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2017-04-24

作者:R.C. Sproul  譯者:駱鴻銘

基本上每個基督徒在某個時間點都曾決心要讀完整本聖經。若我們相信聖經是神的話很自然地我們都不會想要錯過任何一部分。如果上帝寄了一封信到你的郵箱,我很確定你一定會去讀。但是聖經是一封相當長的信,光是它的分量就會讓人裹足不前,即使對那些有心人來說。Virtually every Christian at some point has resolved to read the entire Bible. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, it’s natural not to want to miss a word of it. If God delivered a letter to your mailbox, I am sure you would read it. But the Bible is a pretty big letter, and its sheer bulk is somewhat daunting, even to the person with the best of intentions. Therefore, few Christians actually keep a resolution to read through the Bible.

我作神學生時經常會邀請教會裏的人舉手表明有多少人讀完了整本聖經。很少超過百分之五十說他們讀完了。我問到「有多少人讀完了創世記」幾乎每個人都舉了手。然後我問到,「如果你讀完了出埃及記,請繼續舉著手。」只有幾隻手放下了。「利未記呢?」這時開始很多手很快地放下了。到了民數記情況就更糟了。At seminars, I often ask for a show of hands indicating how many people have read the entire Bible. Rarely do even 50 percent of the people answer “yes.” I ask, “How many of you have read the book of Genesis?” Almost everyone raises his hand. Then I say, “Keep your hand up if you’ve also read Exodus.” Only a few hands are lowered. “Leviticus?” That’s when hands start dropping quickly. With Numbers it’s even worse.

為什麼那麼多基督徒對讀完整本聖經感到困難Why do many Christians struggle to read the entire Bible?

讀創世記就好像是在讀一本小說。它幾乎都是歷史敘事和人物傳記。它述說了一些重要人物生平中的重要事件例如挪亞、亞伯拉罕、雅各、約瑟。出埃及記相當扣人心弦,因為它講述了以色列在埃及地為奴那富含意義的故事,以及她如何在摩西的帶領下獲得釋放。摩西與法老王之間的比賽是很令人興奮的。但是當我們到達利未記,所有的事情都開始走樣。那些禮儀、獻祭、潔淨儀式很難讀懂,因為它們對我們今天來說是完全陌生的。我們缺少一張地圖,幫助我們走過聖經中這些困難的部分。Reading Genesis is almost like reading a novel. It is mostly narrative history and biography. It tells of important events in the lives of important people such as Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. Exodus is likewise gripping, as it tells the poignant story of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt and of its liberation under the leadership of Moses. The contest with Pharaoh is exciting. But when we get to Leviticus, everything changes. It’s difficult reading about the ceremonies, the sacrifices, and the cleansing rituals because they are foreign to us today. We lack a road map to help us through these difficult portions of the Bible.

從聖經的概覽起步Begin with an overview of the Bible

以下是我的建議從聖經的概覽開始。先了解基本架構。如果可能,報名參加一個會給你這種概覽的聖經課程(例如:Ligonier Connect)。我們也製作了一個叫《從塵灰到榮耀》(Dust to Glory)的錄影帶系列。這個系列會介紹聖經從創世記到啟示錄的基本結構。不會講很多細節,不過會涵蓋救贖歷史的主要關鍵點。除了這個系列外,我也和Robert Wolgemuth合作,製作了What’s in the Bible? 這本書。本書的目的是要幫助那些對聖經缺乏基本了解的人。1977年我曾經出版過一本叫《認識聖經》(Knowing Scripture)的書,這是為幫助那些想掌握詮釋聖經的基本規則的人而寫的。我誠懇地認為這本書是我所能提供給人研讀聖經最重要的幫助因為它提供了聖經詮釋最基本、最基礎的原則幫助人避免一些會導致曲解聖經教導的錯誤。Here’s my recommendation: begin with an overview of the Bible. Get the basic framework first. If possible, enroll in a Ligonier Connect course online that will give you such an overview. We have also produced an audio and video series titled Dust to Glory. It gives the basic structure of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It does not go into details, but it covers the high points of redemptive history. In addition to this series, I collaborated with Robert Wolgemuth to produce What’s in the Bible? The goal of this book is to help the person who has never had a simple introduction to the Bible. In 1977, I published a book titled Knowing Scripture, which is designed to help people master the basic rules of biblical interpretation. I frankly think this book is one of the most important helps that I’ve ever been able to provide for people in studying the Bible, because it provides basic, foundational principles of biblical interpretation to keep people from falling into errors that would lead to distortions of the teaching of Scripture.

一旦你明白了聖經的基本架構你就受到了更好的裝備可以閱讀聖經。以下是一個模式我推薦給那些從來沒有讀過聖經的人Once you understand the basic framework, you are much better equipped to read the Bible. Here is a pattern I recommend for people who have never read the Bible.

