經文：彼得前書一章1至2節
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1–2
「就是照父神的預知，藉著聖靈得以成聖，以致順服耶穌基督，又蒙他血所灑的人。」
“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.”
— 彼得前書一章2節
— 1 Peter 1:2
彼得前書開篇短短兩節，已經濃縮了整封信的神學骨架：三一上帝的救贖工作，與信徒作為地上寄居者的身份。
The opening two verses of 1 Peter compress the theological skeleton of the entire letter into a brief space: the redemptive work of the triune God, and believers’ identity as sojourners on earth.
這不只是一段客套的問候語，而是彼得為受苦教會建立的根基——他們是誰、屬於誰、為何而活。
This is not merely a polite greeting; it is the foundation Peter lays for a suffering church—who they are, to whom they belong, and for what they live.
寄居者：身份先於處境
Sojourners: Identity Before Circumstance
彼得稱收信人為「分散在本都、加拉太、加帕多家、亞細亞、庇推尼寄居的人」。
Peter addresses his readers as “sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”
這些地區位於小亞細亞，是當時羅馬帝國治下的真實地理範圍，收信人是分散在異地、處於社會邊緣、可能面對歧視與壓力的基督徒群體。
These regions are located in Asia Minor, real geographical areas under Roman rule at the time; the recipients were Christians scattered in foreign lands, socially marginal, and likely facing discrimination and pressure.
但彼得用「寄居者」這個詞，不只是描述他們的地理處境，更是宣告他們的屬靈身份。
But Peter’s use of the word “sojourners” describes not merely their geographical situation, but proclaims their spiritual identity.
在他們還沒有經歷任何苦難之前，彼得已經先告訴他們：你們是誰。
Before they experience any suffering, Peter first tells them who they are.
這個次序極其重要：身份先於處境，恩典先於責任，蒙揀選先於受苦。
This order is crucial: identity comes before circumstance, grace comes before responsibility, and being chosen comes before suffering.
彼得沒有先安慰他們的苦難，而是先提醒他們：無論身處何地，他們首先是「被揀選」的人。
Peter does not first comfort them regarding their suffering; he first reminds them that, wherever they are, they are first and foremost the “elect.”
三一上帝共同的救贖工作
The Triune God’s Shared Work of Redemption
第2節的結構清楚呈現父、子、聖靈三個位格如何共同參與救贖：照父神的預知、藉著聖靈得以成聖、以致順服耶穌基督、又蒙他血所灑。
The structure of verse 2 clearly presents how the Father, Son, and Spirit together participate in redemption: according to the foreknowledge of the Father, through the Spirit’s sanctification, for obedience to Jesus Christ, and for the sprinkling of his blood.
這一節經文同時揭示父、子、聖靈在我們救恩中彼此協調的工作：父滿有愛地揀選我們，聖靈使我們分別出來歸於祂，子的血潔淨我們，使我們能在祂的主權下順服而活。[1]
This single verse reveals the coordinated work of Father, Son, and Spirit in our salvation: the Father lovingly elects us, the Spirit sets us apart for Himself, and the Son’s blood cleanses us so that we may live in obedience under His lordship.[1]
父神的預知不是被動的預先知道，而是主動的「預先愛」：神在創立世界以先，就已將祂特別的愛，定意賜給那些本應承受永死的罪人。
The Father’s foreknowledge is not passive foresight but active “fore-love”: before the foundation of the world, God determined to set His distinguishing affection on sinners who deserved only eternal death.
聖靈的工作是使人分別出來，成為屬於神自己的產業；這種成聖不僅指道德上漸進的改變，更首先指向聖靈將蒙揀選的人分別出來、歸屬於父神自己所有。
The Spirit’s work sets people apart to become God’s own possession; this sanctification refers not merely to progressive moral change, but first to the Spirit’s act of setting the elect apart as belonging to the Father Himself.
子的血所灑，呼應舊約出埃及記中立約的血：摩西把約的血灑在百姓身上，使他們成為神的國度祭司與聖潔國民；耶穌的血同樣把新約的子民分別出來，使他們得以潔淨並活在順服中。
The sprinkling of the Son’s blood echoes the covenant blood in Exodus: Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people, making them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation; Jesus’ blood likewise sets apart the people of the new covenant, cleansing them and enabling them to live in obedience.
這幅圖畫清楚顯示，救恩從起初到成全，都是三一上帝主動、協調、彼此配合的工作，不是單靠人自己的努力或決志所能完成。
This picture clearly shows that salvation, from beginning to completion, is the active, coordinated work of the triune God, not something accomplished merely by human effort or decision.
神使命（missio Dei）源自三一上帝的本性
The Missio Dei Originates from the Nature of the Triune God
當代神學常用「missio Dei」（神的使命）描述神的宣教工作，其核心觀念是：宣教不是首先屬於教會的活動，而是首先源於三一上帝自己的本性與心意，教會的宣教只是參與並回應神已經在進行的工作。
Contemporary theology often uses the term missio Dei (the mission of God) to describe God’s missionary work. Its core idea is that mission does not belong first to the church’s activity, but originates first from the very nature and will of the triune God Himself; the church’s mission is merely participation in and response to a work God is already carrying out.
彼得前書一章1至2節正好體現這個觀念的聖經根基。
1 Peter 1:1–2 embodies precisely the biblical foundation for this concept.
拯救的起始不是人主動尋找神，而是父神照祂的預知揀選人；成聖的過程不是人單憑自己努力變得聖潔，而是聖靈主動的工作；救恩的完成不是靠人自身的功勞，而是靠基督所流的血。
The beginning of salvation is not humanity actively seeking God, but the Father electing people according to His foreknowledge; the process of sanctification is not people becoming holy through their own effort, but the active work of the Spirit; the completion of salvation is not achieved by human merit, but by the blood Christ shed.
