Manna issue 67 - The Abiding Word of God 神的話永遠同在
Do you believe that God’s word
is absolute?
你相信，神的話語是絕對的嗎？
Vincent Yeung—Cambridge, United Kingdom
英國劍橋 Vincent 楊
“The grass withers, the flower fades”—a
reflection on the ephemeral existence of
living creatures in the eyes of a seemingly
unchanging observer.
8草必枯乾，花必凋殘 -
表面上看起來，在身為永恆不變的觀察者眼中，
這是一句話，反映了世上各種活物短暫的存在。
What is said shows our own fragility;
it is a projection of humanity’s fleeting
existence against the universe. Human
minds are the product of changes too.
Early perceptions and interpretations
tend to shape later perceptions and
interpretations. Our ideas and values are
conditioned, augmented and shaped by
the flux of history. In this changing world
we are used to adapting ideas, skills and
values as well as embracing new ones.
所陳述的事實是我們脆弱的人生；
對於整個宇宙而言，這是人類存在一閃而過只能短暫存在的一種反射性想法。
人類的想法，也是一種一直在轉變的產物。
之前的認知和解釋，就容易形塑出對後來事件的認知和解釋。
我們的想法和價值是有條件的，
是歷史衍生出來的資訊，加以擴張並塑造出來的。
在這不斷改變的世界中，
我們很常去適應各種想法，技能和價值觀，並且擁抱新出現的事物。
Science is often portrayed as a key
driver of change and the development
of human civilization. Science helps us
to observe, explain and predict natural
phenomena by experiment. We are
brought up in the current world of
scientific rationality. We do not take old
wives’ tales in trust anymore; we want
to reserve our judgment, experience and
try for ourselves. Such skepticism and
experimenting also creep into our trust
in authority, such as parents, political
leaders and religion.
科學常被形容是人類文明，改變和發展的主要動力。
科學用實驗，幫助我們觀察，解釋和預測各種自然的現象。
我們都是在現今的科學理性主義的想法中，長大成人的。
我們不再相信任何無稽之談；
我們希望可以保留自已的判斷，經驗，並且自已嘗試。
這種懷疑主義和實驗性的作法，
也滲入了我們對權威的信任，
例如父母，政治領導人，和宗教。
A third of Church of England clergy
doubt or disbelieve in the physical
resurrection and only half are convinced
of the truth of the virgin birth, according
to a new survey1. The poll of nearly 2,000
of the church’s 10,000 clergy also found
that only half believe that faith in Christ
is the only route to salvation. Clergy,
faced with intelligent and educated
congregations, increasingly have to think
“very carefully” about how to present
complex doctrine credibly. Are we also
subjected to the same influence? Do you
believe in the word of God?
根據一次新的調查，三分之一的英國教會神職人員，
他們對肉體復活有所懷疑，或是不相信，
只有一半的人會深信，童女生子的真理。
這次在教會一萬的神職人員之中，選出二千人的調查中，
也發現，只有半數的人相信，基督教的信仰，是唯一得救的道路。
神職人員，在面對這些高智商，且受過教育的教會信徒之時，
逐漸要增加"很小心"思考的頻率，
要思考如何把複雜的教導，能夠讓人相信地呈現出來。
我們是不是也受到了同樣的影響呢？
你相信神的話語嗎？
THE PERILS OF THE LAST DAY 末日的危險
Jesus warned that many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many (Mt
24:11). Power, signs and lying wonders
follow these false prophets and false
christs (Mt 24:23–24; 2 Thess 1:10).
Those who do not receive the love
of the truth will be deceived by their
unrighteous deceptions (2 Thess 1:10).
On a less dramatic level, secularization
slowly poisons present day societies.
Biblical teachings are irrelevant in how
society conducts its business. It is even
an embarrassment to talk about faith
in public. The traditional Christian is
marginalized, shunted and challenged by
a generation deemed more intelligent,
rational and educated.
