多特信经
Canons and Decrees of the Synod ofDordt (1619)
（洛杉矶华⼈改⾰宗恩约教会译版）
第五项教义
圣徒的持守到底
The Fifth Main Point of
Doctrine
The Perseverance of the Saints
第一条、重生的人并未完全摆脱罪
凡是上帝按照祂的安排呼召，与祂的儿子、我们的主耶稣基督相交、又蒙圣灵重生的人，上帝也拯救他们脱离今世罪恶的辖治与奴役，尽管他们在今生，还没有完全脱离肉体的软弱和有罪的身体。
Article
1: The Regenerate Not Entirely Free from Sin
Those
people whom God according to his purpose calls into fellowship with his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, he also sets free
from the reign and slavery of sin, though in this life not entirely from the
flesh and from the body of sin.
第二条、信徒对软弱之罪的回应
因此，罪会因软弱而每天出现，即使上帝子民最好的善行也都会有污点；这会使他们一直在上帝面前谦卑自己、逃奔到钉十架的基督那里寻求庇护、更加通过祈求的圣灵和敬虔的操练来治死肉体，向着完全的标竿直跑，直到他们至终脱离这取死的身体，与上帝的羔羊在天上一同作王。
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2: The Believer’s Reaction to Sins of Weakness
Hence
daily sins of weakness arise, and blemishes cling to even the best works of
God’s people, giving them continual cause to humble themselves before God, to flee
for refuge to Christ crucified, to put the flesh to death more and more by the
Spirit of supplication and by holy exercises of godliness, and to strain toward
the goal of perfection, until they are freed from this body of death and reign
with the Lamb of God in heaven.
第三条、上帝对回转之人的保守
因为仍有罪残留在人里面，加上世界和撒旦的试探，那些已经回转的人如果只靠自己的力量，无法留在这恩典中。但上帝是信实的，祂以怜悯在赐给他们的恩典中坚固他们，以大能保守他们在其中，直到末了。
Article
3: God’s Preservation of the Converted
Because
of these remnants of sin dwelling in them and also because of the temptations
of the world and Satan, those who have been converted could not remain standing
in this grace if left to their own resources. But God is faithful, mercifully
strengthening them in the grace once conferred on them and powerfully
preserving them in it to the end.
第四条、真信徒陷入大罪的危险
虽然肉体远不能胜过上帝坚定保守真信徒在恩典中的大能，但是回转的人并不是一直被上帝影响并推动，有时在特殊情况下因自己的过犯，离开上帝恩典的引导，受肉体私欲引诱偏离，顺从肉体。因此，他们必须持续警醒祷告，免得入了试探。他们如果忽略这些事，不但有可能会被肉体、世界与撒但诱入罪中，甚至是严重可怕的罪，而且上帝有时候会按着祂公义的许可，真的让他们陷入这些大罪——例如圣经里见证的可悲的例子，如大卫、彼得和圣经中其他圣徒陷入罪中。
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4: The Danger of True Believers’ Falling into Serious Sins
Although
that power of God strengthening and preserving true believers in grace is more
than a match for the flesh, yet those converted are not always so activated and
motivated by God that in certain specific actions they cannot by their own
fault depart from the leading of grace, be led astray by the desires of the
flesh, and give in to them. For this reason they must constantly watch and pray
that they may not be led into temptations. When they fail to do this, not only
can they be carried away by the flesh, the world, and Satan into sins, even
serious and outrageous ones, but also by God’s just permission they sometimes
are so carried away — witness the sad cases, described in Scripture, of David,
Peter, and other saints falling into sins.
第五条、这些大罪的结果
他们犯下如此大罪，大大冒犯了上帝，配得死亡的判决，使圣灵担忧，使自己无法发挥信心，严重伤害自己的良心，有时会失去对上帝恩典的意识一段时间——直到他们真心悔改，归回正道，上帝慈父的面光就会再照在他们身上。
Article
5: The Effects of Such Serious Sins
By
such monstrous sins, however, they greatly offend God, deserve the sentence of
death, grieve the Holy Spirit, suspend the exercise of faith, severely wound
the conscience, and sometimes lose the awareness of grace for a time — until,
after they have returned to the way by genuine repentance, God’s fatherly face
again shines upon them.
