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“The Christian is a delightful and encouraging work, describing twenty-seven facets of the Christian experience.
“《基督徒》是一部令人愉快且鼓舞人心的作品，描述了基督徒经历的二十七个方面。
Altogether, it is an excellent, succinct presentation on what it means to be a Christian.
总而言之，它是对‘作为一个基督徒意味着什么’这一主题出色而简洁的阐述。
This treatise could serve the believer well as a daily devotional as well as an evangelistic tool to explain the experiential life of a Christian to the inquiring unbeliever.” Joel Beeke.
这篇论著不仅可以作为信徒很好的每日灵修读物，也可以作为传福音的工具，向那些寻求真理的不信者解释基督徒的生命体验。”——约珥·毕克（Joel Beeke）。
The word ‘Christian’ is found but three times in all the Scriptures.
“基督徒”这个词在整本圣经中只出现过三次。
The places where it occurs are Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; and 1 Peter 4:16.
它出现的地方是《使徒行传》11章26节，《使徒行传》26章28节，以及《彼得前书》4章16节。
These read as follows: “And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
这些经文如下：“门徒称为基督徒是从安提阿起首。”
“Then Agrippa said unto Paul—you almost persuade me to be a Christian.”
“亚基帕对保罗说：‘你想少微一劝，便叫我作基督徒啊！’”
“Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
“若为作基督徒受苦，却不要羞耻，倒要因这名归荣耀给神。”
The chronology of some of the events recorded in the Acts is not entirely certain, but it seems pretty clear that the followers of our Lord were not called Christians until ten or twelve years after our Savior’s ascension to heaven.
《使徒行传》中记载的一些事件的年代并不完全确定，但似乎很清楚的是，我们主的追随者直到我们救主升天十到十二年后才被称为基督徒。
I once heard a sermon on Acts 11:26, in which it was assumed that the name Christian, like that of Puritan or Methodist, was first given in reproach, and by enemies; and was afterward adopted by the disciples of our Lord, as a name which they were willing to bear.
我曾听过一篇关于《使徒行传》11章26节的讲道，其中假设“基督徒”这个名字，就像清教徒或卫理公会信徒的名字一样，最初是敌人出于羞辱而给起的；后来被我们主的门徒所采纳，作为一个他们愿意承受的名字。
And it cannot be denied that in every age odious epithets have been heaped upon the godly.
不可否认的是，在每个时代，都有可憎的绰号堆积在敬虔人身上。
It is also certain from the history of the trial and martyrdom of Polycarp, that for a long time the enemies of the Cross employed the term to revile and accuse.
从波利卡普受审和殉道的历史中也可以确定，很长一段时间以来，十字架的敌人使用这个词来进行辱骂和指控。
But this does not prove that bad men first gave the name.
但这并不能证明是恶人首先起了这个名字。
These things seem to be clear:
以下几点似乎是清楚的：
Christian is a very fit name for all the followers of Christ.
对于所有基督的追随者来说，“基督徒”是一个非常合适的名字。
They are in Christ.
他们在基督里。
They love and adore Christ.
他们爱慕并崇拜基督。
They are ready to die for Christ.
他们准备好为基督而死。
He is their Savior and Redeemer.
祂是他们的救主和救赎主。
They are not ashamed of Him, and He is not ashamed of them.
他们不以祂为耻，祂也不以他们为耻。
They are the friends, followers, and redeemed of Jesus Christ.
他们是耶稣基督的朋友、追随者和被救赎者。
He is all in all to them.
祂是他们的一切。
They are precious to Him.
他们在祂眼中看为宝贵。
He says so (Isa. 43:4).
祂是这样说的（以赛亚书 43:4）。
Christian is a very appropriate name.
“基督徒”是一个非常恰当的名字。
It well designates God’s people, and in itself sums up the whole matter.
它很好地指代了神的子民，其本身就概括了整个事情。
Other names are given to God’s people, and some of them are very appropriate, but none is more fitting than this.
神的子民还有其他的名字，其中一些非常恰当，但没有一个比这个更合适。
It was foretold by the evangelical prophet that in the latter days the Church should receive a new appellation: “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isa. 62:2).
福音先知曾预言，在末后的日子，教会将领受一个新的称呼：“列国必见你的公义，列王必见你的荣耀；你必得新名的称呼，是耶和华亲口所起的”（以赛亚书 62:2）。
This passage no doubt indicates the great blessing arising from the altered state and prospects of the Gospel Church.
这段经文无疑表明了福音教会因状态和前景的改变而产生的巨大祝福。
But may it not also be interpreted as having been literally fulfilled in the bestowment of the name Christian?
但这难道不能解释为在“基督徒”这一名称的赐予上按字面应验了吗？
Many have so thought.
许多人都这样认为。
Nor were there lacking in the primitive Church, people by whom the Lord could fitly change the name of His people; for in immediate connection with the historic statement that “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch,” it is added,
初期教会中也不乏主可以藉之恰当地改变祂子民名称的人；因为在紧接着“门徒称为基督徒是从安提阿起首”这一历史陈述之后，补充道，
“prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius” (Acts 11:26-28).
“有几位先知从耶路撒冷下到安提阿。内中有一位，名叫亚迦布，站起来，藉着圣灵，指明天下将有大饥荒；这事到革老丢年间果然有了”（使徒行传 11:26-28）。
There were inspired men who were able to make known the mind of God and to speak by His authority.
