作者：Scott R. Swain 翻译：谢昉、程松
第一，系统神学之所以存在，是因为这位上帝在三位一体亲密的相交中认识自己也爱自己，祂非常乐于让自己成为受造物透过圣经能够认识和爱的对象。
1.
Systematic theology exists because the God who knows and loves himself in the
bliss of the Trinity is pleased to make himself an object of creaturely
knowledge and love through holy Scripture.
神学从本质上来说是一种“智慧”，是一套以爱为目的的知识体系（实践性的智慧），同时也是基于知识的爱（思想性的智慧）。更具体地来说，神学是关于上帝和一切与上帝相关的事物的智慧。
Theology
in its essence is “wisdom”—a knowledge that is ordered to love (practical
wisdom), and a love that rests in knowledge (contemplative wisdom). More
specifically, theology is wisdom about God and all things in relation to God.
首先也是最重要的是，这样的智慧存在于上帝的里面。上帝在祂自己的三位一体的赐福中爱自己，也完全地认识自己、拥有对自己的一切知识（太11:27；林前2:10-11）。第二，也是衍生出来的一点是，这样的智慧也存在于受造物当中，因为上帝喜悦让我们在知识和爱中与祂成为朋友，享受快乐（约10:14-15, 15:15, 17:3；林前2:12）。
This
wisdom exists first and foremost in God: God knows and loves himself in the
bliss of his triune life as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 11:27; 1 Cor.
2:10–11). This wisdom exists secondarily and derivatively in creatures because
God is pleased to make us happy by making us friends in the knowledge and love
of himself (John 10:14–15; 15:15; 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:12).
虽然圣经不是认识上帝和爱上帝的唯一资源（参见诗19，罗1-2），但圣经是我们今生认识上帝和爱上帝最重要的资源（见彼后1:16-21）。所以，圣经是“系统”神学学习的最高来源和规范。
Though
not the only source for the knowledge and love of God (see Psalm 19; Rom 1-2),
holy Scripture is the supreme source for the knowledge and love of God in this life
(see 2 Peter 1:16–21). Therefore holy Scripture is the supreme source and norm
for the “systematic” study of theology.
第二，系统神学是注重整本圣经的全备教导的一种圣经研究方法。
2.
Systematic theology is a way of studying the Bible that attends to the full
scope of biblical teaching.
作为一个致力于研究和教导圣经的学科，系统神学注重整本圣经的整全性。系统神学并不仅仅满足于聚焦一个圣经作者——例如以赛亚或保罗，也不仅仅满足于研究单一的圣经主题——例如称义的教义。系统神学是一个致力于查考神全备旨意的学科（徒20:27）。
As a
discipline devoted to studying and teaching holy Scripture, systematic theology
seeks to give heed to the full scope of biblical teaching. Systematic theology
does not content itself to focus upon a single biblical author—say, Isaiah or
Paul—or a single biblical theme—say, the doctrine of justification. Systematic
theology is a discipline that devotes itself to “the whole counsel of God”
(Acts 20:27).
教会真正顺服圣经中的教义和道德教导的唯一道路，就是教会顺服整本圣经所展现的整全教义和道德教导。缺乏对圣经中全备教导的关注会导致教会“走向神学上的极端和谬误，和信仰生活中的病态。”（巴文克）
The
only way the church truly submits to the Bible’s doctrinal and moral teaching
is by submitting to the full scope of the Bible’s doctrinal and moral teaching.
Failure to attend to the whole counsel of God “leads to one-sidedness and error
in theology and pathology in the religious life” (Herman Bavinck).
第三，系统神学是注重圣经教导的合一性的一种圣经研究方法。
3.
Systematic theology is a way of studying the Bible that attends to the unity of
biblical teaching.
上帝是圣经的首要作者（提后3:16），而且上帝是真理的上帝（多1:2），因此系统神学致力于分析圣经教导的统一性、和谐性和美妙之处。系统神学协调那些在救赎历史的不同阶段中发声的作者、不同的文体、以及新约和旧约这两本圣约，不消灭或减弱圣经教导的多元性，反而彰显其丰富多彩。
Because
God is the primary author of holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), and because God is a
God of truth (Titus 1:2), systematic theology seeks to discern the unity,
harmony, and beauty of biblical teaching. Systematic theology seeks to
coordinate the teaching of various biblical authors across various
redemptive-historical epochs and literary genres, and across the Bible’s two
testaments, in a way that does not mute or flatten the diversity of biblical
teaching but allows it to shine forth in its multisplendored richness.
