Quest. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? Ans. 2. The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,(1) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.(2)
1.
太19:4 耶穌回答說:「那起初造人的,是造男造女,
Matthew19:4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'
太19:5 並且說:『因此,人要離開父母,與妻子連合,二人成為一體。』這經你們沒有念過嗎?
Matthew19:5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'19:5 Gen. 2:24 ?
創2:24 因此,人要離開父母,與妻子連合,二人成為一體。
Genesis 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
路24:27 於是從摩西和眾先知起,凡經上所指著自己的話都給他們講解明白了。
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
路24:44 耶穌對他們說:「這就是我從前與你們同在之時所告訴你們的話說:摩西的律法、先知的書,和詩篇上所記的,凡指著我的話都必須應驗。」
Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
林前2:13 並且我們講說這些事,不是用人智慧所指教的言語,乃是用聖靈所指教的言語,將屬靈的話解釋屬靈的事。(或作:將屬靈的事講與屬靈的人)
First Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
林前14:37 若有人以為自己是先知,或是屬靈的,就該知道,我所寫給你們的是主的命令。
First Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.
彼後1:20 第一要緊的,該知道經上所有的預言沒有可隨私意解說的;
Second Peter 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things
彼後1:21 因為預言從來沒有出於人意的,乃是人被聖靈感動,說出神的話來。
Second Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
彼後3:2 叫你們記念聖先知預先所說的話和主救主的命令,就是使徒所傳給你們的。
Second Peter 3:2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
彼後3:15 並且要以我主長久忍耐為得救的因由,就如我們所親愛的兄弟保羅,照著所賜給他的智慧寫了信給你們。
Second Peter 3:15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
彼後3:16 他一切的信上也都是講論這事。信中有些難明白的,那無學問、不堅固的人強解,如強解別的經書一樣,就自取沉淪。
Second Peter 3:16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2.
申4:2 所吩咐你們的話,你們不可加添,也不可刪減,好叫你們遵守我所吩咐的,就是耶和華你們神的命令。
Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
詩19:7 耶和華的律法全備,能甦醒人心;耶和華的法度確定,能使愚人有智慧。
Psalms 19;7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple
詩19:11 況且你的僕人因此受警戒,守著這些便有大賞。
Psalms 19;11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
賽8:20 人當以訓誨和法度為標準;他們所說的,若不與此相符,必不得見晨光。
Isaiah 8:20 Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
約15:11 「這些事我已經對你們說了,是要叫我的喜樂存在你們心裡,並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。
John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
約20:30 耶穌在門徒面前另外行了許多神蹟,沒有記在這書上。
John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
約20:31 但記這些事要叫你們信耶穌是基督,是神的兒子,並且叫你們信了他,就可以因他的名得生命。
John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
徒17:11 這地方的人賢於帖撒羅尼迦的人,甘心領受這道,天天考查聖經,要曉得這道是與不是。
Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews(如心得補充) were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
加1:8 但無論是我們,是天上來的使者,若傳福音給你們,與我們所傳給你們的不同,他就應當被咒詛。
Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!
加1:9 我們已經說了,現在又說,若有人傳福音給你們,與你們所領受的不同,他就應當被咒詛
Galatians 1:9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse!
提後3:15 並且知道你是從小明白聖經,這聖經能使你因信基督耶穌,有得救的智慧。
Second Timothy 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
提後3 17;叫屬神的人得以完全,預備行各樣的善事。
Second Timothy 3:17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
約一1:4 我們將這些話寫給你們,使你們(有古卷:我們)的喜樂充足。
First John 1:4 We write this to make our joy complete.
