作者: John M Frame譯者: Duncan Liang
约翰·傅瑞姆在回答“对那些面对要一生做神学工作的神学生和年轻神学家，你会给他们什么建议”这个问题时，给了以下三十点的回答：
1. 要考虑神可能其实并没有呼召你做神学方面的工作。雅各书三章一节告诉我们，我们不要多人作师傅，作师傅的要受更重的审判。神给谁越多（圣经知识），对他们要求就越多。
2. 重视你与基督、你的家人和教会的关系，超过看重你的职业理想。用你的生命，你会比用你的神学影响更多人。即使你的观念正确，你生命的欠缺也会削弱你观念的影响力。
3. 要记住神学的基本工作，就是认识圣经，神的话语，把它应用在人的需要方面。任何别的事情——历史和语言学方面的专业知识，解经的敏锐精深，对当代文化的认识，哲学方面的成熟度，都必须顺服在这根本目标之下；如果不是这样，你有可能成为受人推崇的历史学家、语言学家、哲学家、或文化批判家，但你将不会成为一位神学家。
4. 在进行神学工作（第三点讲的基本工作）时，你有义务要为你倡导的提出一个立场。这应当是显而易见的事，但大多数神学家今天对于怎样做到这一点却摸不着头脑。神学是一种论辩的学术操练，你需要对逻辑和劝导有足够认识，去构建合理、纯正和有说服力的论证。在神学方面，展现出对历史、文化或其他一些学科有认识，这还不够；引用你认同的人的话，反驳你不认同的人，这也不够。你确实需要为你要说的内容建立一个神学立场。
5. 学会如何清晰和有说服力地写作和说话。最好的神学家能够把深奥的观念用简单的语言表达出来。不要尝试用晦涩的文风说服人来接受你的专业知识。
6. 培养一种强化的灵修生活，对那些把这批判为是敬虔主义的人要视而不见。要不住地祷告，读圣经，不仅把圣经作为学术文本来读。珍惜机会参加神学院里的敬拜和祷告会，以及主日聚会。不管你对“灵命构建”这个词如何理解，都要对此加以重视。
7. 一位神学家在根本上是一位传道人，虽然典型来说，他处理的问题，比传道人要处理的更深奥，但是要作一位优秀的传道人，找一些方法，让你的神学可以对会众的人心说话；找一些方法呈现你的教导，让会众可以在当中听到神的声音。
8. 慷慨大方运用你的资源，花时间和学生、潜在的学生和询问的人交谈。送人书本和文章，在有版权的材料方面不要手紧紧抓住不放，任何人提出要求版权授权，都许可他们使用。事工第一，金钱第二。
9. 批评其他神学家，神学传统或运动的时候，要遵从圣经的道德伦理。除非你非常有把握，否则不要说一个人是异端分子；不要到处用“别的福音”这样的说法（教导别的福音的人是落在神的咒诅之下）；不要错误引用人的话，脱离上下文引用他们的话，或者按最坏的可能意思理解其他人的话，以此摧毁别人的名声。除非你有不可辩驳的理由对人严厉，否则要对人温柔、满有恩慈。
10. 出现争论的时候，不要马上站在其中一边，要首先对双方立场做一些分析工作。要考虑这些可能性：（1）双方可能是从不同角度看同一个问题，所以他们其实并没有互相冲突；（2）双方都忽略了那本来可以使他们获得一致的方面；（3）因为双方用不同方法使用同一种说法，所以他们不是在同一个波段上说话；（4）有第三种选择方案，要比两种对立的观点都更好，可以使他们达成一致；（5）他们虽然确实存在分歧，双方的立场在教会中却是可以接受的，就像罗马书十四章讲的只吃蔬菜的人和吃肉的人之间的分歧。
11. 如果你有一个好主意，不要期望人人马上都能领受。不要马上创立一个派别去推广这种观念。不要辱骂那些还不能领会你思维的人。要温柔地与他们理论，认识到你可能是错的，可能是傲慢的，理当被拒绝。
12.不要出于条件反射批评任何从不同的传统而出的事。要足够谦卑，可以去考虑其他传统可能教导你一些事情。在开始教导他人之前，要作一个受教的人。把你自己眼中的梁木除掉。
13. 愿意用批判的观点重新审视你自己的传统。认为任何单一个传统把握所有真理，或永远正确，这种想法是不合理的。除非神学家培养出批判的眼光看待他们自己的宗派和传统，否则基督身体的重新联合将会遥遥无期。不要当那种名声在外，主要任务是把阿民念主义者变成加尔文主义者（或反之亦然）的神学家。
14.用合宜的眼光审视公认信条文件。神学工作的其中一样任务，就是重新思考公认信条的教义，如有必要就用神的话语加以改革。不要认定公认信条的每一件事都是永远确定的。
15. 不要让你的嫉妒心控制了你的论辩。比如一个神学家觉得对于一家超级教会的成功必须完全持负面的观点。
16. 不要当那种不断对其他神学家或其他基督徒发动进攻的神学家。你的敌人是撒但、世界和肉体。