舊約概覽The Old Testament overview:

創世記創世的歷史墮落上帝與族長們立的約Genesis (the history of Creation, the fall, and God’s covenantal dealings with the patriarchs)

出埃及記以色列人得到釋放、形成一個國家的歷史Exodus (the history of Israel’s liberation and formation as a nation)

約書亞記軍事征服應許地的歷史Joshua (the history of the military conquest of the Promised Land)

士師記以色列從部族聯盟到王國的過渡期Judges (Israel’s transition from a tribal federation to a monarchy)

撒母耳記上以色列在掃羅和大衛治理下正在浮現的王國1 Samuel (Israel’s emerging monarchy under Saul and David)

撒母耳記下大衛的統治2 Samuel (David’s reign)

列王紀上所羅門和大衛王國1 Kings (Solomon and the divided kingdom)

列王紀下以色列的敗亡2 Kings (the fall of Israel)

以斯拉記以色列人從被擄歸回Ezra (the Israelites’ return from exile)

尼希米記耶路撒冷的重建Nehemiah (the restoration of Jerusalem)

阿摩司書和何西阿書小先知書的例子Amos and Hosea (examples of minor prophets)

耶利米書大先知的例子Jeremiah (an example of a major prophet)

傳道書智慧文學Ecclesiastes (Wisdom Literature)

詩篇和箴言希伯來詩歌Psalms and Proverbs (Hebrew poetry)

新約概覽The New Testament overview:

路加福音耶穌生平The Gospel of Luke (the life of Jesus)

使徒行傳早期教會Acts (the early church)

以弗所書保羅的教訓的簡介Ephesians (an introduction to the teaching of Paul)

哥林多前書教會的生活1 Corinthians (life in the church)

彼得前書對彼得的介紹1 Peter (an introduction to Peter)

提摩太前書對教牧書信的介紹1 Timothy (an introduction to the Pastoral Epistles)

希伯來書基督論Hebrews (Christology)

羅馬書保羅的神學Romans (Paul’s theology)

透過閱讀這些書卷學生可以對聖經的內容有一個基本的感覺和認識而不會陷在一些比較困難段落的泥沼裏。從那裏出發他們可以補充一些空隙完整地讀完整本聖經。By reading these books, a student can get a basic feel for and understanding of the scope of the Bible without getting bogged down in the more difficult sections. From there, he or she can fill in the gaps to complete the reading of the entire Bible.

本文摘自史鮑爾的書《每個基督徒都必須在這五件事上成長》Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow

2017-01-12

聖經鳥瞰救恩歷史概論Overview of the Bible A Survey of the History of Salvation

作者: Vern Poythress西敏神學院教授譯者: 誠之
譯自ESV Study Bible譯按經文全引自《聖經新譯本》

聖經作為一個整體是如何嵌合在一起的聖經中記載的事件發生在數千年之間發生在不同的文化處境裡。它們統一的脈絡是什麼呢How does the Bible as a whole fit together? The events recorded in the Bible took place over a span of thousands of years and in several different cultural settings. What is their unifying thread?

聖經中一個統一的脈絡是它的神聖作者。聖經的每一卷書都是神的話。我們之所以會知道記載在聖經中的事件是因為上帝要它們被記錄下來並且是為了祂的子民和這些事件所要傳達的教訓而被記錄下來的:“從前經上所寫的都是為教訓我們而寫的好使我們藉著忍耐和聖經中的安慰得著盼望。”(154One unifying thread in the Bible is its divine authorship. Every book of the Bible is Gods word. The events recorded in the Bible are there because God wanted them recorded, and he had them recorded with his people and their instruction in mind: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

神對歷史的計劃 Gods Plan for History

聖經在這點上也很明確神對所有的歷史有一個統一的計劃。 祂最終的心意是:“到了所計劃的時機成熟使天上地上的萬有都在基督裡同歸於一”(110),“使祂的榮耀得著頌讚”(112。神甚至從一開始就有了這個計劃:“你們當記念上古以前的事,因為我是 神,再沒有別的神;我是 神,沒有神像我。我從起初就宣告末後的事,從古時就述說還未作成的事,說:‘我的計劃必定成功,我所喜悅的,我都必作成。’”(賽469-10)“但到了時機成熟, 神就差遣祂的兒子,由女人所生,而且生在律法之下,要把律法之下的人救贖出來,好讓我們得著嗣子的名分。”(44-5The Bible also makes it clear that God has a unified plan for all of history. His ultimate purpose, a plan for the fullness of time, is to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth (Eph. 1:10), to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:12). God had this plan even from the beginning: “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isa. 46:9–10). “When the fullness of time had come,” when the moment was appropriate in God’s plan, “God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Gal. 4:4–5).

基督在地上的工作特別是祂被釘死在十字架上、受死復活是歷史的最高峰它是一個偉大的轉捩點神實際作成了救恩的工作──即整個舊約歷史所進行的方向。當前的世代回顧著基督所完成的工作,也期盼祂的工作達到歷史的成全(consummation),那時,基督會再來,“有公義在那裡居住”的“新天新地”就會顯現(彼後313;見啟211-225)。The work of Christ on earth, and especially his crucifixion and resurrection, is the climax of history; it is the great turning point at which God actually accomplished the salvation toward which history had been moving throughout the OT. The present era looks back on Christ’s completed work but also looks forward to the consummation of his work when Christ will come again and when there will appear “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13; see Rev. 21:1–22:5).

