2018-11-20


穌如何閱讀聖經How Jesus Read the Scriptures

作者Nicholas T. Batzig   譯者駱鴻銘

華腓德B. B. Warfield曾經總結過圍繞基督神人二性的奧秘他寫道「因祂是人祂能夠在智慧上成長因祂是上帝所以祂從一開始就是智慧本身。」在同一時刻,聖經堅持認為耶穌是昨日、今日、永遠不變的,並且祂在「智慧和身量,並上帝和人喜愛祂的心都一齊增長」(路二52)。 信徒們宣稱理解「因為耶穌是上帝,因而永遠不會改變」是什麼意思,但是他們比較難理解的是,耶穌作為一個真正的人,在智慧上增長的意義。我們通過聖經的一些暗示所發現到的解釋,可能會讓許多基督徒感到驚訝。簡而言之,作為一個人,耶穌需要學習聖經。
B.B. Warfield once summarized the mystery surrounding the two natures of Christ when he wrote, “Because he is man he is capable of growth in wisdom, and because he is God he is from the beginning Wisdom Itself.” The Scriptures, at one and the same time, insist that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, and that He “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Believers profess to understand what it means that Jesus never changes inasmuch as He is God, but they have a harder time understanding what it means that Jesus grew in wisdom as a true man. The explanation that we discover by means of scriptural allusions might surprise many Christians. In short, as a man, Jesus needed to learn the Scriptures.

耶穌必須像無罪的人之發展能力來成長,以至於祂每年都會增長,在每個階段的人類經歷中都會增長。作為一個十二歲的孩子,耶穌充滿了神的智慧,以至於一個十二歲孩子可以充滿屬靈的智慧和成熟。三十歲時,祂在智慧和屬靈成熟上,比祂十二歲時擁有更大的能力。這並不代表祂曾經有過任何罪惡的缺陷,而只是意味著祂必須作為一個真正的人,在祂的道德、智力和屬靈能力上成長,同時又不會不再是上帝。為了成為我們的代表——第二個亞當和真正的以色列——由於祂神聖的本性,耶穌心甘情願地擱置了祂原先的身分。作為墮落的人,我們需要一位真正屬於人的救贖主。我們需要一位與祂的子民有同樣聖約義務的代表(拉四4),他「也曾凡事受過試探,與我們一樣,只是祂沒有犯罪」(來四15)。
Jesus had to grow in His capacity for sinless human development to the extent that one can grow at each age and at each stage of human experience. As a twelve-year-old, Jesus was filled with divine wisdom to the extent that a twelve-year-old could be filled with spiritual wisdom and maturity. At age thirty, He had gained a greater capacity for wisdom and spiritual maturity than He possessed when He was twelve. This does not mean that He ever had any sinful deficiency. It simply means that He had to grow in His moral, intellectual, and spiritual capacities as a true man while at the same time not ceasing to be God. Jesus willingly laid aside access to what was His by virtue of His divine nature in order to be our representative—the second Adam and true Israel. As fallen men, we need a Redeemer who is truly man. We need a representative who was under the same covenantal obligations as His people (Gal. 4:4) and who was “tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

作為一個人——作為守約的中保——耶穌必須學習並理解聖經。正如我們需要閱讀舊約一樣,祂也需要閱讀舊約;然而,祂閱讀舊約的方式是獨一無二的,因為它是寫給(to)祂,也是關於(about)祂的。我們可以得出結論,無論何時,耶穌在閱讀聖經時都會知道上帝是為祂寫下了以下真理,而這些真理也是關於祂的。
As a man—as the covenant-keeping Mediator—Jesus had to study and understand the Scriptures. He needed to read the Old Testament just as we need to read the Old Testament; yet, He read the Old Testament uniquely inasmuch as it was written to Him and about Him. We can conclude that Jesus would have known that God wrote the following truths to and about Him whenever He read Scripture.

