Article #1 the series: You Are God’s Masterpiece: The Genesis Notes.
你是神的杰作:《创世记手记》系列第一
中文和英文版本语音
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God created you with a purpose, do you know what it is?
神造你是有目的的，你知道是什么目的吗？
Purposeful From Day One 第一天的计划
From the very beginning God makes it clear: He has a plan and a purpose for humankind. We are no accident, we are no aimless people. We have work to do, we have been commissioned by God to join Him in His awesome work. C c. Are you ready? Let’s go for it with Him as we learn about where we came from, where we are going and how to get there. Let’s start at the absolute beginning of it all: Genesis.
从起初， 神就清楚地表明：祂为人类制定了一个计划和目标。我们并非偶然的存在，也不是毫无目的。我们有工要做，我们被神拣选，要参与到祂那宏伟的工作当中！你准备好了吗？明白了我们从哪儿来，往哪儿去，如何到达这些问题，我们就开始与神同工了。先让我们回到一切的最初：创世记！
Firsts are impressive. The first paper, the first woodblock printing – way to go China, impressive. The first man on the moon: impressive. A baby’s first steps: amazing. Firsts are also memorable. I’ll always remember my first trip to China, my first Chinese friends, my first Chinese worship song (深深爱你), my first Chinese words (你好我的朋友) and my first Chinese chicken foot …
“第一个”总是让人印象深刻。第一张纸、第一个木版印刷-这些都是中国人发明的，很了不起！第一位登陆月球的人-令人敬佩。小宝宝刚学会迈出的第一步-真是太棒了。第一次也是令人难忘的。我永远记得第一次来中国的情形，我认识的第一个中国朋友，我学会的第一首中文敬拜歌曲《深深爱你》，我说的第一句中国话“你好我的朋友”，还有我吃的第一个中国鸡爪…
Genesis is a book of firsts: first ray of sunshine, first burst of a rainbow, first marriage, first foreign language. And then there was the first bite of fruit, first murder, first lie and unfortunately first punishment. Thankfully we also see the first expression of forgiveness.
《创世记》是一卷充满了诸多第一的书：第一缕阳光、第一道彩虹、第一桩婚姻、第一门外语。还有咬的第一口果子、第一起谋杀、第一个谎言以及特别遗憾的那个第一次惩罚。所幸的是，我们也在这卷书里看到了第一次赦免。
In Genesis we read about the first purpose of humans and their first wonderful moments of a perfect relationship with the Creator. At the very beginning, life was so simple, so pure, so right, so purposeful, so free. As we look at the beginning we are reminded this is the kind of life we are all hoping for today.
在创世记里，我们看到人类被造的首要目的，以及他们和造物主拥有完美关系的最初美妙时刻。在最开始的时候，生活如此简单、纯粹、正义、目标明确且满有自由。当我们回顾起初的种种，就会发现这正是我们所追寻的生活。
The creation of the world must have been an incredibly complicated process. Through modern science we can learn about the complexities of the human body, the animal kingdom, weather patterns and deep ocean currents. Yet, this complex world was created through a simple spoken word and recorded in a simple yet beautifully poetic way. Through these words we see the light and life of God bursting forth through the darkness bringing order out of chaos. Life breathed into humans from the very breath of God followed by the purest marriage with the most noble of all purposes – working alongside the creator to tend and grow His magnificent creation.
创造世界一定是一个十分复杂精细的过程。通过现代科学，我们可以知道人体结构、动物世界、天气类型以及深海洋流的复杂性。怎知，如此精妙的世界竟出自于简单的一句话语，并且如诗一般被记录了下来。透过这些话语，我们看到神的光和生命从黑暗中迸发出来，在混沌中建立秩序。神向人吹气，人成为有灵的活人，紧接着就是最纯洁的婚礼，以及最宏伟的计划-与神同工，照看神所创造的壮丽世界。
The Physical – Spiritual Connection物质世界和属灵世界的联结
Through all of this incredible creation of the world, we see the spiritual world with a deep connection to the physical. All of creation pointing to the divine.
