聖經的註釋   Interpreting the Bible

作者: 史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul) 译者: 姚錦榮

摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the Christian Faith》P22 ,更新傳道會出版

要理解任何書寫的文件都需要經過註釋。美國的最高法院由九位高度專業人士組成，他們每天的工作便是註釋憲法。而註釋聖經比註釋憲法更莊嚴、更重要的工作，因此需要更加殷勤和更加認真的態度。

聖經本身就是自己的最高法院，註釋聖經的金律是-------「聖經乃是自身的註釋者」。這句話指出了以經解經的原則，一些隠晦的經文，可以透過別處經文使意義更加顯明。所謂以經解經就是說，我們不應將某處經文和別處經文解釋為彼此對立的；每一節經文除了必須按照上下文去理解外，也必須按照整本聖經的脈絡去理解。

此外還要注意的一點是，一般人都承認惟一合法而有效的解經方法，就是按字面解經（literal interpretation),  但許多人卻誤解了按字面解經的真正意義。嚴格來說，所謂按字面解經，就是如實地按照字面所寫的意思去註釋聖經。名詞就按名詞理解，動詞就按動詞理解。換句話說，聖經作者當初用什麽文法形式，我們就需按該種文法形式的常規去註釋。詩歌需按詩歌的常規處理，歷史記録則桉歷史的常規處理，比喻就是比喻，誇張法就是誇張法，如此類推。

從這方面來說，註釋聖經與註釋任何其他書籍的原則並無不同；雖然從某個角度來說，聖經與任何其他的著作是不同的，但從註釋的角度來說，註釋聖經與註釋任何一般性的著作並沒有分別。

我們不可以按照自己的喜好和偏見去註釋聖經，而應該如實地找出聖經要說的真實，不將自己的看法加諸其上。異端的技倆往往就是借用一些經文，來支持自己錯誤的教義，其實這些經文原本不合此意。連撒但自己也使用不正確的方法，引經據典去試探基督（太4：1-11）。

聖經的基本信息十分淺顯，連小孩子也能明白。但其精妙之處，卻要精細研讀和考究才能正確地理解。聖經中有些道理更是非常複雜而深奧，連最優秀的學者也要持久不斷地鑽研，以求將問題解決。

任何健全的解經都需根據以下幾個基本的註釋原則：

（1）敘事體需根據「教誨式」的經文來註釋。例如亞伯拉罕在摩利亞山上獻給以撒的故事，可能會被解釋為神原先並不知道亞伯拉罕究竟有沒有真正的信心，但聖經中教誨部分的經文卻清楚說明，上帝是無所不知的。

（2）隱誨的經文要靠清晰的經文去解明，但此原則切不可反過來應用。例如某處經文雖然好像暗示一些道理，但如果這些暗示和其他明示的經文互相矛盾，便不可以接受。

（3）運用邏輯註釋聖經。舉例來說，如果我們知道所有貓兒都有尾巴，便不能推論說，有些貓兒是沒有尾巴的。如果真的有些貓兒沒有尾巴，那麽說所有貓兒都長了尾巴這句話便不是真的。這不是甚麽高深的推理，而是常識問題。但大多數錯誤的解經，問題都出在對聖經不正確的推論上。

總結

1. 聖經乃其自身的註釋者。

2. 我們必須按字面的意義------即如實地按字面所寫的意思-------去解釋聖經。

3. 解釋聖經應該和解釋任何其他書籍的方法一樣。

4. 應該用明確的經文去解釋隱晦的經文。

5. 應該以明示的亮光去解釋暗示。

6. 運用邏輯的定律從聖經中找出合理的推論。

思考經文：

徒十五15-16；弗四11-16；彼後一16-21；彼後三14-18

Interpreting the Bible

Any written document must be interpreted if it is to be understood. The United States of America has nine highly skilled individuals whose daily task is to interpret the Constitution. They compose the Supreme Court of the land. To interpret the Bible is a far more solemn task than to interpret the U.S. Constitution. It requires great care and diligence.

The Bible itself is its own Supreme Court. The chief rule of biblical interpretation is "sacred Scripture is its own interpreter." This principle means that the Bible is to be interpreted by the Bible. What is obscure in one part of Scripture may be made clear in another. To interpret Scripture by Scripture means that we must not set one passage of Scripture against another passage. Each text must be understood not only in light of its immediate context but also in light of the context of the whole of Scripture.

In addition, properly understood, the only legitimate and valid method of interpreting the Bible is the method of literal interpretation. Yet there is much confusion about the idea of literal interpretation. Literal interpretation, strictly speaking, means that we are to interpret the Bible as it is written. A noun is treated as a noun and a verb as a verb. It means that all the forms that are used in the writing of the Bible are to be interpreted according to the normal rules governing those forms. Poetry is to be treated as poetry. Historical accounts are to be treated as history. Parables as parables, hyperbole as hyperbole, and so on.

In this regard, the Bible is to be interpreted according to the rules that govern the interpretation of any book. In some ways the Bible is unlike any other book ever written. However, in terms of its interpretation, it is to be treated as any other book.

The Bible is not to be interpreted according to our own desires and prejudices. We must seek to understand what it actually says and guard against forcing our own views upon it. It is the sport of heretics to seek support from Scripture for false doctrines that have no basis in the text. Satan himself quoted Scripture in an illegitimate way in an effort to seduce Christ to sin (Matthew 4:1-11).

The basic message of the Bible is simple enough and clear enough for a child to understand. Yet the meat of Scripture requires careful attention and study to understand it properly. Some matters treated by the Bible are so complex and profound that they keep the finest scholars perennially engaged in an effort to sort them out.

There are a few principles of interpretation that are basic for all sound study of the Bible. They include the following: (1) Narratives should be interpreted in light of "teaching" passages. For example, the story of Abraham offering Isaac on Mount Moriah might suggest that God didn't know that Abraham had true faith. But the didactic portions of Scripture make it clear that God is omniscient. (2) The implicit must always be interpreted in light of the explicit; never the other way around. That is, if a particular text seems to imply something, we should not accept the implication as correct if it goes against something explicitly stated elsewhere in Scripture. (3) The laws of logic govern biblical interpretation. If, for example, we know that all cats have tails, we cannot then deduce that some cats do not have tails. If it is true that some cats do not have tails, then it cannot also be true that all cats have tails. This is not a matter merely of technical laws of inference; it is a matter of common sense. Yet the vast majority of erroneous interpretations of the Bible are caused by illegitimate deductions from the Scripture.

1.         The Bible is its own interpreter.

2.         We must interpret the Bible literally—as it is written.

3.         The Bible is to be interpreted like any other book.

4.         Obscure parts of the Bible are to be interpreted by the clearer parts.

5.         The implicit is to be interpreted in light of the explicit.

6.         The rules of logic govern what can reasonably be drawn or deduced from Scripture.