耶穌明白,父神在舊約的啟示中向祂講述了祂永恆的神性、工作和賞賜。父在祂的洗禮中給了兒子以下神聖的肯定:「你是我的愛子;我喜悅你」(路三22)。耶穌需要這話來幫助祂度過曠野裏魔鬼的激烈誘惑。當撒但用三重「你若是上帝的兒子......」(太四36;路四39)攻擊祂時,耶穌用舊約的經文來反擊,這些經文是以色列人在曠野的流浪中賜給他們的,是宣告以色列人是上帝的兒子身分為基礎的,這兒子身分也是祂在洗禮時從父神那裏領受的。只有當耶穌緊緊抓住祂父親關於祂的位格的話語,也抓住上帝在申命記中,在曠野中對預表性的上帝之子(即以色列;見出四22)所說的話,祂才能勝過那惡者的攻擊。
Jesus understood that God the Father spoke to Him of His eternal and divine nature, work, and reward in the Old Testament revelation. The Father gave the Son the following divine affirmation at His baptism: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). Jesus needed this word to help carry Him through the fierce temptations of the devil in the wilderness. When Satan attacked Him with the threefold “If you are the Son of God . . .” (Matt. 4:3, 6; Luke 4:3, 9), Jesus fought back with the Old Testament Scriptures given to Israel in their wilderness wanderings on the basis of the declaration of Sonship that He received from the Father at His baptism. It was only as Jesus held fast to the word of His Father about His person—and to what God had said in Deuteronomy to the typological Son of God (i.e., Israel; see Ex. 4:22) in the wilderness—that He was able to overcome the attacks of the evil one.

在希伯來書一章4~14節中,作者至少從舊約中舉了四個例子,其中父神在對神的兒子說話。在詩篇二7中,父告訴子,「你是我的兒子」;在詩篇四五6~7中,祂告訴子,「上帝啊,你的寶座是永永遠遠的」;在詩篇一〇二25~27中,祂告訴子,「你起初立了地的根基」;在詩篇一一〇1中,祂告訴子,「你坐在我的右邊。」父在舊約聖經中對子說了這些話。耶穌將這些看作是祂的父對祂的神性的宣告。這是必要的,以便在祂道成肉身的彌賽亞工作中扶持祂。
In Hebrews 1:4–14, the writer of Hebrews pulls at least four examples from the Old Testament in which God the Father is speaking to God the Son. In Psalm 2:7, the Father tells the Son, “You are my Son”; in Psalm 45:6–7, He tells the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”; in Psalm 102:25–27, He tells the Son, “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth”; and in Psalm 110:1, He tells the Son, “Sit at my right hand.” The Father spoke these words to the Son in the pages of the Old Testament. Jesus read these as declarations from His Father to Him regarding His divine nature. This was necessary to carry Him on in His messianic work in the incarnation.

耶穌在舊約中讀到,祂將成為祂百姓之遵行律法的救贖主(比較詩四十7與來十7)。耶穌是耶和華甘心樂意的僕人,祂委身順服祂父的一切誡命,並始終為祂的子民遵行祂父的旨意。
Jesus read in the Old Testament that He would be the law-keeping Redeemer of His people (compare Ps. 40:7 with Heb. 10:7). Jesus is the willing Servant of the Lord who submitted Himself to all of His Father’s commands and who always did His Father’s will for His people.

耶穌知道神所有的應許首先是向祂作為亞伯拉罕的兒子和大衛的兒子而作的。使徒保羅明確地告訴我們,對亞伯拉罕和他的「後裔」(單數)所作的應許,是對基督所作的,祂就是那後裔,然後才是對其他立約百姓所作的(加三16)。耶穌必須先成為「承受萬有的」(來一1~4),然後相信祂的人才會與祂聯合,而成為「承受萬有的」。使徒保羅解釋說,「上帝的所有應許,不論有多少,在基督裏都是『是的』」(林後一20)。耶穌對聖約的咒詛說「是」(這些咒詛是我們為自己的罪應該受的),好為我們配得聖約的祝福。耶穌把聖約律法的法律要求解讀為必須取決於祂替我們受了咒詛,好叫我們可以承受祝福(加三10~14)。
Jesus knew that all the promises of God were made first and foremost to Him as the Son of Abraham and Son of David. The Apostle Paul explicitly tells us that the promises made to Abraham and his Seed are made to Christ, as the Seed, before they are made to any of the other covenant people (Gal. 3:16). Jesus had to become “the heir of all things” (Heb. 1:1–4) before any of those who believe in Him become “heirs of all things” in union with Him. The Apostle Paul explained that “all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Cor. 1:20). Jesus said yes to the covenant curses that we deserve for our sin in order to merit the covenant blessings for us. Jesus read the legal demands of the covenant law as being dependent on His becoming a curse for us so that we might inherit the blessings (Gal. 3:10–14).

