西敏信仰告白中英對照版, 呂沛淵譯TheWestminster Confession of Faith (1647)
目錄
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第三十章 論教會的懲戒
Chapter XXX.Of Church
Censures.
30.1 主耶穌是教會的君王與元首，祂命定教會的治理，交付教會 聖職同工之手來施行，他們與政府官員不同。
I.
The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of His Church, hath therein appointed a
government, in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil
magistrate.(a)
(a)
Isa. 9:6, 7; I Tim. 5:17; I Thess. 5:12; Acts 20:17, 28; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24; I
Cor. 12:28; Matt. 28:18, 19, 20.
30.2 天國的鑰匙既交給這些聖職同工，因此他們就有權柄留下罪 或赦免罪；依照情況的需要，他們本著上帝的道和懲戒，對不悔 改的人，關閉天國；又按情形，藉宣講福音和撤除懲戒，向悔改 的罪人開放天國。
II.
To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed: by virtue
whereof, they have power respectively to retain, and remit sins; to shut that
kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and to open it
unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel, and by absolution from
censures, as occasion shall require.(b)
(b)
Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:17, 18; John 20:21, 22, 23; II Cor. 2:6, 7, 8.
30.3 教會必須施行勸懲，目的是為了: 歸正犯罪的弟兄以得回他 們，阻止其他弟兄犯同樣的罪，除去那足以感染全團的酵，維護 基督的尊榮和福音的聖潔信仰，避免上帝的震怒臨到。如果教會 容忍惡名昭彰和剛愎自用的犯罪者，來褻瀆上帝的聖約和這約的 印記，上帝公義的忿怒就要臨到教會。
III.
Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending
brethren, for deterring of others from the like offences, for purging out of
that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honour of
Christ, and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of
God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer His
covenant and the seals thereof to be profaned by notorious and obstinate
offenders.(c)
(c) I
Cor. 5 chap.; I Tim. 5:20; Matt. 7:6; I Tim. 1:20; I Cor. 11:27 to the end,
with Jude ver. 23.
30.4 為了更加有效達成上述之目的，教會聖職同工應當按著犯罪 者的情節與罪行的輕重，以警告訓誡、暫時停止聖餐、或開除會 籍逐出教會，來進行勸戒當事人。
IV.
For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to
proceed by admonition; suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a
season; and by excommunication from the Church; according to the nature of the
crime, and demerit of the person.(d)
(d) I
Thess. 5:12; II Thess. 3:6, 14, 15; I Cor. 5:4, 5, 13; Matt. 18:17; Tit. 3:10.
第三十一章 論教會的總會和會議
Chapter XXXI. Of Synods and Councils.
31.1 為了教會有更美好的治理與更進深的造就，應當有通常稱為「大區會或議會」的會議聚集。 各教會的牧師與治理長老，藉著基督賜給他們的職份與權 柄，來造就教會而不是拆毀教會。他們有權召開這樣的會議；在 這些會議中聚集討論。為了使教會得益，如果他們認為需要且合 適，可以多次召開這樣會議。
I.
For the better government, and further edification of the Church, there ought
to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils.(a)
II.
As magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers, and other fit persons,
to consult and advise with, about matters of religion;(b) so, if magistrates be
open enemies to the Church, the ministers of Christ of themselves, by virtue of
their office, or they, with other fit persons upon delegation from their
Churches, may meet together in such assemblies.(c)
(a)
Acts 15:2, 4, 6. (b) Isa. 49:23; I Tim. 2:1, 2; II Chron. 19:8, 9, 10, 11; II
Chron. 29, 30 chaps.; Matt. 2:4, 5; Prov. 11:14.(c) Acts 15:2, 4, 22, 23, 25.
31.2 有關信仰教義爭論，良心案件，設立規則與指示以維持公共 敬拜與教會治理的更佳秩序，受理有關處理不當的控訴，並用其 權柄裁決，這些都是屬於大區會或議會職權範圍。大區會與議會 的命令與決議，如果合乎聖經，就應當以尊敬順從的心來接受， 不僅是因為這些決議合乎聖經，也因為它們所依據的權柄，是上 帝 在聖經中所定規的。
III.
It belongs to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of
faith and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better
ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive
complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the
same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are to
be received with reverence and submission; not only for their agreement with
the Word, but also for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance
of God appointed thereunto in His Word.(d)
(d)
Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31; Acts 16:4; Matt. 18:17, 18, 19, 20.
31.3 使徒時代以來，所有的大區會與議會，無論是總會或地方性 的會議，都有犯錯的可能，而且許多會議已經犯下錯誤。所以， 不可將這些會議所規定的，當作信仰或實行的準則，只可用來作 為信仰與生活的參考幫助。
III.
All synods or councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general or
particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the
rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both.(e)
(e)
Eph. 2:20; Acts 17:11; I Cor. 2:5; II Cor. 1:24.
31.4 大區會和議會，除了有關教會的事務以外，不可處理或決斷 任何事。不可干涉國政，若遇有非常的事，可以謙恭地向政府請 願，或應政府官員的要求，為滿足良心，可向政府提出忠告。
IV.
