September 18 Devotional: Servants on Earth9月18日靈修：作為地上的僕人

彼得前書2:18–20首先是寫給古代羅馬社會中的家庭奴僕，而不是直接寫給現代職場員工。因此，今天應用這段經文時，必須先承認古代奴僕制度與現代僱傭關係並不完全相同；同時也要避免把這段經文解讀成神認可剝削、暴力或虐待。

First Peter 2:18–20 was originally addressed to household servants in the ancient Roman world, not directly to modern employees. Therefore, applying it today requires recognizing that ancient slavery and modern employment are not identical, while also avoiding the interpretation that God approves exploitation, violence, or abuse.

一、這段經文在彼得前書中的位置

1. Its Place in 1 Peter

2:18–20承接2:13–17關於順服制度、作神僕人的教導，並把原則帶入家庭和工作關係。
Verses 2:18–20 continue the teaching in 2:13–17 about submission to human institutions and living as servants of God, applying it to household and work relationships.

彼得前面說：「你們是自由的，卻不可藉著自由遮蓋惡毒，總要作神的僕人。」現在他以當時社會中最沒有權力的一群人為例，說明基督徒的身份和行為不完全由地位決定。
Peter has just said, “You are free, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” He now uses one of the least powerful groups in society to show that Christian identity and conduct are not ultimately determined by social status.

這不是說受壓迫者的處境不重要，而是說：即使人在不公平的制度中，仍然可以在神面前持守良心、正直和盼望。
This does not mean that the oppressed person’s situation is unimportant. It means that even within an unjust system, a person can maintain conscience, integrity, and hope before God.

二、古代奴僕與現代職場的區別

2. Ancient Servants and Modern Workplaces

古代羅馬的奴僕通常沒有現代員工所享有的自由選擇、法律保障和勞工權利；主人可以擁有極大的權力，甚至使僕人遭受不公平對待。彼得正是在這種不對等的社會背景下說話。

Roman household slaves generally did not possess the freedom of choice, legal protection, and labor rights that modern employees may have; masters could hold enormous power and treat servants unjustly. Peter is speaking into this deeply unequal social context.

因此，今日不能簡單地把「順服主人」等同於「員工必須接受上司的一切要求」。
Therefore, today we must not simply equate “submit to masters” with “employees must accept every demand from their supervisors.”

現代職場中的順服，應該包括：

Submission in a modern workplace should include:

• 尊重職位和合理的工作安排。
• Respecting roles and reasonable work arrangements.
• 認真履行職責，不故意拖延或破壞工作。
• Fulfilling responsibilities faithfully without deliberate delay or sabotage.
• 接受合宜的指導和合理的糾正。
• Accepting appropriate guidance and reasonable correction.
• 在有不同意見時，以事實、禮貌和正當程序溝通。
• Communicating disagreement through facts, courtesy, and proper procedures.

但這不包括：

However, it does not include:

• 接受非法命令。
• Accepting illegal orders.
• 參與欺詐、造假或傷害他人的行為。
• Participating in fraud, falsification, or harm to others.
• 默許性騷擾、暴力、歧視或嚴重剝削。
• Tolerating sexual harassment, violence, discrimination, or serious exploitation.
• 因為「順服」的名義而放棄安全、尊嚴和基本權利。
• Abandoning safety, dignity, and basic rights in the name of “submission.”

基督徒順服的最高對象是神，不是任何一位上司或制度。
The Christian’s highest authority is God, not any particular supervisor or institution.

三、「存敬畏的心」是敬畏神

3. “Reverence” Means Reverence Toward God

第18節「存敬畏的心」不主要是害怕主人，而是指在神面前存敬畏的態度。彼得在本段落中關心的，不是僕人怎樣討好主人，而是僕人怎樣在神面前保持良心。

The “reverence” in verse 18 primarily refers not to fear of the master, but to reverence before God. Peter’s concern is not mainly how servants please their masters, but how they maintain conscience before God.

所以，在職場上「敬畏神」的意思包括：

Therefore, fearing God at work includes:

• 即使上司不在，也不故意欺騙。
• Refusing deliberate deception even when the supervisor is absent.
• 不因怕失去職位而違背良心。
• Not violating conscience out of fear of losing a position.
• 不因權力較大就欺負下屬。
• Not abusing subordinates because one has greater power.
• 不把工作成就當作自己的終極身份。
• Not treating career achievement as one’s ultimate identity.
• 在成功時謙卑，在受委屈時不以惡報惡。
• Remaining humble in success and refusing revenge when mistreated.

