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2022-12-25

诺曼·谢泼德的称义观
Justification by Faith in the Theology of Norman Shepherd

作者:大卫·范楚南(David VanDrunen)译者:王一
https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2002/justification-by-faith-in-the-theology-of-norman-shepherd/
http://www.reformedbeginner.net/%e8%af%ba%e6%9b%bc%c2%b7%e8%b0%a2%e6%b3%bc%e5%be%b7%e7%9a%84%e7%a7%b0%e4%b9%89%e8%a7%82/
 
改革宗基督徒常年参与捍卫唯独因信称义的教义,反对其他神学传统中的诋毁者。然而,有时,即使在改革宗圈子里,对该教义的争论也很激烈。原威斯敏斯特神学院(费城)系统神学副教授、基督教改革宗教会牧师诺曼·谢泼德(Norman Shepherd)最近一直处于美国改革宗圈中这一辩论的中心。本文试图界定这些争论中的关键问题,并从改革宗的角度评估谢泼德的称义观。
Reformed Christians have been perennially engaged in defending the doctrine of justification by faith alone against its detractors in other theological traditions. At times, however, debates over the doctrine have raged even within Reformed circles. Norman Shepherd, formerly Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, has been at the center of such debates recently in the American Reformed world. This article seeks to define the issues at stake in these debates and to evaluate Shepherd’s doctrine of justification from a Reformed standpoint.
 
谢泼德之争
 THE SHEPHERD CONTROVERSIES

 
诺曼·谢泼德1963年开始在威斯敏斯特神学院(费城)教授系统神学。20世纪70年代中期,关于薛佛教学的争议在威斯敏斯特社区和薛佛当时担任牧师的正统长老会(OPC)中爆发了。虽然谢泼德在一些相关神学问题上的教导受到质疑,但争论的关键点在于他是坚持《威斯敏斯特准则》中所表达的宗教改革的唯信称义的教义,还是以这样或那样的方式堕落到教导称义是由信心和行为共同决定的。谢泼德在他所服务的机构中既有捍卫者也有批判者,在经历了一系列旷日持久的事件后,他才最终在1981年被解除了教职。此时,他也离开了对他提出惩戒指控的长老会,并加入了北美基督教改革宗教会(CRCNA)。在1998年退休之前,他在明尼苏达州和伊利诺伊州的基督教改革会中担任牧师职务。
Norman Shepherd began teaching systematic theology at Westminster Seminary (Philadelphia) in 1963. In the mid-1970s, controversy over Shepherd’s teaching broke out in the Westminster community and in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, in which Shepherd was serving as a minister at the time. Though Shepherd’s teaching on a number of related theological issues was called into question, the key point of debate was whether he held to the Reformation’s doctrine of justification by faith alone, as expressed in the Westminster Standards, or had, in one way or another, lapsed into teaching that justification was by faith and works together. Shepherd had both defenders and detractors in the institutions in which he served, and only after a protracted series of events was he finally dismissed from his teaching post in 1981. At this time, he also left his presbytery, where disciplinary charges had been filed against him, and joined the Christian Reformed Church. He served pastorates in the CRC in Minnesota and Illinois before retiring in 1998.
 
鉴于这段历史的轮廓,谢泼德的争论似乎没有实际意义,目前也没有什么兴趣。然而,最近谢泼德的短书《恩典的呼唤》(The Call of Grace)的出现,使许多这些老问题重新浮出水面,并在美国改革宗人士中激起了相当大的辩论。评估谢泼德关于称义的教导之所以困难的原因之一是缺乏他本人写作的线索。虽然他在1979年未发表的论文《称义的恩典》(The Grace of Justification)被保存下来,但很少有确凿的证据表明谢泼德真正相信的是什么。那么,《恩典的呼唤》提供了长期以来缺少的东西:谢泼德本人对圣经中关于救赎的教导进行了详细讨论。
Given the contours of this history, the Shepherd controversy may seem to be moot and of little current interest. However, the recent appearance of Shepherd’s short book, The Call of Grace, has brought many of these old questions back to the surface and has stirred up considerable debate among American Reformed people. One of the difficulties in evaluating Shepherd’s teaching on the doctrine of justification has been the lack of a writing trail. Though his 1979 unpublished paper, "The Grace of Justification," has survived, there was little hard evidence of what Shepherd actually believed. The Call of Grace, then, has provided what was long missing: an extended discussion by Shepherd himself on the biblical teaching on salvation.
 
因此,本文的问题是关于谢泼德对称义的看法及其与历史上改革宗教导的一致性。尽管谢泼德使用了许多正统的术语,但我认为他所阐述的称义观始终是模糊的,并且以一种与传统的圣经教导相悖的方式重新定义了信心与行为的关系。
The question for the present paper, therefore, concerns Shepherd’s views on justification and their consistency with the historic Reformed teaching. Although Shepherd makes use of much orthodox terminology, I argue that he has articulated a doctrine of justification that is persistently ambiguous and that redefines the relationship of faith and works in a way at odds with the traditional, biblical doctrine.
 
信心与称义的教义
THE DOCTRINES OF FAITH & JUSTIFICATION

 
必须承认,谢泼德关于称义的著作确实使用了改革宗神学中常见的术语和对此教义的阐述方式。例如,他说“信心抓住了耶稣基督和他的义,耶稣基督的义被归给了相信的人。这是信心在称义中的独特功能,它与其他任何恩典或美德都不相同。”同样,在另一个地方,他提出了一个非常标准的改革宗对称义和成圣的区分。“称义是上帝对他的子民的白白的恩典的工作,他据此赦免他们的罪,并接受他们为义人,理由是耶稣基督的义归于他们,并只凭信心接受。成圣是上帝在他们身上的白白恩典的工作,据此他将他们逐步转变为他儿子的形象。”
It must be acknowledged from the outset that Shepherd’s writings on justification do make use of terms and particular articulations of doctrines that are common to Reformed theology. For example, he states: "Faith lays hold of Jesus Christ and his righteousness and the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to the one who believes. This is the distinctive function of faith in justification which it shares with no other grace or virtue." Similarly, in another place he sets forth a very standard Reformed distinction between justification and sanctification: "Justification is an act of God’s free grace with respect to his people whereby he pardons their sin and accepts them as righteous on the ground Of the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them and received by faith alone. Sanctification is a work of God’s free grace in them whereby He transforms them progressively into the image of his Son."
 