神的計劃的統一性使神能在更早的時間點作出許多應許與預言promises and predictions),然後讓它們在稍後的時間點得著應驗fulfillment。有時候,這些應許所採用的是一種非常詳盡的形式,例如神對彌賽亞──以色列所盼望的偉大救主──將要來臨的應許(賽96-7)。有時候這些應許是以一種象徵的形式,例如當神吩咐獻上動物的祭牲,作為赦罪的象徵(利未記4章)。這些獻祭本身,並不能永遠地除去罪,將人贖回(來101-18)。它們是指向基督那最終與完美的贖罪祭。The unity of God’s plan makes it appropriate for him to include promises and predictions at earlier points in time, and then for the fulfillments of these to come at later points. Sometimes the promises take explicit form, as when God promises the coming of the Messiah, the great Savior whom Israel expected (Isa. 9:6–7). Sometimes the promises take symbolic form, as when God commanded animal sacrifices to be offered as a symbol for the forgiveness of sins (Leviticus 4). In themselves, the animal sacrifices were not able to remove sins permanently and to atone for them permanently (Heb. 10:1–18). They pointed forward to Christ, who is the final and complete sacrifice for sins.

舊約中的基督 Christ in the Old Testament

既然神的計劃聚焦在基督以及祂的榮耀110很自然地神的應許以及舊約的象徵都應該指向祂。“因為 神的一切應許,在基督裡都是“是”的,為此我們藉著他說“阿們”,使榮耀歸於 神。”(林後120)當基督復活之後,向門徒顯現,祂教導的重點集中在引導他們明白舊約如何指向祂:“耶穌說:‘無知的人哪,先知所說的一切話,你們心裡信得太遲鈍了! 基督這樣受害,然後進入祂的榮耀,不是應當的嗎?’於是祂從摩西和眾先知起,把所有關於自己的經文,都給他們解釋明白了。 ”(路2425-27)我們也可以查考路加福音2444-48:“主對他們說:‘這就是我從前與你們同在的時候,對你們說過的話:摩西的律法、先知書和詩篇上所記關於我的一切事,都必定應驗。’於是祂開他們的心竅,使他們明白聖經;又說:‘經上這樣記著:基督必須受害,第三天從死人中復活。人要奉他的名傳講悔改與赦罪的道從耶路撒冷起直傳到萬國。你們就是這些事的見證。 Since Gods plan focuses on Christ and his glory (Eph. 1:10), it is natural that the promises of God and the symbols in the OT all point forward to him. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]” (2Cor. 1:20). When Christ appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, his teaching focused on leading them to understand how the OT pointed to him: “And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25–27). One could also look at Luke 24:44–48: “Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’”

當聖經說,“祂開他們的心竅使他們明白聖經”(2445),它並不是在說一些支離破碎的、有關彌賽亞的預言。它是指整部的舊約聖經,也就是猶太傳統所整理出來的。“摩西的律法”包括創世記到申命記的摩西五經,“先知書”包括“前先知書”(歷史書如約書亞記,士師記,撒母耳記上下,以及列王紀上下),以及“後先知書”(以賽亞書,耶利米書,以西結書,但以理書,以及12小先知書,何西阿書~瑪拉基書)。“詩篇”是猶太聖經第三部分“聖卷”(Writing)的代表。瞭解這些舊約書卷的核心,是它們都指向基督的受害、祂的復活,以及之後福音要“傳到萬國”(路2447)。舊約作為一個整體,藉著它的應許、它的象徵,以及它所描繪的救恩圖像,都在期盼救恩的實際完成,而在耶穌基督的降生、死亡以及復活上,一次而永遠地完成了。When the Bible says that he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45), it cannot mean just a few scattered predictions about the Messiah. It means the OT as a whole, encompassing all three of the major divisions of the OT that the Jews traditionally recognized. “The Law of Moses” includes Genesis to Deuteronomy. “The Prophets” include both the “former prophets” (the historical books Joshua, Judges, 1–2Samuel, and 1–2Kings) and the “latter prophets” (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the 12 Minor Prophets, Hosea–Malachi). “The Psalms” is representativeof the third grouping by the Jews, called the “Writings.” At the heart of understanding all these OT books is the truth that they point forward to the suffering of Christ, his resurrection, and the subsequent spread of the gospel to “all nations” (Luke 24:47). The OT as a whole, through its promises, its symbols, and its pictures of salvation, looks forward to the actual accomplishment of salvation that took place once-for-all in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

神的應許 The Promises of God

舊約是如何指向基督的呢首先它透過救恩的應許和關於神對祂的子民的承諾直接指向基督。神在舊約賜下關於基督要作為彌賽亞(出自大衛世系的人類救主)而來的具體應許,藉著彌迦這位先知,神應許彌賽亞會生在伯利恆、大衛的城(彌52),這個預言在新約中驚人地應驗了(太21-12)。不過,神通常是賜下更一般性的、關於未來拯救的日子的應許,而沒有把祂將會如何完成的細節都公布出來(例如,以賽亞書256-9601-7)。有時候只是應許祂會作他們的神見創177In what ways does the OT look forward to Christ? First, it directly points forward through promises of salvation and promises concerning God’s commitment to his people. God gave some specific promises in the OT relating to the coming of Christ as the Messiah, the Savior in the line of David. Through the prophet Micah, God promises that the MesOverview of the Bible: A Survey of the History of Salvation Overview of the Bible 24 siah is to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic. 5:2), a prophecy strikingly fulfilled in the NT (Matt. 2:1–12). But God often gives more general promises concerning a future great day of salvation, without spelling out all the details of how he will accomplish it (e.g., Isa. 25:6–9; 60:1–7). Sometimes he promises simply to be their God (see Gen. 17:7).