当时有受圣灵默示的人，能够显明神的心意并凭祂的权柄说话。
The people of God have ever since, and without hesitation, borne the name of Christians.
从那时起，神的子民便毫不犹豫地承受了“基督徒”这个名字。
The inspired historian, Luke, says nothing against it.
受圣灵默示的历史学家路加对此没有任何反对。
Peter speaks of it approvingly.
彼得赞同地提到它。
Evidently godly men have long accepted it as if it were from the Lord.
显然，敬虔人早就接受了它，仿佛它是来自主的。
Someone may ask, WHAT IS IN A NAME?
有人可能会问，一个名字里有什么？
The answer is, that there is a great deal in a name; and in giving a name, one exercises high authority.
答案是，名字里包含很多东西；在起名时，人行使了很高的权柄。
It is recorded as one of the acts of the intelligence and authority of Adam that he gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field (Gen. 2:20).
亚当给一切牲畜、空中的飞鸟和野地走兽起名，这被记载为他智慧和权柄的作为之一（创世记 2:20）。
Jehovah Himself asserts His prerogative in giving and changing names as He pleases.
耶和华亲自宣示祂按自己的意愿起名和改名的特权。
Thus He changed the names of Abraham, Jacob, and Sarah.
因此祂改变了亚伯拉罕、雅各和撒拉的名字。
Thus He directed that the name of His incarnate Son should be called Jesus.
因此祂指示祂道成肉身的儿子的名字应称为耶稣。
Names are things when properly applied.
名字若应用得当，便具有实意。
They are indeed often borne unworthily, often misapplied.
它们确实常被不配地承受，常被误用。
But it would shock our pious feelings if the ancient Church had received her names from Cain, or Canaan, or Korah, or any notoriously bad man, instead of being called Jacob, Israel, Joseph, Abraham’s seed, and spoken of in other like terms indicative of glory and virtue.
但是，如果古代教会的名字是取自该隐、迦南、可拉或任何臭名昭著的恶人，而不是被称为雅各、以色列、约瑟、亚伯拉罕的后裔，以及其他类似表示荣耀和美德的称呼，那将震惊我们虔诚的情感。
In the Christian name is so much that is precious, that nothing could persuade godly men to give it up.
在“基督徒”这个名字里有太多宝贵的东西，以至于没有什么能说服敬虔人放弃它。
Even bad men love to have the epithet ‘Christian’ bestowed upon their loved ones who have left this world.
即使是恶人也喜欢将“基督徒”的称号赋予他们已故的亲人。
Reader, are you a Christian; a real, living, firm, consistent Christian?
读者，你是基督徒吗？一个真实的、活泼的、坚定的、言行一致的基督徒吗？
You have the name, but are you worthy of it?
你有这个名，但你配得吗？
Is your union with Christ close and vital?
你与基督的联合是紧密且至关重要的吗？
Do you live in Him? Do you live for Him? Do you live to Him?
你活在祂里面吗？你为祂而活吗？你是向着祂活吗？
Do you wish to live and reign with Him?
你希望与祂一同生活并作王吗？
Have you duly considered the import of the name you bear?
你是否充分考虑过你所承受之名的含义？
It means much more than being born in a Christian land.
它的意义远不止生在基督教国家。
Worthily to bear the name of a Christian, is the greatest honor and the greatest happiness ever attained on earth.
配得起“基督徒”这个名字，是在世上能获得的最大荣耀和最大幸福。
A Christian is the highest style of man.
基督徒是人的最高典范。
Table of Contents
目录
The Christian Name
基督徒的名称
The Christian Profession
基督徒的宣信
The Christian Life
基督徒的生命
The Christian Doctrine
基督徒的教义
The Christian Character—an Example
基督徒的品格——一个榜样
The Christian Simplicity
基督徒的单纯
The Christian’s Way
基督徒的道路
The Christian’s Temptations
基督徒的试探
The Christian’s Victory over Temptations
基督徒胜过试探
The Christian’s Views of Sin
基督徒对罪的看法
The Christian’s Besetting Sins
基督徒易犯的罪
The Christian’s Sense of Responsibility
基督徒的责任感
The Christian’s Faith
基督徒的信心
Why Do I Rest Confidently in Christ?
为什么我确信地安息在基督里？
The Christian’s Hope
基督徒的盼望
The Christian’s Trust
基督徒的信靠
A Christian’s Good Resolutions
基督徒的美好决心
The Christian Lives by Rule
基督徒按规则生活
The Christian’s Enemies
基督徒的仇敌
The Christian’s Shepherd
基督徒的牧者
The Christian’s Advocate
基督徒的中保
The Christian’s Earnest
基督徒的凭据
The Christian’s Joy
基督徒的喜乐
The Christian’s Sorrow
基督徒的忧愁
The Christian’s Sorrow—more about it
基督徒的忧愁——更多论述
The Christian’s Hatred of Error
基督徒对谬误的恨恶
The Christian’s Glorious Riches
基督徒荣耀的财富
Some Musings of an Old Christian
一位老基督徒的沉思
What Can I Do?
我能做什么？
Posthumous Usefulness
死后的益处