17. 控制你的性冲动，远离互联网色情内容和不正当的关系。神学家并没有免疫力，脱离那些危害教会中其他人的罪。
18.在一家好的教会里积极参与教会生活。神学家和其他信徒一样需要蒙恩之道。如果你是在一家世俗的大学，或自由派的神学院里学习，这就尤其重要。你需要其他信徒支持，好使你可以保持正确的神学观念。
19.在一家把圣经作为神的话语来教导的神学院接受你的基本培训。在你继续向前去第一手接触不符圣经的思想之前（你当然可以这样做），要在圣经的神学上打下稳固根基。
20. 要学会欣赏相对来说所受教育程度不及你深的基督徒的智慧，甚至在神学方面的智慧。不要作那种神学家，在一位单纯的信徒描写他与主同行的时候总是要说消极的话。不要坐在田立克称之为“启蒙的高头大马”上瞧不起人的那种人。经常单纯的信徒认识神比你更深，你需要向他们学习，亚伯拉罕·凯伯尔就是这样的例子。
21. 不要当那种对政治、文化、释经学、甚至神学方面每一样新潮流都感到激动不已的神学家，以为我们需要重新构建我们的神学来迎合每一种潮流。不要以为例如只因每一个人都是女权主义者，你就非要成为一位女权主义者不可。绝大部分对文化敏锐的神学都是不符合圣经的。
22. 要怀疑神学中一切迎合潮流的做法。当每一个人赶某些神学立场的潮流，不管是叙述神学、女权主义、救赎历史、自然律、敬拜礼仪、解放神学、后现代主义或任何事情的潮流时，这就是时候要唤醒你的批判功能了。除非你自己已经做了研究，否则不要随大流。当一种神学潮流来到的时候，要条件反射地问这个问题：“这出了什么错？”事情总有一些错误的方面。最新的就是最正确，实际情况完全不是这样。事实上很多新运动，最后证明是全然错误的步骤。
23. 我们的博士学位神学教育体系，要求人有“原创思维”。但这可能很难做到，因为教会已经学习圣经几千年。你会受到试探，要提出一些听起来像是新的事情（这可能是通过写一篇论文，按照以上第三点的标准完全不是神学性的论文）。好吧，提就提吧，然后把它扔掉，再回来做一些真正的神学研究。
24. 与此同时，不要因为创新是创新就拒绝创新。更重要的是，不要因为一种观念仅仅是听起来不像你习惯的说法就加以拒绝。要学会在一种观念听起来看起来感觉起来如何，和它实际的意思如何之间进行区分。
25. 要用批判的眼光看待那些使用比喻，或圣经以外术语的论证。不要自以为是认定，每一种术语都有完全清楚的意思，通常它们并没有清楚的意思。
26. 要学会怀疑那些怀疑论者。不信和自由派的学者，像任何人一样容易犯错，实际上更容易犯错。
27. 尊重你的长老。再也没有比一位年轻神学家看不起那些在工场上做工几十年的人更不合体统的了。与他们有不同意见，这没有问题，只要你承认那些你与他们有不同意见的人的成熟和他们所做的贡献。要把提摩太前书五章一节牢记在心。
28. 年轻的神学家经常幻想自己是下一位马丁路德，就像小孩子幻想自己是超级体育明星一样。当他们年纪变大，不再玩幼稚游戏时，他们就玩马丁路德和教皇的游戏。当真正的教皇不愿和他们玩的时候，他们就会挑另外一个人，说，“你就是教皇。”瞧，上帝极有可能没有拣选你当一场新的宗教改革的领袖，如果祂拣选了你，也不要把“改教家”这尊称用在自己身上，还是让其他人来决定你是不是一位真正的改教家吧。
29.在你职业生涯开始的早期阶段（在经过一些尝试之后），就决定你要关注哪些方面，不关注哪些方面。在考虑机会的时候，懂得在什么时候说不，这就和懂得在什么时候说是同样重要（也许更重要）。
30. 不要失去你的幽默感。我们应当严肃看待神，但不要对我们自己，肯定也不要对神学太当真。失去了你的幽默感，这就等于失去了你对比例平衡的认识，而在神学中，没有什么是比对比例平衡的感知更重要的了。
-“一位毕生神学家的反思：对约翰·傅瑞姆的长篇采访”，采访者：P. Andrew Sandlin，选自《用爱心说诚实话：约翰·傅瑞姆的神学》
30
Suggestions for Theological Students and Young Theologians
In
response to the question “what advice would you offer to theological students
and young theologians as they face a lifetime of theological work?”, John Frame
gives the following 30 (!) point answer:
1.