1. 耶穌有一次曾說,神「將這些事,向聰明通達人就藏起來,向嬰孩就顯出來」(路10:21)。換句話說,有些最聰明最有教養的人,卻缺乏真智慧。理由是人靠著自己是不能獲得真理的知識。人越靠自己的努力去學習(運用他獨立的頭腦),他越會面對無知。就如一個汽球,當充滿氣體時就向四面八方膨漲,同樣人的學習也會使他越來越覺察,神奇妙的作為是無限的奧秘。舉例來說,人發明了更新更強力的天文望遠鏡,可以觀察星宿的秘密。但結果是什麼?結果是:今日天文學家有數以百萬顆的新星球要去研究!這是科學的理論為何會日夕變遷的理由之一。人越發現得多,就越發覺他所未知的東西還有更多。故此,因為人不能無所不知,他們就灰心喪志,認為人根本不能對什麼有肯定的知識。
2. ①神啟示祂自己的第一種方法是自然啟示。大衛王說:“諸天述說神的榮耀,穹蒼傳揚祂的手段”(詩19:1)。“神的永能和神性是明明可知的,雖是眼不能見,但藉著所造之物,就可以曉得”(羅1:20)。
②神啟示自己的第二種方法,我們稱為特殊啟示。就是在伊甸園時,神曾曉諭亞當,可享用祂所創世界裡的一切,但得遵守祂的誡命。如此,亞當可以藉著研究大自然而知道許多事物,但他卻不能無所不知。例如他不能知道將來會有什麼事發生。為要確信像他可從樹上摘果子來吃這麼“簡單”的事,他都還一定要在“神的話的亮光下”去解釋“大自然的事實”。
3. 人從罪惡中蒙拯救的唯一方法,只能在聖經中啟示出來。神在大自然的啟示已經足夠叫人無可推諉。這自然啟示向人顯露出真神的榮耀,以致人應該敬拜和事奉祂。但只是在聖經裡面,人才真正知道他所必須相信的(為的是要從罪中獲拯救),及必須做的(為的是要再次事奉神)。
4. 要理問答中提及“神的道,記載於(包括)新舊兩約聖經”,是什麼意思呢?我們要明白聖經所記載的話就是從神而來的話。改革宗認為這就是歷史性基督教信仰的看法。這本要理問答也是傳授這套觀點。持守這觀點的人相信全部聖經(每一個字)都是神的真理。沒有一部分不是神所默示的。即使未信的人讀這本聖經,它由頭到尾仍然是神的話。換句話說,聖經就是神的話。
5. 如果聖經就是神的話,是唯一的準則,指教我們怎樣榮耀神,永遠以祂為樂,那麼,還有三件事需要提出來。①我們要說聖經是“不能錯謬”(infallible)的。②我們說聖經是“清楚”(clear)的。聖經之寫成,是要讓一般人都能明白的。神甚至直接向孩童說話(弗6:1-3)。③我們說聖經是“充足”(sufficient)的(我們並不需要在聖經之外再加什麼,去認識我們所需要認識的)。
補充:
Bereans是馬其頓Berea市的居民。在保羅的第二次傳教之旅中,保羅和西拉斯向他們傳道。保羅和西拉在這個地方的記載記錄在使徒行傳17:10-15中。
這些Bereans展示了幾個積極的特徵,標誌著他們對福音信息的反應。首先,Bereans因為願意接受上帝的話語而“更加高尚”。與不信的塞薩洛尼亞猶太人不同,Bereans渴望聽到保羅和西拉的教導。 其次,Bereans通過將它與舊約聖經進行比較來檢驗他們所聽到的內容。他們誠實地傾聽並進行了進一步的個人研究,這使得許多Bereans相信耶穌是彌賽亞。基督教的這種擴張並不僅限於猶太教堂內的那些,也擴展到了庇哩亞的許多希臘男女。 第三,Bereans保護了Paul的安全。當保羅的敵人從帖撒羅尼迦附近抵達時,Berean信徒通過讓他離開該地區來保護保羅。他們並沒有把他變成他的敵人,也沒有像塞薩洛尼卡的猶太人所預料的那樣與他分離。 第四,Bereans繼續在他們的信仰中成長。保羅離開後,西拉斯和提摩太留在庇哩亞。為什麼?聖經沒有明確說明,但一個原因可能是讓Berean基督徒有機會獲得基督教信仰的進一步指導。
問題:
1.要理問答中“載於”這詞是什麼意思?
2.“聖經”這詞的意義是什麼?
3.“準則”這詞是什麼意思?
4.有學問有智識的人是否比無學問單純的人更確實認識神的真理?為什麼?
5.人的知識本來是不是打算單由大自然界而來?為什麼?
6.“真理”的兩個來源是什麼?
7.所謂“科學方法”的原則是什麼?
8.今日自然啟示本身對全人類有什麼功用?
9.新神學派說聖經“載有”神的道時,他的意思是什麼?
10.新正統派這樣說時是什麼意思呢?
11.基督教改革宗用這詞句指的意義是什麼呢?
12.聖經是無誤的是什麼意思?
13.聖經是清楚的,這樣說有何意義?誰否認這說法?
14.聖經是充足的,這樣說有何意義?誰否認這說法?
15.如果聖經正是它所說的那樣,為什麼有要理問答呢?