耶穌警告，
11且有好些假先知起來，迷惑多人。
有力量，大神蹟，欺哄人的奇事隨著這些假先知，假基督。
(太 24：23-24；帖後 1：10)
若是沒有得到真理之愛的人，就會因為他們不義有欺騙手段，而受到迷惑。
(帖後 1：10)
若以一種比較沒有戲劇性的角度來看，
世俗化正慢慢的給今日的社會下毒。
聖經的教導和社會要如何進行其內部的運作，沒有任何關係。
甚至在以眾場合之間，談論信仰的話題是很讓人難堪的。
傳統上的基徒，受到看起來，聰明，理性，受過教育的新一代，
所邊緣化，分化及挑戰。
Many of the teachings of the Bible
become out of fashion and some
denominations have become more
tolerant to these aberrant trends:
divorce and remarriage in the church,
homosexuality etc. No wonder the Bible
warns that people in the last days only
hold a form of godliness but deny its
power (2 Tim 3:1–5). They call themselves
Christians but they do not believe Christ
is the only way to salvation. The basic
tenets of Christianity, such as resurrection
and Christ’s second coming, are not taken
seriously.
許多聖經的教師變成脫離流行，
有一些教會已經變得更加容忍這些脫離常軌的潮流：
離婚，教會裡再婚，同性戀等等。
難怪聖經警告，末日的人們
5有敬虔的外貌，卻背了敬虔的實意；
(提後 3：1-5)
他們稱呼自已是基督徒，
但不信基督是唯一得救的道路。
基督教的基督教義，例如，
復活，基督再臨，都不被認真看待。
The advance in mass media and social
networks allows quick communication
and sharing of useful information.
However, when misused, a few people
can corrupt and destabilize the church
by simply posting false, misleading and
slanderous information anonymously.
False doctrines are published on unofficial
websites and nobody takes responsibility
for what has been said; as a result, the
uninstructed are easily led astray.
大眾媒體的進步，社群網路讓溝通很快速，並且得以很快分享實用資訊。
然而，若沒有好好的使用，
一少群人就能敗壞和動搖教會，
如單單匿名貼出假消息，誤導人，或放黑函。
假教義被展示在非正式的網站上，
沒有人為已經被公佈的資訊來負責；
結果，若是沒有好好接受教導的人，就容易被帶偏去。
All these deceptions share a common
thread—they are characterized by lying
signs of false prophets (Mt 24:24), the
deception of evil men (2 Tim 3:13),
and the cheat of philosophy and empty
deceit, which are not based on Christ
(Col 2:8). People prone to deception are
those who do not love the truth (2 Thess
2:10). Without a heart to search the truth
and a strong foundation of faith, people
are tossed and carried about by every
wind of doctrine, dishonesty, deceit, and
cunningness (Eph 4:14). If we believe in
collective human values only, and do not
have any anchor of faith to adhere to, we
stand on shaky ground.
全部這些欺騙的手段，都有一個共同的特色 -
他們的特色就是由假知先所行出來的假神蹟奇事，
(太 24：24)
惡人的欺騙，
(提後 3：13)
哲學和虛空妄言的期騙，這一切都不是在基督裡有所根據。
(歌 2：8)
會受到欺騙的人，都是那些不愛真理的人。
(帖後 2：10)
若沒有心要尋求真理，或是沒有信仰上堅固的根基，
就會有人被各種其他教義，不誠實的事，欺哄和詭計所動搖。
(弗 4：14)
若我們只相信人類集體的價值觀，
沒有任何的信仰可以依靠，
那麼我們就像我們站在鬆軟的土地上。
We are brought up in the， current
world of scientific rationality.
We do not take old wives’ tales in
trust anymore; we want to reserve
our judgment, experience and try
for ourselves. Such skepticism and
experimenting also creep into our
trust in authority, such as parents,
political leaders and religion.
