Deep Friendship in Christ 在基督里深交

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Dexu Xia

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Feb 5, 2024, 7:33:14 PM2/5/24

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Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord.1 Samuel 20:42

There’s a monument in the chapel of Christ’s College, Cambridge, England, dedicated to two seventeenth-century physicians, John Finch and Thomas Baines. Known as the “inseparable friends,” Finch and Baines collaborated on medical research and traveled together on diplomatic trips. When Baines died in 1680, Finch lamented their “unbroken marriage of souls” that had lasted thirty-six years. Theirs had been a friendship of affection, loyalty, and commitment.

King David and Jonathan had a friendship equally as close. They shared deep mutual affection (1 Samuel 20:41), and even made vows of commitment to each other (vv. 8–17, 42). Their friendship was marked by radical loyalty (19:1–2; 20:13), Jonathan even sacrificing his right to the throne so David could become king (20:30–31; see 23:15–18). When Jonathan died, David lamented that Jonathan’s love to him had been “more wonderful than that of women” (2 Samuel 1:26).

We may feel uncomfortable today likening friendship to marriage, but maybe friendships like Finch and Baines’ and David and Jonathan’s can help our own friendships reach greater depth. Jesus welcomed His friends to lean against Him (John 13:23–25), and the affection, loyalty, and commitment He shows us can be the basis of the deep friendships we build together.

By: Sheridan Voysey

How do you think faith in Christ can deepen friendship? How could you show more affection, loyalty, or commitment to your friends?

Dear God, please help me to build deeper, more intimate friendships.

我们二人曾指着耶和华的名起誓……如今你平平安安地去吧！—撒母耳记上20章42节

在英国剑桥大学基督学院的礼拜堂里有一个石碑，是纪念两位17世纪的医生，约翰·芬奇（John Finch）与汤玛士·贝尼斯（Thomas Baines）。芬奇与贝尼斯被人称为“形影不离的朋友”，他们一起做医疗研究，在公务行程上也结伴同行。当贝尼斯于1680年过世时，芬奇为彼此间长达36年“从不间断的灵魂契合”而哀悼。他们的情谊具有丰厚的情感、忠诚与承诺。

大卫王与约拿单也是亲密的朋友，彼此有深厚的情谊（撒母耳记上20章41节），甚至立下互相承诺的盟约（8-17、42节）。他们的友情以极其忠诚而为人称道（19章1-2节，20章13节），约拿单甚至愿意放弃继承王位的权利，好让大卫能登基为王（20章30-31节，参见23章15-18节）。当约拿单战死沙场时，大卫哀悼约拿单对他的爱“奇妙非常，过于妇女的爱情”（撒母耳记下1章26节）。

今日我们可能会对于将友情比作爱情而感到不自在，但像芬奇与贝尼斯，大卫与约拿单的情谊，或许可以帮助我们将自己的友情提升到更深的地步。耶稣欢迎祂的朋友倚靠祂（约翰福音13章23-25节），而祂向我们展现的情感、信实以及完全的付出，都能作为你我建立深厚友谊的基础。

作者： 霍薛顿

你认为信靠基督如何能加深友情？
你如何对朋友投入
更多的情感、忠诚与付出？