透过一切奇妙的受造物，我们看到属灵世界跟物质世界有一个深深的联系，所有的受造物都是 神圣的。
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NIV
自从造天地以来，神的永能和 神性是明明可知的，虽是眼不能见，但藉着所造之物就可以晓得，叫人无可推诿。罗马书 1:20
Through the physical world, we can perceive the very real, but sometimes hard to see spiritual world. Through the created world, we can know our Creator and His purpose for our lives.
透过物质世界，我们可以窥探到非常真实却时常难以察觉的属灵世界。这个被造的世界，让我们可以了解造物主和祂对我们一生所制定的计划。
The Creation Story创造的故事
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day. Genesis 1:1-5 NIV
起初神创造天地。地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；神的灵运行在水面上。神说：“要有光”，就有了光。神看光是好的，就把光暗分开了。神称光为昼，称暗为夜。有晚上，有早晨，这是头一日。
创世记1:1-5
The very, very first thing God did was bring light into the world. If firsts are important, we should take note: the first thing He did was bring light. The first thing was not to separate water and land. It was not to create the sky or even create the sun. Imagine – there was light even before there was sun. God did not just merely create light, He separated light from darkness. His first creative act was to separate light from dark. God’s business has not changed from that first moment: He continues to separate light from darkness.
神在起初做的第一件事就是将光带到世界。如果“第一”很重要，那我们就应该牢记：祂做的第一件事是带来光，既不是将水和陆地分开，也不是创造天空或是太阳。想象一下-在有太阳以先就有了光！神不是单单创造了光，还将光和暗分开。祂的第一项创造是将光从黑暗里分离出来。从最初的一刻起， 神一直在做的事情就是将光从黑暗里分离出来，并且祂从未停止这项工作。
God spoke light into the world on Day One yet the sun, the moon and the stars had not made their appearance yet; not for several days to come. What then was the origin of this premier light? From God Himself came the light.
第一天， 神说要有光就有了光，那时，太阳、月亮和星宿还没有出现-接下来的几天也不会出现。那么这个最初的光源是什么呢？光就是从神而来的。
The Light Of The World世界的光
In the New Testament we also read the creation narrative, but from a different point of view. From the perspective of Jesus Christ. We know Christ was present at creation, God Himself said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness … ” Genesis 1:26. At this moment He was speaking of none other than Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity was present at creation. In Genesis 1:2 the Holy Spirit makes His appearance: “…the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” And then in Genesis 1:3 Jesus Christ bursts forth. We read this account in the book of John. To better understand this passage, let us remember Jesus Christ is “the Word of God.” So when we read “Word” in these verses, we can know the “Word” was Jesus.
在新约中，也有关于创世的故事-但那是从另外一个角度-从耶稣基督的角度来看的。我们知道基督在创世的时候就在那里。神自己说：“我们要照着我们的形象，按着我们的样式造人…” 创世记 1:26。此话不是指着别人，乃是指着耶稣基督和圣灵说的-三位一体的神在创世时就出现了。创世记 1:2中圣灵初次登场：“ 神的灵运行在水面上”，接着在创世记 1:3中耶稣基督也出现了。这一点在约翰福音中明明白白地记载着。为了更好地理解这段经文，让我们谨记耶稣基督就是“ 神的道”。所以当我们读到这些经文中的“道”时，我们知道这“道”就是指的耶稣。
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 1:1-9 NIV
太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。这道太初与神同在。万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。有一个人，是从 神那里差来的，名叫约翰。这人来，为要作见证，就是为光作见证，叫众人因他可以信。他不是那光，乃是要为光作见证。那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。
约翰福音 1:1-9
Jesus Christ is the “Word” of God and He is the “Light of the World.” Through Jesus, God continues to separate light from darkness. Through Jesus Christ, God continues to call men and women out of darkness and into His glorious light. I see this miracle again and again as I see many friends drawn to the light of Christ and then brought out of the kingdom darkness and into the glorious kingdom of light where they receive life – true life – from Jesus Christ.
