An Introduction to Suffering 苦难导论
Man’s Attempt to Deal With Evil
人类如何对待邪恶的
Historically, in the West, children were given fairy tales to help them cope with an often evil world. 从历史上看，在西方，人们让孩子们读童话故事来帮助他们面对一个常常会遇到邪恶的世界。
There are two approaches to evil in fairy tales:
在童话故事中，有两种方法可以对付邪恶:
1. Ancient Greek fables (Aesop’s Fables)
古老的希腊寓言（伊索寓言）
This offers a sweet and kind world with idealized events.
它描写的是甜蜜善良的世界，和理想化的事件。
In these fables, the good and pure always win, and the evil are punished in the end. 在这些寓言故事里，结局都是惩恶扬善的。
The idea is to fill children with stories of hope in the power of goodness. 为了让孩子们对善的力量充满希望。
2. European stories of the 19th century (Grimm’s Fairytales)
欧洲 19 世纪的故事（格林童话）
These stories offer a dark and heartless world, in which evil sometimes prevails. 这些故事里呈现的是黑暗无情的世界，有时罪恶得了胜。
In this approach, evil sometimes vanquishes the good.
在这类故事里，罪恶有时会消灭良善。
The idea is to prepare children for a cold and heartless world, in which evil sometimes appears victorious. 目的是让孩子准备迎接一个冷酷无情的世界，让他们知道邪恶有时候会赢。
Man’s Attempt to Deal With Evil
人类如何对待邪恶的
These two approaches to children’s fairytales, offer a glimpse into the way that man tries to deal with evil.
这两类儿童故事让我们得以一窥人类是如何与邪恶作斗争的。
He either tries to romanticize and trivialize it, as a way to take away its supposed threat, or he enters into its Stygian darkness seeking to confront it head-on, in his own strength. 要么令邪恶不得善终，而使它显得没那么厉害，要么是凭着自己的力量硬着头皮进入那阴暗之中。
In either case, man’s reason is always proves to be inadequate, and without effect. 无论哪种情况，人类的理性常常显得缺乏，不起作用。
Man cannot convert evil into a neutral force, without denying its heinous brutality.
人类无法否认邪恶的力量是残暴的，也无法规劝邪恶弃暗投明。
Likewise, man cannot face evil on his own, and come to terms with it.
同样，人类也无法凭一己之力面对邪恶，无法与邪恶签订和平条约。
Nothing shows man’s weakness and confusion more than the issue of evil. 人类在面对邪恶的时候，软弱和困惑就展露无遗。
Thus, man is left helpless and destitute, a blind beggar in desperate need of salvation. 在这个问题上，人类终究是孤立无援，如同瞎眼的乞丐，迫切地需要救恩。
This is why man needs Jesus, to clarify, to guide, and finally to conquer evil’s stranglehold on man. 这就是为什么人需要耶稣来向他澄清、来引导他，并最终让人挣脱邪恶的捆绑。
Jesus does not offer an explanation for evil’s continued existence, but he does offer an understanding of what God is doing in us, through it.
耶稣不解释邪恶为什么还存在，但是他叫我们认识在邪恶临到时，有神在我们里面做工。
Hope in the Midst of Evil 邪恶之中的盼望
Consider an intriguing historical fact.
考虑一个有趣的历史。
For centuries, Portugal’s currency carried the inscription: Non Plus Ultra (nothing more beyond). 几个世纪以来，葡萄牙的货币都有这样的字样: Non Plus Ultra (“到此为止”)。
The idea was that there was nothing more beyond the known world, at the time. 意思是除了那个熟悉的世界，再没有别的了。
However, in 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas.
然而，1492 年，哥伦布发现了美洲。
After that, Portugal changed its inscription to: Plus Ultra (more beyond). 此后，葡萄牙将其字样改为: Plus Ultra (“还有更远”)。
This is a fascinating way to consider the issue of suffering.
用这思考苦难的问题是令人着迷的。
For many (even for Job), suffer appeared to bring no benefit.
对许多人来说（即使是约伯），苦难并不带来益处。
There is thought to be nothing to be gained from it.
苦难被认为是一无所获的。
In fact, in modern society, suffering is thought to carry no value, and should be avoided at all costs, by all means. 其实，在现代社会，人们认为苦难不带有价值，应当不惜一切代价，通过一切手段避免。
Thus, for society, suffering could be thought of as non plus ultra (nothing more beyond). 因此，对于社会来说，人们认为苦难是 non plus ultra （“到此为止”）。
However, from God’s perspective suffering, in the lives of believers, is always plus ultra (more beyond). 然而，从神的角度而言，苦难，在信徒的生命里，总是 plus ultra (“还有更远”)。
Genesis 创世记 50:20: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 从前你们的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的，要保全许多人的性命，成就今日的光景。
Romans 罗马书 8:18: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
我想，现在的苦楚若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀，就不足介意了。
Consider Joseph who spent thirteen years enslaved in Egypt.
想想约瑟在埃及做了十三年的奴隶。
While we was imprisoned, he might have thought there was nothing more beyond that. 在他坐监的时候，他可能觉得到此为止了。
However, God had far more beyond Joseph’s slavery.
然而，神对约瑟为奴有着更高远的目的。
Joseph would eventually: 约瑟最终：
1.Rise to second in command of Egypt (Genesis 创世记 41:40, 41) 高升为埃及第二
2.Be used to save his family from a deadly famine in Canaan (Genesis 创世记 42:25, 26)
被用于从迦南要人命的饥荒中救出他的家人
3. Be used to save the line of the Messiah in Judah (Genesis 创世记46:12) 被用于拯救弥赛亚的先祖犹大的谱系。
Thus, at the moment of Joseph’s slavery and incarceration, all may have seemed lost. 因此，约瑟的为奴和监禁似乎都是损失。
However, God was secretly at work to place Joseph into a far greater role than he ever imagined. 但神在悄悄地动工，要把约瑟放在一个高远的职分上，是他未曾想过的。
In this life, we may not receive a role such as Joseph’s.
今生，我们也许不会得到像约瑟那样的职分。
However, we are being prepared for eternal life, in which our present suffering will reveal glory that we never imagined. 然而，我们正在为永生得到预备，我们现今的苦难是要彰显我们从未想象的荣耀。
We are presently being prepared for that eternal glory.
我们为着那永恒的荣耀在现今得到预备。
2 Corinthians 哥林多后书 4:8, 9: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
我们四面受敌，却不被困住；心里作难，却不致失望；遭逼迫，却不被丢弃；打倒了，却不致死亡；
1 Peter 彼得前书 5:10: And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
那赐诸般恩典的神，曾在基督里召你们得享他永远的荣耀，等你们暂受苦难之后，必要亲自成全你们，坚固你们，赐力量给你们。
Suffering as a Universal Human Experience
苦难是常有的事
Every person, no matter how:
每个人，无论:
1. Wealthy or poor 富有或贫穷
2. Intelligent or not 聪明与否
3. Young or old 年纪长幼
experiences suffering. 都经历苦难。
Thus, we should not assume that suffering will necessarily be alleviated through a change in life situation (such as through gaining wealth, education, or through achieving older age). 因此，我们不应该假设生活环境的改变（如变得富有、得到教育或是年纪变大）一定会让苦难得到舒缓。
Each sinner feels that his suffering is: 每个罪人都觉得他的苦难:
1. Unique 独特的
2. In excess of what others suffer 比别人更痛苦
3. Inherently unfair 不公平
4. Largely meaningless 很大程度上是没有意义的
5. To be avoided at all costs 要不惜一切代价避免苦难
6. A valid excuse for sin 犯罪的合理借口
7. Ultimately God’s fault for not stopping it
要怪罪于神，是神没有阻止它
The Delusion Associated with Suffering
与苦难有关的自欺
Suffering is such a thorny topic because most convince themselves that they are inherently good, have essentially acted rightly toward God and others, and, therefore, deserve a life free from pain. 苦难是一个非常棘手的课题。大多数人觉得自己没有害人之心，对神对人基本上是正确的，因此值得拥有一个没有痛苦的人生。
This self-delusion arises out of the flesh and causes us to believe that we are tragic heroes, who must struggle against a capricious God who seeks to harm us. 这种自欺来自于肉体，使我们相信自己是个悲剧性的英雄，必须与一个反复无常的神斗争，那位神总是要伤害我们。
We convince ourselves that: 我们说服自己说：
1.We are tragic heroes 我们是悲剧英雄
2.We are entitled to freedom from suffering 我们有权从苦难中获得自由
3. We must struggle against God to experience the abundant life that we desire 为了经历我们渴望的丰盛人生，我们必须对付神
This shows itself anytime one begins a statement with, “I deserve…” 任何时候当人说“我配得……”的时候就显明出来。
From a biblical perspective, one recognizes that he deserves nothing but death on a cross.
从圣经的角度来看，人要认识到自己除了应该被钉在十字架上，什么都不配得。
Our Usual View of Life 普遍的人生观
If God loved me… 如果神爱我...
1. I would be shielded from physical abuse 我就会免受身体上的折磨
2. I would be healthy, and free from disease 我就会健康没有任何疾病
3. I would have far more resources than I need to meet any challenge
面对任何挑战，我拥有的资源都绰绰有余
4. My work would have deep purpose我的工作将有深刻的意义
5. I would develop every one of my gifts 我可以发展我所有的天赋
6. I would be surrounded by loving family 我将会被爱我的家人包围
Because these things often do not happen, we assume that God really does not love us. 因为事实常常并非如此，所以我们认为神其实不爱我们。
While the items just listed are not wrong in themselves, they easily become our litmus test for God’s love for us. 虽然上面列出的条目本身没有错，但它们很容易成为我们检验神对我们的爱的试金石。
Thus, they easily transform from desires to needs, and from needs to demands. 因此，它们很容易从“想要”转变成“需求”，从“需求”转变成“要求.”
This sets us up for anger and bitterness, when our perceived needs go unmet. 当我们自认为的“需求”得不到满足，就使我们变得愤怒和苦毒。
When one places demands upon God, and those demands seem to go unmet, he quickly assumes that: 当人对神的要求得不到满足的时候，他就很快认为：
1.God is against him 神与他敌对
2.One must figure out his own life, in his own way 他必须以自己的方式理清自己的人生
3. One must rely upon his own resources to get by in life 他必须依赖自己的资源才能生活下去
4. One must guard himself from others 他必须保护自己不受别人的伤害
5. One had better secure his own future, because God cannot be trusted 他最好让自己的未来变得安稳，因为神是不值得信任的。
All of this is a man-centered response to suffering.
这一切都是以人为中心的对苦难的回应。
As the Christian grows in his faith, his suffering is transformed into a realization that God is at work, that God has an eternal time horizon.
随着基督徒在信心中长进，他的苦难变成了一种神在动工的觉悟，神具有永恒的时间视野。
Thus, the Christian gains a sense that God’s work in him is for a greater good than he can presently see or understand. 因此，基督徒获悉神在他里面工作，比他现在所能看见、所能理解的更美。
This causes the Christian to put unwavering trust in God, even when his life situation appears to make no sense.