然而,在谢泼德的著作中,有许多东西让人质疑他使用这种语言的真正含义。也许最突出的例子是他不断声称(在《称义的恩典》中,特别是在《恩典的呼唤》中),信心必须是“活的”,“顺服的”和“活跃的”(living, obedient, and active)。信心的定义对称义的教义至关重要,因为改革宗的 “唯独信心”称义的教义假定了对信心的独特理解,在这种理解中,信心与行为或顺服有着明显的区别。在改革宗的观点中,信心是向外的(extraspective),是一种着眼于自身之外的信任,依靠基督的善行为我们赢得救赎。相比之下,顺服包括一个人自己产生的善行,这些善行来自于信心,并且唯独出于上帝的恩典。我们藉着信心被称义,藉着顺服,则不被称义。从这个角度看,谢泼德使用“顺服的信心”(obedient faith)这样的短语,本质上是模糊不清的。这样的短语可以简单地指一种信心总是有顺服伴随着,这与改革宗的神学是完全一致的。然而,它也可以指本身就是一种顺服的信心,或者换种说法,指一种被设定得如此宽泛的信心,它不仅包括谦卑地依靠基督和他的救赎工作,还包括上帝要求与他立约的人做的顺服和善行。在这种情况下,我们不是单单藉着信心而称义,而是藉着信心和顺服一起而称义。与传统改革宗神学清晰精确区分信心和顺服的作用相比,谢泼德从来没有仔细界定过他使用的术语的含义。尽管对于这样一个重要的主题来说,模棱两可的存在是有问题的,但对谢泼德神学的公平评价必须试图探究模棱两可之下的内容,澄清谢泼德试图传达的内容。
Nevertheless, there are many things in Shepherd’s writings that call into question what he really means in his use of such language. Perhaps the most striking example is his continual claim (in "The Grace of Justification" and especially in The Call of Grace) that faith must be "living," "obedient," and "active." The definition of faith is critical for the doctrine of justification, for the Reformed doctrine of justification "by faith alone" presumes a particular understanding of faith, one in which faith is sharply distinguished from works or obedience. In the Reformed view, faith is extraspective, a trust that looks outside of oneself and rests upon the good works of Christ that earned our salvation. In contrast, obedience consists of the good works that a person himself produces, works that flow from faith and Only by God’s grace. By faith we are justified; by obedience we are not. Seen in this light, Shepherd’s use of phrases such as "obedient faith" is inherently ambiguous. Such a phrase could refer simply to a faith that is always accompanied by obedience, and this would be wholly consistent with Reformed theology. However, it could also refer to a faith that is itself obedience, or, to put it another way, to a faith that is conceived in such broad terms that it consists not only of a humble resting upon Christ and his work for salvation, but also of our obedience and good works that God demands of those who are in covenant with him. In such a case, it is not by believing alone that we are justified, but by believing and obeying together. In contrast to the clear precision of traditional Reformed theology in distinguishing the roles of faith and obedience, Shepherd never carefully defines what his terminology means. Though the very presence of ambiguity is problematic for such an important subject, a fair evaluation of Shepherd’s theology must try to probe beneath the ambiguity and clarify what Shepherd is attempting to communicate.
 
不幸的是,尽管有一些相反的迹象,但证据表明,谢泼德确实更倾向于把善行不仅仅当作是信心的果实,而是纳入信心本身种的一个要素。这个想法在《称义的恩典》的后半部分出现得相当突出。在这里,他写道,信仰“包括顺服”(entails obedience13),并且“总是与悔改交织在一起”(invariably intertwined with repentance19)。虽然这样的表达可能会理解为正统的含义,但这份文件中的其他一些陈述却远没有那么容易被接受。例如,他写道,得救的信心是一种“服从基督的命令”(16)和“抛弃罪恶和不敬”(17)的信心。按照同样的思路,他称放弃罪和叛逆是“信仰的行为”(an act of faith20)。信心不再是对另一个人的顺服的信靠,而变成了信徒自己提供顺服的行为。当谢泼德解释说,“活泼的信心是圣灵重生和成圣工作的果实”时,这种将使人称义的信心与成圣的顺服相混淆的情况就非常明显了(15)。他把改革宗的教义次序颠倒了:信心不是成圣的果实,但成圣是信心的果实!(16
Unfortunately, despite some indications to the contrary, the evidence points to the conclusion that Shepherd indeed prefers an understanding of faith that makes good works not merely the fruit of faith, but an element of faith itself This idea emerges quite prominently in the second half of "The Grace of justification." Here he writes that faith "entails obedience"
(13) and is "invariably intertwined with repentance" (19). While such expressions might possibly be given an orthodox spin, a number of other statements in this document are far less susceptible to it. For example, he writes that saving faith is a faith that "yields obedience to the commands of Christ" (16) and that "forsakes sin and ungodliness" (17). Along the same lines, he calls the forsaking of sin and rebellion "an act of faith" (20). Faith has been turned from the extraspective trust in the obedience of another into an act in which the believer himself offers obedience. This confusion of the faith that justifies with the obedience of sanctification is also manifest when Shepherd explains that "a living and active faith is the fruit of the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit." (15) This turns the Reformed doctrine on its head: faith is not the fruit of sanctification, but sanctification is the fruit of faith!
 
