June 13,2006 22:05
【初代教會】《致丟格那妥書信》（Letter of Diognetus）
早期教會對基督徒生活的體認，最美的一個例子出自《致丟格那妥書信》（Letter of Diognetus）……
早期教會對基督徒生活的體認，最美的一個例子出自《致丟格那妥書信》（Letter of Diognetus），作者（佚名）這麼寫道：
「基督徒無法根據其國籍、語言或風俗，從其他人中被辨認出來。他們沒有住在自己的城市，也沒有使用某種特別語言，他們並沒有追求古怪的生活方式，雖然他們居住在希臘和類似的蠻荒城市裡。每一個人的命運宛如已經底定，他們遵循該國在衣飾、食物和其他方面的風俗習慣。在此同時，無可否認地他們也顯岀自己格外的豐足。他們如同僑民一般住在自己的國家裡。他們分享各樣東西時有如公民一般，但在忍受各樣事情上倒像是外國人。他們也像其他人一樣結婚、生子，但他們並不把子嗣逐出家門。他們彼此分享膳宿，但卻不污穢婚姻的床。的確不錯，他們都是有血有肉的人，但他們並不按血肉之軀來過活。他們雖在地上勞碌度日，但卻是屬天的子民。他們遵循已制定的法令，但他們在行為上所行的卻遠遠超乎法律所要求。他們愛世人，卻被世人所迫害。他們雖然貧窮，卻使多人富足。」
原文：
"Christians cannot be distinguished from the rest of the human race by country or language or customs, they don't live in cities of their own, they do not use a peculiar form of speech, they don't follow an eccentric manner of life, yet although they live in Greek and barbarian cities alike, as each man's lot has been cast, and follow the customs of the country in clothing and food and other matters, at the same time they give proof of the remarkable and admittedly extraordinary constitution of their own common wealth. They live in their own countries but only as aliens. They have a share in everything as citizens and endure everything as foreigners. They marry like everyone else, they beget children, but they do not cast out their offspring. They share their board with each other, but not their marriage bed. It is true, they are in the flesh, but they do not live according to the flesh. They busy themselves on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, but in their own lives go far beyond what the law requires. They love all men, and by all men are persecuted. They are poor, yet they make many rich".
版主評註：
早期基督徒並不像我們現在，往往將生活作出區劃。他們在各方面盡力活出基督信仰，在社會上做鹽、做光；他們還相信神會在大環境的危機當中保守他們，並且使用他們為媒介，促進該文化的改革。如同柏金斯（John Perkins）提醒我們的，聖經裡的首要之事乃是尋見神對我們的旨意，並且從忠實順服神的聖道和旨意之中，找到我們最大的喜悅。