Consider that you might not really be called to theological work. James 3:1
tells us that not many of us should become teachers and that teachers will be
judged more strictly. To whom much (biblical knowledge) is given, of them shall
much be required.
2.
Value your relationship with Christ, your family, and the church above your
career ambitions. You will influence more people by your life than by your
theology. And deficiencies in your life will negate the influence of your
ideas, even if those ideas are true.
3.
Remember that the fundamental work of theology is to understand the Bible,
God’s Word, and apply it to the needs of people. Everything else—historical and
linguistic expertise, exegetical acuteness and subtlety, knowledge of
contemporary culture, and philosophical sophistication—must be subordinated to
that fundamental goal. If it is not, you may be acclaimed as a historian,
linguist, philosopher, or critic of culture, but you will not be a theologian.
4. In
doing the work of theology (the fundamental work, #3), you have an obligation
to make a case for what you advocate. That should be obvious, but most
theologians today haven’t a clue as to how to do it. Theology is an
argumentative discipline, and you need to know enough about logic and
persuasion to construct arguments that are valid, sound, and persuasive. In
theology, it’s not enough to display knowledge of history, culture, or some
other knowledge. Nor is it enough to quote people you agree with and reprobate
people you don’t agree with. You actually have to make a theological case for
what you say.
5.
Learn to write and speak clearly and cogently. The best theologians are able to
take profound ideas and present them in simple language. Don’t try to persuade
people of your expertise by writing in opaque prose.
6.
Cultivate an intense devotional life and ignore people who criticize this as
pietistic. Pray without ceasing. Read the Bible, not just as an academic text.
Treasure opportunities to worship in chapel services and prayer meetings, as
well as on Sunday. Give attention to your “spiritual formation,” however you
understand that.
7. A
theologian is essentially a preacher, though he typically deals with more
arcane subjects than preachers do. But be a good preacher. Find some way to
make your theology speak to the hearts of people. Find a way to present your
teaching so that people hear God’s voice in it.
8. Be
generous with your resources. Spend time talking to students, prospective
students, and inquirers. Give away books and articles. Don’t be tightfisted
when it comes to copyrighted materials; grant copy permission to anybody who
asks for it. Ministry first, money second.
9. In
criticizing other theologians, traditions, or movements, follow biblical
ethics. Don’t say that somebody is a heretic unless you have a very good case.
Don’t throw around terms like “another gospel.” (People who teach another
gospel are under God’s curse.) Don’t destroy people’s reputations by misquoting
them, quoting them out of context, or taking their words in the worst possible
sense. Be gentle and gracious unless you have irrefutable reasons for being
harsh.
10.
When there is a controversy, don’t get on one side right away. Do some
analytical work first, on both positions. Consider these possibilities: (a)
that the two parties may be looking at the same issue from different
perspectives, so they don’t really contradict; (b) that both parties are
overlooking something that could have brought them together; (c) that they are
talking past one another because they use terms in different ways; (d) that
there is a third alternative that is better than either of the opposing views
and that might bring them together; (e) that their differences, though genuine,
ought both to be tolerated in the church, like the differences between
vegetarians and meat-eaters in Romans 14.
11.
If you get a bright idea, don’t expect everybody to get it right away. Don’t
immediately start a faction to promote it. Don’t revile those who haven’t come
to appreciate your thinking. Reason gently with them, recognizing that you
could be wrong and arrogant to boot.
12.
Don’t be reflexively critical of everything that comes out of a different
tradition. Be humble enough to consider that other traditions may have
something to teach you. Be teachable before you start teaching them. Take the
beam out of your own eye.
13.Be
willing to reexamine your own tradition with a critical eye. It is unreasonable
to think that any single tradition has all the truth or is always right. And
unless theologians develop critical perspectives on their own denominations and
traditions, the reunion of the body of Christ will never take place. Don’t be
one of those theologians who are known mainly for trying to make Arminians
become Calvinists (or vice versa).