一個經常出現的副歌是:“我會作他們的 他們會作我的子民”(比較耶313322388139810。有時候這個比較寬鬆的主題有一些變化,會聚焦在神的百姓和他們將成為怎樣的百姓上面,而有時候它們會聚焦在神和祂將會作什麼上面。神應許會“作他們的 神”,實際上是祂全面的承諾,答應與祂的百姓同在,要眷顧他們,教導他們,保護他們,供應他們的需要,與他們建立個人的關係。如果這個承諾繼續下去它最終的應許是那在基督裡才會完全實現的救恩。One common refrain is that, I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (cf. Jer. 31:33; Hos. 2:23; Zech. 8:8; 13:9; Heb. 8:10). Variations on this broad theme may sometimes focus more on the people and what they will be, while at other times they focus on God and what he will do. God’s promise to “be their God” is really his comprehensive commitment to be with his people, to care for them, to discipline them, to protect them, to supply their needs, and to have a personal relationship with them. If that commitment continues, it promises to result ultimately in the final salvation that God works out in Christ.

這個原則可以適用於所有舊約的應許。因為 神的一切應許在基督裡都是”(林後120。有時候神會賜下即時、暫時的祝福。這些只是預嚐那透過基督而來的豐富而永遠的福分:“我們主耶穌基督的父 神是應當稱頌的。祂在基督裡曾經把天上各種屬靈的福分賜給我們……”(13The principle extends to all the promises in the OT. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ] (2 Cor. 1:20). Sometimes God gives immediate, temporal blessings. These blessings are only a foretaste of the rich, eternal blessings that come through Christ: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3).

警告與咒詛 Warnings and Curses

神與百姓的關係不止包括賜福也包括警告、威嚇與咒詛。因為這些是神對罪正確的回應,所以是恰當的。它們在兩個獨特的面向上,會期待並指向基督:首先,基督是神的羔羊,背負世人罪孽的(約129;彼前224)。祂完全無罪,卻為我們成為罪,在十字架上擔當了神的咒詛(林後521;加313)。神對罪的忿怒以及祂對罪的刑罰的每個事例都預期著祂將傾倒在十字架上的基督的忿怒。Gods relation to people includes not only blessings but also warnings, threatenings, and cursings. These are appropriate because of God’s righteous reaction to sin. They anticipate and point forward to Christ in two distinct ways. First, Christ is the Lamb of God, the sin-bearer (John 1:29; 1 Pet. 2:24). He was innocent of sin, but became sin for us and bore the curse of God on the cross (2Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13). Every instance of the wrath of God against sin, and his punishments of sin, looks forward to the wrath that was poured out on Christ on the cross.

其次基督在祂的第二次來時會戰勝罪並消滅它。第二次來和歷史的終結,是執行對罪的最後審判的時候。所有早先對罪的審判,都期盼著那最後的審判。當基督在地上生活的時候祂趕逐污鬼並斥責宗教領袖的罪就是在預告這個最後的審判。Second, Christ at his second coming wars against sin and exterminates it. The second coming and the consummation are the time when the final judgment against sin is executed. All earlier judgments against sin anticipate the final judgment. Christ during his earthly life anticipated this final judgment when he cast out demons and when he denounced the sins of the religious leaders.

諸約 Covenants

神在舊約的應許不只出現在神對祂百姓的承諾的背景上也出現在教導百姓如何委身上帝以及他們對上帝的義務上。挪亞,亞伯拉罕,以及那些神與他們會面,向他們說話的人,都蒙召要作出回應,他們不只要信靠上帝的應許,並且要在生活中結出果子,這些是他們與上帝交往的結果。神與百姓的關係可以用神與人立的不同的聖約來總結。人與人之間所立的約(covenant)是具有約束力的承諾,雙方有義務要忠誠地對待彼此(例如雅各和拉班在創3144所立的約)。當神與人立約時,因為神是掌管主權的,所以祂會規定雙方的責任義務。“我會作你的神”是神這邊基本的義務,而“他們要作我的百姓”是人這邊的基本義務。但是細節有一些不同的出入。 The promises of God in the OT come in the context not only of Gods commitment to his people but also of instruction about the peoples commitment and obligations to God. Noah, Abraham, and others whom God meets and addresses are called on to respond not only with trust in God’s promises but with lives that begin to bear fruit from their fellowship with God. The relation of God to his people is summed up in various covenants that God makes with people. A covenant between two human beings is a binding commitment obliging them to deal faithfully with one another (as with Jacob and Laban in Gen. 31:44). When God makes a covenant with man, God is the sovereign, so he specifies the obligations on both sides. “I will be their God” is the fundamental obligation on God’s side, while “they shall be my people” is the fundamental obligation on the human side. But then there are variations in the details.