耶稣基督就是神的“道”，是“世上的光”。借着耶稣，神一直在做分离光暗的工作。藉着耶稣基督， 神始终在呼召世人脱离黑暗，进入到祂荣耀的光之中。我一次又一次地看到这个神迹，就像我看到许多朋友一个个被基督的光牵引，脱离黑暗的国度，进入到祂荣耀光明的国度，领受从耶稣基督而来生命，真正的生命。
Listen to what these verses have to say about Jesus being the light of the world and our need for His light.
关于耶稣是世界的光和我们需要衪的光，听听这些经文是怎么说的。
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
John 8:12 NIV
耶稣又对众人说：“我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。
约翰福音8:12
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.
John 12:46 NIV
我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。
约翰福音 12:46
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8 NIV
从前你们是暗昧的，但如今在主里面是光明的，行事为人就当像光明的子女。
以弗所书 5:8
Darkness Does Not Overcome Light 黑暗无法胜过光明
From the very beginning of creation we see the darkness cannot overcome the light. In the first verses of Genesis, we see the victory of Jesus, the “Light of the World” who has overcome the darkness and who is bringing true light to all people. In Jesus Christ is life and that life is the light for all.
从起初创造之时，我们就看到黑暗不能胜过光明这一事实。从创世记前几节经文中，我们看到那胜过黑暗的世界之光，看到将真光带给世人的耶稣已得胜。在耶稣基督里有生命，这个生命就是全人类的光。
So as God makes His first creative move of bringing light into the world and separating light from darkness, He took the first step in preparing this new world for His heart’s desire: life. Human life.
所以当神决定创造的第一步是要将光带入世界，并且将其从黑暗中分离时，祂首先要按照自己的心意来预备这个全新的世界，神的心意就是生命，人类生命。
God’s Satisfaction 神感到满足
From this starting point of light, God continued to speak and create.
从光的起源开始，神继续说话，做创世的工。
And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:6-25 NIV
神说：“诸水之间要有空气，将水分为上下。”神就造出空气，将空气以下的水、空气以上的水分开了。事就这样成了。神称空气为天。有晚上，有早晨，是第二日。神说：“天下的水要聚在一处，使旱地露出来。”事就这样成了。神称旱地为地，称水的聚处为海。神看着是好的。神说：“地要发生青草和结种子的菜蔬，并结果子的树木，各从其类，果子都包着核。”事就这样成了。于是地发生了青草和结种子的菜蔬，各从其类；并结果子的树木，各从其类，果子都包着核。神看着是好的。有晚上，有早晨，是第三日。神说：“天上要有光体，可以分昼夜，作记号，定节令，日子、年岁，并要发光在天空，普照在地上。事就这样成了。于是神造了两个大光，大的管昼，小的管夜，又造众星，就把这些光摆列在天空，普照在地上，管理昼夜，分别明暗。神看着是好的。有晚上，有早晨，是第四日。神说：”水要多多滋生有生命的物，要有雀鸟飞在地面以上，天空之中。神就造出大鱼和水中所滋生各样有生命的动物，各从其类；又造出各样飞鸟，各从其类。神看着是好的。神就赐福给这一切，说：“滋生繁多，充满海中的水；雀鸟也要多生在地上。”有晚上，有早晨，是第五日。神说：“地要生出活物来，各从其类；牲畜、昆虫、野兽，各从其类。”事就这样成了。于是神造出野兽，各从其类；牲畜，各从其类；地上一切昆虫，各从其类。神看着是好的。
创世记1:6-25
Each day drew closer to the crown of His creation – each day was good. But one day was different than the rest. In Genesis 1:31, how does God describe His completed work?
