五个忠心的朋友
提多书三章9至15节
9要远避无知的辩论和家谱的空谈以及纷争,并因律法而起的争竞,因为这都是虚妄无益的。
10分门结党的人,警戒过一两次,就要弃绝他。
11因为知道这等人已经背道,犯了罪,自己明知不是,还是去做。
12我打发亚提马或是推基古到你那里去的时候,你要赶紧往尼哥波立去见我,因为我已经定意在那里过冬。
13你要赶紧给律师西纳和亚波罗送行,叫他们没有缺乏。
14并且我们的人要学习正经事业(注:或作“要学习行善”),预备所需用的,免得不结果子。
15同我在一处的人都问你安。请代问那些因有信心爱我们的人安。愿恩惠常与你们众人同在。
信息分享
谁是亚提马呢?他显然是保罗的一位忠心同工。除此之外,我们对他一无所知。不过,在圣经中有不少人物都只是提及名字,我们只知道他们曾在他们的世代忠心事奉神;惟有将来到天家,我们才能认识他们了。
保罗分别在使徒行传二十章、以弗所书六章21节和歌罗书四章7节提及推基古,他曾与保罗并肩事奉,也经常帮助保罗送信到各教会。每个作公开事奉的传道者,总有许多忠心的同工在背后默默协助。
西纳是一位律师,真希望我们能对他认识更多。作为一位律师,他曾受过专业训练的头脑,必定对保罗在不同的城市,遭遇不同的境遇时,给予很多意见和帮助。
亚波罗众所周知,他是一个满有口才和大胆敢言的传道人,他在哥林多和以弗所这两个地区有很美好的事奉。百基拉和亚居拉曾帮助他全面认识耶稣基督的福音。
提多的名字虽然没有在这里出现,但保罗却多次用「你」这个代名词来提及他。保罗向他送上爱心的问候,同时又代所有认识他的人向他送上由衷的祝福。神的教会中有很多寂寂无名的信徒,世界各地有数以百万计的信徒,我们不可能在今世认识;然而,我们却可以为他们祷告,与他们同心。我们盼望那一天,在天上与他们相见,教会也在基督里得以完全。我们所盼望的,正是这个荣耀的将来!
FIVE FAITHFUL FRIENDS
Titus 3:9-15
9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Message
Who was Artemas? Obviously he is one of Paul’s faithful co-workers. Beyond that we know nothing. But there are many names in the Bible whom are only briefly mentioned, who served God faithfully in their own generation. We will meet them in heaven some day.
Tychicus is mentioned in Acts 20, Ephesians 6:21, and in Colossians 4:7. He stood with Paul in his ministry and was often Paul’s messenger to one of the churches. For every man or woman in public ministry there is an always faithful soul serving behind the scenes.
Zenas the lawyer, we wish we knew more. Being a lawyer he had a trained mind and no doubt worked with Paul in the many situations Paul faced in the various cities.
Apollos is well known. He was an eloquent and fearless preacher and had a great ministry in both Corinth and Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila had helped him see the full gospel message as revealed in Jesus Christ.
The name of Titus may not appear here but several personal pronouns refer to him in these closing verses. Paul sends him loving greetings along with the good wishes of all who knew him. There are so many unnamed believers in the church of God. There are millions in the various countries of the world we will never see on earth, but we can pray for them and sense our one-ness with them. We look forward to the day when we will meet them personally and all the church will be complete in Christ in heaven. What a future to look forward to!