不仅如此，系统神学也协调圣经中的教导和圣经以外透过普遍启示所得到的知识，因为我们意识到圣经是关乎上帝的智慧的最高知识来源，我们也需要用圣经来裁定和判断关乎上帝的智慧的次级知识来源。
Furthermore,
systematic theology seeks to coordinate the teaching of holy Scripture with
that which may be learned outside of holy Scripture through general revelation,
recognizing that, because the Bible is the supreme source of wisdom about God,
it plays the role of adjudicator and judge in relation to all lesser sources of
wisdom about God.
第四，系统神学是对圣经教导分清主次的一种圣经研究方法。
4.
Systematic theology is a way of studying the Bible that attends to the
proportions of biblical teaching.
系统神学是一个“复杂的科学”，需要处理关于上帝和与上帝有关的事物，但约翰·韦伯斯特也提醒我们系统神学并不是“包罗万象、回答一切问题的科学”。圣经在强调一些事情的同时对其它一些事情却说得很少，所以圣经中有第一重要的事（林前15:3），也有次要的事（太23:23）。
While
systematic theology is a “comprehensive science,” treating God and all things
in relation to God, John Webster reminds us that systematic theology is not “a
science of everything about everything.” The Bible emphasizes certain things
and says very little about other things. The Bible has matters of “first importance”
(1 Cor. 15:3) and matters of secondary importance (Matt. 23:23).
系统神学既不能忽视首要的事，也不能忽视次要的事（太23:23）。但是系统神学在关注和呈现圣经教导的时候必须能够反映圣经的重点放在哪里、主次是什么。
Systematic
theology cannot afford to neglect matters of primary or secondary importance
(Matt. 23:23). But it must seek to reflect the Bible’s own emphases and
priorities in its attention to and presentation of biblical teaching.
第五，系统神学是注重发现圣经教导之间的关系的一种圣经研究方法。
5.
Systematic theology is a way of studying the Bible that attends to the
relationships of biblical teaching.
系统神学关心的是圣经里面教义性和道德性的教导，其中也包括发现圣经中多处这类教导彼此之间的关系。系统神学的目的不仅是要理解圣经如何教导“救恩”或者“善行”，而且是要理解“救恩”与“善行”之间的关系（弗2:8-10）。如果对不同方面的教义之间的关系产生混乱的认识，最后必定给对这些教义本身的认识带来混乱。当然，系统神学最关注的最高的关系是上帝与一切受造物之间的关系。
Systematic
theology’s concern with the Bible’s doctrinal and moral teaching includes a
concern to grasp the connections or relationships between the Bible’s various
doctrinal and moral teachings. Systematic theology seeks not only to understand
what the Bible says about “salvation” or “good works.” It also seeks to
understand the relationship between “salvation” and “good works” (Eph. 2:8–10).
Confusion about the relationships between various doctrines inevitably leads to
confusion about the doctrines themselves. The supreme relationship that
systematic theology considers is the relationship between God and everything
else.
第六，一个次序良好的神学体系首先应该服从于以上帝为中心的组织原则。
6. A
well-ordered system of theology is governed, primarily, by a God-centered
organizing principle.
系统神学中的神论是系统神学最注重的第一重要的教义。透过神论，系统神学力图建立其他教义之间的联系。系统神学是以神为中心的圣经诠释。
The
doctrine of God is the primary doctrine to which systematic theology devotes
its attention and to which systematic theology seeks to relate all other
doctrines. Systematic theology is God-centered biblical interpretation.
从这个角度来说，系统神学采用了一套和我们能认知的现实相对应的学科标准：正如使徒保罗教导我们的：“万有都是本于他（基督），倚靠他，归于他。”（罗11:36）除非能够发现一件事情与那位创始成终的上帝的关系，系统神学并不需要装出要了解每一件事情的样子。
Systematic
theology, in this regard, adopts a disciplinary protocol that corresponds to
the nature of reality: “all things,” the Apostle Paul instructs us, are “from
him and through him and to him” (Rom. 11:36). Systematic theology does not
pretend to grasp anything unless it can grasp it in relation to God as Alpha
and Omega.