我們生長在現今科學理性掛帥的世界。
我們不再會相信那些老婦之間的閒言閒語；
我們都想要保有自已的判斷能力，讓自已體驗看看，試看看。
這種樣子的懷疑態度和實驗精神，也滲入了我們對權威主體的信任，
例如，父母，政治領導人，及宗教。
GOD’S WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER 神的話會永遠堅立
Contrary to the fleeting transition of
human values and ideas, the word of
God stands forever (Isa 40:8). It broke
into human history through God’s selfrevelation,
with the ultimate goal to
save mankind. We never have been
and never will be wise or intelligent
enough to find God. God has to
find us—all human interaction
with God begins with His
gracious move.
不同於人類價值觀和想法會快速的轉變，
神的話永遠堅立。
(賽 40：8)
透過神自已親自的啟示，神的話語穿透人類的歷史，
帶著要拯救人類的最終目標。
我們永遠不會找到神，
也永遠不會那麼聰明，或有足夠的智慧可以找到神。
是神要來找我們，全人類可以和神有所互動，
一開始都是因為祂賜下恩典，主動和我們接觸。
Abraham did not choose
to go to the promised land;
God showed him the way
(Gen 12:1). The prophets
did not imagine and
theorize God’s word; God
came and showed them His
word as well as visions (Isa
1:1; Amos 1:1). The Lord has
spoken, who will not prophesy
(Amos 3:8)?
亞伯拉罕並沒有選擇要去應許之地；
神指示他要走的路。
(創 12：1)
眾先知也沒有去想像，並且理論化神的話語；
神以前來了，告訴他們祂的話語，並且給他們看到異象。
(賽 1：1；摩 1：1)
神已經發言了，誰能不說預言呢？
(摩 3：8)
The otherness of God’s word
contrasts with the best that man
could offer. Man can say whatever he
likes, but there is no guarantee that it will
happen. God’s ways are higher than our
ways, and once spoken, His words will be
accomplished (Isa 55:8–11). Man himself
is like a flower and as grass (1 Pet 1:24);
but for God, even His word is eternal
(Isa 40:8). Therefore, Jesus declared,
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but
My words will by no means pass away”
(Mk 13:31; Lk 21:33; Mt 24:35).
在神話語表面之下所隱念的其他意義，
與人所能提出最好的事物相比，是完全不一樣的。
人們可以說任何他愛說的話，
但卻不能保証一定會發生。
神所用的方式，是一定比人的方法更高更好，
神一旦說出的話，就一定會被成全。
(賽 55：8-11)
人類本身就像如原野上的花草一樣；
(彼前 1：24)
但是對神而言，即使是祂所說的話，也能永遠堅立。
(賽 40：8)
所以耶穌大聲疾呼，
35天地要廢去，我的話卻不能廢去。
(可 13：31；路 21：33；太 24：35)
THE ETERNAL WORD AND THE
IMMUTABLE GOD
永生的道及不變的神
The eternal nature of God’s word rests
upon an unchanging God. The LORD is
the true God; He is living and everlasting
(Jer 10:10). Unlike great philosophers and
teachers in the past, God lives forever.
The psalmist links God’s eternity with
His immutability and contrasts it to the
transience and changeability of men (Ps
102:26–27)—men shall become old like
a garment, but God is always the same.
He does not change in mind or interest
(Ps 89:34; 2 Cor 1:17–20), an attribute
that accords with His omniscience. As He
continued to inspire the Bible penmen
over thousands of years, the message is
consistent, coherent and unfailing (2 Pet
1:21), for right from the start, He saw
through the full length of time. For this
reason, His word is absolute.
