思想我們的牧人監督Reflecting on Our Episkopos
[每日靈修] 11/16/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
在新約中，希臘語「監督」（bishop）一詞是episkopos。Episkopos這個詞有著豐富而迷人的歷史。它是由前綴epi和字根scopus組成的。英文單詞「scope」（觀測器）就是從這個字根而來的。觀測器是我們用來查看事物的工具。我們有顯微鏡（microscopes），用來觀察微小的東西，有望遠鏡（telescopes）來觀察遠處的東西。前綴epi僅用於強化字根。例如，知識（gnosis）和深刻的知識（epignosis）。慾望（thumia）和熱情的慾望或貪慾（epithumia）。
如此，我們明白episkopos是一個認真看待事物的人。在古希臘世界，一位episkopos可能是一名將軍，他定期視察軍隊的各個單位，以便對他們進行檢查。如果部隊保持警覺，隨時做好戰鬥準備，那麼他們就會得到episkopos的表彰。如果部隊懶散而且準備不足，那麼他們就會受到episkopos的嚴厲指責。
有一種奇怪的用法可以在希臘語episkopos的動詞形式中找到。動詞形式的意思是「訪問」。然而，這裏所謂的訪問，不是隨意突然的出現，而是涉及到仔細審查的情況。這類的探訪是一位訪問者去探訪他所悉心照顧的人。主教被稱為「監督」，因為他們是上帝羊群的監護者。他們蒙召要探訪病人、被監禁的、飢餓的人等等。上帝賦予他們看顧祂子民的任務。
在聖經中，至高的監督是上帝自己。上帝讓所有人都受到祂不斷的監察。祂的眼目認真地審視著我們每一個人。我們的頭髮，每一根祂都數過，每一句從我們嘴唇脫口而出的無聊話語，祂也知道。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
反思上帝作為你的最高監督對你的看顧。
進一步研讀：
彼前二23～25 祂被罵不還口；受害不說威嚇的話，只將自己交託那按公義審判人的主。祂被掛在木頭上，親身擔當了我們的罪，使我們既然在罪上死，就得以在義上活。因祂受的鞭傷，你們便得了醫治。你們從前好像迷路的羊，如今卻歸到你們靈魂的牧人監督了。
Reflecting on Our Episkopos
In
the New Testament, the Greek word for “bishop” is the term episkopos. The word
episkopos has a rich and fascinating history. It is made up of a prefix epi and
a root scopus. We get the English word scope from this root. A scope is an
instrument we use to look at things. We have microscopes to look at little
things and telescopes to look at things that are far away. The prefix epi
serves simply to intensify a root. There is, for example, knowledge (gnosis)
and profound knowledge (epignosis). There is desire (thumia) and passionate
desire or lust (epithumia).
We
see then that an episkopos is a person who looks at something intensely. In the
ancient Greek world, an episkopos could be a military general who periodically
visited various units of the army to make them stand inspection. If the troops
were alert, sharp, and battle-ready,then they received the commendation of the
episkopos. If the troops were slovenly and ill-prepared, then they received a
stinging rebuke from the episkopos.
A
strange twist of word usage is found in the verb form of the Greek episkopos.
The verb form means “to visit.” The type of visit that is in view, however, is
not that of a casual drop-in appearance but a visit that involves a careful
scrutiny of the situation. This kind of visit is by one who exercises profound
care of the one he is visiting. Bishops are called “bishop” because they are
the overseers of the flock of God. They are called to visit the sick, the
imprisoned, the hungry, and so on. They are given the care of the people of
God.
In
the Bible, the Supreme Bishop is God Himself. God has all men under His
constant scrutiny. His eye scrutinizes each one of us intensely. He numbers the
very hairs of our heads and is cognizant of every idle word that escapes our
lips.
Coram
Deo
Reflect
on God’s care for you as your Supreme Bishop.
Passages
for Further Study
1
Peter 2:23–25