第六条、上帝的拯救干涉
但是上帝有丰盛的怜悯，按照祂永不改变的拣选旨意，并不从祂子民那里收回圣灵，即使他们严重的堕落跌倒。祂既不会让他们堕落太深，以致丧失收养的恩典和称义的地位，也不会让他们犯下至死的罪（即抵挡圣灵的罪），自甘堕落，完全被祂遗弃，陷入永远的灭亡中。
Article
6: God’s Saving Intervention
For
God, who is rich in mercy, according to his unchangeable purpose of election
does not take his Holy Spirit from his own completely, even when they fall
grievously. Neither does he let them fall down so far that they forfeit the
grace of adoption and the state of justification, or commit the sin which leads
to death (the sin against the Holy Spirit), and plunge themselves, entirely
forsaken by him, into eternal ruin.
第七条、重新悔改
因为首先，他们这样堕落时，祂仍然保守他们里面那不能朽坏的重生种子，使这种子不致消失，或完全丧失。其次，上帝必然会借着祂的道和祂的灵有效地更新他们，使他们真心按着上帝的意思为罪忧伤；通过信心和忧伤的心，寻求并获得中保之血带来的赦罪；再次经历上帝的眷爱、与上帝和好；凭信心赞美祂的怜悯；并且从此以后更加殷勤、恐惧战兢作成自己得救的工夫。
Article
7: Renewal to Repentance
For,
in the first place, God preserves in those saints when they fall his
imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be
dislodged. Secondly, by his Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews
them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins
they have committed; seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart,
forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; experience again the grace of a
reconciled God; through faith adore his mercies; and from then on more eagerly
work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
第八条、上帝保守的确定性
这样看来，他们之所以没有完全失去信心和恩典，也没有继续背道至终灭亡，并不在于他们自己的功德或力量，而在于上帝白白的怜悯。如果只从他们自己来看，他们不但可能灭亡，更是必然灭亡；但是从上帝来看，他们完全不可能灭亡，因为祂的旨意不能改变，祂的应许不能落空，祂选召的心意不能撤回，基督的功劳、代求与保守不能失效，圣灵的印记也不能失效作废。
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8: The Certainty of This Preservation
So it
is not by their own merits or strength but by God’s undeserved mercy that they
neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in their downfalls to the
end and are lost. With respect to themselves this not only easily could happen,
but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly
happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling
according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his
interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy
Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out.
第九条、这保守带来的确据
关于选民蒙保守得救，真信徒持守信心的事，信徒按照自己信心的程度，可以得到，也确实得到确据，借此他们就坚定相信自己是且永远是教会里真实活泼的肢体，并且自己的罪得赦免和拥有永生。
Article
9: The Assurance of This Preservation
Concerning
this preservation of those chosen to salvation and concerning the perseverance
of true believers in faith, believers themselves can and do become assured in
accordance with the measure of their faith, by which they firmly believe that
they are and always will remain true and living members of the church, and that
they have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
第十条、这确据的根据
然而，这个确据并不是出于任何圣经之外的私下启示，而是出于我们对上帝应许的信心，这应许是上帝为了安慰我们，而在祂话语中丰富启示的；并且出于圣灵的见证，圣灵与我们的心同证，我们是上帝的儿女（罗八16）；最后，出于我们的对清洁良心和善行切慕追求。如果上帝的选民在这世上失去这种坚实的安慰，不确定自己至终会得胜，失去对永恒荣耀的确实把握，就比众人更可怜。
Article
10: The Ground of This Assurance
Accordingly,
this assurance does not derive from some private revelation beyond or outside
the Word, but from faith in the promises of God which he has very plentifully
revealed in his Word for our comfort, from the testimony of “the Holy Spirit
testifying with our spirit that we are God’s children and heirs” (Rom.
8:16-17), and finally from a serious and holy pursuit of a clear conscience and
of good works. And if God’s chosen ones in this world did not have this
well-founded comfort that the victory will be theirs and this reliable
guarantee of eternal glory, they would be of all people most miserable.