这让基督徒对神的信心不至动摇，就算他的人生处境显得没有意义。
God’s Commitment to Us 神对我们的委身
God is committed to our growth in holiness, not our personal fulfillment. 神看重的是我们在圣洁上的长进，而非自我实现。
That growth in holiness may mean being “sold as a slave in Egypt and ending up as a prisoner.” 这种成圣上的长进可能意味着“被卖到埃及为奴后一种囚犯生涯的结束”。
In all things, God is good to give each an opportunity to see his hand at work, to draw us to himself (as God did with Joseph, and later with his brothers).
在一切的事情上，神都是良善的，他让我们有机会看见他的手正在做工，把我们带到他那里去（就像神从前对约瑟所行的，后来又在他的弟兄们中间所行的）。
Joseph learned something powerful about his God through Joseph’s experience of slavery in a foreign land.
借着在外邦之地为奴的经历，约瑟学到了关于神强有力的功课。
The wisdom that Joseph gained would later be used to instill wisdom in his entire family – especially in his father and brothers.
约瑟获取的智慧后来会传授给他的全家，特别是他的父亲和兄弟们。
Thus, Joseph’s experience of suffering was used to bend the arc of history. 因此，约瑟的苦难要被用于弯曲历史的弧线。
God does the same in each of our lives, that we too would be used to bend the arc of history. 神在我们每个人的生命里都是这样，我们也要被用于弯曲历史的弧线。
Reversing the Humanist Question
颠覆人道主义的问题
Many ask the question: Why do bad things happen to good people?
人们常常问：为什么坏事发生在好人身上？
This question must be reversed:
这个问题必须反过来问：
Why does anything good happen to anyone at all? 为什么好事竟然会临到人？
The question of bad things happening to good people is the approach of the humanist, one who assumes man’s innate goodness and worthiness. 坏事临到好人是人道主义者的看法，他们假设人性本善，也是配得到尊敬的。
The question of why anything good happens to anyone at all is the question of the wise biblical thinker, one who recognizes God’s just wrath on sin.
为什么好事竟会发生在任何人身上是有智慧的圣经思想者的问题，他们认识到神对罪恶的义怒。
Luke 路加福音 13:4, 5: ‘Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’
从前西罗亚楼倒塌了，压死十八个人，你们以为那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪吗？我告诉你们，不是的。你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡。
Two General Approaches to Suffering
通常对待苦难的两种方式
There are two general approaches to suffering.对待苦难一般有两种方式。
The first is “I deserve happiness.” 前者是“我该得到快乐”。
Thus, any suffering means that God is either not good, or not sovereign.这样，任何苦难都意味着神不是良善的，或者祂不是掌权的。
The second is that any suffering I endure is always far less than I deserve. 后者是比起我该受的，任何苦难都算不了什么。
I deserve an eternity of anguish, beginning right now.我本该从此刻起就永远哀哭切齿。
Additionally, any suffering I endure is far less than God endured for me.而且，我受的任何苦难比起神为我受的简直不值一提。
Thus, I am grateful to God, even in the middle of intense suffering (such as Job was).所以，就算在痛苦难以忍受的时候，我也感谢神（就像约伯那样）。
If God were completely fair, I would get far worse than I what I experience. 如果神是完全公平的，我的罪有应得要远远超出我所经历的。
God put my deserved life of agony upon Christ, that he would experience all that I deserve. 神把我应遭受的忿怒让基督承受，让他经历我所该经历的一切。
So, we should thank God that he is unfair. 所以，我应该感谢神的不公。
What this means is that God placed our punishment upon Jesus on the cross, so that the Son of God experienced what we should have.
意思是神让耶稣在十字架上承受了我们应受的惩罚，神的儿子经历我们应该经历的。
This was not a fair trade – that the Son of God should suffer and die in our place. 这不是一笔公平的交易——让神的儿子代替我们受难受死。
Any rational person would not make that trade.
任何有理性的人都不会做这样的交易。
(This concept from John Piper.) 以上理念来自于约翰·派博牧师.
Reversing the Humanist Question
颠覆人道主义的问题
From the Bible’s perspective, there are no inherently good people (Romans 罗马书 3:10). 根据圣经的观点，没有一个人是性本善的。
There are saved people, those called “saints” and “the righteous,” but this does not arise from an inherent goodness within. 救赎的人被称为“圣徒”和“义人”， 不是因为他们的里面有着“固有的良善”。
Additionally, from God’s perspective, that which is within his will is never “bad.” 另外，从神的角度来说，他的心意从不存在恶意。
So that God ordains all that takes place within his people’s lives, for final good (Romans 罗马书 8:28). 因此，神命定了祂的百姓要经历的一切终将有祂的美意。
Usual Responses to Suffering
对苦难的通常反应
Usual Responses to Suffering
对苦难的通常反应
1. Anger 愤怒
“How can they do that to me?” 他们怎么能这样对我?
2. Confusion 困惑
“Why is this happening?” 为什么会这样?
3. Fear 恐惧
“What will become of me?” 我将会怎么样?
4. Self-pity 自怜
“Won't somebody feel sorry for me?"
难道没有人会为我感到难过吗?
5. Envy of others
忌妒别人
“Why aren’t others suffering like I am?"
为什么别人不像我一样受苦?
Often, when we suffer, we circulate through all five of these responses. 通常，当我们受苦的时候，我们会巡回思想所有这五个问题。
Each question attempts to make sense of life without God, and without relying upon his Word.
每个问题都想要离开神使生活变得有意义，却不依靠他的话语。
In suffering there is often: 苦难往往让人:
1. An envious focus on material wealth 忌妒别人的物质财富
2. A selfish neglect of others' needs 自私地忽视别人的需要
3. A judgmental spirit 有审判的灵
4. Hurtful speech 说伤人的话
5. Bitter fighting with others 和别人陷入苦战
Those who suffer without God, are often like a raging storm of the flesh. 那些没有神而受苦的人，常常像肉体的狂风暴雨一样。
They seek any seemingly safe harbor in the world’s way, and through its means.
他们以世界的方式，用世俗的手段追求任何看似安全的港湾。
However, neither the world, nor the flesh, ever provides a safe harbor.然而，无论世界还是肉体都不能提供安全的港湾。
In suffering there is often: 苦难往往让人:
1. An envious focus on material wealth 忌妒别人的物质财富
2. A selfish neglect of others' needs 自私地忽视别人的需要
3. A judgmental spirit 有审判的灵
4. Hurtful speech 说伤人的话
5. Bitter fighting with others 和别人陷入苦战
Those who suffer without God, are often like a raging storm of the flesh. 那些没有神而受苦的人，常常像肉体的狂风暴雨一样。
They seek any seemingly safe harbor in the world’s way, and through its means.
他们以世界的方式，用世俗的手段追求任何看似安全的港湾。
However, neither the world, nor the flesh, ever provides a safe harbor.然而，无论世界还是肉体都不能提供安全的港湾。
Suffering has a unique ability to draw out the heart, to both expose functional idols, and to show where genuine faith exists. 苦难有一种独特的能力，就是带出人的心，既能揭露偶像，又能证实真诚的信心。
Those who are deeply suspicious of God usually show a wide range of negative emotions, words, and actions, when suffering comes about.
当苦难来袭的时候，那些对神深感怀疑的人通常会表现出各种各样的负面情绪，产生不当的言行。
Those who are deeply desirous of God show a wide range of godly emotions, words, and actions, when suffering comes about. 而那些对神深深爱慕的人在面对苦难时，却表现出敬虔的情感、忠信的言行。
Two Poles of Response to Suffering
对苦难的两种反应
“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” (Augustine)
信心是相信你所看不见的；信心的回报就是看见你所相信的。（奥古斯丁）
Suffering as a Bifurcating Force
苦难的分辨力
Suffering is a bifurcating force. 苦难有着分辨的能力。
It sharply separates the wicked from the righteous, the godless from the godly. 它将恶人与义人区分开，将不敬虔的人与敬虔的人区分开。
The reason is that suffering draws out the intentions of the heart, exposes the heart as nothing else can. 因为苦难带出了人的心思意念，它暴露人的心，没有别的东西有这等功效。
Thus, one of God’s great gifts to those who suffer is to allow their heart to be exposed and, if needed, to repent. 因此，神给那些受苦的人最大的恩赐之一就是让他们的心显露出来，根据需要让他们悔改。
For this reason, suffering is a blessing to those who love Jesus, because it allows him to display his faith. 因此，苦难对那些爱耶稣的人来说是一种祝福，因为苦难让他把信心活了出来。
Suffering is a curse to those who hate Jesus, because suffering further displays their hatred.
苦难对于那些恨耶稣的人而言是诅咒，因为苦难暴露了他们的恨.
It confirms their hatred. 也证实了他们内心怀恨。
Revelation 启示录 9:5, 6, 20: They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons ,and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
但不许蝗虫害死他们，只叫他们受痛苦五个月，这痛苦就像蝎子螫人的痛苦一样。 在那些日子，人要求死，决不得死；愿意死，死却远避他们。 其余未曾被这些灾所杀的人仍旧不悔改自己手所做的，还是去拜鬼魔和那些不能看、不能听、不能走，金、银、铜、木、石的偶像。
The world eschews suffering at all costs, seeks any means to relieve suffering, even through false means.
世界不惜一切代价逃避苦难，想尽办法缓解，哪怕是用错误的方法。
The Christian, however, does not seek to immediately remove all suffering. 然而，基督徒并不想要即刻除去一切苦难。
He sees value in it, and lets God work in, and through, it.
他看到苦难的价值，让神在苦难中做工，也借着苦难做工。
Two Ways that Suffering Can Become an Idol
两种把苦难当作偶像的方式
Romanticism – exalt suffering as part of the human drama 浪漫主义 — 高举苦难，把苦难看作是人生的沉浮历练
Stoicism – ignore suffering
斯多葛主义（禁欲主义） — 无视苦难
Embrace suffering with a sense of pride
以一种自豪的态度去拥抱苦难
Stoicism denies suffering.
斯多葛主义否认苦难。
One becomes his own hero in suffering. 在苦难中成为自己的英雄。
Suffering is buried as a worthless experience in a cold and brutal world. 在冰冷残酷的世界里，把它作为一个毫无价值的经历进行埋葬。
The one who suffers suddenly feels worthy of love. 他突然感到自己值得被爱。
Suffering may be a way to feel that one has earned salvation before God.
受苦可能会让人觉得在神面前赚得了救赎。
Thus, suffering can be turned into another form of pride.
因此，苦难可以变成另一种人类的骄傲。
Sinful man tends to make suffering into an idol in some way, either romanticizing it, or stifling it. 罪人喜欢把苦难以某种方式当成偶像，要么把它理想化，要么把它扼杀。
Romanticizing suffering means that it becomes a means of pride, and offers a sense of worth.
将苦难理想化意味着它成为人类骄傲的一种方式，给人提供价值感。
This is a way to feel noble in suffering, that one has earned respect from others, and even more so, that one has earned God’s favor.