在他最近的作品中,谢泼德继续把顺服和善行说成是信心本身的一部分。例如,他写道:“信心是必需的,但信心从个人的功德转向看上帝的应许。悔改和顺服从信心中流出,是信心的完全(fullness of faith)。这就是忠心(faithfulness),忠心就是在信心中坚持不懈。活泼的、活跃的、持久的信心是信徒进入永生的路。” 跟随这里的思路并不容易,但其逻辑似乎是这样的。“悔改和顺服” 构成了“信心的完全”;“信心的完全”是“忠心”;“忠心是对信心的坚持”——所有这四个术语或短语显然是表达相同的意思。那么,谢泼德在下一句话中再次提到“活泼的、活跃的、持久的信心”对救恩的必要性,这是什么意思呢?明显的意思是,这种“活泼、活跃、持久的信心”就是“信心的完全”的意思,这又意味着忠心、坚忍、悔改和顺服本身就是这种“活泼、积极、持久的信心”的一部分。那么,悔改和顺服,这些改革宗神学如此小心翼翼地将其与信心区分开来的东西,最终又成为信心的一部分。
In his more recent work, Shepherd continues to speak of obedience and good works as part of faith itself For example, he writes: "Faith is required, but faith looks away from personal merit to the promises of God. Repentance and obedience flow from faith as the fullness of faith. This is faithfulness, and faithfulness is perseverance in faith. A living, active, and abiding faith is the way in which the believer enters into eternal life." Following the train of thought here is not easy, but the logic seems to be something like this: "repentance and obedience" constitute the "fullness of faith;" the "fullness of faith" is "faithfulness;" "faithfulness is perseverance in faith" – all four of these terms or phrases are evidently identical. What then is the significance that Shepherd, in the very next sentence and without a hitch, again refers somewhat climactically to the saving necessity of a "living, active, and abiding faith?" The obvious implication is that this "living, active, and abiding faith" is what is meant by the "fullness of faith," which in turn implies that faithfulness, perseverance, and repentance and obedience are themselves part of this "living, active and abiding faith." Repentance and obedience, then, the very things that Reformed theology has so carefully distinguished from faith, become aspects of faith in the end.
 
有更有力的、也许更有问题的证据表明,当谢泼德说我们是靠活泼和顺服的信心得救时,他指的是一种不同于改革宗传统的信心。谢泼德说,基督本身就有“活泼而活跃的信心”。那么,基督的信心就成了我们的典范。基督有顺服的信心,因此我们要有像他那样顺服的信心。这有什么可反对的呢?考虑一下《威斯敏斯特信仰告白》(XIV.2)中关于信心的标准改革宗定义。“使人得救的信心的主要动作是:接受、领受和依靠基督,以获得义、圣洁和永生。” 当然,说基督接受、领受和依靠自己来称义、成圣和获得永生是无稽之谈。基督不需要信靠中保,他自己就是中保。基督与我们不同,他不需要使人得救的信心,因为他与我们不同,他真的是顺服的!不可避免的结论是,当谢泼德提到基督本人展示了我们要效仿的活泼的、顺服的信心,并以此得救时,他显然想到了一种“信仰”,而他想到的这种“信心”与改革宗认信文件中的“信心” 是不同的。这意味着什么呢?如果我们是靠一种活泼的信心得救,就像基督的活泼的信心一样,那么我们是靠一种信心得救,而这种信心的主要动作不是接受、领受和依靠基督。传统上(和圣经上),我们肯定救赎是因着基督的行为(作为称义的基础),藉着我们的信心(作为称义的工具或管道)。在谢泼德的处理方式中,行为和信心捆绑在一起,首先在基督身上展示,然后由我们模仿。
There is stronger and perhaps even more problematic evidence that when Shepherd says that we are saved by a living and obedient faith he means a different kind of faith from that of the Reformed tradition. Shepherd says that Christ himself has "living and active faith." Christ’s faith, then, becomes the model: Christ had obedient faith and thus we are to have obedient faith like his. What could be objectionable about this? Consider a standard Reformed definition of faith found in the Westminster Confession of Faith (XIV.2): "the principal acts of saving faith are, accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life." Of course, it is nonsense to say that Christ accepted, received, and rested upon Christ for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. Christ did not need a mediator in whom to put his faith-he is the mediator. Christ, unlike us, did not need saving faith because he, unlike us, really was obedient! The unavoidable conclusion is that when Shepherd refers to Christ himself as exhibiting the living and obedient faith that we are to emulate and by which we are saved, he obviously has in mind a kind of "faith" that is different from the "faith" of the Reformed confessional statements. What are the implications? If we are saved by a living faith that is like Christ’s living faith, then we are saved by a faith whose principal acts are not accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ. Traditionally (and biblically), we affirm salvation to be by Christ’s works (as the ground of justification) and through our faith (as the instrument or means of justification). In Shepherd’s treatment, works and faith come bundled together, displayed first in Christ and then imitated by us.
 
谢泼德与改革宗传统
 SHEPHERD & THE REFORMED TRADITION

 
在谢泼德的称义观中,当然还有许多其他的问题,在这里也会有相关的考虑。然而,鉴于篇幅的限制,最后一个值得简要关注的问题是谢泼德的写作动机。他是否只是想重述标准的改革宗的信心观和称义观,无论他多么不成功?还是他真的试图修改这项教义?一方面,如果他只是想做一个忠实的改革宗神学家,那么他放弃改革宗传统的明确区分,而采用“顺服的信心”等这样模糊的术语,甚至在《恩典的呼唤》中保留使用这种语言,尽管人们对这种术语有几十年的抱怨,这无疑是令人费解的。另一方面,如果他真的试图重述传统教义,那么期望他在改革宗牧师和神学院教授的职位上直言不讳地说明自己的意图似乎也不为过。然而,谢泼德向他的读者发出了相互矛盾的信号。
There are certainly many other issues in Shepherd’s theology of justification that would be of relevant consideration here. Given the constraints of space, however, one final matter that deserves brief attention concerns Shepherd’s motivations in writing. Is he simply trying to restate the standard Reformed doctrine of faith and justification, however unsuccessfully? Or is he really attempting to revise the doctrine? On the one hand, if he is simply trying to be a faithful Reformed theologian, then it is certainly puzzling that he forsakes the clear distinctions of the Reformed tradition for the ambiguous lingo of "obedient faith" and the like, even retaining the use of such language in The Call of Grace despite the decades of complaints about such terminology. On the other hand, if he is actually attempting to restate the traditional doctrine, then it does not seem too little to expect him-in his office of Reformed minister and seminary professor-to be forthright about his intentions. Yet, Shepherd sends his readers conflicting signals.
 
