聖經定義:造就 edify;完美的約束 the bond of perfectness.
(不是捐錢或食物;不是餵養肉體,而是造就靈魂)
哥林多前書(1 Corinthians) 8:1 論到祭偶像之物,我們曉得我們都有知識。但知識是叫人自高自大,惟有慈善造就人。
8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
歌羅西書(Colossians) 3:14 在這一切之上,要穿上慈善,就是完美的約束。
3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
哥林多前書(1 Corinthians) 13:1 我若能說萬人的方言,並天使的話語,卻沒有慈善,我就成了鳴的鑼,響的鈸一般。
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
13:2 我若有先知講道之能,也明白各樣的奧祕,各樣的知識,而且有全備的信,叫我能夠移山,卻沒有慈善,我就算不得甚麼。
13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
13:3 我若將所有的賙濟窮人,又捨己身叫人焚燒,卻沒有慈善,仍然與我無益。
13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
13:4 慈善是恆久忍耐,又有恩慈;愛是不嫉妒;愛是不自誇,不張狂,
13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
13:5 不做害羞的事,不求自己的益處,不輕易發怒,不計算人的惡,
13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
13:6 不喜歡不義,只喜歡真理;
13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
13:7 凡事包容,凡事相信,凡事盼望,凡事忍耐。
13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
13:8 慈善是永不止息。先知講道之能終必歸於無有;說方言之能終必停止;知識也終必歸於無有。
13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13:9 我們現在所知道的有限,先知所講的也有限,
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
13:10 等那完全的來到,這有限的必歸於無有了。
13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
13:11 我作孩子的時候,話語像孩子,心思像孩子,意念像孩子,既成了人,就把孩子的事丟棄了。
13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
13:12 我們如今彷彿對着鏡子觀看,模糊不清(原文是如同猜謎),到那時就要面對面了。我如今所知道的有限,到那時就全知道,如同主知道我一樣。
13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13:13 如今常存的有信,有望,有慈善這三樣,其中最大的是慈善。
13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
哥林多前書(1 Corinthians) 14:1 你們要跟從慈善,也要切慕屬靈的恩賜,更願你們能說預言。
14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
哥林多前書(1 Corinthians) 16:14 凡你們所做的都要由慈善而做。
16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.
提摩太前書(1 Timothy) 1:5 命令的總歸就是慈善;這慈善是從清潔的心和無虧的良心,無偽的信心生出來的。
1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
彼得前書(1 Peter) 4:8 最要緊的是在你們中間有火熱的慈善,因為慈善能遮掩許多的罪。
4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.