Synods and councils are to handle, or conclude, nothing, but that which is
ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the
commonwealth; unless by way of humble petition, in cases extraordinary; or by
way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by
the civil magistrate.(f)
(f)
Luke 12:13, 14; John 18:36.
第三十二章 論人死後的狀態和死人復活
Chapter XXXII. Of the State of
Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead.
32.1 人的身體在死後歸於塵土，而見朽壞。但他們的靈魂（既不 死，又不睡眠）是永存不滅的，立即歸於賜靈的上帝。義人的靈 魂，既在那時在聖潔上得以完全，就被接入高天，在光明與榮耀 中得見上帝面，在那裡等候身體完全得贖。惡人的靈魂要被拋在 地獄裡，留在痛苦與徹底黑暗中，等候大日的審判。聖經說到靈 魂離開身體之後，除了這兩處之外，別無所歸。
I.
The bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see corruption:(a) but their
souls (which neither die nor sleep) having an immortal subsistence, immediately
return to God who gave them:(b) the souls of the righteous, being then made
perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold
the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their
bodies.(c) And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in
torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.(d)
Beside these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture
acknowledgeth none.
(a)
Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36.(b) Luke 23:43; Eccles. 12:7.(c) Heb. 12:23; II Cor. 5:1,
6, 8; Phil. 1:23, with Acts 3:21 & Eph. 4:10.(d) Luke 16:23, 24; Acts 1:25;
Jude ver. 6, 7; I Pet. 3:19.
32.2 在末日那一天，還活著的人不會死，卻要改變；凡死了的人 都必復活，帶著原來的同一身體，這身體性質雖異，卻非另一身 體；這身體與靈魂再度結合，直到永遠。
II.
At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed:(e) and
all the dead shall be raised up, with the selfsame bodies, and none other,
although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls
for ever.(f)
(e) I
Thess. 4:17; I Cor. 15:51, 52.(f) Job 19:26, 27; I Cor. 15:42, 43, 44.
32.3 惡人的身體，將因基督的權能而復活，被定罪受辱；義人的 身體，將因基督的靈而復活，得著榮耀，與基督自己的榮耀身體 相似。
III.
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour:
the bodies of the just, by His Spirit, unto honour; and be made conformable to
His own glorious body.(g)
(g)
Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; I Cor. 15:43; Phil. 3:21.
第三十三章 論末後審判
Chapter XXXIII. Of the Last
Judgment.
33.1 上帝已定了日子審判天下，要藉著耶穌基督按公義審判世 界；聖父已將一切的權柄與審判交給耶穌基督。在那日，不僅 背叛墮落的天使要受審判，就是凡曾活在世上的眾人，都要在 基督的審判台前顯露出來，為自己的思想、言語、行為交帳說 明，按他們在肉身時所行的，或善或惡受報。
I.
God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world in righteousness, by
Jesus Christ,(a) to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.(b) In
which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,(c) but likewise all
persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ,
to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive
according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.(d)
(a)
Acts 17:31.(b) John 5:22, 27.(c) I Cor. 6:3; Jude ver. 6; II Pet. 2:4.
(d)
II Cor. 5:10; Eccles. 12:14; Rom. 2:16; Rom. 14:10, 12; Matt. 12:36, 37.
33.2 上帝指定這日子的目的，是為了在選民永遠的救恩上，彰 顯上帝憐憫的榮耀，又在邪惡悖逆的被棄者之刑罰上，彰顯上 帝公義的榮耀。在那日，義人必進入永生，領受從主面前而來 的滿足喜樂與安舒；但那不認識上帝、不順聽從耶穌基督福音 的惡人，必被扔到永遠的痛苦中，離開主的面和祂權能的榮 光，受永遠滅亡的刑罰。
II.
The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of
His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the
damnation of the reprobate who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the
righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and
refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked who
know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into
eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.(e)
(e)
Matt. 25:31 to the end; Rom. 2:5, 6; Rom. 9:22, 23; Matt. 25:21; Acts 3:19; II
Thess. 1:7, 8, 9, 10.
33.3 基督要我們絕對確信必有審判的日子，為要阻止眾人犯 罪，又使敬虔之人在苦難中多得安慰；所以祂不讓人知道那日 子何時來到，是要讓人擺脫一切屬肉體的安逸，恆常儆醒（因 為他們不知道甚麼時辰主要來），並且隨時預備好說：「主耶 穌啊，我願你來！願你快來！阿們」。
III.
As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of
judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of
the godly in their adversity;(f) so will He have that day unknown to men, that
they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they
know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say,
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.(g)
(f)
II Pet. 3:11, 14; II Cor. 5:10, 11; II Thess. 1:5, 6, 7; Luke 21:27, 28; Rom.
8:23, 24, 25.(g) Matt. 24:36, 42, 43, 44; Mark 13:35, 36, 37; Luke 12:35, 36;
Rev. 22:20.
西敏信仰告白中英對照版, 呂沛淵譯
The
Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)
第一章~~第十章
第十一章~~第二十章
第二十一章~~第二十九章
第三十章~~第三十三章