耶穌知道舊約聖經突出地說到祂的苦難和榮耀,這是聖靈藉著先知所說的(彼前一10~12)。例如,耶穌是唯一一個會把詩篇廿二1作如此解讀的人:這節經文指的是祂在十字架上的經歷。大衛沒有被釘在十字架上。大衛實際上並沒有被上帝離棄。基督的靈將基督的苦難和榮耀顯明給道成肉身的基督看,以便預備祂,可以在祂彌賽亞經歷中體驗到它們。我們在詩篇十六和一一〇中看到了同樣的原則(見徒二23~36)。耶穌知道整本舊約與祂的死和復活有關。祂明確地告訴兩位走在通往以馬忤斯的道路上的門徒:「摩西的律法、先知的書,和詩篇中所記的,凡指著我的話都必須應驗......照經上所寫的,基督必受害,第三日從死裏復活」(路廿四44~46)。
Jesus knew that the Old Testament spoke preeminently of His sufferings and glories (1 Peter 1:10–12), as revealed by His Spirit through the prophets. For instance, Jesus was the only One who would read Psalm 22:1 as referring to the experience He would have on the cross. David was not crucified. David was not actually forsaken of God. The Spirit of Christ revealed the sufferings and glories of Christ to the incarnate Christ in order to prepare Him to experience them in His messianic experience. We see this same principle at work in Psalms 16 and 110 (see Acts 2:23–36). Jesus knew that the whole of the Old Testament was related to His death and resurrection. He explicitly told the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. . . . Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead” (Luke 24:44–46).

耶穌知道祂是逾越節的羔羊,為祂子民的罪被殺。祂知道祂將成為替代祂子民的公羊,就像代替以撒的公羊一樣。祂知道祂將成為審判要落在祂身上的山羊,以及被送到曠野的替罪羊。耶穌知道舊約中的所有獻祭祭牲都象徵著祂在十字架上的替代性的贖罪之死。當耶穌在詩篇、以賽亞書和耶利米書讀到關於上帝忿怒的杯的時候,祂意識到祂會代替祂的百姓,為他們喝這忿怒之杯。這就解釋了為什麼當祂向祂的父祈禱時,在客西馬尼園中使用了「杯」這個象徵。這種閱讀舊約的方式,也見於耶穌在上十字架時,訴諸撒迦利亞書十三7中的經文(太廿六31)。耶穌是以色列的牧人,為了救贖祂的子民而被上帝的忿怒之劍擊打。
Jesus knew that He was the Passover Lamb slain for the sin of His people. He knew that He would be the ram that is substituted for His people just like the ram that stood in for Isaac. He knew that He was to be the goat on which judgment fell, as well as the scapegoat that was sent into the wilderness. Jesus knew that all of the sacrificial animals in the Old Testament were symbolic of His substitutionary, atoning death on the cross. When Jesus read about the cup of God’s wrath in the Psalms, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, He was conscious that He would stand in the place of His people and drink the cup of wrath for them. This explains why He used “cup” symbolism in the garden of Gethsemane when He prayed to His Father. This way of reading the Old Testament is also seen in Jesus’ appeal to Zechariah 13:7 as He went to the cross (Matt. 26:31). Jesus is the Shepherd of Israel who was struck with the sword of God’s wrath for the redemption of His people.

耶穌明白所有舊約的預表、影子、象徵,都指向祂拯救的工作或好處的某些方面。我們知道這點,是因為祂指著雅各的天梯、杆子上的銅蛇和磐石中的水(約一51,三14,七3739)作為這個原則的例子。耶穌在一定程度上,將約拿的敘事視為祂自己拯救工作的預表。祂還解釋說,大衛、所羅門和聖殿的存在,都為作為指向祂的預表(太十二)。
Jesus understood that all the Old Testament types, shadows, and symbols pointed to some aspect of His saving work or benefits. We know this because He pointed to Jacob’s ladder, the serpent on the pole, and the water from the rock (John 1:51; 3:14; 7:37–39) as examples of this principle. Jesus read the Jonah narrative, in part, as typological of His own saving work. He also explained that David, Solomon, and the temple all existed as types that pointed forward to Him (Matt. 12).

耶穌承認,舊約聖徒首先並不是罪人效法的榜樣,他們是道德正直的人;更確切地說,他們自己也是憑著信而盼望祂的罪人(來十一章)。在祂告訴他們的時候,祂向法利賽人解釋了這一點:「亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子,既看見了,就快樂」(約八5658)。
Jesus acknowledged that the Old Testament saints were not, first and foremost, examples of moral uprightness for sinners to emulate; rather, they were also themselves sinners who were looking forward to Him by faith (Heb. 11). He explained this to the Pharisees when He told them: “Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56–58).

