会议」(有争议)普遍认定了旧约的范围。

新约由四福音书(马太、马可、路加、约翰)、使徒行传、保罗书信、普通书信及启示录所组成。大约在主后40年到100年间完成,主要以希腊文(通用希腊语Koine Greek)书写。最早的书信和福音书已在教会中广泛使用,直到西元4世纪,特别是主后397年的迦太基公会议正式确认新约27卷书目。

随着犹太人散居地中海四周,许多人不再通晓希伯来文。西元前3世纪在埃及,约70位学者将旧约翻译成希腊文,「七十士译本(Septuagint)」因而问世,对早期教会影响深远(新约作者常引用此译本),也使更多人能以通用语言接触到神的话语。

Even When You’ve Lost Everything, There Is Still Hope

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 21:1-26.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 21:1-18 (NIV)
1  Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
2  He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
3  He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.

On verses 1-18:  Manasseh replaces his father Hezekiah as the king of Judah.  But rather than following the Lord like his father Hezekiah did, Manasseh goes headlong into worshiping idols, committing violent crimes and even sacrificing his own son in the fire as part of idol worship. 

赐生命的主

约翰福音3:15  叫一切信祂的都得永生。

约翰福音17:3   认识祢独一的真神,并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督,这就是永生。

约翰福音14:6  耶稣说:我就是道路、真理、生命。若不借着我,没有人能到父那里去。

旧约中「永生」一词来自希伯来文 עוֹלָם (ʿolam),意思是永远、长久、或时间的无限,因为没有生命的含意,词意并不直接等同于「永生」。

旧约常用的「永生神(El Olam)」是将永远和神两个字放一起,表明神在时间层面的属性,祂是自有永有的(出埃及记3:14),祂是从亘古到永远的神(诗篇90:2)。

神说:「我凭著永生起誓…」(申命记32:40),「惟耶和华是真神,是活神,是永远的王。」(耶利米书10:10),这两处经文的永生和永远,是同一个字ʿolam,指出神是永不改变的长远存在,并未呈现生命的含意。

旧约希伯来文中很少出现直接对应具「永生」含意的词,仅有一处,诗篇133:3「好比黑门的甘露降在锡安山,因为在那里有耶和华所命定的福,就是永远的生命。」此处,永远的生命(chayyei olam)是将永远和生命两个字放一起。

大卫王渴慕:「…引导我走永生的道路。」(诗篇139:24),所罗门王领悟:「神造万物,各按其时成为美好,又将永生安置在世人心里。然而神从始至终的作为,人不能参透。」(传道书3:11)他们同样在寻求永远及永恒,但并未诉及生命的意涵。

我有一个心愿

约翰福音14:27    我留下平安给你们,我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的不像世人所赐的,你们心里不要忧愁,也不要胆怯。

「同心圆」旗下的敬拜者使团2020年演唱《平安》,作者马启邦分享:我有一个心愿—为孩子们写经文诗歌,把神的应许都记下来。

这年代的人,很苦,很无力,我不敢想像下一代过的日子会是怎样。我希望有天当孩子们知道生命中的狂风暴雨和捆锁劫难是何等的磨人,直叫人对别人、对自己也失去信心时,也会记得神赐下的平安和盼望其实不曾离开,因主耶稣已经「亲自」为祂所爱的孩子把平安留下来。

祂的牺牲洗清了我们的过犯,祂的复活让我们盼待祂的再来与审判。祂赐下的盼望不会死,祂的安慰常在,在祂里面我们稳如磐石,因我们的主已胜过了世界。

在音乐会听到小孩子在唱《平安》时,异常的感动我。我心里暗暗的祝愿:「你要一直把这歌唱下去,好像我们唱给你们听一样。」近日特别多天灾人祸、逼迫和不公义,愿这歌也承载着我们,让我们注目于神。无论什么境况,愿平安与你常在。

When You’re Facing A Wall, Look Up To God

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 20:1-21.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 20:1-3 (NIV) 
1  In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 
2  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 
3  “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

On verses 1-3:  Hezekiah is suffering from a life-threatening illness.  Initially Isaiah brings a message to Hezekiah from the Lord saying that he must get ready to die.  Turning his face to the wall, Hezekiah prays, weeps, and pleads with God for mercy.

God Will Defend and Protect You

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 19:20-37.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 19:20-21 (NIV)
20  Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.
21  This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: “‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you. The Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.

On verses 20-21:  Here God responds to King Hezekiah’s plea for help against King Sennacherib of Assyria.  Through the prophet Isaiah, God sends a reassuring message to Hezekiah.  First, the Lord tells Hezekiah that He has heard Hezekiah’s prayer (v20). 

稳妥的一天

诗篇5:11   凡投靠祢的,愿他们喜乐,时常欢呼,因为祢护庇他们。又愿那爱祢名的人,都靠祢欢欣。

为这一天(为今天),我献(上)感谢,全人再次交托,与主联结;
祂是生命活水,使我满足欢畅,从我灵里向外流淌,将我溢漫且从我显彰。

无须忧虑,无须怀疑,惟寻求祂的国和祂的义,
每天都有需要,凡事向祂述说,祂赐平安深且广阔,时时保守使我永稳妥。

常常喜乐,不住祷告,凡事谢恩无何比这更美好;
主是永活源头,作我一切供应,凡我交托在祂手中,祂能保全一直到路终。

2 Things to Do When You’re Under Pressure

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 19:1-19.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 19:1-4 (NIV)
1  When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the LORD.
2  He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
3  They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the point of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.
4  It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the LORD your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”
 
On verses 1-4:   King Hezekiah’s officials deliver Assyria’s intimidating message to Hezekiah.  In response, Hezekiah does two wise things: (1) he pours his heart out to God, spending time in His presence (v1); and (2) he seeks counsel and support from the prophet Isaiah (v2-4). 

人生第一次

以赛亚书46:3-4

雅各家,以色列家一切余剩的,要听我言!你们自从生下,就蒙我保抱;自从出胎,便蒙我怀揣。 4 直到你们年老,我仍这样;直到你们发白,我仍怀揣。我已造做,也必保抱;我必怀抱,也必拯救。

记忆是个已经过去,且无法改变、抹灭的事实,它被封存,却常袭心头,带着温暖,涌出感谢,特别的日子想念特别的您,妈妈!

我第一声啼哭,您听到、您确认、您喜悦,您明白这是您对我一生牵挂的开始;
我第一次张眼,蒙眬光影中,我望着您的脸庞,您的笑容是我摸索生命的开始;
我第一个拥抱,我倾听您的心跳,感受您的温暖,我明白这是我可以安歇之处;
我第一次饱足,在您怀中,您为我摆设丰盛筵席,我开始领受生命的滋养成长;
我第一个脚步,您搀扶、您拍手、您喜悦,您明白这是我起步、渐远离的开始;
…无数个第一次,您雕塑了现在的我。

6 Ways Satan Tries to Attack You and How to Defend Yourself

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 18:17-37.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 18:17-19 (NIV)
17  The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field.
18  They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.
19  The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: “‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?
 
On verses 17-19:  In verses 17-37 Assyria’s field commander tries to intimidate Hezekiah’s Israelite troops.  At the same time I believe through this passage we can learn 6 ways that our enemy, Satan, tries to erode our confidence and soften us up for a defeat.  The quicker you can identify these 6 ways that Satan will try to attack you, the quicker you can defeat him in Jesus’ name.   Let’s go!