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1:1 奉 神旨意，作基督耶穌使徒的保羅和兄弟提摩太 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1:2 寫信給歌羅西的聖徒，在基督裏有忠心的弟兄。願恩惠、平安從 神我們的父歸與你們！ To the holy and faithful(\f1 1:2 Or|i believing|d) brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.( \f2 1:2 Some manuscripts|i Father and the Lord Jesus Christ|d) 1:3 我們感謝 神、我們主耶穌基督的父，常常為你們禱告； We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 1:4 因聽見你們在基督耶穌裏的信心，並向眾聖徒的愛心， because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-- 1:5 是為那給你們存在天上的盼望；這盼望就是你們從前在福音真理的道上所聽見的。 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 1:6 這福音傳到你們那裏，也傳到普天之下，並且結果，增長，如同在你們中間，自從你們聽見福音，真知道 神恩惠的日子一樣。 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. 1:7 正如你們從我們所親愛、一同作僕人的以巴弗所學的。他為我們〔有古卷：你們〕作了基督忠心的執事， You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our(\f3 1:7 Some manuscripts|i your|d) behalf, 1:8 也把你們因聖靈所存的愛心告訴了我們。 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 1:9 因此，我們自從聽見的日子，也就為你們不住地禱告祈求，願你們在一切屬靈的智慧悟性上，滿心知道 神的旨意； For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 1:10 好叫你們行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙他喜悅，在一切善事上結果子，漸漸地多知道 神； 0 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 1:11 照他榮耀的權能，得以在各樣的力上加力，好叫你們凡事歡歡喜喜地忍耐寬容； being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 1:12 又感謝父，叫我們能與眾聖徒在光明中同得基業。 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you(\f4 1:12 Some manuscripts|i us|d) to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 1:13 他救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏； For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 1:14 我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。 in whom we have redemption,( \f5 1:14 A few late manuscripts|i redemption through his blood|d) the forgiveness of sins. 1:15 愛子是那不能看見之 神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 1:16 因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的；能看見的，不能看見的；或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的；一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 1:17 他在萬有之先；萬有也靠他而立。 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 1:18 他也是教會全體之首。他是元始，是從死裏首先復生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 1:19 因為父喜歡叫一切的豐盛在他裏面居住。 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 1:20 既然藉著他在十字加上所流的血成就了和平，便藉著他叫萬有─無論是地上的、天上的─都與自己和好了。 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 1:21 你們從前與 神隔絕，因著惡行，心裏與他為敵。 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of(\f6 1:21 Or|i minds, as shown by|d) your evil behavior. 1:22 但如今他藉著基督的肉身受死，叫你們與自己和好，都成了聖潔，沒有瑕疵，無可責備，把你們引到自己面前。 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- 1:23 只要你們在所信的道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移，不至被引動失去〔原文是離開〕福音的盼望。這福音就是你們所聽過的，也是傳與普天下萬人聽的〔原文是凡受造的〕，我保羅也作了這福音的執事。 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 1:24 現在我為你們受苦，倒覺歡樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 1:25 我照 神為你們所賜我的職分作了教會的執事，要把 神的道理傳得全備， I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- 1:26 這道理就是歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕；但如今向他的聖徒顯明了。 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 1:27 神願意叫他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀，就是基督在你們心裏成了有榮耀的盼望。 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1:28 我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裏完完全全的引到 神面前。 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 1:29 我也為此勞苦，照著他在我裏面運用的大能盡心竭力。 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. This is Alex Markley's PHPScripture v1.2.0, displaying a copy of Chinese Union Version Bible in XOOPS. 本模組中文化由長島基督福音教會的Jack起始, 聖經文字部分由CCIM(網路基督使團)網站下載. 如欲修改經文請洽聖經公會. 荒漠甘泉五合一■ 中文荒漠甘泉（12月25日）