谢泼德也不清楚他自己的改革宗传统与罗马天主教称义观的关系。鉴于过去五百年的历史争斗,他对罗马天主教救恩论的看法当然是令人迫切关注的。在《恩典的呼唤》的开篇,谢泼德提到了过去十年中由福音派和天主教徒共同展开的重要辩论。然而,在注意这一重要运动之后,他立即拒绝对其作进一步的评论(尽管他在书的后面非常简短地回到了这一点,但没有更明确的说法)。他很突兀地说,他拒绝讨论在双方达成共识的论点中的“细微差别”。然而,还有什么能比这些“细微差别”更重要呢?恩典、信心、基督、善行——所有各方,无论是罗马天主教还是新教,都肯定了这些。差异在于细节。诸如使人得救的信心的性质及其与善行的关系等问题可能确实是细微差别,但这些细微差别是人们把他们的永恒命运押在上面的。
Shepherd is also unclear about the relationship of his own Reformed tradition to the Roman Catholic doctrine of justification. Given the historical battles of the last half-millennium, his perspective on the Roman Catholic understanding of salvation is certainly of pressing interest. In the opening pages of The Call of Grace, Shepherd makes reference to the important debates of the past decade engendered by Evangelicals and Catholics Together. However, immediately after calling attention to this important movement, he declines further comment on it (though he returns to it very briefly, and no more clearly, later in the book). He states abruptly that he declines to discuss the "nuances" of the arguments that have been made in its wake. What could be more important, however, than the nuances? Grace, faith, Christ, good works-all of the parties, Roman Catholic as well as Protestant, affirm them. The differences are in the details. Questions such as the precise nature of saving faith and its relationship with good works may indeed be nuances, but they are nuances upon which people have staked their eternal destinies.
 
结论
诺曼·谢泼德的称义观在过去引起了改革宗圈子里的兴趣,这是不争的事实,而它又是一个令人非常好奇的问题,这似乎越来越真实。无论改革宗基督徒之间热议的各种问题的重要性如何,目前的问题无疑是最紧迫的,因为福音的性质直接受到威胁。有鉴于此,我们的教会应该保持警惕,使改革宗的称义教义中的明确区别不至于陷入松弛的模糊状态,并坚持不懈地拒绝任何篡改赐人生命的信息的尝试,这信息就是:是我们的信心,而不是我们的顺服,才使我们称义。
CONCLUSION
That Norman Shepherd’s theology of justification has attracted interest within Reformed circles in the past is indisputable, and that it is again a matter of great curiosity seems increasingly true. Whatever the importance of the variety of matters hotly debated among Reformed Christians, the present issue is undoubtedly of the highest urgency, for the nature of the Gospel is directly at stake. In light of this, our churches ought to be vigilant in keeping the clear distinctions of the Reformed doctrine of justification from falling into flaccid ambiguity, and persistent in refusing to revise the life-giving message that our faith, and not our obedience, justifies. 

2020-04-20


JUSTIFICATION

摘自《圣经新辞典》

 本义

  称义”(s]a{d[aq〔七十士译本及新约〕 dikaioo{是法律用语解作无罪释放”,“宣布为义人〔清白〕。它是“定罪”的相反词(比较申廿五1;箴十七15;罗八33)。称人为义是法官的职权;所以,在诉讼人的角度而言,“被判无罪释放”就是获得法律上的裁决(赛四十三926)。

  根据圣经,神是全地的审判官(创十八25),而圣经也常用法律字眼来描写神和人的交往。公义(即遵行祂的律法),是神对人的要求,因此神会惩罚不守律法者。这显示祂是公义无私的大法官(参:诗七11RV;赛五16,十22;徒十七31;罗二5,三5-6)。神若宣判某人有罪,那个人就毫无希望了。

  由于神是王,而祂又能使人称义,于是祂的任务似乎包括了执行和审裁两方面。这种双重身份可见于以色列历史中理想的君王。君王兼有法官的身份。他不仅有权作出维护被告的裁决,也会藉着恩待被告,及公开地恢复其地位,来积极执行他的裁决。用于神的作为时,“称义”这动词可指上述两方面的其中之一。例如,按赛四十五25和五十8中的说法,神称那义仆和以色列为义,是藉着改变二者的遭遇,公开为他们平反。保罗为罪人获称义一事作出诠释时,却只提到神颁下对罪人有利的裁决。他的确相信神会恩待那些被祂宣判无罪的人,但往往采用其他字眼(例如“成为后嗣”等)来描写这一面。

  在没有法律背景的经文中,也有用“称义”的说法,表示他者的公义。人称神为义,即宣认神是公义的(路七29;参:罗三4,此处乃引用诗五十一4);人也自称公义(伯卅二2;路十29,十六15);先知用讽刺的口吻,说耶路撒冷称所多玛和撒玛利亚为义,因为耶城所犯的罪更多(结十六51)。“称义”的被动语态,可指因着一些事情的发生而带来的平反,使人得以洗脱别人的怀疑、批评和不信任(太十一19;路七35;提前三16;参:雅二2124-25,及参考以下对这些经文的讨论)。

  根据屈梭多模(Chrysostom)、奥古斯丁及天特会议(Council of Trent)的意见,保罗和雅各所说的现今的“称义”,所指的是神的工作,藉着更新人的内心,使人成为义,以及藉着赦免人的罪,算人为义。可是这看法没有词汇学上的支持。其实,雅各并没有上述这两种意思,保罗则仅有第二种意思。他给“称义”的同义词计有:算为义、赦罪、不算为有罪(罗四5-8RV)。这些片语所表达的意思,不包含心意的更新变化,只表示“赋予合法地位”和“取消法律上不利的条件”。保罗认为“称义”是判给人的法律裁决,而不是在人心中所作的工。“成为义”与“算为义”无疑有很密切的关系,但却是两回事。


Ⅱ 保罗的称义观

  在新约,“称义”这动词出现了三十九次,其中二十九次是在保罗书信里,或保罗话语的记录里。名词 dikaio{sis 出现两次情况也是一样(罗四25,五18)。这显示在新约作者中,唯有保罗将“称义”这观念作为他救恩论的基础。