所以，神论并不仅仅是系统神学一系列教义中的第一个而已，神论直接影响到一个次序良好的神学体系中的每一个神学议题。从某种意义上来说，系统神学中的每一个教义都是神论的一部分。系统神学并不仅仅是关乎创造、护理、救恩和成全，系统神学更是关乎上帝的创造、上帝护理性的管治、上帝的拯救，以及上帝的创造如何在祂三位一体的荣耀的圣殿中得着成全。系统神学“从开头到末了都在向我们描述上帝，永远是关乎上帝——上帝的所是、上帝的创造、上帝如何与罪争战、上帝在基督里、上帝透过圣灵胜过一切抵挡和引导整个创造回到祂创造时的目的：为荣耀祂自己的名。”（赫曼·巴文克）
The
doctrine of God is therefore not simply the first doctrine in a series of
doctrines in systematic theology. The doctrine of God directly informs every
topic within a well-ordered system of theology. There is a sense in which every
doctrine in systematic theology is part of the doctrine of God. Systematic
theology is not so much about creation, providence, salvation, and consummation
as it is about God creating, God providentially governing, God saving, and God
consummating creation to be the temple of his triune glory. Systematic theology
“describes for us God, always God, from beginning to end—God in his being, God
in his creation, God against sin, God in Christ, God breaking down all
resistance through the Holy Spirit and guiding the whole of creation back to
the objective he decreed for it: the glory of his name” (Herman Bavinck).
第七，其次，一个次序良好的神学体系应该服从于历史性的或者说戏剧式的组织原则。
7. A
well-ordered system of theology is governed, secondarily, by a historical or
dramatic organizing principle.
因为系统神学是关乎上帝的，所以它也是关乎上帝的工作的。诗篇111:2说：“耶和华的作为本为大；凡喜爱的都必考察。”系统神学追随上帝工作的次序——从上帝从虚无中创造万有、到祂护理性的管治和看顾、到祂透过圣子的道成肉身和圣灵的浇灌所成就的的救赎和成全。
Because
systematic theology is concerned with God, it is also concerned with the works
of God. “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them”
(Ps. 111:2). Systematic theology follows the course of God’s works from his
creation of all things out of nothing, through his providential government and
care of all things, to his redemption and perfection of creation through the
incarnation of the Son and the outpouring of the Spirit.
在跟随上帝在自然中、在恩典中和荣耀中的工作时，系统神学服从于一套历史性的或者说是戏剧式的组织原则。在一个次序良好的神学体系中，每一个教义不但能够追溯到上帝为其作者和成全者，而且还与其他的教义在从创造到上帝国度的成全这一戏剧-历史主线（dramatic-historical axis）上互相协调。系统神学是以上帝为中心、基于救赎历史的圣经诠释。
In
its task of tracing the course of God’s works in nature, grace, and glory,
systematic theology follows a historical or dramatic organizing principle.
Within a well-ordered system of theology, each doctrine is not only traced to
God as its author and end. Each doctrine is also coordinated with other
doctrines on a dramatic-historical axis from creation to the consummation of
the kingdom of God. Systematic theology is God-centered, redemptive-historical
biblical interpretation.
第八，系统神学必然关注历史神学，但这并不仅仅是出于对历史的兴趣。
8.
Systematic theology’s necessary interest in historical theology is more than
mere historical interest.
上帝的神学——也就是上帝关于祂自己和祂所造万物间关系的智慧——是简单的，也是存到永恒的。我们的神学——也就是我们对上帝的认识和我们对跟上帝相关的事物的认识——则是社会性和历史性的。这代要对那代颂赞上帝的作为，也要传扬他的大能。（参诗篇145:4）
God’s
theology—his wisdom regarding himself and all things in relation to himself—is
simple and eternal. Our theology—our wisdom regarding God and all things in
relation to God—is social and historical. One generation commends God’s works
to another, and declares his mighty acts (Ps. 145:4).
因着这个原因，系统神学必然关注历史神学，也就是在不同的时代中被教导和传递下来的神学。系统神学关注早期教父，也关注他们在教会中所形成的信条——那是他们勤勉工作所结的果实；系统神学关注中世纪的教会学者们，也关注他们如何寻求理解神透过祂的话语所启示的奥秘；系统神学关注新教宗教改革及其信条，也关注新教正统及其伟大的教义与道德神学体系；系统神学也关注启蒙运动及其后果，在这方面系统神学如今仍在努力探索。
For
this reason, systematic theology has a necessary interest in historical
theology, the study of theology as taught and transmitted through time.
Systematic theology cares about the early fathers of the church and the creeds
which are the fruit of their ecclesiastical labors. Systematic theology cares
about the medieval doctors of the church and the various ways in which by faith
they sought to understand the mysteries that God has revealed in his Word.
Systematic theology cares about the Protestant Reformation and its confessions
and about Protestant orthodoxy and its magnificent systems of doctrinal and
moral theology. And systematic theology cares about the Enlightenment and its
aftermath, with which it is still coming to grips.