这是一种在苦难中感到高尚的方式，一个人赢得别人的尊重，甚至以苦难赢得神的恩惠。
It is a perverse way to feel that God owes the sufferer on account of his suffering. 这是一种歪曲地感到神因为让人受苦，亏欠了受苦之人。
Stoicism ignores suffering, and overlooks it.
斯多葛主义无视苦难，忽视它。
Such a person seeks to remain numb and unmoved by his pain, as if does not really exist. 这样的人追求的是在麻木中，对痛苦不为所动，就像痛苦并不真实存在。
Both approaches, whether romanticism or stoicism, miss God’s purpose in suffering.
无论是浪漫主义还是斯多葛主义，它们都错过了神在苦难中的心意。
Both are blind to way suffering directs the sinner to Christ, to see Christ’s hand in his life as a sustaining presence. 两者都看不见苦难要带领罪人到基督那里去，基督的手在人的生命里做工，从不缺席。
Notice Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane:
注意耶稣在客西马尼园的甚是忧伤的心：
Matthew 马太福音 26:38, 39: Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.“
便对他们说，我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死。你们在这里等候，和我一同儆醒。他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说，我父阿，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。
Jesus did not romanticize his coming torture and death as a prideful display of human drama. 耶稣不会将他要受的折磨和死亡浪漫化，作为一种人生起伏的骄傲表演。
Jesus also did not take a Stoic response to his coming torture and death. 耶稣也没有对他将要承受的折磨和死亡作出淡泊的回应，像斯多葛主义那样。
Jesus felt the full weight of his suffering. 耶稣充分地感到了苦难的沉重。
Yet, he entered into it with his Father. 然而，他与父进入了苦难。
Thus, Jesus turned to his Father in the middle of his suffering.
因此，耶稣在受难中转向父。
This provided him with the needed foundation of faith, and assurance of God’s final deliverance.
这给了他的信心所需的根基，和神最终拯救的确据。
Then, when Judas, and those sent to arrest him, arrived he said, “Rise, Let’s go!” (Matthew 马太福音 26:46)
然后，当犹大和那些人来逮捕耶稣的时候，他说“起来，我们走吧！”
He was prepared to meet his accusers, and go to his death.
他做好了准备，去面对控告他的人，去赴死。
Thus, suffering exists that the sinner would turn to Christ in repentance, that the believer would see God walking with him through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, so that he would learn to face evil in God’s way (Psalm 23:4).
因此，苦难存在的原因在于:使罪人悔改归向基督，信徒看见神与他一同走过死荫的幽谷，学会用敬虔的方式面对邪恶 (诗篇 23:4)。
Truths About Suffering
苦难的真理
1. Mankind was never meant to suffer, since he was not designed to be subject to evil. 苦难原本不应该临到人类，因为人类被造时并不受罪恶的辖制。
Suffering is an unwelcomed intrusion into God’s perfect order.
苦难闯入了神完美创造的世界中。
Had Adam not fallen in the Garden, suffering would not exist. 如果亚当没有在园子里堕落，苦难就不会存在。
2. The Christian cannot… 基督徒不能…
a. Explain why God allows evil to exist 解释为什么神允许苦难存在
b. Explain why God allows his children to suffer under evil, when Jesus defeated evil’s power (Colossians 歌罗西书 2:15)
解释为什么在基督打败恶的权势以后，神还是容许祂的儿女受苦。
c. Promise freedom from evil at any time in this life (John 约翰福音 16:33) 神没有应许基督徒在今生的任何时候可以脱离邪恶
3. God allows suffering for eternal purpose, and he is always good in the way that suffering takes effect.神为了永恒的目的，允许苦难的发生，祂总是带着美意，叫苦难发挥功效。
4. Mankind brought general suffering upon himself in the fall, but specific suffering may, or may not, be the result of personal culpability. 人类因为自己的堕落而导致了普遍的苦难，但是特定的苦难不一定是因为人犯了什么罪而导致的后果。
John 9 recounts the story of the man born blind.
约翰福音 9 章记载了生来瞎眼之人的故事。
That man’s blindness was neither caused by his sin, nor by his parents’ sin (John 约翰福音9:3). 那人的瞎眼并非因为他犯了罪，或是他父母犯了罪。
5. Suffering helps to uncover God to the one suffering.
苦难有助于向受苦的人揭示神。
It is a tool that God uses to reveal himself to us (Job 约伯记 42:5).
这是神用来向我们显明祂自己的工具。
The Christian who suffers has seen God in powerful ways.
苦难中的基督徒大大仰望神。
The non-Christian who suffers is invited to place his faith in this unseen, yet present, God.
苦难邀请着非基督徒信靠这位肉眼看不见但却真实临在的神。
Thus, suffering is a means that God uses to cause people to recognize him (Romans 罗马书 3:3-5). 因此，神使用苦难，叫人们认识祂。
Thus, something of great value is gained through faith worked out in the midst of suffering, just as Job stated in the midst of his suffering, “I know that my redeemer lives” (Job 约伯记 19:25).
因此，在苦难中活出信心有着极大的价值，就像约伯在苦难中说：“我知道我的救赎主活着。”
Swimming Instructions vs. A Life Preserver
游泳指南 vs. 救生圈
Christianity is not a set of swimming instructions. 基督教不像一套游泳指南。
It is a life preserver. 而是一个救生圈。
Each of us wants to remain safely on the boat. 每个人都想安全地呆在船上。
But, if we do, we never know what it means to get wet. 可是，如果一直都在船上，就不知道浸湿身体是一种什么感觉。
By always remaining on the boat, we never know what it means to deal with the danger of turbulent water. 一直呆在船上，我们就永远都不知道怎么应对洪流。
God often upsets the boat, forcing us into the water.
神总是摇动我们的船，迫使我们进入水中。
In this way, the Christian is compelled to ask for help. 这样，基督徒就不得不进行求救。
As one thrashes about in the water, God does not toss one a book of swimming instructions.
当人在水里挣扎的时候，神不会扔给你一本游泳指南的书。
That would be pointless. 学游泳已经没有意义了。
Instead, God tosses one a life-preserver. 神扔的是一个救生圈。
Being in the water, one cries out for help, and then sees God’s hand of deliverance. 在水里的时候，人求救，看到了神拯救的大能。
Yet, God still does give us swimming instructions, that we would learn from him what it means to swim through life’s troubles. 然而，神还是会给我们游泳指南，让我们从祂学会如何游过人生逆境。
If one always remained safely on the boat, then he would never have the opportunity to see what salvation, at the hand of his God, looks like. 往往，当一个人安然无恙地坐在船上，就永远没有机会看到在神手中的救恩是什么模样。
That is exactly God’s point, that his people would learn the power of faith through often having their false sense of safety thrown over (the boat). 这正是神所看重的，他的百姓明白信心会带出大能。翻船之后，让他们从错误的安全感里（从船里）醒来。
Isaiah 以赛亚书 41:13: ‘For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.’ 因为我耶和华你的神，必搀扶你的右手，对你说，不要害怕，我必帮助你。
Truths About Suffering 苦难的真理
6. Suffering reveals either our foolishness or our faith.
苦难要么暴露我们的愚昧，要么暴露我们的信心。
Suffering is designed to draw out the heart’s intentions.
苦难是用来带出人的心思意念的。
If that heart is filled with idols, those idols are exposed.
那心若满了偶像，偶像暴露。
If that heart is filled with faith, that faith is shown.
如果那颗心充满了信心，那信心就会彰显。
God is at work to purify the Christian’s faith 神正在洁净基督徒的信心 (1 Peter 彼得前书 1:3-15).
As foolishness is revealed in the Christian’s heart, he is invited to approach God for wisdom (James 雅各书 1:2-5).
当基督徒的心里显出愚昧的时候，就是邀请他亲近神而得智慧。
7. Suffering always exposes the heart.
苦难总是能暴露人的内心.
God’s people suffer so that he might expose worship commitments, and cleanse the heart of wayward devotion, or else confirm abiding faith. 神的百姓承受苦难，暴露出他所敬拜和委身的对象，归正内心的歪曲，或是证实他的信心是坚定的。
Consider this Styrofoam cup.
想想这个泡沫塑料杯子。
One cannot see its contents.
人们看不见里面装着什么。
However, if one hits the side the of the cup, its contents splash out. 然而，如果人敲击杯身，里面的东西就会溅出。
That hitting might be thought of as trials of many kinds. 可以把那种敲击想成各样的试炼。
In the same way, God continually hits the side of the cup of one’s heart.
同样，神不断地敲击人心的杯身。
In this way, the content of one’s heart splashes out, so that it can be revealed.
人心里所存的就溅出，被显露。
So, as it is hit, one’s heart is revealed to be either filled with faith, or filled with faithlessness. 因此，在被击打的时候，人的心就显出是装备信心的，还是装满不信的。
The Christian does not complain about the hitting process, because he knows that God does this for the Christian’s good, that he might continually repent, and grow in faith. 基督徒不抱怨敲击的过程，因为他知道神为了基督徒的益处这样做，让他可以不断地悔改、在信心中长进。
It is important to recognize that the size of the hit is not particularly important. 重要的是认识到敲击的严厉还是温和并不那么重要。
Sometimes the cup is shaken by great trials, and other times it is tapped with relatively minor ones.
有时候杯子受到巨大试炼的摇动，还有的时候被轻微地敲打。
Either way, the heart’s content is revealed.
无论哪种方式，内心所存的都要被显露。
That content is not based on the size of the hit, so, whether small or great, suffering reveals the heart.
内心所存不是基于敲打的程度，或严厉或温和，苦难都显出人的心。
That is why, as biblical counselors, we do not focus on the size of the trial, only on what it reveals about the heart. 那就是为什么作为圣经辅导者，我们不关注试炼的大小，只关注于它如何显露人的心。
It is just as important to focus on minor trials as it is to focus on major ones. 重视小的试炼和重视大的试炼一样重要。
Consider how God may be hitting your “cup” today.
想一想神今天是如何敲打你的“杯子”的。
What is revealed? 被显露的是什么？
Is your heart filled with complaint, bitterness, rage, and the desires of the flesh, or is it filled with peace in Christ, joy, and a desire for God’s glory to be manifest?
你的心中充满了抱怨、苦毒、忿怒、肉体的私欲，还是充满了在基督里的平安、喜乐，以及充满了神的荣耀得以彰显的渴望？
Deuteronomy 申命记 8:2: ‘Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.’