耶穌明白每一個預言都是關於祂的。我們從祂不斷引用舊約彌賽亞預言,說這些預言都是為了證實祂是誰,就可以明白了(例如,馬太福音廿一5引用撒迦利亞書九9;馬太福音廿六31引用撒迦利亞書十三7)。
Jesus understood that every prophecy was about Him. We see this from His persistent appeal to Old Testament messianic prophecies as verifying who He is (e.g., Zech. 9:9 in Matt. 21:5; Zech. 13:7 in Matt. 26:31).

耶穌明白舊約中所有的節日和節期都指向祂在救贖工作中所要完成的事。我們知道這一點,說因為在祂在拿撒勒的第一次講道中(路四),祂提到了禧年,並解釋說祂來是要體現這個節期所預表的。每五十年會有一個禧年——一般人一生只有一次(詩九十10)。債務將被取消,產業要得到恢復。耶穌通過祂的死和復活,在屬靈上為祂子民完成了那事。祂是逾越節、初熟的果子、禧年,以及其他所有節日和節期(林前五7;西二1617)。
Jesus understood that all the festivals and feasts in the Old Testament were pointing forward to what He would accomplish in the work of redemption. We know this because in His first sermon in Nazareth (Luke 4), He alluded to the Year of Jubilee and explained that He had come to give the reality of what that feast typified. The Year of Jubilee happened once every fifty years—once in a lifetime for the average person (Ps. 90:10). Debts would be canceled and the inheritance would be restored. Jesus does that very thing spiritually for His people through His death and resurrection. He is the Passover, the firstfruits, the Jubilee, and every other feast and festival (1 Cor. 5:7; Col. 2:16–17).

通過閱讀聖經,耶穌開始明白婚姻是在創造時所定旨的,好叫祂可以為自己贖回屬靈的新娘。祂一再稱自己為「新郎」(太九15,廿五1~10)。
By reading the Scriptures, Jesus came to understand that marriage was ordained at creation so that He might redeem a spiritual bride for Himself. He repeatedly referred to Himself as “the bridegroom” (Matt. 9:15; 25:1–10).

耶穌從聖經中學到,祂必須是一個完全智慧和正直的人,才能成為祂子民智慧和公義的源泉(林前一30)。當祂讀到箴言時,耶穌將它們視為聖約的智慧和公義,這是上帝要求於人的。祂知道祂必須充分體現詩篇和箴言的智慧和公義,才能成為祂子民智慧和公義的源泉。
Jesus learned from the Scriptures that He must be the perfectly wise and righteous man in order to be the source of wisdom and righteousness for His people (1 Cor. 1:30). When He read the Proverbs, Jesus read them as covenant wisdom and righteousness, which God requires of man. He knew that He must fully embody the wisdom and righteousness of the Psalms and the Proverbs in order to become the source of that wisdom and righteousness for His people.

耶穌從聖經中知道祂是大衛的兒子,祂將坐在上帝的寶座上,永遠統治祂的子民。當基督讀到上帝賜給大衛的聖約——以及隨後的王國敘事和預言時——祂知道祂來是為了應驗所有這些,而祂原本可以完成這些。耶穌知道當祂完成救贖大工之際,祂的父會賜給祂一個永恆的國度。耶穌將大衛生平的敘事視為是在預表祂自己在建立上帝國度的事工。
Jesus knew from Scripture that He was the Son of David who would sit on the throne of God and rule over His people forever. When Christ read the covenant promises that God had given David—as well as the subsequent kingdom narratives and prophecies—He would have done so with the understanding that He had come to fulfill all of them. Jesus knew that when He finished the work of redemption, His Father would give Him an everlasting kingdom. Jesus read the narrative of David’s life as typological of His own ministry in establishing the kingdom of God.

雖然可以說的還有更多,但我們所思考的預表會幫助我們更加欣賞救主為救贖我們而付出的巨大努力。擁抱這個真理有助於我們堅定地注目那位作為我們信心的創始成終者。它激勵我們更熱切地尋求祂。它鼓勵我們更充分地信靠祂,以祂作我們的救贖主。它幫助我們明白,一切生命和敬虔都只能在祂身上找到。它在我們身上產生出感恩的歡呼和讚美詩歌,以讚美我們的上帝慈愛的智慧,祂向守約之士揭露祂的聖約啟示。
While much more can be said, the categories we have considered help give us a greater appreciation for the great lengths to which our Savior went in order to redeem us. Embracing this truth helps us fix our eyes steadfastly on the One who is the author and finisher of our faith. It motivates us to seek Him more fervently. It encourages us to trust Him as our Redeemer more fully. It helps us understand that all life and godliness are found in Him and in Him alone. It produces in us shouts of thanksgiving and songs of praise for the loving wisdom of our God in revealing His covenant revelation to the Covenant-Keeper.



