美国学生人类历史 第116期:教会之兴(3)

 After a while they began to meet the men and women who preached the words of Jesus. 又过了不久，他们开始与宣传基督福音的男男女女们有了私下的接触，

They found them very different from the average Roman priests. 发现他们的为人处事与罗马的僧侣截然不同。

They were all dreadfully poor. 他们个个衣衫槛楼、一贫如洗，

They were kind to slaves and to animals. 对奴隶和动物友爱有加。

They did not try to gain riches, but gave away whatever they had. 他们从不试图聚敛财富，反倒倾其所有来帮助穷人和病人。

The example of their unselfish lives forced many Romans to forsake¹ the old religion. 他们无私利人的生活榜样触动了许多罗马人，使他们放弃了原有的信仰，

They joined the small communities of Christians³ who met in the back rooms of private houses or somewhere in an open field, and the temples were deserted⁴. 加入基督徒组成的小社团 。他们在私人住宅的密室或露天田野的某处聚会，罗马的庙宇冷寂了。

This went on year after year and the number of Christians continued to increase. 一年年过去，传教工作一如既往，基督徒的人数在持续增加。

Presbyters or priests (the original Greek meant "elder") were elected to guard the interests of the small churches. 他们推选神父或长老（"presbyters"，希腊语意为"老年人"）负责保护小社团 的利益。

A bishop⁵ was made the head of all the communities within a single province. 每一个行省的所有社团 还选出一位主教，作为这一地区的基督教首领。

Peter, who had followed Paul to Rome, was the first Bishop of Rome. 继保罗之后来罗马传教的彼得成为了第一任罗马主教。

In due time his successors (who were addressed as Father or Papa) came to be known as Popes. 到某个时候，彼得的继任者（信徒亲切地称呼他"父亲"或"爸爸"）便开始被称为"教皇"了。

The church became a powerful institution within the Empire. 教会逐渐成长为罗马帝国之内的一个颇具影响力和权势的机构。

The Christian² doctrines⁶ appealed to those who despaired of this world. 基督教义不仅感染着许多对现世绝望的人们，

They also attracted many strong men who found it impossible to make a career under the Imperial government, but who could exercise their gifts of leadership among the humble⁷ followers⁸ of the Nazarene teacher. 而且还吸引了大量天资聪颖、精明强干的能人。这些人在帝国政府内飞黄腾达无门，却能在拿撒勒导师的跟随者中间施展他们的领导才能。

At last the state was obliged to take notice. The Roman Empire (I have said this before) was tolerant through indifference⁹. 最后，帝国政府不得不引起注意，正视基督教的存在了。

It allowed everybody to seek salvation¹⁰ after his or her own fashion. 正如我前面讲过的，罗马政府原则上允许所有臣民以自己喜欢的方式寻求灵魂的拯救，

But it insisted that the different sects¹¹ keep the peace among themselves and obey the wise rule of "live and let live." 但政府要求，所有的宗教应该和平共处，遵循"自己生存，也让别人生存"的明智原则。

1 forsake   

vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃

参考例句：

• She pleaded with her husband not to forsake her.她恳求丈夫不要抛弃她。
• You must forsake your bad habits.你必须革除你的坏习惯。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

4 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

5 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

6 doctrines   

n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明

参考例句：

• To modern eyes, such doctrines appear harsh, even cruel. 从现代的角度看，这样的教义显得苛刻，甚至残酷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

8 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

9 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

10 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

11 sects   

n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had subdued the religious sects, cleaned up Saigon. 他压服了宗教派别，刷新了西贡的面貌。 来自辞典例句