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末世论_03 导言(续);个人末世论

Doctrine of the last things,Session 3末世论第三讲

主讲:林慈信牧师_校对:刘加立弟兄_英文:陈弟兄_中文:自由的荣耀弟兄

我们开始了末世论与系统神学其他的题目之间的正确的关系是什么。我们上一讲说,凯伯这样说,凯伯说:“every other locus”系统神学所有其他的题目——神论、人论等等,left some question unanswered,还是留了一些的还没有回答的问题。to which eschatology should supply the answer.这些问题由末世论来提供答案的。In theology it is the question,how God is finally perfectly glorified in the work of His hands’,在神论留下的问题就是,上帝怎么样最后地、完全地透过他手所做的工作得荣耀,and how the counsel of God is fully realized;而上帝永恒的计划又怎么样完全地实现。

in anthropology,在人论留下的问题是,the question,how the disrupting influence of sin is completely overcome; 罪恶破坏宇宙的影响是怎么完全地被克服。当然,这个就包括了苦难、病痛、战争、环境污染等等。

in christology,the question,在“基督论”剩下的问题是,how the work of Christ is crowned with perfect victory; 基督的救赎大工又是怎么样以一个完全的胜利作为冠冕呢?

in soteriology,the question,在“救赎论”留下的问题是,how the work of the Holy Spirit at last issues in the complete redemption and glorification of the people of God;留下的问题是,圣灵的工作怎么最后最后带来整个上帝子民完全得救赎,完全得荣耀。

and in ecclesiology,the question而在“教会论”的问题是,of the final apotheosis of the Church.问题就是,教会怎么样让上帝完全被彰显,达到最高的尊荣。

All these questions must find their answer in the last locus of dogmatics,making it the real capstone of dogmatic theology. 这一切问题的答案,必须在“教义学”最后的“末世论”这个主题里面找到答案。因此,“末世论”是教义神学的最重要的,或者是房角石。Haering testifies to the same fact when he says: Haering这位作者见证这个事实的,他说:”As a matter of fact it (eschatology) does shed a clear light upon every single section of doctrine. 事实上“末世论”照亮每一个其他的教义。

Is the universality of God’s saving plan,is personal communion with a personal God asserted without reserve,上帝的救赎计划是否宇宙性的呢?与一位活的上帝亲自有交通关系,可否毫无保留地宣称呢?is the permanent significance of the Redeemer upheld,我们是否坚持着,我们救赎主有着永久性的重要性呢?is forgiveness of sin conceived as one with victory over the power of sin罪得赦免,是否意味着完全胜过罪的权势呢?

on these points在这些的问题上,the eschatology must remove all doubt,“末世论”必须除去所有的疑问,even when indefinite statements which have been made in the preceding parts could not at once be recognized as such.虽然,在其他的教义的部分做出一些不肯定的断言,我们没有办法马上就看出毫无疑问的一些的答案。Nor is it difficult to discover the reason of this.事实上,为什么是如此呢?原因不难发现。

In the doctrine of the last things,在末世论里,the communion between God and man is set forth as completed,上帝与人的交通,是已经完成了,and therefore the idea of our religion,the Christian principle,is presented in its purity;因此,我们整个宗教的概念、基督教的语言,就是人与人之间的交通在一个最纯洁的形式呈现出来了。not,however,as a mere idea而这个不光光是一个概念而已,in the sense of an ideal which is never completely realized,就是说,不是一个理想状态而从来不实现的,不是的!but as perfect reality 乃是一个毫无瑕疵的实在,神与人交通。and it is clear what difficulties are implied in that.很清楚的,这里意味着什么的难题。It must therefore appear at last,in the presentment of eschatology,if not sooner,whether the reality of this communion with God has received its unrestricted due.”所以呢,我们在提出末世论的时候,甚至乎更早的时候呢,必须要看到这个与上帝的交通,这个实在性,是否毫不保留地、毫无限制地被呈现出来?

D.本章的第四部分:The Name “Eschatology.”末世论这个名字。

Various names have been applied to the last locus of dogmatics,教义学最后的题目呢,有不同的名称,of which de Novissimis or Eschatology is the most common.英文“Eschatology”,还有“ Novissimis”是最普遍的。Kuyper uses the term Consummatione Saeculi.凯伯用的题目是“世界的终结”(The Consummation of the world)。The name “eschatology” is based on those passages of Scripture that speak of “the last days (eschatai hemerai),“Eschatology”(末世论)这个字是根据圣经讲到末日的那些的经文,Is. 2:2; Mic. 4:1,(以赛亚书二章2节;弥迦书四章第1节)

以赛亚书二章2节:末后的日子,耶和华殿的山必坚立,超乎诸山,高举过于万岭。万民都要流归这山。弥迦书四章1节,同样的:末后的日子,耶和华殿的山必坚立,超乎诸山,高举过于万岭。万民都要流归这山。Or the last time (eschatos ton chronon),或者是末后的时候,最后的时候last time,I Pet 1:20,彼得前书一章20节:基督在创世以前,是预先被上帝知道的,却在这末世(last time末后的时间),才为你们显现。and “the last hour,” (eschate hora),或者是最后的时刻,I John 2:18,约翰一书二章18节:小子们哪,如今是末时了。last days最后的日子,last time末后的时间,last hour末后的时刻,这些经文。It is true that these expressions sometimes refer to the whole New Testament dispensation,不错,有的时候,这些经文呢,是指整个新约的时期,but even so they embody an eschatoIogical idea.就算是如此,“eschatoIogical”出现的这些的经文呢,是承载着一个末世论的概念的。Old Testament prophecy distinguishes only two periods,旧约的先知预言呢,只区分这两段时期,namely,”this age”and “the coming age”,就是这个世代和将要来的世代,olam hazzeh,还有ollam habba