第十一条、对这确据的怀疑
圣经见证，信徒在今生一定会遇见各种属肉体的疑惑，经过极大的试探，以至于他们未必能一直体会到信心完全的确据和持守到底的确定性。但是上帝，赐诸般安慰的父，必不叫他们受试探过于他们所能受的，在受试探的时候，总要给他们开一条出路（林前十13）；并会藉圣灵在他们里面生发持守到底的确据。
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11: Doubts Concerning This Assurance
Meanwhile,
Scripture testifies that believers have to contend in this life with various
doubts of the flesh and that under severe temptation they do not always
experience this full assurance of faith and certainty of perseverance. But God,
the Father of all comfort, “does not let them be tempted beyond what they can
bear, but with the temptation he also provides a way out” (1 Cor. 10:13), and
by the Holy Spirit revives in them the assurance of their perseverance.
第十二条、这确据是对敬虔的鼓励
然而，这种对持守到底的确据，决不使真信徒骄傲，有属肉体的自我安全感，反而使他们有真谦卑、对上帝孩童般的敬畏、真正虔诚、在各样患难中忍耐、竭力祷告、在苦难和见证真理中坚定不移，确实以上帝为乐。所以，思想这确据鼓励我们认真持续操练感恩和善行，正如圣经的见证和众圣徒的榜样所表现的。
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12: This Assurance as an Incentive to Godliness
This
assurance of perseverance, however, so far from making true believers proud and
carnally self-assured, is rather the true root of humility, of childlike
respect, of genuine godliness, of endurance in every conflict, of fervent
prayers, of steadfastness in cross-bearing and in confessing the truth, and of
well-founded joy in God. Reflecting on this benefit provides an incentive to a
serious and continual practice of thanksgiving and good works, as is evident
from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints.
第十三条、确据不会使人大意
那些背道的人回转之后，持守的信心得以更新，这不会使人放荡，忽略敬虔，反倒使他们更留心谨慎遵行主预备的道路。他们如此遵行主的道路，就可以一直拥有持守到底的确据，恐怕当他们滥用天父的慈爱时，上帝会收回祂面上的荣光，使他们的良心受更痛苦的折磨，因为对属上帝的人来说，瞻仰上帝面上的荣光比生命更宝贵，这荣光如果收回，就比死更痛苦。
Article
13: Assurance No Inducement to Carelessness
Neither
does the renewed confidence of perseverance produce immorality or lack of
concern for godliness in those put back on their feet after a fall, but it
produces a much greater concern to observe carefully the ways of the Lord which
he prepared in advance. They observe these ways in order that by walking in
them they may maintain the assurance of their perseverance, lest, by their
abuse of his fatherly goodness, the face of the gracious God (for the godly,
looking upon his face is sweeter than life, but its withdrawal is more bitter
than death) turn away from them again, with the result that they fall into
greater anguish of spirit.
第十四条、在持守中上帝使用媒介
就如上帝乐意通过福音的宣讲在我们里面开始这恩典的工作，祂也照样通过福音的聆听和阅读、默想、劝勉、警戒、应许，以及圣礼的使用，保守、持续、并最终完成祂的工作。
Article
14: God’s Use of Means in Perseverance
And,
just as it has pleased God to begin this work of grace in us by the
proclamation of the gospel, so he preserves, continues, and completes his work
by the hearing and reading of the gospel, by meditation on it, by its
exhortations, threats, and promises, and also by the use of the sacraments.
第十五条、对持守到底教义的不同回应
这个圣徒持守到底的教义和确据，上帝已经为了荣耀祂的名、安慰敬虔人的心，在圣经中多次启示它，上帝也把这教义印在信徒心中。但属肉体的心思不能明白这教义，撒但痛恨它，世界也嘲笑它，无知之人、假冒为善之辈妄用它，异端反对它。然而，基督的新妇却一直热爱这教义，视为无价珍宝不断护卫它。而且上帝也定意要确保教会继续这样坚持到底，没有任何计谋权势能胜过祂。愿尊贵、荣耀唯独归给这样一位上帝，圣父、圣子与圣灵，直到永远。 阿们。
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15: Contrasting Reactions to the Teaching of Perseverance
This
teaching about the perseverance of true believers and saints, and about their
assurance of it — a teaching which God has very richly revealed in his Word for
the glory of his name and for the comfort of the godly and which he impresses
on the hearts of believers — is something which the flesh does not understand,
Satan hates, the world ridicules, the ignorant and the hypocrites abuse, and
the spirits of error attack. The bride of Christ, on the other hand, has always
loved this teaching very tenderly and defended it steadfastly as a priceless
treasure; and God, against whom no plan can avail and no strength can prevail,
will ensure that she will continue to do this. To this God alone, Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.