例如當神呼召亞伯蘭的時候祂說:“你要離開本地、本族、父家到我指示你的地方去。”(創121)這個吩咐具體指明了亞伯蘭的義務,這是人這邊的責任。上帝也表明祂這邊會作的:“我必使你成為大國,賜福給你,使你的名為大,你也必使別人得福。”(創122)神的承諾是以應許、賜福與咒詛的形式出現的。應許和賜福指向基督祂是諸多應許的應驗以及最後祝福的來源。諸多的咒詛則指向基督為人擔當了咒詛以及祂將要執行的審判與對罪的咒詛特別是在第二次再來時會發生的。For example, when God first calls Abram he says, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). This commandment specifies an obligation on the part of Abram, an obligation on the human side. God also indicates what he will do on his part: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2). God’s commitment takes the form of promises, blessings, and curses. The promises and blessings point forward to Christ, who is the fulfillment of the promises and the source of final blessings. The curses point forward to Christ both in his bearing the curse and in his execution of judgment and curse against sin, especially at the second coming.

人在聖約這邊的義務也和基督有關。基督是完全的人也是完全的神。身為人,祂與祂的百姓同樣站在人這邊。祂藉著完全的順服(來58),成全了神的聖約的責任。祂在復活與升天中接受了順服的獎賞(腓28-11)。因此,在舊約聖約中,人這邊的責任指向了祂的成就。The obligations on the human side of the covenants are also related to Christ. Christ is fully man as well as fully God. As a man, he stands with his people on the human side. He fulfilled the obligations of God’s covenants through his perfect obedience (Heb. 5:8). He received the reward of obedience in his resurrection and ascension (see Phil. 2:9–10). The OT covenants on their human side thus point forward to his achievement.

基督藉著處理了神對罪的震怒將本來與神隔離的處境變成一個和平的景況。祂使信徒得以與神和好(林後518-21;羅56-11)。祂也帶來個人與神親密的關係,以及成為神的兒女的特權(羅814-17)。這個親密的關係正是舊約的諸約所期盼的。在以賽亞書,神甚至宣告說,祂的僕人彌賽亞,會成為眾民的約(賽426498)。By dealing with the wrath of God against sin, Christ changed a situation of alienation from God to a situation of peace. He reconciled believers to God (2 Cor. 5:18–21; Rom. 5:6–11). He brought personal intimacy with God, and the privilege of being children of God (Rom. 8:14–17). This intimacy is what all the OT covenants anticipated. In Isaiah, God even declares that his servant, the Messiah, will be the covenant for the people (see Isa. 42:6; 49:8).

後裔 Offspring

我們大可把焦點放在舊約的聖約的一個特別元素也就是關於後裔的應許上。當神與亞伯蘭立約的時候,祂呼召他:“你要在我面前行事為人;你要作完全人。”(創171)這是人在約中的義務。在神的那面,祂應許要使亞伯蘭成為“多國的父”(創174),並將他改名為“亞伯拉罕”(創175)。這個與亞伯拉罕所立的約,實際上超越了亞伯拉罕,延伸到他的後裔:“我要與你,和你世世代代的後裔,堅立我的約,成為永遠的約,使我作你和你的後裔的 神。我要把你現在寄居的地,就是迦南全地,賜給你和你的後裔,作永遠的產業,我也要作他們的 神。”(177-8It is worthwhile to focus on one specific element in OT covenants, namely, the promise concerning offspring. In making a covenant with Abram, God calls on him to walk before me, and be blameless (Gen. 17:1). That is a human obligation in the covenant. On the divine side, God promises that he will make Abram “the father of a multitude of nations” (Gen. 17:4), and he renames him Abraham (Gen. 17:5). The covenant with Abraham in fact extends beyond Abraham to his posterity: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God” (Gen. 17:7–8).

神對亞伯拉罕的應許在舊約中是非常重要的因為它們是以色列國家的基礎。亞伯拉罕之後的歷史表明,亞伯拉罕生了一個兒子以撒,應驗了神對撒拉的應許。以撒是神對後裔的應許的直接結果,他會繼承那地。以撒也生了一個兒子,雅各,而雅各成為十二個兒子的父親。這十二個兒子繁衍成為以色列的十二支派。以色列這個國家成為神所應許的後裔的下一個階段。The promises made to Abraham are exceedingly important within the OT because they are the foundation for the nation of Israel. The history after Abraham shows that Abraham had a son, Isaac, in fulfillment of God’s promise to Sarah. Isaac was the immediate result of God’s promise of offspring who will inherit the land. Isaac in turn had a son, Jacob, and Jacob was the father of 12 sons who in turn multiplied into the 12 tribes of Israel. The nation of Israel became the next stage in the offspring that God promised.

但這與基督有何關聯呢正如馬太福音的家譜11所表明的基督是大衛和亞伯拉罕的後裔。基督是亞伯拉罕的後裔。事實上,祂是那個特別強調的後裔:“那些應許本來是給亞伯拉罕和他的後裔的。 神並沒有說‘給眾後裔’,好像指著多數;而是說‘給你的一個後裔’,指著一個,就是基督。”(加316;見創2215-18的注解)
神告訴亞伯拉罕要“在我面前行事為人;你要作完全人。”(171But how does this relate to Christ? Christ is the descendant of David and of Abraham, as the genealogy in Matthew indicates (Matt. 1:1). Christ is the offspring of Abraham. In fact, he is the offspring in a uniquely emphatic sense: “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to 25 Overview of the Bible his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16; see notes on Gen. 22:15–18). Abraham was told to “walk before me, and be blameless” (Gen. 17:1).

