預表法與寓意法
Typology Versus Allegory
誠之譯自：
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/typology-versus-allegory/
https://yimawusi.net/2021/04/07/typology-versus-allegory/
 
這夏甲二字是指著亞拉伯的西乃山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。（第25-26節）——加四25-27
“Hagar…she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother” (vv. 25–26)  - Galatians 4:25–27
 
我們應該拒絕對經文的寓意解釋（Allegorical interpretation），因為它最終剝奪了經文的所有意義。由於寓意義的意思可以與上下文所允許的大相徑庭，所以完全無法評估各種不同的詮釋可能。一段經文可以有任何含義，而如果它包含了所有的含義，那它就什麼都不是，而且只要人認為合適，可以隨意地加以誤用。
Allegorical interpretation of Scripture is to be rejected because it ultimately strips the text of all meaning. Since allegories can mean something wholly different than what the context allows, there is no way to evaluate different interpretive possibilities. The passage can mean anything, and if it can mean anything, it means nothing and can be misused however one sees fit.
 
保羅在《加拉太書》四章21-31節中用同一個希臘詞來描述他的釋經工作，我們從這個詞中得到了英文術語「寓言」（allegory ，24節），但他並不接受怪誕的寓意解經。相反，他使用的是預表論的釋經法，約翰·加爾文寫道，這種方法與原文的「真實和字面意思」是一致的。預表法是基於神在整個救贖歷史中以反復出現的模式來工作的事實，並說明過去的事件或人物可以預設或作為未來人物或事件的一個「預表」（type；可譯為典型，或模式）。在「對範」（antitype；按：即預表所對應的本體）中，未來的人物或事件更充分地表達了之前出現的真理。例如，考慮一下出埃及與耶穌工作的關係。上帝把祂的百姓從埃及的奴役中拯救出來，預表性地說明了祂在基督裏完成了更大的救贖，從罪和死亡的奴役中拯救出來。後一項工作與第一項工作的意義是完全一致的——在這兩個例子中，全能的神自己拯救了一個無助的民族。但祂的工作也有了更全面的意義，因為雖然人的身體可以回到奴役的狀態，但聖子所釋放的人確實是自由的，永遠不會再被邪惡所奴役（約八36）。
Paul describes his interpretive work in Galatians 4:21–31 with the same Greek word from which we get the English term allegory (v. 24), but he does not embrace fanciful allegories. Instead, he uses typological interpretation, which, John Calvin writes, is consistent with “the true and literal meaning” of the original text. Typology is based on the fact that God works in recurring patterns throughout history and says that a past event or person can prefigure or serve as a type of a future person or event. In the antitype, a future person or event more fully expresses the truth of what came before. For example, consider the relation of the exodus to the work of Jesus. God’s rescue of His people from Egyptian bondage typifies the greater salvation from slavery to sin and death He accomplished in Christ. The latter work is consistent with the meaning of the first — in both instances the Almighty Himself rescues a helpless people. But His work also has a fuller meaning, for while people can return to physical slavery, he whom the Son sets free is free indeed, never to be enslaved to evil again (John 8:36).
 
預表法的詮釋可能會產生一些問題，因為太多人把他們所做的詮釋稱為預表法，而他們真正採用的卻是寓意解經。因此，一般來說，堅持聖經中明確揭示的預表是明智的。
Typological interpretation can be problematic because too many people call what they are doing typology when they are really employing allegory. Thus, it is generally wise to stick to the typologies explicitly revealed in Scripture.
 
我們怎麼知道保羅對創世記的解讀是一種預表，而不是寓意呢？請記住，加拉太書針對的是那些試圖通過自己的努力獲得救贖應許的人，這些努力使人被罪奴役（加三10-14）。這正是亞伯拉罕和使女夏甲所做的，當們一起「幫助神」，試圖生出應許的後嗣時（創十六1-6）。保羅用夏甲來代表那些試圖用自己的行為來證明自己的人，這與創世記的記載是完全一致的。
How do we know that Paul’s reading of the Genesis account is a typology, not an allegory? Remember that Galatians addresses those who attempt to gain the promise of salvation through their own efforts, efforts that enslave people to sin (Gal. 3:10–14). This is precisely what Abraham and the slave-woman Hagar did when they came together to “help God along” and tried to produce the promised heir (Gen. 16:1–6). Paul’s use of Hagar to represent those who try to justify themselves by their deeds is fully harmonious with the Genesis account.
 
Coram Deo 在神的面光中
 
約翰-加爾文評論說：「聖經的真正意義是自然而明顯的意義；讓我們堅決地擁抱和遵守它。讓我們不僅要把可疑的忽略掉，而且要大膽地把那些假冒的闡釋當作致命的敗壞，使我們偏離了經文的自然意義。」你是否致力於研究聖經的原始語境？你使用或需要獲得哪些工具來幫助你理解聖經的樸素真理呢？
John Calvin comments, “The true meaning of Scripture is the natural and obvious meaning; and let us embrace and abide by it resolutely. Let us not only neglect as doubtful, but boldly set aside as deadly corruptions, those pretended expositions, which lead us astray from the natural meaning.” Are you committed to the study of Scripture in its original context? What tools do you use or need to acquire to help you understand the plain truths of the Bible?
 
進深經文
尼希米記八1-8
詩篇十九7-11
徒八26-40
彼得後書三14-18
Passages for Further Study
Nehemiah 8:1–8
Psalm 19:7–11
Acts 8:26–40
2 Peter 3:14–18