四、彼得如何區分兩種受苦

4. Peter’s Distinction Between Two Kinds of Suffering

第19–20節最重要的釋經重點，是彼得清楚區分「因犯錯受苦」和「因行善受苦」。
The central exegetical point of verses 19–20 is Peter’s clear distinction between suffering for wrongdoing and suffering for doing good.

1. 因犯錯而受責罰

如果一個人因懶惰、欺騙、失職、侮辱別人或違反規則而受責備，單單忍受後果並不等於基督徒的美好見證。
If a person is corrected for laziness, deception, negligence, insulting others, or violating rules, merely enduring the consequences is not necessarily a Christian witness.

彼得的意思是：不要把自己造成的後果稱為「為義受苦」。
Peter’s point is that we should not call consequences caused by our own wrongdoing “suffering for righteousness.”

2. 因行善而受苦

如果一個人因誠實、正直、拒絕造假、保護弱者或持守信仰而遭受不公平對待，卻仍然在神面前持守良心，這在神眼中是可稱許的。

If a person suffers unfair treatment because of honesty, integrity, refusing to falsify information, protecting the vulnerable, or maintaining faith, yet remains faithful before God, this is commendable in God’s sight.

但這並不表示所有受苦本身都有價值。彼得不是教導人迷戀痛苦，而是指出：受苦的原因和人在苦難中的回應，都很重要。

This does not mean that all suffering is inherently valuable. Peter is not teaching people to glorify pain; he shows that both the reason for suffering and the person’s response to it matter.

五、這段經文不支持被動接受虐待

5. This Passage Does Not Support Passive Acceptance of Abuse

這一點非常重要。彼得描述當時無權勢者的處境，並肯定他們在神面前的忍耐，但他沒有把主人的暴力稱為善，也沒有說不義制度本身是神所喜悅的。相關釋經指出，經文稱不公平的苦待為「冤屈」和「乖僻」，本身已帶有負面判斷。

This point is essential. Peter describes the situation of powerless people and honors their endurance before God, but he does not call the master’s violence good or say that an unjust system pleases God. Commentaries note that the passage itself describes unjust suffering and harsh masters negatively.

因此，今天若涉及：

Therefore, if the situation involves:

• 家庭暴力。
• Domestic violence.
• 職場性騷擾。
• Workplace sexual harassment.
• 嚴重欺凌或威脅。
• Serious bullying or threats.
• 非法剝削、欠薪或強迫勞動。
• Illegal exploitation, wage theft, or forced labor.
• 對自己或他人的即時危險。
• Immediate danger to oneself or others.

基督徒不應以「彼得說要順服」作為留下來承受傷害的理由。應尋求可信任的教會領袖、專業人士、法律或社會服務支援；若有迫切危險，應優先離開危險環境並聯絡當地緊急服務。
Christians should not use “Peter says to submit” as a reason to remain in harm. They should seek help from trustworthy church leaders, professionals, legal services, or social services; in immediate danger, they should prioritize safety and contact local emergency services.

六、心理學角度：順服、尊嚴與界線

6. A Psychological Perspective: Submission, Dignity, and Boundaries

心理學上，「服從」可能有兩種完全不同的形式。
Psychologically, “submission” can take two very different forms.

第一種是出於恐懼的屈從：
The first is fear-based submission:

• 「我不能有自己的想法。」
• “I am not allowed to have my own thoughts.”
• 「只要上司不高興，我就沒有價值。」
• “If my supervisor is unhappy, I have no worth.”
• 「即使被傷害，我也不能設立界線。」
• “Even if I am harmed, I cannot set boundaries.”

第二種是出於敬畏神的成熟順服：
The second is mature submission rooted in reverence for God:

• 我尊重職位，但不把上司當作神。
• I respect the position without treating my supervisor as God.
• 我願意接受合理指導，但保留道德判斷力。
• I accept reasonable instruction while retaining moral judgment.
• 我願意服事團隊，但不以犧牲尊嚴來換取接納。
• I serve the team without trading away dignity for acceptance.
• 我可以忍受合理的挫折，但不必默許虐待。
• I can endure reasonable frustration without tolerating abuse.