反对错误教导
在阐明正统教义之后，本总会反对以下的错误教导︰
Rejection
of the Errors
Having
set forth the orthodox teaching, the Synod rejects the errors of those
错误教导之一
真信徒的持守到底并非拣选的功效，也不是上帝因基督的死而给真信徒的礼物，而是新约的条件，这条件是人在上帝（如他们自己宣称的）“决定性”拣选、称义之前，人必须藉他的自由意志满足的。
I.
Who teach that the perseverance of true believers is not an effect of election
or a gift of God produced by Christ’s death, but a condition of the new
covenant which man, before what they call his “peremptory” election and
justification, must fulfill by his free will.
反对理由：圣经见证这持守是出于拣选，也是因为基督的死、复活与代求而赐给选民的︰“唯有蒙拣选的人得着了，其余的就成了顽梗不化的”（罗十一7）；“上帝既不爱惜自己的儿子，为我们众人舍了，岂不也把万物和他一同白白的赐给我们吗？ 谁能控告上帝所拣选的人呢？ 有上帝称他们为义了。谁能定他们的罪呢？有基督耶稣已经死了，而且从死里复活，现今在上帝的右边，也替我们祈求。 谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢”（罗八32-35）。
For
Holy Scripture testifies that perseverance follows from election and is granted
to the chosen by virtue of Christ’s death, resurrection, and intercession: “The
chosen obtained it; the others were hardened” (Rom. 11:7); likewise, “He who
did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not, along
with him, grant us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God
has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ
Jesus who died — more than that, who was raised — who also sits at the right
hand of God, and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ?” (Rom. 8:32-35).
错误教导之二
上帝确实赐给信徒充份的能力持守，并且愿意在信徒里面保守这能力，只要他们履行自己的责任，但是即使人拥有上帝想用来持守信心所需的一切，他们最终是否持守到底，还是要看人的意志选择。
II.
Who teach that God does provide the believer with sufficient strength to
persevere and is ready to preserve this strength in him if he performs his
duty, but that even with all those things in place which are necessary to
persevere in faith and which God is pleased to use to preserve faith, it still
always depends on the choice of man’s will whether or not he perseveres.
反对理由：这种观念是明显的伯拉纠主义；虽然它本意使人自由，但却使人亵渎了上帝的尊荣。它违反福音一致的教导，福音的教导使人没有任何理由夸口，而将一切颂赞单单归给上帝的恩典。这种观念也与使徒保罗的见证相反，因为他说︰“他也必坚固你们到底，叫你们在我们主耶稣基督的日子无可责备”（林前一8）。
For
this view is obviously Pelagian; and though it intends to make men free it
makes them sacrilegious. It is against the enduring consensus of evangelical
teaching which takes from man all cause for boasting and ascribes the praise
for this benefit only to God’s grace. It is also against the testimony of the
apostle: “It is God who keeps us strong to the end, so that we will be
blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8).
错误教导之三
真信徒即使重生，不但有可能最终完全失去称义的信心、恩典与拯救；而且真的常常失去，并永远灭亡。
III.
Who teach that those who truly believe and have been born again not only can
forfeit justifying faith as well as grace and salvation totally and to the end,
but also in actual fact do often forfeit them and are lost forever.
反对理由：这种观念使称义和重生的恩典以及基督持续的保守变得无效，违反使徒保罗清楚说的︰“唯有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死……我们既靠着他的血称义，就更要借着他免去上帝的忿怒”（罗五8-9）；也违反使徒约翰说的︰“凡从上帝生的，就不犯罪，因上帝的道存在他心里；他也不能犯罪，因他是由上帝生的”（约壹三9）；更违反耶稣基督说的︰“我又赐给他们永生；他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。 我父把羊赐给我，他比万有都大，谁也不能从我父手里把他们夺去”（约十28-29）。
For
this opinion nullifies the very grace of justification and regeneration as well
as the continual preservation by Christ, contrary to the plain words of the
apostle Paul: “If Christ died for us while we were still sinners, we will
therefore much more be saved from God’s wrath through him, since we have now
been justified by his blood” (Rom. 5:8-9); and contrary to the apostle John:
“No one who is born of God is intent on sin, because God’s seed remains in him,
nor can he sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9); also contrary to
the words of Jesus Christ: “I give eternal life to my sheep, and they shall
never perish; no one can them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to
me, is greater than all; no one can them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:
28-29).