聖經永恒的特質，其實都來自於不變的神。
主是真神；祂是活神，永遠存在。
(耶 10：10)
不像過去的那些偉大哲學家和大教育家一樣，
神永遠長存。
詩人把神不變性的永恆特性，
和人的短暫性及變動性，作了比喻和比較。
(詩 102：25-27)
人像一件衣服一樣會變老，但是神永遠都不變。
神的意念和意向永不改變，
(詩 89：34；林後 1：17-20)
因為這是根據祂全知而來的特性。
從整個幾千年之中，祂一直來啟示那些下筆書寫聖經的人，
所傳達的信息是有一致性的，是連貫的，是永不落空的，
(彼後 1：21)
並且從一開始寫下第一句開始，到最後，都是如此。
祂可以看透整個時間的長度。
因為這個原因，祂的話語才是絕對的。
Even if men deny God, He cannot deny
Himself (2 Tim 2:13). His love towards
His chosen people endures forever (Ps
118:1–4; 136:16). Despite many twists
and turns in the history of His chosen
people, God never forsook them (1 Sam
12:22) because His love never changes
(Mal 3:6). God prepared our salvation
even before the foundation of the world
(Eph 1:3–4)—a mystery concealed
in ancient prophecies (1 Pet 10–12).
Today, the mystery of Christ is revealed
through the gospel (Eph 3:5,7 cf. Rom
16:25), which is “the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes”
(Rom 1:16). The omniscient God is able
to fulfill His faithful word (Ps 119:86)
uttered long ago.
即使人們否定了神，祂還是不能否定自已。
(提後 2：13)
祂對選民的慈愛永遠存在。
(詩 118…1-4；136：16)
雖以選民在歷史上，一路上曲曲折折，有好多次的轉變，
神卻永不放棄他們，
(撒上 12：22)
因為祂的愛永不改變。
(瑪 3：6)
神為我們準備了救贖，即使在世界的根基立定之前 -
(弗 1：3-4)
這是在古時預言中所隱藏的奧秘。
(彼前 10-12)
今日，基督的奧秘已經透過福音而揭露了，
(弗 3：5，7，參考，羅 16：25)
16這福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的。
(羅 1：16)
全知的神是一定可以成就祂很久之前就說的信實話語。
(詩 119；86)
HOLD ON TO THE PATTERN OF
FAITH
持守信仰的規模
The unchanging will of God is subsumed
in the person and word of Jesus (1 Pet
1:25). He is the only way to God (Jn 14:6),
and the way to salvation that was once for
all delivered to the saints (cf. Jud 1:3). The
word of God is complete; there is no need
for addition or subtraction (Rev 22:18; cf.
Gal 1:8). God may inspire individuals to
have a better understanding of the Bible,
but fresh insights must not give rise to
new interpretations that contradict and
move away from foundational truths.
耶穌的人和所說的話，都包括了神永不改變的旨意。
(彼前 1：25)
耶穌是通往神的唯一道路，
(約 14：6)
只此一次就完成全部的救贖之道，被交付給眾聖徒。
(猶 1：3)
神的話是完全的；
不需要增加或刪減。
(啟 22：18；參考，加 1：8)
神或許會再啟示個人，來讓聖經可以為人作更清楚的了解，
但是人肉體的領悟，一定不可能會導致出很多新的解釋，
而這些新的解釋卻和原本最根本的真理，
有所矛盾，或是從原本的道理偏離。
God’s word needs to be “delivered”,
“received” and “held fast to” (Tit 1:9).
Indeed, God expects us to pass on
the pattern of sound words from one
generation to the other. Paul left us a good
example: He delivered to the Corinthians
what he had received (1 Cor 15:3)—the
gospel that forms the foundation of faith
and the means to salvation (1 Cor 15:1–
2). As God’s workers we need to deliver
the word faithfully, without addition and
adulteration to suit personal preference
and interpretations or to satisfy our
vanity.
神的話，會被"交付"，"領受"和"堅定住"。
(多 1：9)
是的，神希望我們可以一代一代的，
把這健全道理的規模傳承下去。
保羅留給我們很好的榜樣：
祂把自已領受的真理，傳給哥林多教會的人 -
(林前 15：3)
而他領受的就是 - 建構信仰根基和通往得救之道的福音。
(林前 15：1-2)
身為神的工人，我們要忠實地把神的話傳承下去，
不能有任何增加，用滲雜的道理來符合個人的喜好，
個人的新解釋，或是用來滿足個人的虛榮。
If we are on the receiving end
we should accept the word of
God with faith, without any
doubt and reservation. We
should not change God’s
word or interpret it our own
way to accommodate our
weaknesses. Once received,
we should treasure it. Paul
exhorted Timothy to hold
fast to the word of God in
faith and love (2 Tim 1:13),
and to guard it with the help
of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 1:14).