十二月廿五日 「人要稱祂的名為以馬內利。」馬太福音一章23節 「祂名稱為奇妙，策士，全能的神，永在的父，和平的君。」以賽亞書九章6節 空中傳來歌聲， 天上閃耀著一顆明星， 聖母在虔誠祈禱， 聖嬰的啼聲嚶嚶， 那顆星灑佈光芒， 其時美麗的天使在唱； 伯利恆的馬槽裏， 臥著萬王之王。 數年前，坊間發行過一張異於尋常的聖誕卡片，標題是：「假若基督沒來」。它源出於我們救主的一句話：「我若沒有來。」（約十五22）卡上描述某個聖誕早晨，有位牧師在書房睡了一會兒，夢見耶穌從未到過的一個世界。 他在夢中環顧自己的家庭，壁爐角落裡沒有長襪，沒有聖誕鈴或冬青花圈，沒有基督的安慰，喜悅和救贖。他走到大街，也看不到指向天國的教堂尖閣。他回來坐在書房裏，但每一本有關救主的書都不見了。 門鈴響了，有個孩子請他去看望他那即將斷氣的可憐母親。他急忙跟著那啼泣的孩子趕去，到了那裏，他坐下來說道：「我這兒有點東西能安慰妳」。他打開聖經，想找出一句熟悉的諾言，但聖經只寫到瑪拉基書，沒有福音，沒有希望和救世的諾言，他只能垂著頭和她一同在痛苦的絕望中哭泣。 兩天後，他站在她棺材旁，主持葬禮，但是找不到安慰亡靈的唁詞，沒有光榮復活的字句，沒有敞開天堂的言語，只有「塵歸於塵，土歸於土」，和遙遠無期的永別。他終於明白「祂未曾來到」，於是淚如泉湧，在那悲哀的夢中痛哭起來。 他突然驚醒，聽到祂的唱班正在附近教堂裏歌唱，於是發出了一聲欣喜和讚美的歡呼。 讓我們今天快樂歡欣，因為「祂已來臨」。讓我們記得天使的通告：「我報給你們的大喜的信息，是關於萬民的，因今天在大衛的城裏，為你們生了救主，就是基督。」（路二10、11） 「祂來使祂的祝福滿溢著遭受咒詛的所有地面。」 願我們關心那些住在邪教區域的人民，他們沒有幸福的聖誕節。「你們去吃肥美的，喝甘甜的，有不能豫備的，就分給他。」（尼八10）
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（12月25日）
December 25 "His name shall be called Emmanuel……God with us." (Matt. 1:23) "The Prince of Peace." (Isa. 9:6) "There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer, And a baby's low cry! And the star rains its fire While the beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King." A FEW years ago a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, "If Christ had not come." It was founded upon our Saviour's words, "If I had not come." The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come. In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Saviour had disappeared. A ring at the door-bell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said. "I have something here that will comfort you." He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair. Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only "dust to dust, ashes to ashes," and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that "He had not come," and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream. Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by: Let us be glad and rejoice today, because "He has come." And let us remember the annunciation of the angel, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10,11) "He comes to make His blessing flow, For as the curse is found." May our hearts go out to the people in heathen lands who have no blessed Christmas day. "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and SEND PORTIONS TO THEM FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED." (Neh. 8:10)
■ 永活之泉（12月25日）
十二月廿五日 神聖道的權能 「我對你們所說的話就是靈，就是生命。」約翰福音六章63節 「你們聽見我們所傳神的道就領受了。……這道實在是神的，並且運行在你們信主的人心中。」帖撒羅尼迦前書二章13節 「神的道是活潑的，是有功效的。」希伯來書四章12節 常有這樣的問題出現：「為什麼神的兒女，如此冷落對於去實現極有價值，而絕對需要對弟兄的愛？」答案是因為缺乏信心。若沒有信心，就是至大的信心，愛無法內住在我們心中，對神的話而有的信心和通常所具的信心有不同意義；這個真正的信心是高而深遠，我們若向這至大的神深深地屈膝敬拜，祂的大能會奇妙地在我們裏面運行，而我們的言行舉止都受祂愛的控制。國王和將軍的話對於士兵都有極大的影響力，何況天父那深奧而偉大的話，更無可比擬，具有極大的影響力。 深切的信靠是需要的，因那能使我們完全支取這能勝過罪惡和不信的愛心。我們需要有極渴望接受這屬天的愛進入我們的心，無論任何代價也情願付出；然後，也要讓神的話藏在心中，以彰顯其活潑的大能。這個超自然的能力，會促使聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心中。 接下去的篇幅，我們要考慮約翰書信，提到神的愛是應許給信徒，讓我們每位基督徒自忖是否深覺有感覺罪的能力，與降服於神的大能以支取這愛？這樣就得花時間在神面前等候，並且深信祂的話，使祂的話在我們身上產生新生命，去愛主耶穌和愛弟兄，正如耶穌愛我們一樣。
■ 中文屬天日子（12月25日）
十二月廿五日 祂的誕生與我們的新生 「因此，必有童女懷孕生子，給祂起名叫以馬內利，就是神與我們同在的意思。」以賽亞書七章14節 祂歷史上的誕生「因此所要生的聖者，必稱為神的兒子。」（路一35）耶穌基督是誕降人間，不是來自人間。祂不是歷史的演化，而是自歷史以外來的。耶穌基督不是至人，祂是人類全然不能說明的一位。祂不是人變神，卻是神的化身，是神進入肉體，從肉體以外來的。祂的生命是至尊至寶，卻從最低的途徑而入。祂的降生，可以說是臨凡。 祂生在我裡面「我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督形成在你們心裡。」（加四19）惟其我們的主是從外面來到人間，所以祂也必是從外面來到我的裡面。我是否讓我自己的生命成為神的兒子的伯特利呢？若是我不從上頭生，則不能進入神的國。「你們必須重生。」這不是命令，是一種基本的事實。新生命所表現的特點，是完全順服神，叫基督形成在我心裡。基督一旦形成在我心裡，祂的本性就藉著我而開始工作了。 神藉著肉體顯現──藉著救贖之力，這在你我身上是完全可能的。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（12月25日）
十二月廿五日 「……我報給你們大喜的信息……」路加福音二章10節 聖誕節的精神是謙卑的精神。除了馬槽搖籃裡謙卑的小嬰兒外，在此節日基督徒還有什麼值得驕傲的呢？ 聖誕節的精神也是喜樂的精神。我們應該歡欣，因為天使說：「……我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的。」 聖誕節的精神是充滿愛心的精神。此種喜樂是因與他人分享喜樂而來。因為聖誕節的中心在於基督愛我們、降世為人、住在我們當中、為我們而死。所以只為自己自私地活著的人，沒有權利分享聖誕節的快樂。 愛裡總帶有犧牲，所以聖誕節的精神應該使我們樂意向神完全順服，並且將自己所擁有的為著祂的榮耀和別人的益處而欣然犧牲。 聖誕節的精神也是崇拜的精神。東方的博士帶著黃金、乳香、沒藥作為禮物獻在耶穌腳前。讓我們也常跪在耶穌腳前。 聖誕節的精神是報佳音的精神，因為那大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的。
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