错误教导之四
真信徒即使重生，仍能犯那至于死的罪，就是抵挡圣灵的罪。
IV.
Who teach that those who truly believe and have been born again can commit the
sin that leads to death (the sin against the Holy Spirit).
反对理由：使徒约翰在《约翰壹书》五章16-17节刚说到有“至于死的罪”，不可为他们祈求之后，立刻在18节说︰“我们知道凡从上帝生的，必不犯罪（意思是上面说的那种罪），从上帝生的，必保守自己，那恶者也就无法害他”（约壹五18）。
For
the same apostle John, after making mention of those who commit the sin that
leads to death and forbidding prayer for them (1 John 5: 16-17), immediately
adds: “We know that anyone born of God does not commit sin” (that is, that kind
of sin), “but the one who was born of God keeps himself safe, and the evil one
does not touch him” (v. 18).
错误教导之五
除非我们有特别的启示，否则就不能确定今后这一生能持守到底。
V.
Who teach that apart from a special revelation no one can have the assurance of
future perseverance in this life.
反对理由：因为这种教导使真信徒在今生失去真正的安慰，又引进罗马天主教的怀疑到教会中。但圣经论到这种确据，不是出于特殊非常的启示，而是根据上帝儿女特有的记号，和上帝绝对可靠的应许。所以使徒保罗特别说︰“受造之物，都不能叫我们与上帝的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的”（罗八39）；使徒约翰说︰“遵守上帝命令的，就住在上帝里面，上帝也住在他里面。我们所以知道上帝住在我们里面，是因他所赐给我们的圣灵”（约壹三24）。
For
by this teaching the well-founded consolation of true believers in this life is
taken away and the doubting of the Romanists is reintroduced into the church.
Holy Scripture, however, in many places derives the assurance not from a
special and extraordinary revelation but from the marks peculiar to God’s
children and from God’s completely reliable promises. So especially the apostle
Paul: “Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39); and John: “They who obey his commands
remain in him and he in them. And this is how we know that he remains in us: by
the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:24).
错误教导之六
持守到底的确据与得救确据的教导，因其本质和性质会是肉体的鸦片，有害于敬虔、良好道德、祈祷等敬虔操练；反而，对这些事的怀疑是值得称许的。
VI.
Who teach that the teaching of the assurance of perseverance and of salvation
is by its very nature and character an opiate of the flesh and is harmful to
godliness, good morals, prayer, and other holy exercises, but that, on the
contrary, to have doubt about this is praiseworthy.
反对理由：这些人表示他们不知道上帝的恩典有效的运行，圣灵内住在圣徒里面的工作；他们也违反使徒约翰的教导，因为《约翰壹书》明说︰“亲爱的弟兄啊，我们现在是上帝的儿女，将来如何，还未显明；但我们知道，主若显现，我们必要像他，因为必得见他的真体。凡向他有这指望的，就洁净自己，像他洁净一样”（约壹三2-3）。此外，这也不符新约或旧约中的圣徒的榜样，他们虽然知道上帝保证他们必持守到底而得救，但是仍然恒切祷告，操拣敬虔。
For
these people show that they do not know the effective operation of God’s grace
and the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and they contradict the apostle
John, who asserts the opposite in plain words: “Dear friends, now we are children
of God, but what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when
he is made known, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone
who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
Moreover, they are refuted by the examples of the saints in both the Old and
the New Testament, who though assured of their perseverance and salvation yet
were constant in prayer and other exercises of godliness.
错误教导之七
那些暂时相信之人的信心，并非不同于称义和得救的信心，只是维持时间长短的问题而已。
VII.
Who teach that the faith of those who believe only temporarily does not differ
from justifying and saving faith except in duration alone.
反对理由：基督在马太福音十三章20节、路加福音八章13节，和其他地方亲自讲论这事，明显提到暂时相信之人的信心，和真信徒的信心的不同：他说前者是种子落在土浅石头地上，后者是种子落在好土里；前者无根，后者扎根稳固；前者无果，后者持续到底结出各种果子。
For
Christ himself in Matthew 13:20ff. and Luke 8:13ff. clearly defines these
further differences between temporary and true believers: he says that the
former receive the seed on rocky ground, and the latter receive it in good
ground, or a good heart; the former have no root, and the latter are firmly
rooted; the former have no fruit, and the latter produce fruit in varying
measure, with steadfastness, or perseverance.