Moreover, we need to share and
deliver the word to faithful men (2
Tim 2:2).
若我們是身處於接受道理的人，
就應該用信心領受神鬥話，
不要有任何懷疑和保留。
我們不可改變神的話，
或是用我們的方法，來加以解釋，
用這新解釋來彌補自已的弱點。
一旦領受了真道，就應該好好的珍惜。
保羅勸告提摩太，要用信心和愛心，來堅守神的話，
(提後 1：13)
用聖靈的幫助來好好守住真道。
(提後 1：14)
不僅如此，我們更要把這神的話語，
和忠心的人好好分享，並把這道交付給他。
CONCLUSION 結論
Even in the best of all possible (human)
worlds, individuals can be mistaken.
When a former gold standard cannot
account for new observations, new
theories replace the old one. Science is
basically empirical. Theories are valid until
they are no longer able to explain new
observations.
即使在這一切都可能的世界中(人定勝天)，
個人還是會犯錯。
當以前的金標準不能來解釋新的現象時，
就會有新的理論來取代舊的理論。
科學的原則基本上是要實際証明。
理論會一直有效，直到不再可以解釋新的現象。
If truth is relative, then absolute right
and wrong become doubtful. If truth is
relative, there would be only subjective
and indefinite answers for the purpose
and meaning of life. God has already
provided the absolute answers to life’s
most fundamental questions. Therefore,
true believers should not put their trust
on the shaky ground of empirical sciences
and philosophies.
若真理是相對性質的，那麼絕對的對與錯就變得令人懷疑。
若真理是相對性質的，將會有許多主觀和無限個答案可以解釋生命的目標和意義。
神已經提供回答生命中，那一些最根本問題絕對的答案。
所以真正相信的人，就不會去信賴那些實証科學和哲學，
那些會鬆動基礎。
Jesus emphatically pronounced that He
is the way, the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but by Him (Jn 14:6).
God has offered us His word, which is in
Jesus (Eph 4:21)—the unchanging truth
that abides forever.
耶穌斷然地宣佈，
6耶穌說我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉著我，沒有人能到父那裡去。
(約 14：6)
神已經賞賜祂的話語，就是耶穌所說的話 -
(弗 4：21)
永遠同在永不改變的真理。
In the last days, many false prophets
and false teachers will rise up among
us who secretly bring out destructive
heresies (2 Pet 2:1). Their messages are
very persuasive, logical sounding and
enticing. However, as lovers of the truth
we will be able to discern what is right or
wrong. We should therefore reaffirm our
trust in the unchanging word of God. If
we hold on to the sound pattern of faith,
which has been once and for all delivered
to us, we will be able to pass on and
safeguard the precious truth of salvation
for future generations.
在末後的日子裡，許多假先知，假教師會在我們之間興起來，
他們私自引進陷害人的異端。
(彼後 2：1)
他們所傳講的訊息，聽起來很有說服力，
聽起來邏輯上也很正常，很吸引人。
然而，身為喜愛真理的人，
我們就會能夠分辯什麼是對的，什麼是錯的。
所以，我們應該再次確認自已對神話語的永不改變，有所信靠。
若我們堅守住信仰上純正話語的規模，
這真理已經一勞永逸，一次就全部完整的交付給我們，
我們就能傳承下去，為了未來的新一代，
好好守住這珍貴的救贖真理。
1 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1403106/
One-third-of-clergy-do-not-believe-in-the-Resurrection.
html
1. 神職人員卻不信人的調查和報導
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)