享受與上帝的相交Enjoying Communion with God

[每日靈修11/20/2018駱鴻銘編譯

二十世紀前,當門徒走上通往以馬忤斯的道路時,耶穌隱瞞了祂的身份,以致他們不認識他們身邊的「陌生人」。這些人並不在花園裏,也沒有覆蓋著露水的玫瑰。但他們與復活的基督邊走邊談。他們的經歷像什麼樣子呢?當他們的眼睛終於被打開,並且認出耶穌時,祂突然消失了,他們彼此說:「在路上,祂和我們說話,給我們講解聖經的時候,我們的心豈不是火熱的嗎?」(路廿四32)。

這是人類對基督直接同在的正常反應——「我們心裏火熱。」如果我能聽到祂的聲音,我的心就會被燒成炭灰。如果我能與祂同行並與祂交談,我的靈魂就會爆發出歡樂。我會環遊世界,去找到祂明顯同在的花園。

但事實是,我看不見上帝。我甚至看不到祂的踪影。祂並沒有在沙子上留下腳印,門把上沒有指紋,微風中沒有潤膚露的餘香。祂是不可見的,因為祂不是由物質構成的。

我所渴望的是一種與上帝既親密又個人的關係。親密關係的最大障礙是上帝的不可見。因為我看不見祂,所以我傾向於懷疑祂的同在。但祂在那裏並承諾我們會與祂相交和團契。祂所提供的克服障礙的工具,是禱告。

禱告為我們提供了與上帝親密團契的環節。在這裏我們可以找到聖徒所說的「神秘的甜蜜相交」。一個人不必是神秘主義者,才能享受這種甜蜜的交流。祈禱是通向上帝的道路。祂垂聽我在禱告中對祂所說的話。祂回應,即使我聽不到或看不見祂自己。當我們超越了說出我們的請求,或將我們的請求放在祂面前的境界時,我們就進入到甜蜜相交的領域。在這裏,我們穿透那不可見的,並以祂同在的榮耀而歡喜。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
今天花一些時間與上帝相交。

進一步研讀:
路廿四1316 正當那日,門徒中有兩個人往一個村子去;這村子名叫以馬忤斯,離耶路撒冷約有二十五里。 14 他們彼此談論所遇見的這一切事。 15 正談論相問的時候,耶穌親自就近他們,和他們同行; 16 只是他們的眼睛迷糊了,不認識他。
路廿四32 他們彼此說:「在路上,他和我們說話,給我們講解聖經的時候,我們的心豈不是火熱的嗎?」


Enjoying Communion with God

When the disciples walked the road to Emmaus twenty centuries ago, Jesus concealed His identity so that they didn’t recognize the “stranger” at their side. These men were not in a garden. There were no roses covered with dew. But they walked and talked with the risen Christ. What was their experience like? When their eyes were finally opened and they recognized Jesus, He suddenly vanished and they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32, NASB).

That is the normal human reaction to the immediate presence of Christ—“hearts burning within us.” My heart would be scorched to a cinder if I could hear His voice. My soul would explode in joy if I could walk with Him and talk with Him. I would travel the world to find a garden where He was visibly present. 

But the truth is that I can’t see God. I can’t even see His shadow. He leaves no footprints in the sand, no fingerprints on the doorknob, no lingering aroma of aftershave in the breeze. He is invisible because He is immaterial.

What I crave is a relationship with God that is both intimate and personal. The great barrier to intimacy is God’s invisibility. Because I cannot see Him, I tend to doubt His presence. But He is there and promises communion and fellowship with Him. The tool He provides to overcome the barrier is the tool of prayer.

Prayer offers us a link to intimate fellowship with God. Here is where we find what the saints call “mystic sweet communion.” One need not be a mystic to enjoy this sweet communion. Prayer is access to God. He hears what I say to Him in prayer. He responds, though not audibly or with a vision of Himself. When we move beyond speaking our requests or placing our petitions before Him, we enter into the arena of sweet communion. Here we penetrate the invisible and delight in the glory of His presence.

Coram Deo
Spend some time today communing with God.