  对保罗来说,“称义”的意思是神赦免罪人的罪孽,白白算他们为义的行动;这是出于神的恩典,也藉着人对基督的信心;不是由于人的行为,而是因为主耶稣基督为他们的缘故,代表他们遵守了律法,又流出宝血救赎他们(关于这定义,见:罗三23-26,四5-8,五18-19)。保罗的“称义”观是他陈明福音中心真理的典型方式。这真理就是神赦免相信〔耶稣〕的罪人。从神学观点而言,这也是福音真理在新约圣经中发挥得最透彻的说法。

  保罗在罗马书指出,福音所显明的,是“神的义”(一17)。这几个字是有双重的含意的:

1. 指义人的地位,这地位是神透过基督白白赐与信主的罪人的(“称义这礼物”,罗五17;参:三21-22,九30,十3-10;林后五21;腓三9);

2. 指藉着福音所彰显的神公义的作为。神不仅按着罪人应得的惩罚去审判(二5,三5-6),也信守祂的应许,向以色列施行拯救(三4-5),和将罪人称为义。而祂所定的救法,是符合祂自己的律法的要求的(三25-26)。由此可见,“神的义”主要是一个法律上的概念,要显出神充满恩典的作为。祂称犯罪的罪人为义,而这称义的赐与,是合乎义理的。作为他们的审判官,神在天上的法庭宣判他们无罪,却无损于祂的公义。

  今日,很多学者认为,“神的义”这片语的背景,是在赛四十四起以及在诗篇的一些经文里。在那些经文中,神的公义和救恩似乎是相等的(赛四十五8;参:四十五19-25,四十六13,五十一3-6;诗九十八2等等)。他们的理解可能是正确的;然而,却不能证实,因为保罗从来没有引用这些经文。同时,我们也必须记得,这些经文之所以称神为祂受压迫的子民申冤的所为为“神的义”,乃是因为这行动显出神的信实,祂信守与祂子民立约的应许。而罗马书主要讨论的,乃是神称外邦人为义的问题。这些外邦人从前并非神的子民。神也没有向他们作过任何的应许(参:罗九24-25,十19-20),情况很不相同。

  卡斯曼(E. Ka/semann)和另外一些学者解释保罗思想中的“神的义”,乃是神的能力慈爱的彰显。祂藉着实践拯救他们的应许,向与祂立约的子民守信;又藉着恢复祂对受造之物的管辖,向受捆缚的被造之物守信。两种思想都是出自保罗的。然而,值得怀疑的是,罗三25-26中的“义”(righteousness)和三26的“公正”(just)〔译注:和合本将两个字都译作“义”〕,是否单指神慈爱的信实,以致祂拯救那些有需要的人,而不是指法律上的公义审判(参:罗二5,三5),将罪人的刑罚转移到为罪作*挽回祭的那一位身上。后者的解说,更能够配合经文的思路。前者的解说,就不能圆满的解释为什么罗三26下半节要用“也”字。在经文“祂自己为义,也称……人为义”这说法中,明明表达了两个思想,但上述的第一个解说却认为这里只有一个思想。

  有人对保罗“因信称义”的理论提出质疑。他们认为保罗所讲的因信称义、不靠行为得救的道理只不过是一种辩论的手法,是专为应付犹太主义的信徒的武器。但以下的事实显示情况并不是如此。

1. *罗马书显然是保罗对福音的正式的声明,而称义的教义,乃是他的福音讯息的骨干。

2. 在三段经文中,保罗以他个人为例来讲述他的信念。这信念塑造了保罗这个人和保罗这位宣教士;而三段经文都是用称义的词汇写成的(加二15-21;林后五16-21;腓三4-14)。在罗七7起,保罗表示由于律法定人的罪,他个人极需要基督。唯有神在基督里的公正的判决,才可以满足他的需求(参:罗八1-2;加三19-7)。保罗个人的信仰,显然是扎根于他对称义的理解上的。

3. 保罗认为称义是神给世人最基本的祝福,因为称人为义,使人脱离从前的光景,又为将来带来保证。一方面,“称义”意味着饶恕,以及我们与神的敌对关系的结束(徒十三39;罗四6-7,五9-10)。另一方面,“称义”也意味着接纳和应许赐给义人的一切祝福的凭证。保罗藉着将称义与得儿子的名分和后嗣身份串连起来,来进一步阐释“称义”这方面的思想(加四4起;罗八14起)。两方面的意思,都出现于罗五1-2。在这两节经文中,保罗提到,称义使人与神相和(因为罪得赦免),又使人对神的荣耀充满盼望(因为罪人已被算为义人)。这盼望是实在的,因为称义包含重要的末世意义。这盼望是将末日的审判带到现在;这审判乃是终极的,不可改变的审判。那被称为义的人因而确知没有任何事情能使他与神的爱隔绝(罗八33-39;参:五9)。被称义者要得的荣耀是确实的(罗八30)。将来在基督审判座前的审问(罗十四10起;林后五10)可能会使他丧失某些赏赐(林前三15),却不会禠夺他称义的地位。

4. 保罗教义中的救赎论,以称义为基本的立论点。他对称义的信念,导致他认为基督教是一个宣讲恩典和信心的普世性的宗教。在这信仰中,外邦人和犹太人地位平等(罗一16,三29起;加三8-1428-29等等)。他对以下各项真理的解释,都是根据称义的教义的,包括;恩典(罗三24,四4-516),基督顺服和受死的救赎意义(罗三24-25,五16起),神在十架上显明的爱(罗五5-9),救赎(罗三24;加三13;弗一7)和复和(林后五18-19)的涵义,约的关系(加三15-16),信心(罗四23起,十8起),与基督联合(罗八1;加二17RV),儿子的名分和圣灵的恩赐(加四6-8;罗八10,参:15节),基督徒的确据(罗五1-11,八33起)。保罗也根据称义的道理来阐述旧约里暗示、预言和提到救恩的经文(罗一17;加三11,引述哈二4;罗三21,四3-8,引述创十五6;诗卅二1-2;罗九22-21,引述何二23,一10;赛八14;珥二32;赛六十五1等等;罗十一26-27,引述赛五十九20-21;加三8,引述创十二3;加四21起,引述创廿一10等等)。