你也要记念耶和华你的神在旷野引导你这四十年，是要苦炼你、试验你，要知道你心内如何，肯守他的诫命不肯。
1 Peter 彼前 4:12: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 亲爱的弟兄阿，有火炼的试验临到你们，不要以为奇怪，（似乎是遭遇非常的事）
1 Corinthians 哥林多前书 11:32: Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. 我们受审的时候，乃是被主惩治，免得我们和世人一同定罪。
Situation Is Not the Problem
环境不是问题
It is crucial to understand that, while the counselor empathizes with those who suffer, he never sees suffering as a driver for sinful behavior. 有一点至关重要，虽然辅导者十分同情正在遭受苦难的人，但他从不会把苦难当成驱动犯罪的引擎。
The lusts of the heart alone animate sin; suffering merely offers the opportunity, exposes that which already resides in the heart. 只有内心的情欲才会驱动犯罪，苦难只是提供了一个机会，暴露心中所存的。
Consider, for example, the contrast between the two crucified thieves; one hurled insults, while the other pled for mercy, and yet, both were in the exact same situation (Luke 路加福音 23:39-42).
思考一下，比如那两个钉十字架的盗贼，在同样的情况下，一个出言不逊，而另一个乞求怜悯。
God Has a Singular Objective – the Christian’s Holiness
神有唯一的目的—基督徒的圣洁
God spares nothing, so that his people would be counted holy.
神不惜一切地要使他的百姓成为圣洁。
He does not spare: 祂不顾惜:
1. Achievements 成就
2. Experiences 经历
3. Possessions 财富
4. Relationships 关系
He did not spare his own Son (Romans 罗马书 8:32).
祂没有顾惜自己的独生子。
(Also see Job 1:21) 同样见于约伯记 1:21。
Truths About Suffering 苦难的真理
James 雅各书 1:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐。因为知道你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺欠。
The Christian who faithfully endures trials of many kinds finally lacks nothing. 忠心忍受各样试炼的基督徒最终一无所缺。
8. Suffering helps the Christian to understand the gospel.
苦难帮助基督徒明白福音。
The gospel is Jesus’ death on the cross as the payment for sins. That payment is received by faith alone. 福音就是耶稣死在十字架上支付了罪的代价，那赎价唯有借着信才能获得。
Thus, as the Christian suffers, he is reminded of Christ’s suffering on the cross for evil men.
因此，当基督徒受苦时，就让他记起基督在十字架上为恶人受苦。
Jesus suffered unjustly. 耶稣承受了本不应该承受的苦难。
The Christian recognizes the great price that Christ paid, because the Christian feels a similar pain within himself.
当基督徒同样感到痛苦的时候就认识到基督付出了极重的代价。
9. In suffering, the Christian learns to trust Jesus, because Jesus suffered ahead of us.
在苦难中，基督徒学会相信耶稣，因为耶稣先承受了苦难。
Now Jesus walks with his people through their suffering.
现在，耶稣和他的百姓一起走过死荫幽谷 (Psalm 诗篇 23:4a).
He does not always remove the Christian from suffering, but walks with him through it. 他 并不总是除去基督徒的苦难，而是在苦难中与他们同行 (Hebrews 希伯来书 4:14-5:9; 12:1-11).
10. God has: 神的作为:
a. Numbered the hairs on the Christian’s head (Luke 路加福音 12:7a) 数算基督徒的头发
b. Counted the Christian’s days (Psalm 诗篇 56:8; Luke 路加福音 12:25) 数算他的日子
c. Promised never to leave nor forsake the Christian (Deuteronomy 申命记 31:6)
承诺必不撇下他也不丢弃他
Every atom in this universe moves according to God’s will.
在宇宙中的每个原子都按照神的旨意移动。
Thus, the Christian need not be anxious about anything (Philippians 腓立比书 4:6, 7).
因此，基督徒不需要对任何事物感到焦虑。
11. Suffering reminds the Christian that this is not his home.
苦难提醒基督徒，这世界不是他的家。
Thus, suffering is designed to keep drawing the Christian forward to his eternal destiny, to cause the Christian to hold loosely to this world, and everything about it. 因此，苦难是为了不断地带领基督徒走向永恒，叫基督徒对一切属世的东西松手。
The Christian who is taught to hold loosely to this world is given freedom in Christ.
基督徒得了对这个世界松手的教训，就在基督里面得了自由。
God continually reminds us that this present world (in its present state) is not our permanent home.
神不断地让我们想起今世（以它现在的状态）不是我们永远的家。
The sum and substance of our lives is not a fruitless striving to make this world into our home. 我们生活的本质并不是为了将这个世界变成我们的家园而进行的徒劳的努力。
Every day God graciously reminds us that this is not meant to be our home (in its present condition, although the earth will be transformed at the end of time). 每一天神都满有恩慈地让我们想起现在的世界（指它现在的状态，虽然地球将在末世之后被改变）不该是我们的家。
So, sometimes our efforts fail, and our strength is lost.
因此，有时，我们的努力失败了，我们的力量变得衰微。
Sometimes, we experience defeat. 有时，我们经历失败。
But, this is only temporary, that we would know a far greater victory one day. 但这只是暂时的，有一天我们将会知道一个大得多的胜利。
12. Those who have suffered greatly are greatly sensitive to others.
那些受过很多苦的人就对别人非常敏感 (2 Corinthians 哥林多后书 1:4).
Suffering awakens one to his selfishness, and causes him to be sensitive to others.
苦难使人认识到自己的自私，叫他敏锐地理解别人。
Those who have suffered greatly are best able to help others who suffer. 那些大大受苦的人是最能帮助正在受苦之人的。
Although, it is important to point out that the suffering does not need to be identical. 虽然，苦难不需要一模一样，指出这一点是重要的。
The Christian can draw upon his experience of suffering, interpreted through God’s Word, to help any other person in any other form of suffering. 基督徒可以透过神的话语带出自己经历的苦难，帮助遭受任何苦难的人。
13. All current suffering, no matter how great, will pass away.
现在所有的苦难，不管有多大，都会过去。
Revelation 启示录 21:4: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 神要擦去他们一切的眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。”
Unraveling Suffering’s Mystery
揭开苦难的谜底
Jesus’ Suffering 耶稣的苦难
Think of Jesus’ infinite sorrow, sense of betrayal, and abandonment.
想想耶稣遭人背叛、被人离弃时，他的悲伤无以衡量。
1. “Father, let this cup pass from me.”
我父阿，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。(Matthew 马太福音 26:39)
2. The silence of the lamb before its shearers
羔羊在剪羊毛的人面前静默 (Isaiah 以赛亚书 53:7)
3. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
我的 神，我的 神，为甚么离弃我。(Matthew 马太福音 27:46)
4. “I am thirsty.” 我渴了 (John 约翰福音 19:28)
In his suffering, Jesus still loved others, even his enemies.
在苦难中，耶稣仍然爱别人，甚至爱他的敌人。
1. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” 耶稣对他说，我实在告诉你，今日你要同我在乐园里了。 (Luke 路加福音 23:43)
2. “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
当下耶稣说，父阿，赦免他们，因为他们所作的，他们不晓得。 (Luke 路加福音 23:34)
3. “Woman, behold you son…Behold you mother.”
母亲，看你的儿子。看你的母亲。 (John 约翰福音 19:26, 27)
It is remarkable to consider that Jesus suffered:
值得注意的是，耶稣遭受的苦难:
1. Far more than any human being, as he experienced the fires of God’s wrath while still alive
比任何人都多，因为他在活着的时候经历了神忿怒之火
2. Entirely for others 完全为他人
3. Purposely 他甘愿承受苦难
To the end, Jesus put his hope in his Father.
最后，耶稣把天父视为他的盼望。
1. “It is finished.” 成了 (John 约翰福音 19:30)
2. “Into your hands I commit my spirit.”
父阿，我将我的灵魂交在你手里。 (Luke 路加福音 23:46)
Liberal theologians call Jesus’ suffering and death “child abuse,” since the Son was sent to the cross by his Father. 自由神学家称耶稣的受难和死为“虐待儿童”，因为子受父差遣上了十字架。
However, this is a grotesque perversion of Jesus’ suffering.
然而，这是对耶稣代表我们受难的荒诞扭曲。
Jesus willfully allowed himself to go to the cross to fulfill the plan of salvation begun thousands of years before (“Yet not as I will, but as you will.”) 耶稣自愿上十字架来实现几千年以前的救恩计划. “然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思.” (Matthew 马太福音 26:39b)
There is a point in this for us as well. 对我们来说这也是重点。
When we suffer at the hands of the world, or at the hands of evil, in general, we often wrongly look upon God as one who “abuses” his child. 当我们在世界的手中、邪恶的手中受苦时，泛泛地说，我们总是错误地把神当作“虐待儿童”的人来对待他。
This should never be our approach.
这从来都不应该是我们对待神的方式。
God’s work through our suffering is at the hand of a master surgeon.
神借着我们的苦难所做的工好比一个手术主治医生的手。
That surgeon knows exactly how to cut away the cancers of sin, and how to leave the good tissue of faith intact.
那个主治医生知道如何切除罪的癌症、如何完好地保留好的信心组织。
Thus, God’s work in us is always that we would be more sanctified, more like Christ, experience more freedom from sin, and finally experience a greater glory. 因此，神在我们里面的工作总是让我们变得更圣洁、更像基督，经历脱离罪的自由，最终大得荣耀。
Jesus Clarifies It All 耶稣全然澄清
The Christian’s past, present, and future are unified in Christ.
基督徒的过去、现在和将来在基督里是统一的。
This means that his personal history, present life situation, and the key to his future are all simultaneously found in Christ.
这意味着他的过去，现在和未来的关键都是同时在基督里找到的。
Our past was to lead us to the gospel.
我们的过去带领我们进入福音。
Our present deepens and sustains the gospel in us.
我们的现在加深、维系在我们里面的福音。
Our future is that the gospel would one day be fully realized in us.
我们的未来是福音将有一天在我们里面全然实现。
2 Corinthians 哥林多后书 4:17: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
我们这至暂至轻的苦楚，要为我们成就极重无比永远的荣耀。
What Will You Praise God For?
你要为什么赞美神呢?
At the end of this year, when you look back on all that took place what will you praise God for? 今年年底，当你回顾过去发生的一切时，你会因什么赞美神呢?
1. …a new car, or for deeper faith? 是为了一辆新车，还是为了你的信心更坚固了?
2. …only feeling better emotionally, or for greater surrender to Christ? 是为了更加感觉良好，还是为了更降服于基督?
3. …winning the praises of men, or for more deeply repenting? 是为了赢得人们的赞美，还是为了更深刻地悔改?
Proverbs 箴言 27:21: The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by his praise. 鼎为炼银，炉为炼金，人的称赞也试炼人心。
The question is, “Whom does one praise, and for what does one praise him?”
问题是人赞美的是谁？为什么赞美他？
Student Exercise 学生练习
Ludwig van Beethoven 路德维希·凡·贝多芬 (1770–1827)
By the time he had turned thirty, Beethoven had gone almost completely deaf.
贝多芬到了而立之年（三十岁），几乎丧失了全部的听觉。
This was caused by his practice of eating pencils. 这是他吃铅笔的习惯造成的。
Beethoven conducted the first performance of his Ninth Symphony while completely deaf. 贝多芬第一次演出指挥他第九交响乐时，已经完全耳聋了。
He did not even know that the piece had ended. 他甚至不知道曲子结束了。
Beethoven was seized by fear that he would be humiliated because of his disability.