亞伯拉罕基本上是個有信心的人他信神39118-1217-19。但是亞伯拉罕也有他的失敗與罪孽。誰能在神面前行事為人完全無可指責呢?不是亞伯拉罕,也不是地上的任何人,唯有基督自己(來415)。所有亞伯拉罕的“後裔”,最終都無法成為完全人。因此亞伯拉罕之約和基督之間,有著牢不可破的關聯。基督是那最終極的後裔,是其他的後裔所指向的。我們可以列出這個後裔的清單:以撒,雅各,然後是雅各的眾子。在這些兒子當中,猶大是他們的領袖,會擁有王權(創4910)。大衛是亞伯拉罕和猶大的後裔所羅門是大衛的後裔。然後是羅波安以及其他從大衛和所羅門而出的子嗣11-16Abraham was basically a man of faith who trusted God (Gal. 3:9; Heb. 11:812, 1719). But Abraham also had his failures and sins. Who will walk before God and be blameless in an ultimate way? Not Abraham. Not anyone else on earth either, except Christ himself (Heb. 4:15). All the other candidates for being “offspring” of Abraham ultimately fail to be blameless. Thus the covenant with Abraham has an unbreakable tie to Christ. Christ is the ultimate offspring to whom the other offspring all point. One may go down the list of offspring: Isaac, Jacob, then the sons of Jacob. Among these sons, Judah is their leader who will have kingship (Gen. 49:10). David is the descendant of Abraham and Judah; Solomon is the descendant of David; and then comes Rehoboam and the others who descend from David and Solomon (Matt. 1:1–16).

基督不止是他們所有人的後裔擁有合法的地位祂也超越他們所有的人成為那獨特、無可指摘的後裔。藉著基督,信徒能與祂聯合,使他們能成為“亞伯拉罕的後裔”(加329)。所有的信徒,不論是猶太人或外邦人,成為神對亞伯拉罕和他的後裔所應許承受產業的:“並不分猶太人或希臘人,作奴僕的或自由人,男的或女的,因為你們在基督耶穌裡都成為一體了。如果你們屬於基督就是亞伯拉罕的後裔是按照應許承受產業的了。”(328-29Christ is not only the descendant of all of them by legal right; he is also superior to all of them as the uniquely blameless offspring. Through Christ believers are united to him and thereby themselves become “Abraham’s offspring” (Gal. 3:29). Believers, Jews and Gentiles alike, become heirs to the promises of God made to Abraham and his offspring: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:28–29).

基督末後的亞當 Christ as the Last Adam

基督不只是亞伯拉罕的後裔更必須回溯到更早的時間、神更早的應許——女人的後裔——:“我要使你和女人彼此為仇你的後裔和女人的後裔也彼此為仇女人的後裔要傷你的頭你要傷他的腳跟。”(創315)戰勝蛇,即戰勝邪惡,並且扭轉罪的效果,乃是透過女人的後裔而成就的。我們可以追溯這後裔,從夏娃所生的塞特與他敬虔的子嗣,透過挪亞,然後到亞伯拉罕──神的應許有了具體的形式,是出自亞伯拉罕的後裔(見路323-38,往上追溯耶穌的家譜一直到亞當)。如此,基督不只是亞伯拉罕的後裔,而且是末後的亞當(林前1545-49)。和亞當一樣,耶穌代表所有屬祂的人,而祂會扭轉亞當墮落的效果。Christ is not only the offspring of Abraham, but reaching back farther in time to an earlier promise of Godthe offspring of the woman: I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). The conquest over the serpent, and therefore the conquest of evil and the reversal of its effects, is to take place through the offspring of the woman. One can trace this offspring down from Eve through Seth and his godly descendants, through Noah, and down to Abraham, where God’s promise takes the specific form of offspring for Abraham (see Luke 3:23–38, which traces Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam). Thus Christ is not only the offspring of Abraham but the last Adam (1Cor. 15:45–49). Like Adam, he represents all who belong to him. And he reverses the effects of Adam’s fall.

影子預示預表 Shadows, Prefigures, and Types

新約不斷地提到基督和祂所帶來的救恩。那是很明顯的。不明顯的是舊約亦是如此只不過它是以期待的方式來表達的。它給我們將要來的事情的“影像”和“預表”(見林前10611;來85)。The NT constantly talks about Christ and the salvation that he has brought. That is obvious. What is not so obvious is that the same is true of the OT, though it does this by way of anticipation. It gives us “shadows” and “types” of the things that were to come (see 1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Heb. 8:5).

例如林前106指出以色列人在曠野所經歷的事件我們的鑒戒。而林前1011說:“這些事發生在他們身上,作為鑒戒,並且記下來,為了要警戒我們這些末世的人。”這兩處經文,“借鑒”(example)的希臘文都是 typos,也就是英文“type”(預表)的來源(比較羅514)。For example, 1 Corinthians 10:6 indicates that the events the Israelites experienced in the wilderness were examples for us.” And 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” In 1 Corinthians 10:6 and 11, the Greek word for “example” is typos, from which derives the English word “type” (cf. Rom. 5:14).