5. 称义是保罗历史的哲学的钥匙。他认为自从人堕落以后,神对世界历史的安排至终的中心目的,乃在于引导罪人进入使他称义的信心里头。

  保罗告诉我们,神处理世人的方法,乃是透过两个代表人物,就是“首先的人亚当”以及“第二个人”,就是“末后的亚当”──耶稣基督(林前十五45起;罗五12起)。那首先的人因不顺从神而给全人类带来定罪和死亡。那第二个人因顺从神而成为称义和生命的创始人,使凡信祂的都得以被称为义和得着生命(罗五16起)。

  由亚当堕落开始,死就在普世作了王,虽然罪在当时还没有十分显明(罗五12起)。但神与亚伯拉罕和他的家族立约,因亚伯拉罕的信心称他为义,又应许要藉着亚伯拉罕的后裔(即藉着他的其中一位后裔),使万国得福(即称义)(加三6-916;罗四39-22)。然后,神藉着摩西向亚伯拉罕的后裔启示祂的律法。律法的作用不是要拯救,而是要使人知罪。由于律法显明及引发过犯,律法的作用,乃是要让以色列人了解自身对称义的需要。因此,律法所扮演的角色,就好像一个 paidago{gos (家庭中负责领孩子上学校的奴隶),引领罪人到基督的跟前(加三19-24;罗三20,五20,七57-13)。这段属灵预备教育期,一直维持到基督降世的日子(加三23-25,四1-5)。

  以色列因拥有律法和应许,在犹太人和外邦人中间竖立了一道排外的墙。基督的工作的果效,就是要拆毁这道墙(弗二14起)。如今,藉着基督,因信称义的真理可以传给犹太人,也可以传给外邦人,不分彼此。因为,在基督里,所有相信的人,都成了亚伯拉罕的子孙,也成了神的儿女和神人立约的后嗣(加三26-29)。可惜的是,犹太人在这方面是律法主义者。他们追求因行律法而得的义,却不肯相信在基督里的信心才是神使人称义的途径(罗九30-21)。所以,很多“原来的枝子”从橄榄树上被砍下来,这树就是那具历史性的约的群体(罗十一16起),因此目前的教会,是以外邦人为主的。但保罗盼望神从堕落的以色列中所拣选的余民,最终会被神向不配的外邦人所施的怜悯激动,本身会归信神,以致罪得赦免(罗十一23-32)。这样,犹太人和外邦人都会得着救恩;不是靠他们自己的行为和努力,而是靠神那白白的恩典,使那些不顺从和不敬虔的人得以被称为义。于是得救恩的一切荣耀,都会全归于神自己(罗十一30-36)。

  上述的论点都指明,称义的教义在保罗的神学及宗教观中占了中枢地位。


Ⅲ 称义的根据

  正如保罗在罗马书所说的,称义的教义似乎引起了神义论(theodicy;〔译注:意即在邪恶横行的世界中,欲证明神为义〕)的问题。“称义”这教义的背景,见于罗一18-20。这段经文乃是提到普世人类都陷于罪中,而且审判必然临到。在二5-16,保罗提到审判的日子的教义。他指出,审判的原则将会是“照各人的行为报应各人”(二6)。审判的准则,将会是神的律法,是人所知的最高层次的律法(若不是摩西的律法,就是人的是非之心的律法,12-15节)。判案的证据将会是“人隐秘的事”(16节)。惟有守律法的人可望被称为义(71012-13节)。然而,却没有一个人是守律法的。没有义人;人人都犯了罪(三9起)。因此,人类的前景就是普世被定罪,犹太人和外邦人并无分别,因为一个违背律法的犹太人,在神眼中与任何人无异,都是不蒙悦纳的(二17-27)。似乎世人都要走向灭亡。“凡有血气的,没有一个因行律法能在神面前称义”(三20,正是诗一四三2的重复)。

  但如今保罗却宣告信耶稣的罪人都得称为义(三21起)。神算那不义的人为义,称那不敬虔的为义(三23-24,四5-6)。后面那句话的矛盾性(刻意为之?)显得分外突出,因为在七十士译本中,出廿三7(“我必不以恶人为义”)和赛五22-23(“祸哉,那些……人,他们……称恶人为义”),正是用了罗马书这里所用的希腊字句。问题是,神根据什么称不敬虔的人为义才不会危及祂作为审判者的公正呢?

  保罗坚持,神是在一个公义的基础上称罪人为义的。这基础就是:耶稣基督代替罪人,满足了神的律法对他们的要求。祂“生在律法以下”(加四4),为要使神的话得以应验,也为了代替人承受律法所规定的惩罚。祂用自己的*“血”(即祂的死)涂抹世人的罪(罗三25,五9)。藉着顺从神,祂为一切属祂的人赢得了守律法者的地位(罗五19)。祂“顺服以至于死”(腓二8)。祂公义的一生的颠峰,是祂像一个不义的人一样死去,承受了律法的惩罚所带来的咒诅(加三13;参:赛五十三4-12)。藉着祂亲身被挂在十字架上,属祂的人的罪都受到判决以及可以得赎。因这“一次的义行”,即因着祂无罪的一生和祂的死,众人也就白白的得着被称义与得生命的恩典(罗五18)。因此,信徒成了“神的义”,乃是在基督里和藉着基督而成的。基督自己本不知罪,却取代了世人的位置,作为世人的代表而“成为罪”(被看为罪人,又受了审判)(林后五21)。因此保罗说,“基督耶稣……神又使祂成为我们的……公义”(林前一30)。这种观念在较早期的基督教神学中被称为“基督的义的归与〔信徒〕”。这句话并非出自保罗,但其意思是来自保罗的。这句话的意思是说,信徒得以在神面前被称为义,是由于神容让他们有分于基督被神接纳的地位(罗五19)。换句话说,神是根据基督的作为来对待他们的。在这件事上,神不任意而行,也绝不缺乏诚意;因为神承认在信徒和基督之间存有约的关系所带来的真实的联合和团结。对保罗来说,与基督联合并非虚幻,乃是事实,且诚然是基督教的基本事实。而保罗称义的教义,只不过是他为这事实的意义所作的初步分析。所以,罪人是“在基督里”(加二17;林后五21)被称为义的。神算他们为义,不是因为祂认为他们本身遵守了律法的要求(这是错误的判断),而是因为神认为他们已经与那位代表众人遵守了神的律法的基督合而为一(这才是正确的判断)。

