the acts of the apostles- 第42部分

It　was　Paul　who　had　first　preached　the　gospel　in　Corinth；　and　who　had
organized　the　church　there。　This　was　the　work　that　the　Lord　had　assigned
him。　Later；　by　God's　direction；　other　workers　were　brought　in；　to　stand　in
their　lot　and　place。　The　seed　sown　must　be　watered；　and　this　Apollos　was　to
do。　He　followed　Paul　in　his　work；　to　give　further　instruction；　and　to　help
the　seed　sown　to　develop。　He　won　his　way　to　the　hearts　of　the　people；　but　it
was　God　who　gave　the　increase。　It　is　not　human；　but　divine　power；　that　works
transformation　of　character。　Those　who　plant　and　those　who　water　do　not
cause　the　growth　of　the　seed；　they　work　under　God；　as　His　appointed
agencies；　co…operating　with　Him　in　His　work。　To　the　Master　Worker　belongs
the　honor　and　glory　that　comes　with　success。

God's　servants　do　not　all　possess　the　same　gifts；　but　they　are　all　His
workmen。　Each　is　to　learn　of　the　Great　Teacher；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　275

and　is　then　to　communicate　what　he　has　learned。　God　has　given　to　each　of　His
messengers　an　individual　work。　There　is　a　diversity　of　gifts；　but　all　the
workers　are　to　blend　in　harmony；　controlled　by　the　sanctifying　influence　of
the　Holy　Spirit。　As　they　make　known　the　gospel　of　salvation；　many　will　be
convicted　and　converted　by　the　power　of　God。　The　human　instrumentality　is
hid　with　Christ　in　God；　and　Christ　appears　as　the　chiefest　among　ten
thousand；　the　One　altogether　lovely。

〃Now　he　that　planteth　and　he　that　watereth　are　one：　and　every　man　shall
receive　his　own　reward　according　to　his　own　labor。　For　we　are　laborers
together　with　God：　ye　are　God's　husbandry；　ye　are　God's　building。〃　Verses　8；
9。　In　this　scripture　the　apostle　compares　the　church　to　a　cultivated　field；
in　which　the　husbandmen　labor；　caring　for　the　vines　of　the　Lord's　planting；
and　also　to　a　building；　which　is　to　grow　into　a　holy　temple　for　the　Lord。
God　is　the　Master　Worker；　and　He　has　appointed　to　each　man　his　work。　All　are
to　labor　under　His　supervision；　letting　Him　work　for　and　through　His
workmen。　He　gives　them　tact　and　skill；　and　if　they　heed　His　instruction；
crowns　their　efforts　with　success。

God's　servants　are　to　work　together；　blending　in　kindly；　courteous　order；
〃in　honor　preferring　one　another。〃　Romans　12：10。　There　is　to　be　no　unkind
criticism；　no　pulling　to　pieces　of　another's　work；　and　there　are　to　be　no
separate　parties。　Every　man　to　whom　the　Lord　has　entrusted　a　message　has　his
specific　work。　Each　one　has　an　individuality　of　his　own；　which　he　is　not　to
sink　in　that　of　any　other　man。　Yet　each

276

is　to　work　in　harmony　with　his　brethren。　In　their　service　God's　workers　are
to　be　essentially　one。　No　one　is　to　set　himself　up　as　a　criterion；　speaking
disrespectfully　of　his　fellow　workers　or　treating　them　as　inferior。　Under
God　each　is　to　do　his　appointed　work；　respected；　loved；　and　encouraged　by
the　other　laborers。　Together　they　are　to　carry　the　work　forward　to
completion。

These　principles　are　dwelt　upon　at　length　in　Paul's　first　letter　to　the
Corinthian　church。　The　apostle　refers　to　〃the　ministers　of　Christ〃　as
〃stewards　of　the　mysteries　of　God；〃　and　of　their　work　he　declares：　〃It　is
required　in　stewards；　that　a　man　be　found　faithful。　But　with　me　it　is　a　very
small　thing　that　I　should　be　judged　of　you；　or　of　man's　judgment：　yea；　I
judge　not　mine　own　self。　For　I　know　nothing　by　myself；　yet　I　am　not　hereby
justified：　but　He　that　judgeth　me　is　the　Lord。　Therefore　judge　nothing
before　the　time；　until　the　Lord　come；　who　both　will　bring　to　light　the
hidden　things　of　darkness；　and　will　make　manifest　the　counsels　of　the
hearts：　and　then　shall　every　man　have　praise　of　God。〃
1　Corinthians　4：1…5。