在神學語言中,“預表是一個特別的例子、象徵或圖像是神事先設計好的祂把這個預表放在歷史稍早的時間點上以便指向一個後來的、更大的應驗。舊約的動物獻祭預示著基督最後的獻祭。所以,這些動物的獻祭就是基督的“預表”(types)。聖殿作為神的居所,也預示著基督,祂是神最後的“居所”(dwelling place),藉著祂,神與祂的子民同在(太123;約221)。舊約祭司是基督的預表祂是最後的大祭司71187A type, in the language of theology, is a special example, symbol, or picture that God designed beforehand, and that he placed in history at an earlier point in time in order to point forward to a later, larger fulfillment. Animal sacrifices in the OT prefigure the final sacrifice of Christ. So these animal sacrifices were “types” of Christ. The temple, as a dwelling place for God, prefigured Christ, who is the final “dwelling place” of God, and through whom God comes to be with his people (Matt. 1:23; John 2:21). The OT priests were types of Christ, who is the final high priest (Heb. 7:11–8:7).

在基督裡的應驗是很明顯的110林後120。但是在新約中那些“在基督裡”的人,也就是以信心信靠祂,並且經歷到與祂相交和祂的福分的人,會得到祂所成就的恩益,因此,我們也可以在舊約中發現這些指向新約教會的期望或“預表”。例如,舊約的聖殿不只是預示基督──祂的身體就是聖殿(約221),而且預示著教會,教會也被稱為聖殿(林前316-17),因為聖靈住在裡面。有些舊約的象徵也特別指向救恩的完成,那是在新天新地才會實現的(彼後313;啟211225)。舊約的耶路撒冷預示著那將要從天上由 神那裡降下來的新耶路撒冷212Fulfillment takes place preeminently in Christ (Eph. 1:10; 2 Cor. 1:20). But in the NT those people who are in Christ, who place their trust in him and experience fellowship with his person and his blessings, receive the benefits of what he has accomplished, and therefore one can also find anticipations or “types” in the OT that point forward to the NT church, the people in the NT who belong to Christ. For example, the OT temple not only prefigured Christ, whose body is the temple (John 2:21), but prefigured the church, which is also called a temple (1Cor. 3:16–17), because it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Some OT symbols also may point forward especially to the consummation of salvation that takes place in the new heaven and the new earth yet to come (2Pet. 3:13; Rev.21:1–22:5). Old Testament Jerusalem prefigured the new Jerusalem that will come “down out of heaven from God” (Rev. 21:2).

中保基督 Christ the Mediator

聖經明確地表明自從亞當犯罪墮落後罪和罪的後果就變成人類普遍的問題。這是整本聖經一貫的主題。罪是對上帝的背叛,配得到死亡的刑罰:“罪的工價就是死”(羅623)。神是聖潔的,任何一個有罪的人──包括像摩西這樣的偉人──都無法站立在神的面前而不會滅亡:“你不能看我的臉,因為沒有人看見了我還能活著。”(出3320)有罪的人需要一個中保(mediator),代表他來到神的面前。基督同時是神和人,且是完全無罪的,所以是唯一能如此事奉的:“因為 神只有一位,在 神和人中間也只有一位中保,就是降世為人的基督耶穌。 祂捨了自己作萬人的贖價到了適當的時候這事就證實了。”(提前25-6The Bible makes it clear that ever since the fall of Adam into sin, sin and its consequences have been the pervasive problem of the human race. It is a constant theme running through the Bible. Sin is rebellion against God, and it deserves death: “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). God is holy, and no sinful human being, not even a great man like Moses, can stand in the presence of God without dying: “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (Ex. 33:20). Sinful man needs a mediator who will approach God on his behalf. Christ, who is both God and man, and who is innocent of sin, is the only one who can serve: “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gavehimself as a ransom for all” (1Tim. 2:5–6).

從一個終極的角度來看雖然中保只有一位但是從一個次要的角度來看舊約中的許多人物也充當了一些中保的功能。摩西是其中之一。他上到西乃山上與神會面而所有其他的百姓在山底下等候19。當以色列百姓聽到神在山上發出來的聲音感到極度害怕時,他們從那時起,就要求摩西把神的話帶給他們(出2018-21)。神答應了這樣的安排,讓摩西把祂的話帶給百姓(申528-33)。Though there is only one mediator in an ultimate sense, in a subordinate way various people in the OT serve in some kind of mediatorial capacity. Moses is one of them. He went up to Mount Sinai to meet God while all the people waited at the bottom of the mountain (Exodus 19). When the people of Israel were terrified at hearing God’s audible voice from the mountain, they asked for Moses to bring them God’s words from then on (Ex. 20:18–21). God approved of the arrangement involving Moses bringing his words to the people (Deut. 5:28–33).