  故此,当神根据基督的顺从和受死来称罪人为义的时候,祂的作为是公义的。神这称义的作为不仅毫不损害祂身为审判者的公正,反而实在地彰显了祂的公义。这称义的途径,是为了“显明神的义,因为祂用忍耐的心宽容人先时〔意即在旧约时代〕所犯的罪;好在今时显明祂的义,使人知道祂自己为义,也称信耶稣的人为义”(罗三25-26)。保罗重复那些重要的字眼,为要加强语气,因为那是很关键性的一点。福音表面上好像宣告神自损其公义,事实上却是神公义的彰显。神藉着祂称罪人为义的方法,(从另一角度而言)使人晓得祂是合乎义理的,因为祂使基督为罪成了挽回祭,藉着耶稣,世人的罪事实上是按所当受的已被审判及惩罚了。于此,神显明了祂称人为义的根据是公正的。藉着这根据,神能够饶恕和接纳,在旧约时代以及在基督教时代,相信祂的罪人(事实上祂确曾如此行,参:诗一三○3-4)。

Ⅳ 称义的方法

  保罗指出,信靠基督乃是人获得神的义以及被神称为义的方法。罪人“因”或“藉”信(腊:pestei, dia ek pisteo{s)称义。保罗并不以信心为罪人称义的根据。不然的话,人的信心就会成为有功劳的行为,而保罗也就不可能称信徒为“不作工的”了(罗四5)。他也不能继续说,因信得救乃属乎恩典了(16节),因为恩典是绝对不包括行为在内的(罗十一6)。保罗引用亚伯拉罕为例,要证明人得称为义是凭信心,不是靠行为,因为亚伯拉罕“信神,这就算为他的义”(罗四3起;加三6,引述创十五6)。在罗四59(参:2224节),保罗指创世记这段经文乃是教导人,亚伯拉罕的信心是被神“算……为义的”。然而,正如上下文所表明的,他的意思只是说,亚伯拉罕的信心,就是他全心信靠神的应许的心(18节起),乃是他得称为义的方法。“算 eis 义”这片语中的 eis,可解为“作”(由于事实上两者是一样,或者透过一些随意的计算方法使成为一样); eis 也可解作“为要”,“引致”或“引致〔什么〕结果”。后一种解释显然是正确的。保罗并不是把信心视为实在的“义”或是义的开端,或是义的代替品,然后说信心是称义的根据。罗四完全不是在讨论称义的根据这问题,只是研究称义的途径。


Ⅴ 保罗与雅各

  有人假设雅二14-26的教导是,神之所以接纳人,乃是基于信心和行为的双重基础。于是,有些人就认为雅各是刻意要反驳保罗凭信不凭行为称义的教训,认为保罗的教导是反律法的(参:罗三8)。然而,这看法似乎对雅各的论点有所误解。我们要记得,在新约作者中,唯独保罗用了“称义”这个字眼作为术语,来说明人信主时,神接纳人的这行动。当雅各提到“称义”这个词的时候,他似乎是指着这个词较为广泛的含意而说的。这含意是在面对可能的疑问,不晓得一个人是不是全像他自己口中或别人口中所说的人那样时,这个人得到平反,或者得以在神和人面前证明是真诚和正直的(参:太十一19的用法)。从这个意义来说,一个人被称为义的意思,乃是指他要被证明是一个真信徒,一个以行为来彰显他的信心的人。这种称义,其实就是保罗论到的称义的体现。雅各引用创十五6的目的,与保罗的目的一样,为的是要指出信心乃是亚伯拉罕被神接纳的原因。雅各争辩说,可是如今,这句话在说出来三十年之后,已经“应验”了(证实了,证明是真确的,亦有相应的事件使这句话所说的,按着神所命定的,得以全然的成就),那就是当“亚伯拉罕把他儿子以撒献在坛上”时,他是“因行为称义”的(雅二21)。他的信心因这行为便得以“完全”。意思就是,亚伯拉罕恰当的行为,正确的表明了他的信心;因此,他被证实是个真信徒。喇合的事件同属一理(雅二25)。在这一段经文中,雅各的重点只是:“信心”若仅是正统的知识,好像鬼魔所拥有的信心那样(19节),而没有好行为的表现,这种信心不足以证明那人是已经得救的人。保罗一定衷心赞成这见解的(参:林前六9;弗五5-6;多一16)。

  书目:Arndt; G. Quell and G. Schrenk in TDNT 2,页174-225; Klein in IDBS,页750-2;罗马书的注释书:特别是 C. Hodge 2, 1864; C. E. B. Cranfield, ICC, 1, 1976; A. Nygren,英译本,1952;和加拉太书的注释书:特别是 J. B. Lightfoot 10, 1890;E. D. Burton, ICC, 1921; J. Buchanan, The Doctrine of Justification, 1867;C. Hodge, Systematic Theology, 1874, 3,页114-212; V. Taylor, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, 1946; L. Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, 1955; K. Barth, Church Dogmatics, 4.1,英译本,1956,页514-642; A. Richardson, Introduction to the Theology of the New Testament, 1958,页232起;J. Murray, Romans 1-8, 1959,页336-62; J. A. Ziesler, The Meaning of Righteousness in Paul, 1972; H. Seebass, C. Brown, NIDNTT 3,页352-77

J.I.P.