贝多芬被恐惧所笼罩，担心自己会因为残疾而受到羞辱。
He became a hermit, devoting himself entirely to his music.
他成了一个隐修者，将自己完全奉献给了音乐。
In 1802, Beethoven penned the Heiligenstadt Testament, his will, in which he stated his plans to commit suicide.
1802 年，贝多芬执笔写了海里根遗书，里面诉说了他的自杀计划。
How would you counsel Beethoven? 你会怎么辅导贝多芬呢?
What questions would you ask him? 你会问他什么问题?
Offer an analysis of Beethoven’s heart. 分析贝多芬的内心.
(This may involve some speculation, because we cannot ask him questions.) 这可能涉及一些猜测，因为我们不能问他问题。
Offer specific Scripture to help him. 提供具体的经文来帮助他。
Review Questions 复习样题
1. In the class notes, “An Introduction to Suffering,” explain the section, “Hope in the Midst of Evil,” in detail.
根据《苦难导论》，阐释“邪恶之中的盼望”。
2. In the class notes, “An Introduction to Suffering,” explain the section, “Our Usual View of Life,” in detail.
根据《苦难导论》，阐释“普遍的人生观。”
3. In the class notes, “An Introduction to Suffering,” explain five of the points in the section, “Truths About Suffering,” in detail.
根据《苦难导论》，阐释“苦难的真理”。
4. In the class notes, “An Introduction to Suffering,” explain the section, “Jesus’ Suffering,” in detail.
根据《苦难导论》，阐释“耶稣的苦难”。
——————
A Blueprint for Understanding Suffering
认识苦难的一张蓝图
Questions Which Arise 出现的问题
1. Is this specific suffering Satan’s attack, God’s punishment for ongoing disobedience, or God’s testing to confirm faith? 特定的苦难是撒旦的攻击，上帝的惩罚或上帝的试炼吗？
2. Is certain suffering simply part of living in a fallen world (such as the effects of environmental pollution), or is it more directed, deliberate, and personal than that? 有些苦难不过是活在一个堕落世界的必然结果（像是环境污染的后果）
3. To what degree does one’s suffering arise from his own lust of the flesh, so that, the heart is pierced by its own idols? 在什么程度上一个人所受的苦是出自他自己肉体的情欲？
4. Why does certain suffering seem to intensify with increased victory for God’s kingdom?
为什么有些苦难与顺服成正比？
While answers to these questions often remain cloaked behind a cosmic shroud (as with Job), the Christian may discern patterns, pick up clues, and spy something of God’s larger purpose to induce ever more purified heart worship. 这些问题的答案总是像披着宇宙的外衣似的很难直接找到（例如约伯），然而基督徒可以通过分辨、找寻线索、理解上帝永恒的旨意等方式，去引导更纯洁的心灵敬拜。
Notice that Job never knew the reason for his suffering.
请注意，约伯从不知道他受苦难的理由。
He was never aware of the challenge that Satan presented to God (Job 约伯记 1:9-11).
他从未意识到撒旦对神的挑战。
However, we know what took place in the heavens, and why Job suffered as he did.
然而，我们却知道天上发生了什么，以及约伯为什么受苦。
This is because we have God’s Word to explain elements of our suffering to us. 这是因为我们有的话语解释向我们解释我们的苦难要素。
Four Sources of Suffering 苦难的四种来源
1. The world 世界 (A)
2. The flesh 肉体 (B)
3. The devil 魔鬼 (C)
4. The hand of God 神的手 (D)
Six Types of People 六类人
1. The Mocker 亵慢人：
The unbeliever who actively opposes God, teaches others to do the same
积极阻挡神的非信徒，他们教唆别人也照样行。
A.Lamech 拉麦 (Genesis 创世记 4:23)
B.The city of Sodom 所多玛城 (Genesis 创世记 19:5, 9, 11)
C.Balaam 巴兰 (Numbers 民数记 23)
D.Herod 希律 (Matthew 马太福音 2:3, 12, 16)
E.The Pharisees 法利赛人 (Matthew 马太福音 3:7; 9:34)
Romans 罗马书 1:32: Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
他们虽知道神判定行这样事的人是当死的，然而他们不但自己去行，还喜欢别人去行。
Traits of a mocker: 亵慢人的特点：
a. Refuses to accept reprimand or rebuke (Proverbs 箴言 9:7, 8).
拒绝接受训诫和责备。
b. Lacks understanding, and delights in wrong doing (Proverbs 箴言10:23). 缺乏认识， 以行恶为戏耍 。
c. Stirs up dissension and enmity (Proverbs 箴言 22:10).
煽动纷争和敌意。
d. Despises those who walk uprightly (Proverbs 箴言 29:8).
轻视行义的人。
e. Follows his own ungodly desires, and perverts God’s grace into sensuality. 遵从自己败坏的私欲，将神的恩典歪曲为肉欲。
2.The fool 愚顽人:
The unbeliever who is set in his ways, hard-hearted, and is rebuked 顽固不化的不信者，内心刚硬，受到责备。
a.Cain increased his bitterness toward God. 该隐对神的苦毒更甚 (Genesis 创世记 4:10, 16)
b.Ham disrespected his father. 含不尊重他父亲 (Genesis 创世记 9:22)
c.Esau despised his birthright, and eventually sought to murder his brother, Jacob. 以扫请看他长子的名分，最后要杀他弟弟雅各。 (Genesis 创世记 25:34; 27:41)
d.Laban had household gods. 拉班家中放着神像。(Genesis 创世记 29:25; 31:30)
e.King Belshazzar brazenly drank from the temple’s golden goblets 伯沙撒王厚颜无耻地从圣殿中的金杯中饮酒。(Daniel 但以理书 5:2, 4).
Psalm 诗篇 14:1: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
愚顽人心里说，没有神。他们都是邪恶，行了可憎恶的事。没有一个人行善。
3. The Simple 单纯的人：
The unbeliever who is naïve, unconfirmed in his rebellion, and is taught
天真的不信者，在悖逆的路上还未坚定不移，是受教的。
a.The rich young ruler was not yet a believer in Jesus.
富有的少年官还未成为耶稣的信徒。 (Matthew 马太福音 19:16-19)
But, by God’s grace, he was willing to listen to Jesus, and was inclined to obey Jesus, except that he could not accept what Jesus asked of him. 但是借着神的恩典，他愿意听从耶稣，他倾向于遵从耶稣，除了做不到耶稣让他做的。
The simple one has not yet fully given himself over to many sins.
单纯的人还未完全把自己交给许多的罪。
4. The New Christian 初信徒：
The believer who lives under a protective hedge for a time. 暂时活在保护他的篱笆内的信徒。
a.The disciples initially did not seem to experience persecution.
门徒开始的时候似乎不太经历迫害。 (Matthew 马太福音 8:26)
Later, when Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, into the surrounding villages, he told them that if they experienced persecution in one town, they should flee to another one (Matthew 马太福音 10:23). 后来，当耶稣两个两个差他们去往周围的乡村，他告诉他们如果他们在一个城受到迫害，就逃往另一个城。
b. After he was born again, Paul spent three years studying in Damascus (Galatians 加拉太书 1:17, 18).
保罗重生以后，花了三年时间在大马士革学习。
It was only after Paul entered public ministry, that he experienced intense persecution. 等保罗开始公开侍奉，他就经历巨大的逼迫。
c. Timothy 提摩太 (1 Timothy 提摩太前书 4:12)
5. The Disobedient Christian 不顺服的基督徒：
a.Any patriarch at sometime 每个先祖在某个时候
b.David 大卫 (2 Samuel 撒母耳记下 11:4)
c.Solomon 所罗门 (1 Kings 列王纪上 11:4)
6. The Obedient Christian 顺服的基督徒：
A.Job 约伯
B.Daniel 但以理
C.Jeremiah 耶利米
D.The Roman Centurion 罗马百夫长 (Matthew 马太福音 8:10)
In total, there are twenty-four cases to study.
总共有 24 种情形需要研究。
上帝的主权
苦难的来源
A. 世界（普遍、外在）
B. 肉体（内在）
C. 魔鬼（特殊的外在）
D. 神的手
不信主的人
1.亵慢人
世界荣耀亵慢人
亵慢人的良知泯灭
撒旦与亵慢人结盟
神反对，但通常不会直接对付亵慢人
2.愚顽人
世界喜欢愚顽人
愚顽人被自己罪恶的肉体折磨
撒旦培养愚顽人
神反对，并常常主动吸引愚顽人
3.单纯的人
世界指导单纯的人
单纯的人为肉体感到困惑
撒旦诱惑单纯的人
神追求单纯的人
信主的人
4. 初信者
世界憎恶、阻拦初信者
初信者越来越认识到成圣的迫切性
初信者在一段时间内会受到保护
神牧养初信者
5. 不顺服的基督徒
世界憎恶，但是容忍不顺服的基督徒
不顺服的基督徒极不稳定，并且被自己的罪折磨
撒旦通常忽略和漠视不顺服的基督徒
神责罚不顺服的基督徒
6. 顺服的基督徒
世界憎恶并试图削弱顺服的基督徒
顺服的基督徒是喜乐并且平安的
撒旦猛烈地攻击顺服的基督徒
神会修剪顺服的基督徒
God’s Sovereignty 神的主权
God is completely in control of all that comes to pass (Ephesians 以弗所书 4:6). 神全然掌管所有会发生的事情。
God is not in a battle with evil, and never has been.
神与邪恶不是在争斗中，也从未如此。
Genesis 创世记 50:20: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
从前你们的意思是要害我，但 神的意思原是好的，要保全许多人的性命，成就今日的光景。
Romans 罗马书 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱 神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。
Philippians 腓立比书 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事藉着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。
Sources of Suffering: 苦难的来源 #1:The World 世界
The world is an instrument of suffering in a general sense.
总体而言，世界是苦难的工具。
This includes systems and institutions (a corporate lust of the flesh). 意思是世界是一张由肉体的情欲织成的大网。
Also, consider the concept of the avenger in Numbers 35:19.
也请思想民数记 35:19 中的报复者。
This was one who sought justice for a murdered relative.
他为了被杀害的亲人伸冤。
This represents a manifestation of the world’s system of justice, which can inflict pain and death. 这代表了世界司法体系的一种表现，它可以造成痛苦和死亡。
Sources of Suffering 苦难的来源: #2:The Flesh 肉体
“Flesh is any human action or achievement without dependence upon the Holy Spirit and without glorying in Christ Jesus.” (John Piper)
肉体是任何不依靠圣灵，也不荣耀基督耶稣的人类行动或成就。
The flesh is false worship, which can be used to attack others, but is also a means for one to suffer internally.
体贴肉体是偶像崇拜，可以被用来攻击他人，同时也会使自己受苦。
So, the flesh works like a double-edged sword.
因此，肉体就像一把双刃剑。
For example, the one who lies, causes pain to others, as well as pain to himself. 比如，撒谎的人不仅会让他人痛苦，也会使自己痛苦。
Consider the tree diagrams, in which the foolish heart produces thorns.
