基督的從屬  The Subordination of Christ

作者: 史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul) 譯者: 姚錦榮

摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the Christian Faith》P73 ,更新傳道會出版http://www.crmnj.org/

何謂從屬（subordinate) ？在我們的用語𥚃，從屬於某人，很清楚是指服在某人的權勢之下。從屬不是指同輩關系，也不是同等權柄的關系。從屬的英文字subordinate, 其字首sub-, 有「在下」之意，而superordinate的字首super-,  則有「在上」之意。

但論到基督的從屬，我們必須小心處理。在我們的文化𥚃，從屬代表不平等的關系，但在三位一體𥚃，每一位格在本性、尊貴和榮耀上都是平等的，而且都是永恒的、自存的，他們全享有神性的特質和屬性。

但在神的救贖計劃𥚃，子神卻自願扮演從屬於父神的角色。是父神差遣子神到世上來，因此子神就順服地來到世上，以完成父神的旨意。我們要小心理解這一點，這種順服不是勉強的馴服；因為父神和子神有同樣的榮耀，所以父神和子神的心意也是完全相同的。父神希望救贖之功得以完成，子神也如此希望。子神希望做成救贖的工作，父神也希望如此。耶穌說，祂為父的殿「心𥚃焦急，如同火燒」（約2：17），並且祂的食物就是遵行神的旨意。

最後我們必須指出，基督的從屬與順䏜並不單指基督的受苦而言，神的計劃也包含基督各方面的工作，甚至包含基督最後的得榮。《西敏斯特信仰告白》如此解釋天父旨意和基督工作二者間的關連性：「神在祂永恒的計劃𥚃，樂意揀選並按立主耶穌，祂的獨生子，成為神和人之間的中保，為先知、祭司、君王、教會的頭與救主、萬有的承受者以及世界的審判者。在永恒中神已定意為主耶穌選召一群百姓，成為祂的後嗣，在日期滿足時，使他們得贖、蒙召、稱義、成聖並得榮。」（註1）

基督藉著順服於父神完全的旨意，為我們成全了我們所不願意，也不可能成完的事--------完全地順服神的律法。基督在受洗時對施洗約翰說：「我們理當這樣盡諸般的義。」（太3：15）耶穌的整個生命和事奉，都彰顯出這種完全的順服。

因著完全順服於律法之下，基督完成了兩件重要的事：第一，這使得祂有足夠的資格作我們的救主，是神無瑕疵的羔羊；如果基督犯了罪，祂不但不能救贖自己的罪，更遑論我們的罪了。第二，藉著完全的順服，基督從神得著那應許給所有守約者的賞賜。祂得著天上的賞賜，並且將之賜給我們。作為從屬者，祂拯救了一群本來不肯從屬神的子民。

父神＝子神

在本質和永恒的屬性上

兩者完全相同

總結

1. 雖然基督在神性上與父神同等，但在救贖工作上祂從屬於父神。

2. 從屬不同於遜於。

3. 基督的從屬是自願的。

4. 基督完全的順服，使祂有資格擔當祂子民的罪，並為他們得著應許給蒙贖者的天上賞賜。

父神

在救贖計劃上

子神成為從屬者

子神

思考經文：

約5：34；約5：30；腓2：5-8；來5：8-10；來10：5-10

注1. Westminster Confession of Faith ( Committee for Christian Education Publication, Prebyterian Church Church in America, 1990) ,art.8.1.

26. THE SUBORDINATION OF CHRIST

What is a subordinate? In our language it is clear that to be subordinate to someone is to be “under” that person’s authority. A subordinate is not a peer; a subordinate is not on an equal level of authority with his or her super-ordinate. The prefix sub- means “under” and super- means “over” or “above.”

When we speak of the subordination of Christ we must do so with great care. Our culture equates subordination with inequality. But in the Trinity all members are equal in nature, in honor, and in glory. All three members are eternal, self-existent; they partake of all aspects and attributes of deity.

In God’s plan of redemption, however, the Son voluntarily takes on a subordinate role to the Father. It is the Father who sends the Son into the world. The Son obediently comes to earth to do the will of the Father. We must be careful to note, however, that there is no sense of begrudging

obedience. As they are the same in glory, the Father and the Son are also of one will. The Father wishes for redemption equally as much as the Son.

The Son is eager to perform the work of salvation, just as the Father is eager for Him to do so. Jesus declared that zeal for His Father’s house consumed Him (John 2:17) and that His meat and His drink was to do the will of the Father.

Finally, it should be noted that Christ’s subordination and obedience was not only unto suffering. The plan included all aspects of Christ’s work for us and Christ’s ultimate glorification. The Westminster Confession explains the interconnectedness of the Father’s purpose and Christ’s work:

It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest and King, the Head and Savior of His Church, the heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom He did from all eternity give a people, to be His seed, and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified and glorified.1

By submitting Himself to the perfect will of His Father, Jesus did for us what we were unwilling and unable to do for ourselves. He obeyed the law of God perfectly. At His baptism Christ told John, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Jesus’ entire life and ministry demonstrate this perfect obedience.

By obeying the law perfectly, Jesus accomplished two vitally important things. On the one hand He was qualified to be our Redeemer, the Lamb without blemish. Had Jesus sinned, He could not have atoned for His own sins, let alone for ours. Second, by His perfect obedience He earned the rewards God promised to all who keep His covenant. He merited the rewards of heaven that He bestows upon us. As the subordinate One, He saved a people who had been insubordinate.

FATHER = SON

Equal in being and eternal attributes

Summary

1. Although Christ is equal to the Father in terms of His divine nature, He

is subordinate to the Father in His role in redemption.

2. Subordination does not mean “inferior.”

3. Christ’s subordination is voluntary.

4. Christ’s perfect obedience qualified Him to be the sin bearer for His

people and earned the rewards of heaven promised to the redeemed.

FATHER

Son subordinate in economy of redemption

SON

Biblical passages for reflection:

John 4:34

John 5:30

Philippians 2:5-8

Hebrews 5:8-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

1. Westminster Confession, chap. 8, sec. 1.