2020-03-16


61 称义——救恩是藉着信心、靠着恩典来的Justification- Salvation is by grace through faith

《简明神学》Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs,巴刻(J. I. Packer)著/張麟至译,更新传道会,2007年。


61 称义——救恩是藉着信心、靠着恩典来的
Justification - Salvation is by grace through faith

没有一个人靠着律法在神面前称义、这是显明的,因为经上说:[义人必因信得生。](加3:11

称义的教义——宗教改革的暴风眼——正是使徒保罗主要关切的事之一。对他而言,这教义是福音的核心(罗1:173:21-5:21;加5:15-5:1)塑造了他的信息(徒13:38-39)、委身与灵命(林后5:13-21;腓3:4-14)。虽然别的新约作者也肯定同样的教义实质,但是近五个世纪以来,更正教信徒所肯定、所辩护的神学术语,基本上仍是由保罗的作品中汲取出来的。

称义是神宽赦罪人(不义、不虔之人,罗4:53:9-24)的一项裁判行为,祂如同接纳义人一样地接纳罪人。因此之故,罪人与神先前那种远离的关系才得以永远地被纠正过来。这项称义的裁判是神公义的礼物(罗5:15-17),祂因着耶稣的缘故,赐给我们一种恩典的地位,接纳我们(林后5:21)。

神称义性的审判似乎很奇怪,因为从审判者这边来看,宣告罪人为义的判决显然是不公义的行为,而神自己的律法也明文禁止(申25:1;17:15)。但事实上它却是一项公义的审判,因为它是以耶稣基督的义为根基。耶稣基督是[末后的亚当](林前15:45),是代表我们的元首。祂站在我们的地位上,顺服了束缚我们的律法,又忍受了我们因自己的不法本当承受的惩罚;因此,(且用中世纪的术语来形容),祂为我们[赢得]merited)了称义的[功德]。所以,我们是在神公义的要求被满足,和基督算我们为义的根基上,恰当地蒙神称义了(罗5:18-19)。

神称义的判决是末日的审判,祂宣告我们在永世里的去处;又将这个宣告带入今世,在此时此地发表出来。这宣判是最后的审判,我们的命运就此决定,不管撒旦是如何地想要翻案(亚3:1;启12:10;罗8:33-34),神绝不再回头。一旦称义,就永远坚稳了(罗5:1-58:30)。

称义的必要途径,也就是说,神称我们为义的原因,乃是本着个人信靠耶稣基督为钉十架放的救主与复活的主(罗4:23-2510:8-13)。这是因为我们得以称义的功德根基,完全在于基督。当我们因信投靠耶稣时,祂就赐给我们这公义的礼物,往昔改革宗教师门曾提到[与基督密契]的经历,我们就是凭此经历,领受到除此之外领受不到神的赦免与接纳(加2:15-163:24)。

罗马天主教公定的神学却将成圣包括在称义的定义之内,他们看称义有如一个过程,而非一件单独的,决定性的事件。他们甚至肯定地说:虽然信心对我们之被神接纳有其贡献,但是我们的赎罪与功德的功夫,也有贡献。罗马天主教看洗礼为一个领受成圣恩典的管道,并且是主要导使我们称义的起因。而任何时候我们若犯了足以失去救恩的罪过,以致失去了神起初接纳我们的恩典时,忏悔的圣礼则使我们透过赎罪的努力,可以取得适合的功德(congruousmerit),作为辅助性恢复的因素。适合的功德,有别于应受的功德(condign menrit)(注1),它是指神将新鲜的成圣恩典赐给我们,那是适合的,但不是神绝对必须赐的。所以罗马天主教的观点里,信徒是透过教会的圣礼系统,领受基督所流露出来之恩典的帮助,来救自己;而在今生,信徒通常是不会获得安稳在神恩典里的感受,但这样的教训却是与保罗所传讲的大相径庭。

1-译者注[应受的功德]是指按严格的标准论功行赏。


JUSTIFICATION
SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” GALATIANS 3:11
The doctrine of justification, the storm center of the Reformation, was a major concern of the apostle Paul. For him it was the heart of the gospel (Rom. 1:17; 3:21-5:21; Gal. 2:15-5:1) shaping both his message (Acts 13:38-39) and his devotion and spiritual life (2 Cor. 5:13-21; Phil. 3:4-14). Though other New Testament writers affirm the same doctrine in substance, the terms in which Protestants have affirmed and defended it for almost five centuries are drawn primarily from Paul.

Justification is a judicial act of God pardoning sinners (wicked and ungodly persons, Rom. 4:5; 3:9-24), accepting them as just, and so putting permanently right their previously estranged relationship with himself. This justifying sentence is God’s gift of righteousness (Rom. 5:15-17), his bestowal of a status of acceptance for Jesus’ sake (2 Cor. 5:21).

God’s justifying judgment seems strange, for pronouncing sinners righteous may appear to be precisely the unjust action on the judge’s part that God’s own law forbade (Deut. 25:1; Prov. 17:15). Yet it is in fact a just judgment, for its basis is the righteousness of Jesus Christ who as “the last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45), our representative head acting on our behalf, obeyed the law that bound us and endured the retribution for lawlessness that was our due and so (to use a medieval technical term) “merited” our justification. So we are justified justly, on the basis of justice done (Rom. 3:25-26) and Christ’s righteousness reckoned to our account (Rom. 5:18-19).

God’s justifying decision is the judgment of the Last Day, declaring where we shall spend eternity, brought forward into the present and pronounced here and now. It is the last judgment that will ever be passed on our destiny; God will never go back on it, however much Satan may appeal against God’s verdict (Zech. 3:1; Rev. 12:10; Rom. 8:33-34). To be justified is to be eternally secure (Rom. 5:1-5; 8:30).

The necessary means, or instrumental cause, of justification is personal faith in Jesus Christ as crucified Savior and risen Lord (Rom. 4:23-25; 10:8-13). This is because the meritorious ground of our justification is entirely in Christ. As we give ourselves in faith to Jesus, Jesus gives us his gift of righteousness, so that in the very act of “closing with Christ,” as older Reformed teachers put it, we receive divine pardon and acceptance which we could not otherwise have (Gal. 2:15-16; 3:24).

Official Roman Catholic theology includes sanctification in the definition of justification, which it sees as a process rather than a single decisive event, and affirms that while faith contributes to our acceptance with God, our works of satisfaction and merit contribute too. Rome sees baptism, viewed as a channel of sanctifying grace, as the primary instrumental cause of justification, and the sacrament of penance, whereby congruous merit is achieved through works of satisfaction, as the supplementary restorative cause whenever the grace of God’s initial acceptance is lost through mortal sin. Congruous, as distinct from condign, merit means merit that it is fitting, though not absolutely necessary, for God to reward by a fresh flow of sanctifying grace. On the Roman Catholic view, therefore, believers save themselves with the help of the grace that flows from Christ through the church’s sacramental system, and in this life no sense of confidence in God’s grace can ordinarily be had. Such teaching is a far cry from that of Paul.