Passages for Further Study
Luke 24:13–16


渴望團契相交Longingfor Fellowship

[每日靈修] 11/19/2018,  駱鴻銘編譯

我們說上帝是不朽的,不可見的,全智的上帝。這一連串的屬性給人某種安慰,也給人不小的沮喪。

上帝是不朽的,讓我很欣喜。這意味著祂不能死,因此永遠不會死。我不必擔心祂會耗盡或被取代。祂的寶座永遠堅立。祂藉由祂的無所不能永遠掌權。這對於滅亡的人類來說是個好消息。

祂是全智的,我也很歡喜。這使祂與眾不同。亞里士多德教導說,在每個智者的大腦中,都有愚蠢的角落。上帝的心智中沒有愚蠢的角落。我在這個確定的事實中找到了安慰,即掌管宇宙的那位不會犯錯誤,也不會失去能力。我為上帝的智慧和永恆的能力感到歡喜。

讓我感到難過是祂永遠無法被人看見。感官的生物很難與看不見、聽不到、品嚐不著、觸摸不到、聞不到的存有體相交。上帝永遠在我的感官之外。那麼,我如何與祂建立親密的關係呢?我的心渴望與祂相交。我渴望聽見祂如眾水的聲音(啟一15),並瞥見祂輝煌的榮耀。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
聽到上帝的聲音,你的心靈是否會充滿激情?你會賣掉所有的財產,只為了能與耶穌一起在花園裏散步嗎?

進一步研讀:
詩一〇七9 因祂使心裡渴慕的人得以知足,使心裡飢餓的人得飽美物。
詩一一九174 耶和華啊,我切慕你的救恩!你的律法也是我所喜愛的。
詩一一六2 祂既向我側耳,我一生要求告祂。


Longing for Fellowship
We speak of God as the immortal, invisible, all-wise God. This string of attributes gives some comfort and no small amount of dismay.

That God is immortal makes me glad. It means simply that He cannot and therefore will never die. I need not worry that He will ever wear out or be replaced. His throne is established forever. He reigns eternally in His omnipotence. That is good news for a perishing humanity.

I rejoice also that He is all-wise. This sets Him apart from every man. It was Aristotle who taught that in the brain of every wise man could be found the corner of the fool. There is no foolish corner in the mind of God. I find solace in the certain truth that the One who rules the affairs of the universe is not given to blunders or lapses into incompetency. I rejoice in God’s wisdom and in His everlasting power.

It is His persistent invisibility that saddens me. It is difficult for sensual creatures to enjoy fellowship with One who cannot be seen, heard, tasted, touched, or smelled. God remains beyond my senses. How then, can I ever relate to Him with intimacy? My heart longs for fellowship with Him. I long to hear His voice as the sound of many waters and to catch one glimpse of His refulgent glory.

Coram Deo
Does your heart beat with a passion to hear the voice of God? Would you sell every possession to be able to walk in a garden alone with Jesus?

Passages for Further Study
Psalm 107:9
Psalm 119:174
Psalm 116:2

11/18/2018
11/17/2018

11/16/2018


領受啟示Receiving the Revelation

[每日靈修] 11/18/2018,  駱鴻銘編譯

大自然會啟示上帝嗎?這個問題指出了一種對基督教基本問題的關切。問題是,人可以在教會或宗教環境外認識上帝嗎?

當代的世俗主義者對這個問題的回答是否定的。人們經常說自然世界與對上帝的信仰是對立的,大自然給我們看到許多異常的情況,以至於使上帝的存在站不住腳。

由於這些主張要麼來自好戰的無神論者的角落,要麼來自對思想混亂的不可知論者所提出的質疑,許多基督徒已經退回到「宗教信仰」領域,作為唯一可以讓人認識上帝的框架。在這裏,大自然是談判的籌碼,給雙方留餘地。

舊約關於大自然的詩篇表明,造物主的威嚴透過創造透照出來。上帝不僅在受造界裏清楚啟示了自己,而且這種啟示還會顯明在受造界之外。它被人們所感知。上帝的審判不會因為人們拒絕接受啟示而有所保留(羅一18)。

問題在於,不僅僅是上帝啟示了自己,而且人也認識到這啟示並拒絕承認它。保羅說:「他們雖然知道神,卻不當作神榮耀祂,也不感謝祂」(羅一21)。這裏說,人認識上帝。他的罪是他不會榮耀或感謝他所認識的上帝。保羅論證說,上帝在創造中如此清楚地表現出自己,以至於所有人都知道祂的存在。上帝在自然界中的啟示,使誠實的無神論成為人的理智所不可能接受的理論。

在自然界中顯明的上帝的知識,絕不是完整的。自然啟示永遠不會為我們提供救贖的知識。知道上帝存在是一回事。與這位存在的上帝有個人的、親密的認識則是另一回事。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
你對上帝有個人的、親密的認識嗎? 求上帝賜給你一個新的、更深層次的認識。

