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Christ’s love creates unity in the midst of diversity.
基督的爱在多元之中创造合一。
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11
在此并不分希腊人、犹太人、受割礼的、未受割礼的、化外人、西古提人、为奴的、自主的，惟有基督是包括一切，又住在各人之内。-歌罗西书3章11节
Growing up during the 1950s, I never questioned racism and the segregation practices that permeated daily life in the city where we lived. In schools, restaurants, public transportation, and neighborhoods, people with different shades of skin color were separated.
我成长于50年代的美国，我所居住的城市实行种族隔离措施，对于这一点我从未质疑。在学校、餐厅、公众交通系统以及邻里间，不同肤色的人都必须有所区隔。
My attitude changed in 1968 when I entered US Army Basic Training. Our company included young men from many different cultural groups. We soon learned that we needed to understand and accept each other, work together, and accomplish our mission.
直到1968年，当我接受美国陆军基础训练时，我的态度才有所转变。在我们这群年轻人当中，有许多来自不同文化的族群。我们很快就明白，大家要彼此了解、互相接纳和共同合作，才能完成指定的任务。
When Paul wrote to the first-century church at Colossae, he was well aware of the diversity of its members. He reminded them, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). In a group where surface as well as deeper differences could easily divide people, Paul urged them to “clothe [themselves] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12). And over all these virtues, he told them to put on love “which binds them all together in perfect unity” (v. 14).
当保罗写信给第一世纪的歌罗西教会时，他也熟知会众的多元性。他在信中提醒他们：“在此并不分希腊人、犹太人、受割礼的、未受割礼的、化外人、西古提人、为奴的、自主的，惟有基督是包括一切，又住在各人之内”（歌罗西书3章11节）。在一个群体中，无论是表面或是深层的差异，都可轻易造成分化。所以，保罗劝他们要“存怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心”（12节）。并且在这一切德行之外，他还要他们存着爱心，“因为爱心就是联络全德的”（14节）。
Putting these principles into practice may often be a work in progress, but that is what Jesus calls us to do. What we as believers hold in common is our love for Him. On that basis, we pursue understanding, peace, and unity as members of the body of Christ.
要实践这些真理，是不可能一蹴而就的，但这正是耶稣对我们的呼召。我们基督徒的共同点就是对耶稣的爱。借此，我们齐心追求相互了解、彼此和睦与合一，互为肢体。
Amid all our wonderful diversity, we pursue an even greater unity in Christ.
让我们在美好的多元性中，在基督里追求更美的合一。
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
9 不要彼此说谎，因你们已经脱去旧人和旧人的行为， 10 穿上了新人；这新人在知识上渐渐更新，正如造他主的形象。 11 在此并不分希腊人、犹太人，受割礼的、未受割礼的，化外人，西古提人，为奴的，自主的，唯有基督是包括一切，又住在各人之内。
12 所以，你们既是神的选民、圣洁蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。 13 倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。 14 在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。15 又要叫基督的平安在你们心里做主，你们也为此蒙召，归为一体；且要存感谢的心。 16 当用各样的智慧，把基督的道理丰丰富富地存在心里，用诗章、颂词、灵歌彼此教导，互相劝诫，心被恩感歌颂神。 17 无论做什么，或说话或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，借着他感谢父神。
Colossians 3:11 lists ancient Colossae’s diverse people groups. Most familiar are the Jews (the children of Israel) and the Greeks (Gentiles in general—all non-Jews). Paul describes these two groups with the terms circumcised (Jews) and uncircumcised (Gentiles). Then he adds barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free. The distinctions between slave and free are obvious. Scythian refers to wild nomadic tribes and barbarian describes those who didn’t speak Greek and therefore were considered uncultured. The result is a spectrum of ethnically, linguistically, economically, and socially diverse people—all who found the ground to be level at the foot of the cross.
歌罗西书3章11节列出了居住在古歌罗西的不同群体。我们最熟悉的是犹太人（以色列的子孙）和希腊人（一般指外邦人，就是非犹太人）。保罗用受割礼的（犹太人）和未受割礼的（外邦人）来区分这两个群体。然后，他又指出化外人、西古提人、为奴的和自主的。为奴的和自主的，二者的区别显而易见。西古提人是指野蛮的游牧部落，化外人则指不会说希腊语而被视为没有受过教化的人。因此，这里罗列的是种族、语言、经济和社会各个不同层面的群体，但这些人全都在十字架下找到了平等的根基。
整理：于姊妹
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