若我們明白神的使命源自三一上帝的本性，而不是單憑人的努力，這會深刻影響我們對事奉的理解。
If we understand that God’s mission originates from the nature of the triune God, rather than depending solely on human effort, this profoundly shapes our understanding of ministry.
我們不再把事奉看成「我必須為神做些甚麼，好讓祂的計畫得以實現」，而是看成「神已經在做工，我蒙召去參與祂正在進行的救贖行動」。
We no longer view ministry as, “I must do something for God so His plan can be accomplished,” but rather as, “God is already at work, and I am called to participate in the redemptive action He is already carrying out.”
這使事奉從焦慮的責任感，轉化為感恩的回應；從證明自己價值的表演，轉化為與神同工的喜悅。
This transforms ministry from anxious duty into grateful response; from a performance meant to prove one’s worth into the joy of working together with God.
這也提醒我們，神對世界的心意不是零散、隨機或依賴人類歷史偶然發展出來的；神的心意早在創立世界以先就已經確立，並貫穿整本聖經，從舊約立約的血，延伸到新約基督十架的血。
This also reminds us that God’s intention for the world is not fragmented, random, or contingent on accidental developments in human history; His intention was established before the foundation of the world and runs through the whole of Scripture, from the covenant blood of the Old Testament to the blood of Christ’s cross in the New.
地上的寄居者：一種持續的生命姿態
Sojourners on Earth: A Sustained Posture of Life
彼得用「寄居者」形容收信人，這個身份貫穿全書，也塑造了整封信的倫理教導。
Peter’s use of “sojourner” to describe his readers runs throughout the letter and shapes its ethical teaching.
寄居者不是消極地脫離世界，而是清楚知道：這個世界不是他們永恆的家，因此他們的價值觀、優先次序與行事方式，都應該反映另一個更真實的歸屬。
A sojourner is not someone who passively withdraws from the world, but one who knows clearly that this world is not their eternal home; therefore, their values, priorities, and conduct should reflect a more real belonging elsewhere.
這種身份帶來雙重的提醒。
This identity carries a double reminder.
第一，它使人不會把地上的成功、地位、財富或認可，當作生命的終極意義；因為寄居者知道，這一切都不是永久的產業。
First, it prevents a person from treating earthly success, status, wealth, or approval as life’s ultimate meaning, because a sojourner knows that none of these are a permanent possession.
第二，它使人不會因暫時的苦難、誤解或邊緣化而絕望；因為寄居者知道，眼前的處境不是最終的結局，神已經照祂的預知揀選他們，並要藉聖靈完成祂的工作。
Second, it keeps a person from despairing over temporary suffering, misunderstanding, or marginalization, because a sojourner knows that present circumstances are not the final outcome; God has already chosen them according to His foreknowledge and will complete His work through the Spirit.
對今天的信徒而言，這種寄居者的生命姿態，具體表現在不把職業成就、社會地位、群體認同或世界的價值標準，當作自我價值與安全感的最終來源；而是在日常生活、工作抉擇、人際關係與艱難處境中，持續活出屬於另一個國度的品格與盼望。
For believers today, this posture of sojourning is concretely expressed by not treating career achievement, social status, group identity, or the world’s standards of value as the ultimate source of self-worth and security, but by continually living out, in daily life, work decisions, relationships, and difficult circumstances, the character and hope that belong to another kingdom.
今日省察與禱告
Reflection and Prayer
我對事奉的理解，是源自「我必須為神做些甚麼」的焦慮，還是源自「神已經在做工，我蒙召參與」的感恩？
Is my understanding of ministry rooted in the anxiety of “I must do something for God,” or in the gratitude of “God is already at work, and I am called to participate”?
我是否真正明白，救恩從起初的揀選、聖靈的成聖，到基督血的潔淨，都是三一上帝主動、協調的工作，而不是單靠我自己的努力？
Do I truly understand that salvation—from the Father’s election, through the Spirit’s sanctification, to the cleansing of Christ’s blood—is the active, coordinated work of the triune God, not something accomplished by my own effort alone?
在日常生活中，我是否活得像一個「地上的寄居者」，還是不自覺地把這個世界的成功、地位與認可，當作我生命的終極歸屬？
In daily life, do I live as a “sojourner on earth,” or do I unconsciously treat this world’s success, status, and approval as my life’s ultimate belonging?
主啊，求祢使我明白，祢對世界的心意早在創立世界以先就已確立，並不依賴我個人的努力才能實現。
Lord, help me understand that Your intention for the world was established before its foundation, and does not depend on my personal effort to be accomplished.
求祢使我的事奉不再出於焦慮的責任感，而是出於與祢同工的感恩與喜樂。
Let my ministry flow not from anxious duty, but from gratitude and joy in working alongside You.
求祢使我在世上生活時，常常記得自己是寄居的，不被眼前的處境、成就或認可完全定義，而是被祢的預知、聖靈的工作與基督的血所定義。
As I live in this world, help me remember that I am a sojourner, not fully defined by present circumstances, achievements, or approval, but defined by Your foreknowledge, the Spirit’s work, and the blood of Christ.
願我一生活出寄居者的姿態，忠心地在恩典中順服，直到見祢面的那日。
May I live my whole life in the posture of a sojourner, faithfully obedient in grace, until the day I see Your face.
Leave a Reply