進一步研讀:
羅一1821 原來,神的忿怒從天上顯明在一切不虔不義的人身上,就是那些行不義阻擋真理的人。 19 神的事情,人所能知道的,原顯明在人心裡,因為神已經給他們顯明。 20 自從造天地以來,神的永能和神性是明明可知的,雖是眼不能見,但藉著所造之物就可以曉得,叫人無可推諉。21 因為,他們雖然知道神,卻不當作神榮耀他,也不感謝他。他們的思念變為虛妄,無知的心就昏暗了。


Receiving the Revelation

Does nature reveal God? This question indicates a concern about a foundational issue to Christianity. The issue is, can God be known outside of the church or a religious environment?

The secularist of today answers this question with the negative. The world of nature is frequently said to be antithetical to a belief in God, presenting us with so many anomalies as to render the existence of God untenable.

Because of these claims either from the corner of the militant atheist or from the queries of the troubled agnostic, many Christians have retreated into a sphere of “religious faith” as the only framework within which God can be known. Here nature is negotiated in order to protect the arena of space.

The nature Psalms of the Old Testament indicate that the majesty of the Creator shines through the creation. God not only reveals Himself clearly in creation, but the revelation gets through. It is perceived by men. The judgment of God is not withheld because men refuse to receive the revelation (Rom. 1:18).

The problem is that not only does God reveal Himself, but that men perceive that revelation and refuse to acknowledge it. Paul says, “When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful” (Rom. 1:21, KJV). Here man is said to know God. His sin is that he will not glorify or thank the God he knows exists. Paul contends that God so clearly manifests Himself in creation that all men know He exists. God’s revelation in nature makes honest atheism an intellectual impossibility.

The knowledge of God manifest in nature is by no means comprehensive. Natural revelation will never provide us with redemptive knowledge. It is one thing to know that God exists. It is quite another to have a personal, intimate knowledge of the God who exists.

Coram Deo
Do you have a personal, intimate knowledge of God? Ask God for a new and deeper revelation.

Passages for Further Study
Romans 1:18–20




承認全地都屬於主Recognizing the Earth Is theLord’s

[每日靈修] 11/17/2018,  駱鴻銘編譯

博納文圖(Bonaventure)提出了這樣的想法:「為了使我們能夠讚美並榮耀上帝,為了使我們能夠向上帝的知識前進,我們必須將從屬於受造物的事物轉移到神那裏......幾乎所有受造物都具有某些高貴的特徵,為我們對上帝的理解提供了源泉,例如,獅子的堅韌;羔羊的溫柔;岩石的堅固;蛇的謹慎——因此有必要將許多名字轉移到上帝那裏。」

約翰•加爾文同意這些觀點。「宇宙中沒有一個原子,你無法看到其中至少閃爍著神的榮耀的輝煌火花。」

全地,圍繞著我們的大自然,全世界——一切都被上帝所充滿。大自然是一個榮耀的劇院,一個壯觀的聲光秀,展示出神的榮美。但大自然不是上帝。崇拜自然的全部或任何部分都是偶像崇拜。將上帝與自然混為一談就是淪為泛神論,這是一種無法容忍的「一元論」(monism),它模糊了受造物和造物主之間的區別。

但宇宙是上帝手中的工作。它閃爍著它的創造者的啟示。它不是與上帝並存的獨立實體。不存在一種可以將上帝與世界隔離開來的二元論。全地都屬於主。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
今天花一些時間享受大自然的美,記住全地都屬於主。

進一步研讀:
詩廿四1 地和其中所充滿的,世界和住在其間的,都屬耶和華。
詩五十2 從全美的錫安中,神已經發光了。
詩五三1 愚頑人心裡說:沒有神。他們都是邪惡,行了可憎惡的罪孽;沒有一個人行善。


Recognizing the Earth Is the Lord’s

It was Bonaventure who offered the thought: “In order that we may be able to extol and glorify God, and in order that we may advance to the knowledge of God, we must transfer to the divine that which pertains to the creature … nearly all creatures possess certain noble characteristics which furnish a source for our understanding of God, e.g., the lion possesses fortitude; the lamb, meekness; the rock, solidity; the serpent, prudence—hence it is necessary that many names be transferred to God.”

John Calvin agreed with these sentiments. “There is not an atom of the universe in which you cannot see some brilliant sparks at least of His glory.”