但是如果只有一個中保如同提前25所說的摩西怎麼可能符合這個要求呢摩西不是那最終的中保而是預示”(prefigured了基督中保的本質。因為摩西是有罪的,如果沒有神的赦免,他不可能在神的面前存活,也就是說,必須有一位無罪的中保來代表他。根據神的計劃,神讓摩西進入祂的同在中,只因為基督將要到來,為摩西贖罪。基督工作的恩益被提前算到摩西的頭上,這對所有舊約的聖徒而言,都是適用的。若非如此,他們怎麼可能得救呢?神是完全聖潔的,他們都必需是完全的。因為那將要來的基督的緣故完全被算在他們頭上了這完全是恩典。But if there is only one mediator, as 1Timothy 2:5 says, how could Moses possibly serve in that way? Moses was not the ultimate mediator, but he prefigured Christs mediation. Because Moses was sinful, he could not possibly have survived the presence of God without forgiveness, that is, without having a sinless mediator on his own behalf. God welcomed Moses into his presence only because, according to the plan of God, Christ was to come and make Overview of the Bible 26 atonement for Moses. The benefits of Christ’s work were reckoned beforehand for Moses’ benefit. And so it must havebeen for all the OT saints. How could they havebeen saved otherwise? God is perfectly holy, and they all needed perfection. Perfection was graciously reckoned to them because of Christ, who was to come.

這意味著整個舊約和新約一樣得救只能通過一種方法。只有基督能拯救我們。“除了祂以外,別無拯救,因為在天下人間,沒有賜下別的名,我們可以靠著得救。”(徒412)舊約中所有得救的例子都是倚靠基督。而在舊約中,救恩通常要透過一個中保──站在神與人之間的一個人或者一種制度。舊約中所有微小的中保的事例都是在預示基督。如果不是這樣有其它可能嗎因為只有一個中保只有一條得救的道路。
That means that there is only one way of salvation, throughout the OT as well as in the NT. Only Christ can save us. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The instances of salvation in the OT all depend on Christ. And in the OT, salvation frequently comes through a mediator, a person or institution that stands between God and man. All the small instances of mediation in the OT prefigure Christ. How else could it be, since there is only one mediator and one way of salvation?

所以當我們特別注意 神帶來拯救的例子 以及 一個站在神與人之間的中保 的例子我們對聖經的統一性的認識就會增加。這些事例不止包括神以個人性的交往,屬靈的親密,以及永生的應許的形式所帶來的屬靈上的拯救,它們還包括暫時的、外在的拯救──肉體上的“得救”,這預示著屬靈上的得救。的確,得救不只是屬靈上的。基督徒殷切盼望身體的復活,也盼望一個“新天新地,有公義在那裡居住。”(彼後313)個人的救恩是從心靈的更新開始的,但在末了的時候,會是全面而且是在全宇宙的範圍的。舊約所注意的雖然是實質的地、實質的財富與實質的身體健康,其實是盼望在新天新地中信徒實質的昌盛。So understanding of the unity of the Bible increases when one pays attentionto instances where God brings salvation, and instances where a mediator stands between God and man. These instances include not only cases where God brings spiritual salvation in the form of personal fellowship, spiritual intimacy, and the promise of eternal life with God. They also include instances of temporal, external deliverance—“salvation” in a physical sense, which prefigures salvation in a spiritual sense. And indeed, salvation is not merely spiritual. Christians look forward to the resurrection of the body and to “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13). Personal salvation starts with renewal of the heart, but in the end it will be comprehensive and cosmic in scope. The OT, when it pays attention to physical land and physical prosperity and physical health, anticipates the physicality of the believer’s prosperity in the new heavens and the new earth.

舊約裡中保的事例還包括先知君王與祭司。先知 把神的話帶給神的子民。君王,當他們順服神的時候,使百姓接受神的治理。祭司 代表百姓來到上帝的同在當中。基督是那最後的先知、君王和祭司,祂最終應驗了這三個職分(來11-3)。我們也可以查看 智慧人,他把神的智慧帶給其他人;戰士,拯救人脫離敵人的手;以及 歌唱者,代表百姓把讚美呈獻給神,並對百姓述說神的屬性。Instances of mediators in the OT include prophets, kings, and priests. Prophets bring the word of God from God to the people. Kings, when they submit to God, bring God’s rule to bear on the people. Priests represent the people in coming before God’s presence. Christ is the final prophet, king, and priest who fulfills all three functions in a final way (Heb. 1:1–3). One can also look at wise men, who bring God’s wisdom to others; warriors, who bring God’s deliverance from enemies; and singers, who bring praise to God on behalf of the people and speak of the character of God to the people.

中保不止是透過人物也透過各種制度。聖約 扮演了一個中保的角色把神的話帶給百姓。 聖殿 把神的同在帶給百姓。動物的獻祭 把神的赦罪帶給百姓。在閱讀聖經時,我們應該查考有哪些方法是神透過那些祂所設立的 管道/途徑 means),把祂的話和祂的同在帶給百姓的。所有的這些途徑都執行了某種中保的角色,因為只有一個中保,而很清楚地,它們都指向基督。Mediation occurs not only through human figures, but through institutions. Covenants play a mediatorial role in bringing God’s word to the people. The temple brings God’s presence to the people. The animal sacrifices bring God’s forgiveness to the people. In reading the Bible one should look for ways in which God brings his word and his presence to people through means that he establishes. All these means perform a kind of mediatorial role, and because there is only one mediator, it is clear that they all point to Christ.

附錄An Interview about Biblical Theology with Vern Poythress

http//www.esvstudybible.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/poythress-interview.pdf