在以上每个领域，系统神学对历史神学的关注并不仅仅是因为对历史感兴趣。系统神学的任务最主要是命题式而不是描述式的。系统神学旨在教导教会必须相信什么和做什么，而不是仅仅关注教会曾经相信过什么或者做过什么。然而，因为教会同时也是存在于社会和历史中的实体，因为神学的历史同样也是解经的历史（艾伯林），所以系统神学必须先研究教会过去相信过什么和做过什么才能教导教会今天必须相信什么和做什么。
In
each instance, systematic theology’s interest in historical theology is not
merely a matter of historical interest. Systematic theology’s task is primarily
prescriptive rather than descriptive. It is concerned with teaching what the
church must believe and do, not simply what the church has believed and done.
However, because the church is a social and historical reality, and because the
history of theology is also the history of biblical interpretation (Gerhard
Ebeling), systematic theology cannot teach what the church must believe and do
unless it attends to what the church has believed and done.
如果教会不知道过去的日子和年代中教会基于圣经都认信过什么，也就无法在今天的时代基于圣经确知自己必须认信什么。
The
church cannot know what it must confess in our day and age on the basis of holy
Scripture unless it knows what the church has confessed in other days and other
ages on the basis of holy Scripture.
第九，系统神学服务于我们的实践。
9.
Systematic theology serves practical ends.
对圣经启示的上帝和上帝的工作进行系统性研究能达到多项实践方面的目的。系统神学为圣经教导提供了一整套的总结，因此可以帮助我们更好地阅读圣经（请参考约翰·加尔文在《基督教要义》开头所说的写作目的）。
The
systematic study of God and God’s works as revealed in holy Scripture serves a
number of practical ends. By providing a summary form of scriptural teaching,
systematic theology makes us better readers of holy Scripture (recall John
Calvin’s stated purpose in writing his Institutes of the Christian Religion).
不仅如此，透过教导我们思想上帝和从万物与上帝的关系上去认识其他事物，系统神学装备了基督徒的头脑，使我们有行动的原则。系统神学给了我们信心、教导我们理解上帝以及万事万物的实际，从而接受一切都是来自父神慈爱之手的恩赐。系统神学给我们盼望，教导我们期待上帝永恒的国度按着上帝的应许必定实现。系统神学给我们爱心，把我们的信心和盼望导向在上帝里面的对象，也照亮我们从亚当族类的悲惨进入耶稣永恒国度的福乐的路程，并唤醒我们在灵修、敬拜、尊崇上帝、服事邻舍和世界上有合宜的作为。
Furthermore,
by teaching us to contemplate God and all things in relation to God, systematic
theology furnishes the Christian mind with principles for action. Systematic
theology informs our faith, teaching us to apprehend God and all things as they
really are and to receive all things as gifts from God’s fatherly hand.
Systematic theology informs our hope, teaching us to anticipate the fulfillment
of God’s eternal kingdom in accordance with God’s promise. And systematic
theology informs our love: directing faith and hope to their object in God, we
find a light to navigate our path out of the misery of Adam’s race into the
bliss of Jesus’s eternal kingdom and to awaken fitting forms of devotion,
adoration, and admiration for God, neighbor, and world.
第十，系统神学服务于我们的思想，为我们的首要目的——荣耀神和永远以神为乐——而预备我们。
10.
Systematic theology also serves contemplative ends and thereby prepares us for
our chief end, which is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
虽然系统神学给我们带来很多实践上的益处，但是这并不是系统神学的唯一目的。系统神学也带来思想上的益处。
Though
systematic theology serves a number of practical ends, systematic theology’s
ends are not exclusively practical. Systematic theology also serves
contemplative ends.
作为一种实践性的智慧，系统神学使爱心落实在这个世界有智慧的行动上；作为一种思想性的智慧，系统神学引导爱心在关于上帝的知识上找到最高和最终的落脚之处：“认识你——独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。”（约17:3）透过帮助我们思想上帝和从万物与上帝的关系上去认识其他事物，系统神学教导我们以神为出发点、透过神和最终归向神来思考万事，使我们能将所有的荣耀都归给神（罗11:36）。系统神学把我们引向那一位能真正满足我们对幸福的渴望的独一的真神（诗42:1-2；约6:35）。系统神学因此帮助我们更好地实现人的首要目的——荣耀神，并且以神为乐。
As a
species of practical wisdom, systematic theology directs love to prudential
action in the world. As a species of contemplative wisdom, systematic theology
directs love to its supreme and final resting place in the knowledge of God:
“This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). By teaching us to contemplate God and all
things in relation to God, systematic theology teaches us to trace all things
from, through, and to God, enabling us to give him all the glory (Rom. 11:36),
and it directs us to the one in whom alone our thirst for happiness is quenched
(Ps. 42:1–2; John 6:35). Systematic theology thus assists us in realizing the
chief end of man, which is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