The earth, nature that surrounds us, the world—everything is full of God. Nature is a glorious theater, a spectacular sound-and-light show of the beauty of God. But nature is not God. To worship the whole or any part of nature is idolatry. To confuse God and nature is to fall into pantheism, an intolerable monism that obscures the distinction between creatures and Creator.

But the universe is God’s handiwork. It sparkles with the revelation of its Maker. It is not an independent entity existing alongside and apart from God. There is no dualism divorcing God from the world. The earth is the Lord’s.

Coram Deo
Spend some time today enjoying the beauties of nature, remembering that the earth is the Lord’s.

Passages for Further Study
Psalm 24:1
Psalm 50:2
Psalm 53:1



思想我們的牧人監督Reflecting on Our Episkopos

[每日靈修] 11/16/2018,  駱鴻銘編譯

在新約中,希臘語「監督」(bishop)一詞是episkoposEpiskopos這個詞有著豐富而迷人的歷史。它是由前綴epi和字根scopus組成的。英文單詞「scope」(觀測器)就是從這個字根而來的。觀測器是我們用來查看事物的工具。我們有顯微鏡(microscopes),用來觀察微小的東西,有望遠鏡(telescopes)來觀察遠處的東西。前綴epi僅用於強化字根。例如,知識(gnosis)和深刻的知識(epignosis)。慾望(thumia)和熱情的慾望或貪慾(epithumia)。

如此,我們明白episkopos是一個認真看待事物的人。在古希臘世界,一位episkopos可能是一名將軍,他定期視察軍隊的各個單位,以便對他們進行檢查。如果部隊保持警覺,隨時做好戰鬥準備,那麼他們就會得到episkopos的表彰。如果部隊懶散而且準備不足,那麼他們就會受到episkopos的嚴厲指責。

有一種奇怪的用法可以在希臘語episkopos的動詞形式中找到。動詞形式的意思是「訪問」。然而,這裏所謂的訪問,不是隨意突然的出現,而是涉及到仔細審查的情況。這類的探訪是一位訪問者去探訪他所悉心照顧的人。主教被稱為「監督」,因為他們是上帝羊群的監護者。他們蒙召要探訪病人、被監禁的、飢餓的人等等。上帝賦予他們看顧祂子民的任務。

在聖經中,至高的監督是上帝自己。上帝讓所有人都受到祂不斷的監察。祂的眼目認真地審視著我們每一個人。我們的頭髮,每一根祂都數過,每一句從我們嘴唇脫口而出的無聊話語,祂也知道。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
反思上帝作為你的最高監督對你的看顧。

進一步研讀:
彼前二2325 祂被罵不還口;受害不說威嚇的話,只將自己交託那按公義審判人的主。祂被掛在木頭上,親身擔當了我們的罪,使我們既然在罪上死,就得以在義上活。因祂受的鞭傷,你們便得了醫治。你們從前好像迷路的羊,如今卻歸到你們靈魂的牧人監督了。


Reflecting on Our Episkopos

In the New Testament, the Greek word for “bishop” is the term episkopos. The word episkopos has a rich and fascinating history. It is made up of a prefix epi and a root scopus. We get the English word scope from this root. A scope is an instrument we use to look at things. We have microscopes to look at little things and telescopes to look at things that are far away. The prefix epi serves simply to intensify a root. There is, for example, knowledge (gnosis) and profound knowledge (epignosis). There is desire (thumia) and passionate desire or lust (epithumia).

We see then that an episkopos is a person who looks at something intensely. In the ancient Greek world, an episkopos could be a military general who periodically visited various units of the army to make them stand inspection. If the troops were alert, sharp, and battle-ready,then they received the commendation of the episkopos. If the troops were slovenly and ill-prepared, then they received a stinging rebuke from the episkopos.

A strange twist of word usage is found in the verb form of the Greek episkopos. The verb form means “to visit.” The type of visit that is in view, however, is not that of a casual drop-in appearance but a visit that involves a careful scrutiny of the situation. This kind of visit is by one who exercises profound care of the one he is visiting. Bishops are called “bishop” because they are the overseers of the flock of God. They are called to visit the sick, the imprisoned, the hungry, and so on. They are given the care of the people of God.

In the Bible, the Supreme Bishop is God Himself. God has all men under His constant scrutiny. His eye scrutinizes each one of us intensely. He numbers the very hairs of our heads and is cognizant of every idle word that escapes our lips.

Coram Deo
Reflect on God’s care for you as your Supreme Bishop.

Passages for Further Study
1 Peter 2:23–25