每一天神创世的工作日臻完美–每一天都是好的。但是有一天却与众不同。在创世记 1:31 中， 神如何描述祂完成的工作？
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 1:26-31 NIV
神说：“我们要照着我们的形象，按着我们的样式造人，使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜和全地，并地上爬的一切昆虫。”神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着他的形像造男造女。神就赐福给他们，又对他们说：“要生养众多，遍满地面，治理这地；也要管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟，和地上各样行动的活物。”神说：“看哪，我将遍地上一切结种子的菜蔬，和一切树上所结有核的果子，全赐给你们作食物。至于地上的走兽和空中的飞鸟，并各样爬在地上有生命的物，我将青草赐给它们作食物。”事就这样成了。神看着一切所造的都甚好。有晚上，有早晨，是第六日。
创世记1:26-31
Human Life – Full Of Purpose人类生命–满有计划
Through the first five days of creation we see much life happening: vegetables, flowers, birds, fish and animals. The earth began to fill with life, but it wasn’t until the sixth day of creation God made something in His own likeness. And it wasn’t until the sixth day of creation God made something which would serve alongside God in ruling the newly created world. This new creation, human, was incredibly different than all the other things of this world God had created. Man and woman were created in God’s image and just like God who was creative and purposeful, they also were to be creative and purposeful.
在前五天的创世之工里，我们看到了生命的出现：菜蔬的、花朵的、鸟的、鱼的和动物的。地上开始一派生机勃勃的景象，但是直到第六天， 神才照自己的形象造了一些生物，他们能和神一起管理这个新造的世界。这个新造的生物-人类，跟其它一切受造之物有着巨大差别。男人和女人是按 神的形象被造，与这位满有创造力和计划的神一样，他们也赋予了创造力和计划。
Man and woman were commissioned by God to participate with God in ruling the earth and to bring even more life. Through humans, God would continue the life-giving process. And in order for man and woman to accomplish this incredible responsibility, God blessed them.
神嘱咐所造的男人和女人跟衪一起来管理地球，并且要生养众多。通过人类， 神要继续赐予生命的工作。为了让男人和女人能完成这个重任， 神赐福了他们。
God created this beautiful world for man and woman to enjoy, but this did not mean they would just sit under the trees eating fruit, watching the river flow and enjoying the view. God wanted them to join Him in His creative work. He wanted them to be His partners in overseeing this incredible place. He had made them in His image so He knew they had the ability and desire to be a part of His plans.
神创造了这个美丽的世界给男人和女人享受，并不意味着他们只需坐在树底下享用果子，看着河里的涓涓细流，欣赏风景。神希望他们加入祂的创造之工，神希望他们能跟衪一起同工，来照看这个奇妙的地方。神按照祂自己的形象造了男女，因此神知道他们具备能力也愿意成为祂计划中的一部分。
Join In God’s Work 加入 神的工作
God has made you in His image and He has good works for you to do. He desires for you to participate with Him in His work in this world. The first man and woman were called to oversee God’s creation, and to continue to be creative and bring more life to this world. This command from God was of a very physical nature and we are called to continue this work.
神照着祂的形象造了你，并且为你预备了善工，祂希望你参与衪在这世上所做的工。世上第一个男人和女人被召去照看神其它的创造物，并且持续发挥创造力，生养众多。这个从神而来的命令是自然而然的，我们被呼召要来继续做祂的工。
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
我们原是他的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是神所预备叫我们行的。
以弗所书 2: 10
This is also a spiritual work. God continues to separate light from darkness. He continues to bring light and life into the lives of men and women everywhere. And God has commissioned His people to join Him in this glorious work of multiplying the life of Jesus Christ in others, bringing forth spiritual offspring and tending a spiritual garden wherever God leads us.
这也是属灵的工作， 神分离光暗的工从未停歇。他不断地将光和生命赐予全地的人。神已嘱咐衪的子民与衪一同做这荣耀的工作，让耶稣基督的生命加增在他人身上，生出属灵的儿女，在神带领我们去到的地方照管属灵的园子。
How are you participating with God in His work today?
现今你如何参与神的工作？
God has created you. He has brought life and light to you. He has blessed you and He wants you to join Him in His work today.
神造了你，祂为你带来生命和光，祂也赐福予你，并且希望你现在加入与衪同工！