想想树形图中，愚昧的心生出荆棘。
Those thorns are frequently a source of piercing pain to others, but they may also pierce the one who produces them.
那些荆棘通常成了一种刺痛别人的来源，但他们可能也刺痛着生出荆棘的人。
Thus, the flesh cuts both ways, as a brandished weapon (positioned externally), which causes self-inflicted wounds (internal).
因此，肉体会从两个方向造成伤害，如同一个张牙舞爪的武器（放置在外部）也会造成自身的伤口（内部）
Sources of Suffering 苦难的来源: #3:The Devil 魔鬼
The devil works to destroy all of God’s work, whether in the general creation, or in believers. 魔鬼致力于摧毁上帝所有的工作，不论是普遍的受造物或是信徒。
Satan takes delight in, and entices, the non-Christian. 撒旦喜欢并且引诱非基督徒。
John 约翰福音 8:44a: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.” 你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们偏要行。
Sources of Suffering 苦难的来源: #4:The Hand of God 神的手
The hand of God may bring suffering directly, as part of a greater purpose to draw people to himself. 上帝的手会直接带来苦难，这是他吸引人归向他这一更高目的的一部分。
God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble (James 雅各书4:6). 上帝阻挡骄傲的人，赐恩给谦卑的人。
A-1: The World Glorifies the Mocker 世界赞美亵慢人
Examples include: 其中的例子可能有:
1. Lamech 拉麦 (Genesis 创世记 4:24)
2. Pharaoh 法老 (Exodus 出埃及记 1)
3. Jezebel 耶洗别 (1 Kings 列王纪上 19)
The world glorifies the mocker by singing his praises, and by elevating such a person to high position, such as royalty. 世界歌颂亵慢人，把这样的人抬举至高位，如同君王，从而尊荣亵慢人。
Philippians 腓立比书 3:19: Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 他们的结局就是沉沦，他们的神就是自己的肚腹！他们以自己的羞辱为荣耀，专以地上的事为念。
Habakkuk 哈巴谷书 2:16: You will be filled with shame instead of glory.
Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed!
The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you,
and disgrace will cover your glory.
你满受羞辱，不得荣耀。你也喝吧！显出是未受割礼的。耶和华右手的杯必传到你那里，你的荣耀就变为大大的羞辱。
A-2: The World Loves the Fool 世界喜爱愚顽人
John 约翰福音 15:19a: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. 你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. Cain 该隐 (Genesis 创世记 4:17)
The world seeks to increase the fool’s: 世界寻求增加愚顽人的：
1.Scornfulness 嘲弄
2.Sensuality 肉欲
3.Stubbornness 顽固
A-3: The World Mentors the Simple 世界督导单纯的人
Examples include: 例子包括
1.2 Timothy 提摩太后书 4:3: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 因为时候要到，人必厌烦纯正的道理。耳朵发痒，就随从自己的情欲，增添好些师傅。
The world is quick to teach the simple, with faulty teaching which appeals to the flesh.
这个世界快速地用体贴人肉体的假道教导单纯的人。
False teachers particularly prey upon the simple.
假教师特别地把单纯的人当猎物。
A-4: The World Discourages the New Christian
这个世界使新基督徒灰心丧气
John 约翰福音 15:19: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的；只因你们不属世界，乃是我从世界中拣选了你们，所以世界就恨你们。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Peter being confronted in the courtyard of the high priest (Matthew马太福音 26:69) 彼得在大祭司的院里被对质。
2.The man born blind, seemingly a new believer in Christ, was treated hostilely by the Pharisees and finally thrown out of the temple (John 约翰福音 9:24-34). 生来瞎眼的人看似是基督的初信徒，但是却被法利赛人仇视，最后被扔出了殿。
2 Corinthians 哥林多后书 2:15, 16: For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 因为我们在神面前，无论在得救的人身上，或灭亡的人身上，都有基督馨香之气。 在这等人，就作了死的香气叫他死。在那等人，就作了活的香气叫他活。这事谁能当得起呢？
A-5: The World Tolerates the Disobedient Christian
世界容忍不顺服的基督徒
James 雅各书 4:4: You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 你们这些淫乱的人哪,（淫乱的人原文作淫妇）岂不知与世俗为友，就是与神为敌吗？所以凡想要与世俗为友的，就是与神为敌了。
Examples include: 例子包括
1.Peter denying Christ three times (Matthew 马太福音 26:70, 72, 74) 彼得三次不认主。
Those around Peter left him alone. 那些彼得身边的人离他而去。
Had Peter taken a strong stand for Christ, he might have been murdered by that mob.
倘若彼得为基督站立得稳，他可能已经被那群暴民所杀。
2. Some, such as Hymenaeus and Philetus, had wandered away from the faith (2 Timothy 提摩太后书 2:17).
有的人，如许米乃和腓理徒，离了信心。
The world seemed to leave them alone. 世界就好像随便他们。
There is no record of wayward Christians being persecuted.
没有记录表明那些悖谬的基督徒受到迫害。
Only those who are fervent in their witness for Christ, seem to experience persecution (such as Stephen in Acts 7). 唯有那些为基督作见证发热心的人似乎才遭受逼迫（如使徒行传 7 章中的司提反）。
A-6: The World Opposes the Obedient Christian
世界反对顺服的基督徒
Examples include: 例子包括
1.Isaac uncovered the well’s that Abraham had dug, but the Philistines covered over 亚伯拉罕挖的井被以撒揭开，但非利士人却把它塞住 (Genesis 创世记 26:18)
The Philistines were hostile to Isaac, because they saw that God was with him (Genesis 创世记 26:27, 28).
非利士人仇恨以撒，因为他们看到神与他同在。
2. Although trustworthy, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, (Genesis 创世记 39:14), and spent years in a dark prison as a result. 尽管约瑟是无辜的，他却遭受波提乏妻子的污蔑，结果他在黑暗的牢房度过好几年。
3. Daniel was opposed by the wise men in Daniel 6:11, 12, so that he was finally thrown into the lion’s den (Daniel 但以理书 6:16).
在但以理书 6:11, 12 中，但以理受到哲士们迫害，后来被扔进狮子坑。
4. John 约翰福音 16:2: They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.
人要把你们赶出会堂。并且时候将到，凡杀你们的，就以为是事奉神。
Acts 使徒行传 7:57, 58: At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at [Stephen], dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
众人大声喊叫，捂着耳朵，齐心拥上前去。把他推到城外，用石头打他。作见证的人，把衣裳放在一个少年人名叫扫罗的脚前。
Hebrews 希伯来书 11:36-38: Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
又有人忍受戏弄、鞭打、捆锁、监禁各等的磨炼，被石头打死，被锯锯死，受试探，被刀杀，披着绵羊、山羊的皮各处奔跑，受穷乏、患难、苦害，在旷野、山岭、山洞、地穴飘流无定，本是世界不配有的人。
The extreme persecution that many early Christians experienced was not because they were doing something wrong, but because they were doing something right.
许多初代基督徒经历的极端逼迫不是因为他们做错了什么，而是因为他们做对了。
There trials were not discipline from God, but rather the world’s repulsion to their faith.
那些试炼不是从神来的管教，而是世界对他们信心的拒绝。
1 Peter 彼得前书 4:12: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 亲爱的弟兄阿，有火炼的试验临到你们，不要以为奇怪，（似乎是遭遇非常的事）
Persecution from the world may be a good indicator that the Christian lives faithfully. 从世界来的逼迫可能很好地暗示了基督徒活在了信心里。
B-1: The Flesh Sears the Mocker’s Conscience
亵慢人的良心会被肉体灼伤
1 Timothy 提摩太前书 4:1, 2: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 圣灵明说，在后来的时候，必有人离弃真道，听从那引诱人的邪灵和鬼魔的道理。这是因为说谎之人的假冒，这等人的良心如同被热铁烙惯了一般。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.The builders of the tower of Babel 巴别塔的建造者 (Genesis 创世记 11:4)
2.Herod was greatly disturbed at hearing about the birth of Christ (Matthew 马太福音 2:3). 希律听到基督降生就十分不安。
B-2: The Flesh Torments the Fool 肉体折磨愚顽人
Isaiah 以赛亚书 50:11: But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.
凡你们点火,用火把围绕自己的,可以行在你们的火焰里,并你们所点的火把中.这是我所定的.你们必躺在悲惨之中.
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. Cain’s face was downcast over his anger and murderous spirit. (Genesis 创世记 4:6) 该隐出于怒气和杀人的灵，变了脸色。
2. Lot’s two daughters were distress over their inability to find suitable husbands, so they committed incest with their father. (Genesis 创世记 19:32) 罗得的两个女儿 对她们无法找到合适的丈夫而苦恼，就和父亲犯了乱伦。
3. Ishmael was like a wild donkey. 以实玛利就像野驴。
His hand would be against everyone, and everyone’s would be against him. 他的手要抵挡所有人，所有人都要抵挡他。
Ishmael would live in hostility 以实玛利活在仇恨中。(Genesis 创世记 16:12).
4. Laban (Jacob’s father-in-law) worshipped false gods, and was distressed when those gods were stolen by his daughter Rachel.
拉班（雅各的岳父）(Genesis 创世记 31:30) 拉班（雅各的岳父）敬拜假神，当那些神像被他女儿拉结偷了，就苦恼。
One sees that the way of a fool is difficult. 愚顽人的道路是难的。
It is that way by design, that the fool would repent, and turn to Christ in faith. 这是设计为如此的，让愚顽人悔改，在信心中转向基督。
Isaiah 以赛亚书 57:20, 21: But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. ‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’ 惟独恶人、好像翻腾的海、不得平静、其中的水、常涌出污秽和淤泥来。我的神说、恶人必不得平安。
Luke 路加福音 23:30: Then ‘they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
那时，人要向大山说，倒在我们身上。向小山说，遮盖我们。
One senses within the fool, chaos, one who desperately seeks to flee from God. 可以感到愚昧人心中的混乱，他迫切地想要逃离神。
Acts 使徒行传 26:14: We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 我们都仆倒在地，我就听见有声音，用希伯来话，向我说，扫罗，扫罗，为什么逼迫我。你用脚踢刺是难的。
This verse indicates that Saul, in persecuting the church, also inflicted pain upon himself, that he suffered through his own megalomaniacal designs.
这个经文说明，扫罗在迫害教会的同时，也造成了对自己的伤害 – 他因为自己妄自尊大的计划而受到伤害。
1 Timothy 提前 6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
贪财是万恶之根。有人贪恋钱财，就被引诱离了真道，用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。
B-3: The Flesh Confuses the Simple 肉体迷惑了单纯的人
Matthew 马太福音 6:24: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.
一个人不能侍奉两个主，不是恶这个爱那个，就是重这个轻那个。你们不能又侍奉神，又侍奉玛门 。
James 雅各书 1:8: Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 心怀二意的人，在他一切所行的路上，都没有定见。
With the simple, one does not see the same intensity of pain from the flesh, as one sees with the fool.