14.
See confessional documents in proper perspective. It is the work of theology,
among other things, to rethink the doctrines of the confessions and to reform
them, when necessary, by the Word of God. Do not assume that everything in the
confession is forever settled.
15.
Don’t let your polemics be governed by jealousy, as when a theologian feels
bound to be entirely negative toward the success of a megachurch.
16.
Don’t become known as a theologian who constantly takes potshots at other
theologians or other Christians. The enemy is Satan, the world, and the flesh.
17.
Guard your sexual instincts. Stay away from Internet pornography and illicit
relationships. Theologians are not immune from the sins that plague others in
the church.
18.
Be active in a good church. Theologians need the means of grace as much as
other believers. This is especially important when you are studying at a
secular university or liberal seminary. You need the support of other believers
to maintain proper theological perspective.
19.
Get your basic training at a seminary that teaches the Bible as the Word of
God. Become well-grounded in the theology of Scripture before you go off (as
you may, of course) to get firsthand exposure to nonbiblical thought.
20.
Come to appreciate the wisdom, even theological wisdom, of relatively
uneducated Christians. Don’t be one of those theologians who always has
something negative to say when a simple believer describes his walk with the
Lord. Don’t look down at people from what Helmut Thielicke called “the high
horse of enlightenment.” Often, simple believers know God better than you do,
and you need to learn from them, as did Abraham Kuyper, for instance.
21.
Don’t be one of those theologians who get excited about every new trend in
politics, culture, hermeneutics, and even theology and who think we have to reconstruct
our theology to go along with each trend. Don’t think you have to be a
feminist, e.g., just because everybody else is. Most of the theologies that try
to be culturally savvy are unbiblical.
22.
Be suspicious of all trendiness in theology. When everybody jumps on some
theological bandwagon, whether narrative, feminism, redemptive history, natural
law, liturgy, liberation, postmodernism, or whatever, that’s the time to awaken
your critical faculties. Don’t jump on the bandwagon unless you have done your
own study. When a theological trend comes along, ask reflexively, “What’s wrong
with that?” There is always something wrong. It simply is not the case that the
newest is the truest. Indeed, many new movements turn out to be false steps
entirely.
23.
Our system of doctoral-level education requires “original thought,” but that
can be hard to do, given that the church has been studying Scripture for
thousands of years. You’ll be tempted to come up with something that sounds new
(possibly by writing a thesis that isn’t properly theological at all in the
sense of #3 above). Well, do it; get it out of the way, and then come back to
do some real theology.
24.
At the same time, don’t reject innovation simply because it is innovative. Even
more, don’t reject an idea merely because it doesn’t sound like what you’re
used to. Learn to distinguish the sound-look-feel of an idea from what it
actually means.
25.
Be critical of arguments that turn on metaphors or extrabiblical technical
terms. Don’t assume that each one has a perfectly clear meaning. Usually they
do not.
26.
Learn to be skeptical of the skeptics. Unbelieving and liberal scholars are as
prone to error as anybody—in fact, more so.
27.
Respect your elders. Nothing is so ill-becoming as a young theologian who
despises those who have been working in the field for decades. Disagreement is
fine, as long as you acknowledge the maturity and the contributions of those
you disagree with. Take 1 Timothy 5:1 to heart.
28.
Young theologians often imagine themselves as the next Luther, just as little
boys imagine themselves as the next Peyton Manning or Kevin Garnett. When
they’re too old to play cowboys and Indians, they want to play Luther and the
Pope. When the real Pope won’t play with them, they pick on somebody else and
say, “You’re it.” Look: most likely God has not chosen you to be the leader of
a new Reformation. If he has, don’t take the exalted title “Reformer” upon
yourself. Let others decide if that is really what you are.
29.
Decide early in your career (after some experimenting) what to focus on and
what not to. When considering opportunities, it’s just as important (perhaps
more so) to know when to say no as to know when to say yes.
30.
Don’t lose your sense of humor. We should take God seriously, not ourselves,
and certainly not theology. To lose your sense of humor is to lose your sense
of proportion. And nothing is more important in theology than a sense of
proportion.
-“Reflections
of a Lifetime Theologian: An Extended Interview with John M. Frame,”
interviewed by P. Andrew Sandlin in Speaking the Truth in Love: The Theology of
John Frame Speaking the Truth
in Love: The Theology of John Frame http://www.wtsbooks.com/speaking-the-truth-in-love-john-hughes-9781596381643?utm_source=jtorres&utm_medium=blogpartners