错误教导之八
一个人重生之后又失落，还能再次重生，甚至能常常反复重生，这并不荒谬。
VIII.
Who teach that it is not absurd that a person, after losing his former
regeneration, should once again, indeed quite often, be reborn.
反对理由：这种教义否认我们藉以重生的种子是不能朽坏的，这违反使徒彼得的见证︰“你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子”（彼前一23）。
For
by this teaching they deny the imperishable nature of God’s seed by which we
are born again, contrary to the testimony of the apostle Peter: “Born again,
not of perishable seed, but of imperishable” (1 Pet. 1:23).
错误教导之九
圣经从未提到基督为信徒成功持守信心到底而祷告。
IX.
Who teach that Christ nowhere prayed for an unfailing perseverance of believers
in faith.
反对理由：这与基督自己说的相反，因为基督说︰“我已经为你祈求，叫你不至于失了信心”（路二十二32）；也与使徒约翰说的相反，因为约翰说基督不但为众使徒祈求， 也为那些因使徒的话而相信的人祈求说︰“圣父啊，求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们”（约十七11）；又说︰“我不求你叫他们离开世界，只求你保守他们脱离那恶者”（15节）。
For
they contradict Christ himself when he says: “I have prayed for you, Peter,
that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32); and John the gospel writer when he
testifies in John 17 that it was not only for the apostles, but also for all
those who were to believe by their message that Christ prayed: “Holy Father,
preserve them in your name” (v. 11); and “My prayer is not that you take them
out of the world, but that you preserve them from the evil one” (v. 15).
结论
拒绝错误的指控
Conclusion
Rejection of False Accusations
这是针对荷兰教会内引起争议的五条教义最明确、直接的正统解释，以及对困扰教会许久的错误教导的反驳。总会宣布这解释和反驳均源自上帝的道，又与改革宗教会各信条一致。因此可以清楚表明，那些企图教唆大众相信以下观点的人，违背真理、公平与爱心（他们说）：
And
so this is the clear, simple, and straightforward explanation of the orthodox
teaching on the five articles in dispute in the Netherlands, as well as the
rejection of the errors by which the Dutch churches have for some time been
disturbed. This explanation and rejection the Synod declares to be derived from
God’s Word and in agreement with the confessions of the Reformed churches.
Hence it clearly appears that those of whom one could hardly expect it have
shown no truth, equity, and charity at all in wishing to make the public
believe:
改革宗教会关于预定的教义，以及附带的各点，由其本质和必然的走向看来，会诱使人心偏离一切敬虔和信仰，是肉体和魔鬼的鸦片，撒但的堡垒，牠在里面埋伏，要攻击众人，伤害他们，用绝望与自我安全感的火箭穿透杀死他们。
that
the teaching of the Reformed churches on predestination and on the points
associated with it by its very nature and tendency draws the minds of people
away from all godliness and religion, is an opiate of the flesh and the devil,
and is a stronghold of Satan where he lies in wait for all people, wounds most
of them, and fatally pierces many of them with the arrows of both despair and
self-assurance;
这教义使上帝成为罪恶的作者、不公义、暴虐、假冒伪善。这教义其实是化装的斯多葛哲学、摩尼教、放纵派、穆哈穆德派。
hat
this teaching makes God the author of sin, unjust, a tyrant, and a hypocrite;
and is nothing but a refurbished Stoicism, Manicheism, Libertinism, and
Mohammedanism;
这教义使人有属肉体的自我安全感，因为这教义劝人说没有任何事可以拦阻选民得救，不论他们如何任意而行；因此，他们可以犯各样恐怖的大罪而安然无惧；然而那些被遗弃之人，即使真正行出各样圣徒的作为，他们的顺服也丝毫无法使他们得救；
that
this teaching makes people carnally self-assured, since it persuades them that
nothing endangers the salvation of the chosen, no matter how they live, so that
they may commit the most outrageous crimes with self-assurance; and that on the
other hand nothing is of use to the reprobate for salvation even if they have
truly performed all the works of the saints;
这教导意味着上帝以祂专断的旨意，还没有丝毫考虑任何罪，就已经预定并创造大多数世人要永远灭亡；这教导意味着拣选怎样是信心和善行的源头， 照样遗弃是不信与邪恶的原因；这教导意味着许多信徒的子女虽然无罪，仍从母亲怀中被夺去，被残暴地抛到地狱里，就连基督的宝血，或他们的洗礼，或教会在他们受洗时为他们所做的祷告，对他们毫无益处。
that
this teaching means that God predestined and created, by the bare and
unqualified choice of his will, without the least regard or consideration of
any sin, the greatest part of the world to eternal condemnation; that in the
same manner in which election is the source and cause of faith and good works,
reprobation is the cause of unbelief and ungodliness; that many infant children
of believers are snatched in their innocence from their mothers’ breasts and
cruelly cast into hell so that neither the blood of Christ nor their baptism
nor the prayers of the church at their baptism can be of any use to them;
还有许多其他类似的指控，改革宗教会不但不承认，反而全心憎恶。
and
very many other slanderous accusations of this kind which the Reformed churches
not only disavow but even denounce with their whole heart.