对于单纯的人，看不到愚顽人从肉体来的同样剧烈的痛苦。
The simple has not pursued evil with as much vigor.
单纯的人对罪恶的追求还没有如此热情高涨。
The young pursue the lusts of the flesh (2 Timothy 提摩太后书 2:22), but they have not yet become comfortable in living out that lust, not yet comfortable in committing evil, as with the fool.
年轻人追求肉体的情欲，但他们对于活出那情欲还没有变得安然，他们也还没有像愚顽人那样安于作恶。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Sarah sinned against Hagar, causing Hagar to be confused
撒拉亏待夏甲，让夏甲心生困惑 (Genesis 创世记 16:8-10)
2. Abimelech seems somewhat simple in his ways.
亚比米勒在他的作为上似乎有些单纯。
Abimelech was genuinely confused as to how a follower of Yahweh (Abraham) could deceive him as Abraham did. (Genesis 创世记 20:4-6)亚比米勒真心感到疑惑，为什么耶和华的跟从者（亚伯拉罕）会那样欺骗他。
3. When we first encounter Rebekah she was a young virgin watering Eliezer’s camels.
我们第一次读到利百加时，她是一位给老仆人的骆驼喝水的年轻童女。
However, later Rebekah helped her son, Jacob deceive his father, Isaac, casting the family into turmoil. (Genesis 创世记 27:13)
可后来，利百加帮助儿子雅各欺骗父亲以撒，让家庭陷入动乱之中。
4. Dinah, Leah’s daughter, caroused in the city of Shechem, and finally became sexually involved with the prince of the city. (Genesis 创世记 34:1, 2) 利亚的女儿底拿去示剑城寻欢作乐，最后被城中的王子玷污。
5. Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law was promised another husband, Shelah, from Judah. 犹大的儿妇他玛原本许给了犹大的儿子示拉。
However, when that husband did not materialize, Tamar deceived Judah into thinking she was a temple prostitute. (Genesis 创世记 38:11, 12)
然而，当那位丈夫没有娶她，他玛就欺骗犹大，让他以为她是个庙妓。
6. The cupbearer 酒政 (Genesis 创世记 40:6)
7. The baker 膳长 (Genesis 创世记 40:6)
B-4: The Flesh as Slowly Fading in the New Christian
肉体在新基督徒中慢慢地衰退
Ephesians 以弗所书 5:26: to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
要用水借着道把教会洗净，成为圣洁，
The flesh loses much of its grip on the born-again Christian, so that he is no longer a slave to sin, and no longer as deeply pierced by his own sin. 肉体松开了对重生的基督徒的爪子，让他不再是罪的奴仆，不再被他的罪深深刺痛。
The Christian gains clarity about himself and about life that was lacking when he was an unbeliever. 基督徒对自己、对生命获得了清晰度，是他没有信主的时候所缺乏的。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.While initially Leah participated in deceiving her husband, Jacob, on their wedding night (Genesis 创世记 29:23-25), Leah seems to have come to faith in the course of bearing children (Genesis 创世记 30). 虽然起初利亚在新婚之夜骗了雅各，但她似乎后来在怀养孩子时开始信靠。
2. The prodigal son turned from his sin to repentance. 浪子转离罪恶而悔改。
He went from starving to death, to the honored guest at a banquet hosted by his father. (Luke 路加福音 15:21)
他从快要而死，到成为父亲宴席上的贵宾。
3. Notice a change in Peter between the gospels and his epistles. 请注意，福音书中的彼得和彼得书信中彼得的变化。
Peter went from headstrong and stubborn to gentle-spirited. 彼得从顽固任性到内心温柔。
B-5: The Flesh Torments the Disobedient Christian
肉体折磨着不顺服的基督徒
1 Kings 列王纪上 18:21: Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word. 以利亚前来对众民说：“你们心持两意要到几时呢？若耶和华是神，就当顺从耶和华；若巴力是神，就当顺从巴力。”众民一言不答。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Abraham lived in the fear of man, which led him to deceive both Pharaoh and King Abimelech, as to Sarah’s true identity (Genesis 创世记 12:13, 18; 20:11). 亚伯拉罕活在对人的惧怕中，这让他欺骗了法老和亚比米勒往撒拉的真实身份。
2.Lot, while a righteous man, was tormented in this soul through what he witnessed in Sodom (2 Peter 彼得后书 2:8).
罗得虽是个义人，但对他在所多玛的见闻却深感伤痛。
Lot could have avoided such torment through remaining outside of the city. 罗得要是留在城外，也许就会避免这样的伤痛。
3. Jacob 雅各 (Genesis 创世记 27:12)
4. Levi and Simeon 利未西缅 (Genesis 创世记 34)
Levi and Simeon wrongly used circumcision as a means of murdering the men of Shechem (Genesis 创世记 34:25).
利未和西缅错误地用割礼当作杀害示剑人的手段。
Their rage brought great trouble to their father, Jacob.
他们的烈怒给父亲雅各带来极大的困苦。
The surrounding nations would now join forces against Jacob’s family (Genesis 创世记 34:30). 邻国自此之后就对雅各全家同仇敌忾。
6. Joseph’s brothers were haunted by having sold Joseph into slavery, and then by deceiving their father, Jacob, with false news of Joseph’s death. 约瑟的哥哥们 (Genesis 创世记 42:28) 约瑟的哥哥们把约瑟当奴隶卖掉，又欺骗父亲说约瑟死了，为这些事他们的心一直惶恐。
B-6: The Flesh Has No Hold on the Obedient Christian
肉体无法控制顺从的基督徒
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Enoch 以诺 (Genesis 创世记 5:22)
2.Joseph 约瑟 (Genesis 创世记 39:23)
C-1: The Devil as Allied With the Mocker
魔鬼与亵慢人结盟
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. Lamech 拉麦 (Genesis 创世记 4:23, 24)
2. Psalm 诗篇 1:1: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 不从恶人的计谋，不站罪人的道路，不坐亵慢人的座位。
Mockers have adopted Satan’s ways, and promote Satan’s destructive agenda.
亵慢人采纳了撒旦的道路，促进撒旦的破坏性议程。
C-2: The Devil Cultivates the Fool 魔鬼训练愚顽人
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. Eve 夏娃 (Genesis 创世记 3:1)
2. King Saul fed his envy of David, until he sought to murder David (1 Samuel 撒母耳记上 19:10, 11)
扫罗王喂养对大卫的忌妒，直到想要杀大卫。
Additionally, Saul was tormented by evil spirits (1 Samuel 撒母耳记上 16:14, 15). 此外，扫罗被恶灵折磨。
3. Judas gave himself to the love of money, and allowed Satan to enter him in betraying Christ. (Luke 路加福音 22:3; John 约翰福音 13:27)
犹大将自己交给了对金钱的爱，容许撒旦入了他的心，以背叛忌妒。
4. Revelation 启示录 2:9: I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
我知道你的患难，你的贫穷，（你却是富足的）也知道那自称是犹太人所说的毁谤话，其实他们不是犹太人，乃是撒但一会的人。
C-3: The Devil Entices the Simple 魔鬼引诱单纯的人
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. Acts 使徒行传 26:18: to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
我差你到他们那里去，要叫他们的眼睛得开，从黑暗中归向光明，从撒但权下归向神。又因信我，得蒙赦罪，和一切成圣的人同得基业。
2. 2 Corinthians 哥林多后书 11:14: And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
这也不足为怪。因为连撒但也装作光明的天使。
3. 2 Thessalonians 帖撒罗尼迦后书 2:9: The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 这不法的人来，是照撒但的运动，行各样的异能神迹，和一切虚假的奇事，
From these verses one sees that Satan blinds and deceives the simple, often with counterfeit miracles.
从这些经文可以看出撒旦常常用假神迹蒙蔽单纯的人、欺骗他们。
The Devil and the Unbeliever 魔鬼和非信徒
Satan loves no one, so that he even, at times, attacks those who have given themselves to him. 撒旦不爱任何人所以他有时甚至会攻击那些已经投靠他的人。
Revelation 启示录 17:16: The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
你所看见的那十角，与兽，必恨这淫妇，使她冷落赤身。又要吃她的肉，用火将她烧尽。
Satan inflicts suffering with wanton delight, and in callous disregard for those afflicted.
撒旦怀着恶意的欢愉将苦难施加与人，并且对那些受苦的人完全冷酷地无视.
Even those who belong to Satan, are finally attacked by Satan, when he feels that he cannot use them any longer (such as the prostitute of Babylon, who is finally devoured by the beast). 当撒旦觉得牠不能再利用那些属牠的人，那些属撒旦的人最后也受到撒旦的攻击（如最后被兽吞吃的巴比伦淫妇）。
C-4: The New Christian May Have a Protective Hedge from the Devil 新基督徒也许有一道防护魔鬼的屏障
In Daniel 1 and 2, Daniel and his friends seemed to enjoy relative protection from evil (such as at Daniel 2:48, 49).
在但以理书 1 章 2 章中，但以理和他的朋友们看似不受到邪恶的侵害（如但以理书 2:48, 49）。
In Daniel 3:13, when Daniel was thirty-three years old, his three friends came under intense attack from Nebuchadnezzar. 在但以理书 3:13 中，当但以理 13 岁时，他的三个朋友受到尼布甲尼撒的严重迫害。
Then, in Daniel 6:16, Daniel himself was thrown into the lion’s den.
然后，在但以理书 6:16，但以理自己被扔进狮子坑中。
Thus, it would appear that, as young Christians, God kept Daniel and his friends from attack, but he later allowed their faith to be tested.
因此，似乎但以理作为年轻的基督徒时，神保守了他和他朋友们免受侵害，后来神容许他们的信心受到试验。
3. John the Baptist ministered for a time.
施洗约翰侍奉了一段时间。
However, he was finally imprisoned, and beheaded. (Matthew 马太福音 14:10)
后来他被关入牢房，再被斩首。
So, he enjoyed protection for a time; but, finally that protection was lifted.
因此，他在一段时间里受到保护，但最后那保护被挪走。
3. Luke 路加福音 22:31: ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.’
主又说，西门，西门，撒但想要得着你们，好筛你们，像筛麦子一样。
It would appear that Satan asked God to attack Peter. 似乎撒旦要神攻击彼得。
However, Jesus prayed that this would not happen (Luke 路加福音 22:32).
然而，耶稣祷告让这事不要发生。
The point is that the new Christian may enjoy a time with few attacks from Satan.
重点是初信徒可能在一段时间内很少受到撒旦的攻击。
C-5: The Devil Disregards the Disobedient Christian
魔鬼漠视不顺服的基督徒
Examples Include: 例子包括
1.1 Corinthians 哥林多前书 5:5: hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. 要把这样的人交给撒但，败坏他的肉体，使他的灵魂在主耶稣的日子可以得救。
1 Timothy 提摩太前书 1:20: Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. 其中有许米乃和亚力山大。我已经把他们交给撒但，使他们受责罚，就不再谤渎了。
These two passages indicate that Satan had not been attacking these disobedient Christians. 这两段表明撒旦没有攻击这些悖逆的基督徒。
However, Paul sought to hand them over to Satan.