It　is　not　given　to　any　human　being　to　judge　between　the　different　servants
of　God。　The　Lord　alone　is　the　judge　of　man's　work；　and　He　will　give　to　each
his　just　reward。

The　apostle；　continuing；　referred　directly　to　the　comparisons　that　had　been
made　between　his　labors　and　those　of　Apollos：　〃These　things；　brethren；　I
have　in　a　figure　transferred　to　myself　and　to　Apollos　for　your　sakes；　that
ye　might　learn　in　us　not　to　think　of　men　above　that　which　is

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　277

written；　that　no　one　of　you　be　puffed　up　for　one　against　another。　For　who
maketh　thee　to　differ　from　another？　and　what　hast　thou　that　thou　didst　not
receive？　now　if　thou　didst　receive　it；　why　dost　thou　glory；　as　if　thou　hadst
not　received　it？〃　Verses　6；　7。

Paul　plainly　set　before　the　church　the　perils　and　the　hardships　that　he　and
his　associates　had　patiently　endured　in　their　service　for　Christ。　〃Even　unto
this　present　hour；〃　he　declared；　〃we　both　hunger；　and　thirst；　and　are　naked；
and　are　buffeted；　and　have　no　certain　dwelling　place；　and　labor；　working
with　our　own　hands：　being　reviled；　we　bless；　being　persecuted；　we　suffer　it：
being　defamed；　we　entreat：　we　are　made　as　the　filth　of　the　world；　and　are
the　offscouring　of　all　things　unto　this　day。　I　write　not　these　things　to
shame　you；　but　as　my　beloved　sons　I　warn　you。　For　though　ye　have　ten
thousand　instructors　in　Christ；　yet　have　ye　not　many　fathers：　for　in　Christ
Jesus　I　have　begotten　you　through　the　gospel。〃　Verses　11…15。

He　who　sends　forth　gospel　workers　as　His　ambassadors　is　dishonored　when
there　is　manifested　among　the　hearers　so　strong　an　attachment　to　some
favorite　minister　that　there　is　an　unwillingness　to　accept　the　labors　of
some　other　teacher。　The　Lord　sends　help　to　His　people；　not　always　as　they
may　choose；　but　as　they　need；　for　men　are　shortsighted　and　cannot　discern
what　is　for　their　highest　good。　It　is　seldom　that　one　minister　has　all　the
qualifications　necessary　to　perfect　a　church　in　all　the　requirements　of
Christianity；　therefore　God　often　sends　to　them　other　ministers；　each
possessing

278

some　qualifications　in　which　the　others　were　deficient。

The　church　should　gratefully　accept　these　servants　of　Christ；　even　as　they
would　accept　the　Master　Himself。　They　should　seek　to　derive　all　the　benefit
possible　from　the　instruction　which　each　minister　may　give　them　from　the
word　of　God。　The　truths　that　the　servants　of　God　bring　are　to　be　accepted
and　appreciated　in　the　meekness　of　humility；　but　no　minister　is　to　be
idolized。

Through　the　grace　of　Christ；　God's　ministers　are　made　messengers　of　light
and　blessing。　As　by　earnest；　persevering　prayer　they　obtain　the　endowment　of
the　Holy　Spirit　and　go　forth　weighted　with　the　burden　of　soulsaving；　their
hearts　filled　with　zeal　to　extend　the　triumphs　of　the　cross；　they　will　see
fruit　of　their　labors。　Resolutely　refusing　to　display　human　wisdom　or　to
exalt　self；　they　will　accomplish　a　work　that　will　withstand　the　assaults　of
Satan。　Many　souls　will　be　turned　from　darkness　to　light；　and　many　churches
will　be　established。　Men　will　be　converted；　not　to　the　human
instrumentality；　but　to　Christ。　Self　will　be　kept　in　the　background；　Jesus
only；　the　Man　of　Calvary；　will　appear。