因此，本次多特总会奉主的名邀请一切求告救主耶稣基督之名的人，来判断改革宗教会的信仰，不要根据零星散乱的错误指控，甚至也不要根据古今的权威教师所发表的个人表述——这些表述往往脱离语境被引用，或根本出处不实，或被扭曲与原意不合—— 但是请根据教会本身公开的各信条以及目前这份对正统教导的解释，这份解释是经由总会全体与会成员一致同意确认的。
Therefore
this Synod of Dordt in the name of the Lord pleads with all who devoutly call on
the name of our Savior Jesus Christ to form their judgment about the faith of
the Reformed churches, not on the basis of false accusations gathered from here
or there, or even on the basis of the personal statements of a number of
ancient and modern authorities — statements which are also often either quoted
out of context or misquoted and twisted to convey a different meaning — but on
the basis of the churches’ own official confessions and of the present
explanation of the orthodox teaching which has been endorsed by the unanimous
consent of the members of the whole Synod, one and all.
此外，本次总会也郑重警告那些错误指控的毁谤者，他们对众多教会和他们的信条作假见证，伤害软弱弟兄的良心，又竭力使人对真信徒们有偏见，会有上帝可怕的刑罚等着他们。
Moreover,
the Synod earnestly warns the false accusers themselves to consider how heavy a
judgment of God awaits those who give false testimony against so many churches
and their confessions, trouble the consciences of the weak, and seek to
prejudice the minds of many against the fellowship of true believers.
最后，本次总会劝勉基督福音中的众牧者仆人们，无论在学术机构里或是在教会，在要以敬虔真诚的方式对待这教导；无论是讲论或著述，都要为了上帝之名的荣耀，信徒生命的圣洁，以及苦难灵魂的安慰；要按照信心的程度，用圣经来思考、说话；最后，要避免一切超过圣经真意的表达方式，这会成为傲慢的诡辩者嘲笑甚至毁谤改革宗教会教导的把柄。
Finally,
this Synod urges all fellow ministers in the gospel of Christ to deal with this
teaching in a godly and reverent manner, in the academic institutions as well
as in the churches; to do so, both in their speaking and writing, with a view
to the glory of God’s name, holiness of life, and the comfort of anxious souls;
to think and also speak with Scripture according to the analogy of faith; and,
finally, to refrain from all those ways of speaking which go beyond the bounds
set for us by the genuine sense of the Holy Scriptures and which could give
impertinent sophists a just occasion to scoff at the teaching of the Reformed
churches or even to bring false accusations against it.
愿那位坐在天父右边、赐下诸般恩赐给人的上帝的儿子耶稣基督，用真理使我们成圣，把那些错谬的人带到真理面前，封住那些毁谤真道之人的口，以智慧和分辨的灵坚固那些忠心的圣道仆人， 使他们一切的讲论都荣耀上帝，造就听他们的人。阿们。
May
God’s Son Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God and gives gifts to
men, sanctify us in the truth, lead to the truth those who err, silence the
mouths of those who lay false accusations against sound teaching, and equip
faithful ministers of his Word with a spirit of wisdom and discretion, that all
they say may be to the glory of God and the building up of their hearers. Amen