然而，保罗追求把他们交给撒旦。
C-6: The Devil Viciously Attacks the Obedient Christian
魔鬼恶毒地攻击顺从的基督徒
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Job 约伯 (Job 约伯记 1:8-12)
2.Zechariah 撒加利亚书 3:1: Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 天使（原文作他）又指给我看，大祭司约书亚，站在耶和华的使者面前，撒但也站在约书亚的右边，与他作对。
3.Peter 彼得 (Luke 路加福音 22:31)
4. Luke 路加福音 13:16: Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?“
况且这女人本是亚伯拉罕的后裔，被撒但捆绑了这十八年，不当在安息日解开她的绑吗？
This woman, described as “a daughter of Abraham,” was a believer. 这位女子被形容为“亚伯拉罕的后裔”，是个信徒。
Thus, she was a spiritual descendent of Abraham. 因此，她是亚伯拉罕属灵的后裔。
5. 1 Corinthians 哥林多前书 7:5: Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
夫妻不可彼此亏负，除非两相情愿，暂时分房，为要专心祷告方可，以后仍要同房，免得撒但趁着你们情不自禁，引诱你们。
6. Paul 保罗
2 Corinthians 哥林多后书 12:7: …or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 又恐怕我因所得的启示甚大，就过于自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉体上，就是撒但的差役，要攻击我，免得我过于自高。
D-1: The Hand of God Silently Opposes the Mocker
上帝的手无声地反对亵慢人
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. The builders of the tower of Babel 巴别塔的建造者 (Genesis 创世记 11:5-8)
2. Sodom 所多玛 (Genesis 创世记 19)
3. Pharaoh 法老 (Exodus 出埃及记)
4. Exodus 出埃及记 8:19: The magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said. 行法术的就对法老说，这是神的手段。法老心里刚硬，不肯听摩西，亚伦，正如耶和华所说的。
4. Balaam 巴兰 (Numbers 民数记 22:32, 33)
4. Herod 希律王 (Matthew 马太福音 2)
2 Thessalonians 帖撒罗尼迦后书 2:10, 11: …and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. 并且在那沉沦的人身上，行各样出于不义的诡诈。因他们不领受爱真理的心，使他们得救。故此，神就给他们一个生发错误的心，叫他们信从虚谎。
D-2: The Hand of God Openly Opposes the Fool
神的手明显攻击愚昧人
Examples include: 例子包括:
1. 1 Samuel 撒母耳记上 16:14: Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 耶和华的灵离开扫罗，有恶魔从耶和华那里来扰乱他。
2. God put both Er and Onan to death directly for their wickedness (Genesis 创世记 38:7, 10). 珥和俄南作耶和华眼中恶的事，神就让他们死了。
3. Matthew 马太福音 21:12, 13: Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.’”
耶稣进了神的殿，赶出殿里一切作买卖的人，推倒兑换银钱之人的桌子，和卖鸽子之人的凳子。对他们说，经上记着说，我的殿必称为祷告的殿。你们倒使它成为贼窝了。
John 约翰福音 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. 信子的人有永生。不信子的人得不着永生，（原文作不得见永生）神的震怒常在他身上。
4. In the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), God’s punishment was severe (fatal). 在亚拿尼亚和撒非喇的案例中 (徒 5:1-11)，上帝的惩罚是严厉的（死亡）。
What happened to Ananias and Sapphira was not a pattern for all time, but a specific action intended to guard the fledgling church.
发生于亚拿尼亚和撒非喇的不是历世历代的模板，而是为了保守正在成型的教会采取的特殊行动。
D-3: The Hand of God Pursues the Simple
神的手追求单纯的人
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Leah 利亚 (Genesis 创世记)
2.Tamar 他玛 (Genesis 创世记)
3.Zacchaeus 撒该 (Luke 路加福音 19:5, 8)
D-4: The Hand of God Nurtures the New Christian
神的手培育了新的基督徒
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Shem 闪
2. In Genesis 43:8, 9, Judah took personal responsibility to guard the safety of his youngest brother Benjamin.
在创世记 43:8, 9，犹大愿意为了最小的弟弟便雅悯亲自负责。
It would appear that Judah showed saving faith in his willingness to sacrifice himself for the life of another.
似乎犹大愿意为别人舍己时活出了信心。
God protected Judah, because his line would produce the Messiah.
神保护了犹大，因为他是弥赛亚的先祖。
D-5: The Hand of God Punishes the Disobedient Christian
上帝之手惩罚不顺服的基督徒
Examples include: 例子包括
1. Joseph’s brothers 约瑟的哥哥们 (Genesis 创世记 42:28)
2. Matthew 马太福音 16:23: Jesus turned and said to Peter, ’Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’
耶稣转过来，对彼得说，撒但退我后边去吧。你是绊我脚的。因为你不体贴神的意思，只体贴人的意思。
Later, in Galatians 2:11, one sees that Peter would be publicly rebuked by Paul, on account of Peter’s fear of man and “human concerns.”
后来，在加拉太书 2:11 中，我们看到彼得会因为害怕人和“人的观点”而被保罗公开指责。
3. 1 Corinthians 哥林多前书 11:29, 30: For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
因为人吃喝，若不分辨是主的身体，就是吃喝自己的罪了。因此，在你们中间有好些软弱的，与患病的，死的也不少（死原文作睡）。
4. Hebrews 希伯来书 10:29: How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 何况人践踏神的儿子，将那使他成圣之约的血当作平常，又亵慢施恩的圣灵，你们想，他要受的刑罚该怎样加重呢。
D-6: The Hand of God Prunes the Obedient Christian
神的手要修理顺从的基督徒
John 约翰福音 15:2: He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 凡属我不结果子的枝子，他就剪去。凡结果子的，他就修理干净，使枝子结果子更多。
Examples include: 例子包括:
1.Abraham 亚伯拉罕 (Genesis 创世记)
2.Isaac 以撒 (Genesis 创世记)
3.Joseph spent thirteen years as a slave, and some of those years in prison. 约瑟花了十三年时间为奴，其中一些年在监狱中度过。
God pruned Joseph to deliver his family from famine, and indirectly to preserve the line of the Messiah through Judah.
(Genesis 创世记) 神修剪约瑟，让他把全家从饥荒中救出，并间接地借着保守了弥赛亚的先祖犹大。
4. Job 约伯记 1:16: While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’ 他还说话的时候，又有人来说，神从天上降下火来，将群羊，和仆人，都烧灭了。惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。
A Summary of the Blueprint 蓝图总结
The Mocker 亵慢人
Notes with the Diagram 图表注解
The large purple box surrounding the page represents God’s sovereignty over the entire picture.
大的紫色方框代表神在整张图上的主权。
This is the same for each of the six pictures.
这对于六张图中的每一个都是一样的。
The mocker: 亵慢人：
1.The world glorifies the mocker. 世界尊荣亵慢人。
2.The flesh is seared as with a hot iron, so that the conscience is suppressed. 肉体就像被热铁烙烧，良心受到压抑。
3.The devil allies himself with the mocker. 魔鬼和亵慢人联合起来。
4.The hand of God silently opposes the mocker (although the Pharisees were openly opposed).
神的手静静地抵挡亵慢人（尽管法利赛人则受到公开反对）。
The Fool 愚顽人
Notes with the Diagram 图表注解
The fool: 愚昧人：
1.The world loves the fool. 世界爱愚昧人。
(Notice that the heart is orange to represent the flesh, in that the world’s love is disingenuous.
请注意，橙色的内心代表肉体，世界的爱是不诚实的。
The red outline represents the world’s pretenses at love.)
红色边框代表假装的爱。
2. The flesh torments the fool. 肉体折磨着愚顽人。
3. The devil cultivates the fool. 魔鬼栽培愚顽人。
4. The hand of God openly opposes the fool. 神的手公开反对愚顽人。
The Simple 单纯的人
Notes with the Diagram 图表注解
The simple: 单纯的人：
1.The world mentors the simple. 世界督导单纯的人。
2.The flesh confuses the simple. 肉体使单纯的人困惑
3.The devil entices the simple. 魔鬼引诱单纯的人。
4.The hand of God pursues the simple. 神的手追求单纯的人。
The New Christian 初信者
Notes with the Diagram 图表注解
The new Christian: 初信者：
1. The world discourages the new Christian. 世界让初信徒气馁。
2. The flesh slowly fades in the new Christian.
肉体慢慢地从初信徒褪去。
3. God puts a protective hedge around the new Christian, guarding him from Satan’s attacks.
神在初信徒身边安置保护的篱笆，让他不受撒旦的攻击。
4. The hand of God nurtures the new Christian. 神的手滋养初信徒。
The Disobedient Christian 不顺服的基督徒
Notes with the Diagram 图表注解
The disobedient Christian: 悖逆的基督徒：
1. The world tolerates the disobedient Christian.
世界容忍悖逆的基督徒
2. The flesh torments the disobedient Christian.
肉体折磨悖逆的基督徒
3. The devil disregards the disobedient Christian.
魔鬼轻视悖逆的基督徒。
4. The hand of God punishes the disobedient Christian, so as to discipline him. 神的手惩罚悖逆的基督徒，以管教他。
The Obedient Christian 顺服的基督徒
Notes with the Diagram 图表注解
The obedient Christian: 顺服的基督徒：
1. The world actively opposes the obedient Christian.
世界积极抵挡顺服的基督徒。
2. The flesh has no hold on the obedient Christian (and less of a source of pain). 顺服的基督徒不受肉体的辖制（肉体较不能成为痛苦的来源）
3. The devil viciously attacks the obedient Christian.
鬼魔恶意攻击顺服的基督徒。
4. The hand of God prunes the obedient Christian, so that he would become even more fruitful.
神的手修建顺服的基督徒，让他变得更结果子。
A Summary of Why God Allows Suffering
上帝允许苦难的原因的总结
1. Wrath upon the wicked 对罪恶的愤怒 (Genesis 创世记 19:24)
2. To test his people’s faith 试验他百姓的信心 (Genesis 创世记 22:1-10)
3. To discipline or punish his people 管教或惩罚他的百姓
(Hebrews 希伯来书 12:6)
4. To purify his people 洁净他的子民 (John 约翰福音 15:2)
5. To make his will known 让他的旨意显明 (Psalm 诗篇 119:71)
6. To advance the gospel 推进福音 (Acts 使徒行传 8:3, 4)
Review Questions 复习样题
1.In the class notes, “A Blueprint for Understanding Suffering,”
根据讲义《认识苦难的一张蓝图》
a.Explain the six types of people in the lesson.
阐释课堂上的六类人。
b. Explain any eight of the situations presented (such as A-3; B-1, C-2, etc.). 解释提出的八种处境（如 A-3; B-1, C-2 等等）。
全文链接：https://h-land.us/blog/253779
苦难的各个方面：https://h.land/blog/253795
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