Those　who　are　working　for　Christ　today　may　reveal　the　same　distinguishing
excellencies　revealed　by　those　who　in　the　apostolic　age　proclaimed　the
gospel。　God　is　just　as　ready　to　give　power　to　His　servants　today　as　He　was
to　give　power　to　Paul　and　Apollos；　to　Silas　and　Timothy；　to　Peter；　James；
and　John。

In　the　apostles'　day　there　were　some　misguided　souls　who　claimed　to　believe
in　Christ；　yet　refused　to　show　respect　to　His　ambassadors。　They　declared
that　they　followed　no

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　279

human　teacher；　but　were　taught　directly　by　Christ　without　the　aid　of　the
ministers　of　the　gospel。　They　were　independent　in　spirit　and　unwilling　to
submit　to　the　voice　of　the　church。　Such　men　were　in　grave　danger　of　being
deceived。

God　has　placed　in　the　church；　as　His　appointed　helpers；　men　of　varied
talents；　that　through　the　combined　wisdom　of　many　the　mind　of　the　Spirit　may
be　met。　Men　who　move　in　accordance　with　their　own　strong　traits　of
character；　refusing　to　yoke　up　with　others　who　have　had　a　long　experience　in
the　work　of　God；　will　become　blinded　by　self…confidence；　unable　to　discern
between　the　false　and　the　true。　It　is　not　safe　for　such　ones　to　be　chosen　as
leaders　in　the　church；　for　they　would　follow　their　own　judgment　and　plans；
regardless　of　the　judgment　of　their　brethren。　It　is　easy　for　the　enemy　to
work　through　those　who；　themselves　needing　counsel　at　every　step；　undertake
the　guardianship　of　souls　in　their　own　strength；　without　having　learned　the
lowliness　of　Christ。

Impressions　alone　are　not　a　safe　guide　to　duty。　The　enemy　often　persuades
men　to　believe　that　it　is　God　who　is　guiding　them；　when　in　reality　they　are
following　only　human　impulse。　But　if　we　watch　carefully；　and　take　counsel
with　our　brethren；　we　shall　be　given　an　understanding　of　the　Lord's　will；
for　the　promise　is；　〃The　meek　will　He　guide　in　judgment：　and　the　meek　will
He　teach　His　way。〃　Psalm　25：9。

In　the　early　Christian　church　there　were　some　who　refused　to　recognize
either　Paul　or　Apollos；　but　held　that　Peter　was　their　leader。　They　affirmed
that　Peter　had　been

280

most　intimate　with　Christ　when　the　Master　was　upon　the　earth；　while　Paul　had
been　a　persecutor　of　the　believers。　Their　views　and　feelings　were　bound
about　by　prejudice。　They　did　not　show　the　liberality；　the　generosity；　the
tenderness；　which　reveals　that　Christ　is　abiding　in　the　heart。

There　was　danger　that　this　party　spirit　would　result　in　great　evil　to　the
Christian　church；　and　Paul　was　instructed　by　the　Lord　to　utter　words　of
earnest　admonition　and　solemn　protest。　Of　those　who　were　saying；　〃I　am　of
Paul；　and　I　of　Apollos；　and　I　of　Cephas；　and　I　of　Christ；〃　the　apostle
inquired；　〃Is　Christ　divided？　was　Paul　crucified　for　you？　or　were　ye
baptized　in　the　name　of　Paul？〃　〃Let　no　man　glory　in　men；〃　he　pleaded。　〃For
all　things　are　yours；　whether　Paul；　or　Apollos；　or　Cephas；　or　the　world；　or
life；　or　death；　or　things　present；　or　things　to　come；　all　are　yours；　and　ye
are　Christ's；　and　Christ　is　God's。〃　1　Corinthians　1：12；　13；　3：21…23。

Paul　and　Apollos　were　in　perfect　harmony。　The　latter　was　disappointed　and
grieved　because　of　the　dissension　in　the　church　at　Corinth；　he　t