健康的基督徒順服包含清楚的界線、誠實的溝通和對他人尊嚴的尊重。
Healthy Christian submission includes clear boundaries, honest communication, and respect for human dignity.

七、今日職場的具體實踐

7. Practical Workplace Application Today

1. 做可靠的人

1. Be Reliable

按時完成工作，若做不到就及早說明；不誇大能力，也不把錯誤推給別人。
Complete work on time, communicate early when you cannot, do not exaggerate your abilities, and do not blame others for your mistakes.

2. 做誠實的人

2. Be Honest

不造假、不隱瞞關鍵資料、不使用公司資源滿足私人利益，也不為討好上司而歪曲事實。
Do not falsify information, hide critical data, misuse company resources for personal gain, or distort facts to please a supervisor.

3. 做有界線的人

3. Maintain Boundaries

尊重上司不等於容許對方羞辱你；願意配合工作不等於必須接受非法、不安全或不道德的要求。
Respecting a supervisor does not mean allowing humiliation; cooperating at work does not mean accepting illegal, unsafe, or unethical demands.

4. 做和平的人

4. Be a Peacemaker

面對衝突時，不散播謠言、不拉幫結派、不以被動攻擊回應壓力，而是直接、具體和有禮貌地處理問題。
In conflict, do not spread rumors, form factions, or respond through passive aggression; address issues directly, specifically, and respectfully.

5. 做忠心的人

5. Be Faithful

忠心不是只在有掌聲時才努力，而是在沒有人看見、工作不理想、付出未被承認時，仍然按神的心意做正確的事。
Faithfulness means doing what is right before God even when there is no applause, work is difficult, or effort is not recognized.

八、靈修問題的反思

8. Reflection on the Devotional Questions

1. 我是否以敬畏神的心面對上司？

我可以問自己：

I can ask myself:

• 我是否把上司的評價看得比神的評價更重要？
• Do I value my supervisor’s evaluation more than God’s evaluation?
• 我是否在上司面前一套，私下又是另一套？
• Am I one person before my supervisor and another in private?
• 我是否因不滿上司而故意消極、報復或破壞團隊？
• Do I respond to dissatisfaction through sabotage, revenge, or deliberate disengagement?
• 我是否能以尊重的態度提出不同意見？
• Can I express disagreement respectfully?

2. 我是否願意為主付代價？

為主付代價不一定是做出轟轟烈烈的事，很多時候是：

Paying a cost for the Lord does not necessarily mean doing something dramatic. Often it means:

• 不為了升職而說謊。
• Refusing to lie for promotion.
• 不因害怕失去機會而參與不義。
• Refusing to participate in injustice out of fear of losing an opportunity.
• 不在背後毀謗同事。
• Refusing to slander coworkers behind their backs.
• 在沒有即時回報時仍然忠心。
• Remaining faithful without immediate reward.
• 因持守良心而接受短期的不方便。
• Accepting short-term inconvenience in order to keep a clear conscience.

這些選擇可能使人失去利益，卻使人保持在神面前的正直。
These choices may cost earthly advantages, but they preserve integrity before God.

結語

Conclusion

彼得前書2:18–20不是單純要求人「忍耐上司」，而是把職場和權力關係放在神的鑒察之下。
First Peter 2:18–20 is not merely a command to “put up with supervisors”; it places workplace and power relationships under God’s scrutiny.

對上司而言，這段經文提醒他：權力不能成為欺壓人的許可。
For supervisors, the passage warns that authority is not permission to oppress.

對員工而言，這段經文提醒他：尊重、忠心和敬畏神可以在工作中成為見證，但順服不等於放棄良心、尊嚴和安全。
For employees, it teaches that respect, faithfulness, and reverence for God can become a witness at work, but submission does not mean abandoning conscience, dignity, or safety.

基督徒在職場的見證，不是永遠討好上司，也不是凡事反抗，而是在神面前誠實工作、尊重別人、勇於拒絕不義，並在必要時為持守正直而付代價。
Christian witness in the workplace is neither perpetual people-pleasing nor constant rebellion; it is working honestly before God, respecting others, courageously refusing injustice, and accepting a cost when integrity requires it.