Since the prophets represent the coming of the Messiah and the end of the world as coinciding,先知们既然看弥赛亚的到来和世界末了是同时发生的,the “last days”那么末日呢?are the days immediately preceding both the coming of the Messiah and the end of the world.那么末日就是在弥赛亚的来临和世界末了之前的那段时间。They nowhere draw a clear line of distinction between a first and a second coming of the Messiah.先知们的预言从来没有区分弥赛亚第一次来和弥赛亚的第二次再来。

In the New Testament,however,it becomes perfectly evident,但是,在新约就很清楚地明显说到,that the coming of the Messiah is twofold,弥赛亚的来到是分两段的,and that the Messianic age includes two stages,所以,弥赛亚的时期也分两个阶段,the present Messianic age目前弥赛亚的时代,and the future consummation.还有末日的将来的终结。Consequently,结果是,the New Testament dispensation may be regarded under two different aspects.新约的时期,可以用两个不同的层面来看待。

If the attention is fixed on the future coming of the Lord,假如,我们专注于主将来的再来,and all that precedes it is considered as belonging to “this age,”而主再来之前一切的事情是属于这个时代的话呢,then New Testament believers are regarded as living on the eve of that important event,the Lord’s return in glory and the final consummation.若是如此呢,新约时期的信徒们,就是活在末世这个重要的事件的前夕,就是主在荣耀中要再来,一切都要终结,这件事情之前。

If,on the other hand,反过来说,the attention is centered on the first coming of Christ,我们若专注于基督第一次的来到,it is natural to consider the believers of this dispensation as already,though only in principle,living in the future age. 那么很自然的,我们会看新约的这个时期的信徒们呢,是已经活在未来的时代,虽然只是原则性的地活在未来的时代里面。This representation of their condition is not uncommon in the New Testament.在新约我们不难找到,对于信徒们两方面的情况的表述。

The Kingdom of God is already present,上帝的国是已经来到的,eternal life is realized in principle,永生原则上已经实现了,the Spirit is the earnest of the heavenly inheritance,圣灵是将来天上的产业的的质、凭据,and believers are already seated with Christ in heavenly places.信徒已经在天上与基督同坐。But while some of the eschatological realities are thus projected into the present,但是,虽然有一些的末世的事实是投射到现在,they are not fully realized 他们不是完全地实现了,until the time of the future consummation. 乃是要直到将来的终结的时候才完全实现的。

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And when we speak of “eschatology,” we have in mind more particularly the facts and events that are connected with the second coming of Christ,而当我们说到末世论的时候呢,我们所想到的是,特别那些与基督第二次来有关的事实跟事件,and that will mark the end of the present dispensation那么就标志着现今的时代的结束,and will usher in the eternal glories of the future.而将来永恒的荣耀就必展开了。

E.本章的第五部分:The Contents of Eschatology:末世论的内容:General and Individual Eschatology.一般性的末世论与个人的末世论。

  1. General Eschatology一般性的末世论

The name “eschatology” calls attention to the fact“末世论”这个词要我们注意一个事实就是,that the history of the world and of the human race will finally reach its consummation.这件事就是,世界的历史和人类的历史最后会达到它的终点。It is not an indefinite and endless process,人类和世界历史不是一个不确定的、毫无终止的一个的过程,but a real history它们是一个真正的历史,moving on to a divinely appointed end.一直朝着一个上帝所指定的终点前进的。

According to Scripture 根据圣经,that end will come as a mighty crisis,这个终结是一个伟大的危机事件来到,and the facts and events associated with this crisis form the contents of eschatology.而与这个的危机有关的事实跟事件,就是末世论要处理的内容。Strictly speaking,严格来说,they also determine its limits. 这些事件也决定了末世论的界限。But because other elements’ may be included under the general head,可是因为还有其他的因素也可以放在末世论的大主题里面,it is customary to speak of the series of events that is connected with the return of Jesus Christ and the end of the world as constituting general eschatology,所以习惯性呢,我们说,耶稣基督的再来和世界末日有关的这些事情,我们说这些是属于一般性的末世论的。an eschatology in which all men are concerned.这个是关乎全人类的事。

The subjects that call for consideration in this division,are在这个一般性的末世论范围里面,考虑的题目乃是,the return of Christ,基督的再来,the general resurrection,人类普遍的复活,the last judgment,最后的审判,the consummation of the Kingdom,天国的结束,and the final condition of both the pious and the wicked.最后就是敬虔的人和恶人最后的状态。这个是一般性的末世论。

  1. Individual Eschatology个人的末世论。

Besides this general,there is also an individual,eschatology that must be taken into consideration. 除了这个一般性的末世论,还有一个必须要考虑到的,就是个人的末世论。The events named may constitute the whole of eschatology in the strict sense of the word,个人末世论里面的题目,严格来说就是末世论的全部,yet we cannot do justice to this without showing how the generations who have died will participate in the final events.可是呢,我们若没有考虑到以前已经死去的世世代代,又怎么在这些最后的事情上有份呢?就对末世论不公允的。

For the individual the end of the present existence comes with death,对个人来说,现今的存在是以死亡结束的,which transfers him completely from the present into the future age.他就从现今的世代完全被转移到未来的世代 。In so far as he is removed from the present age with its historical development,他既然从现今的世代,就是有历史发展的新世代,已经挪去了,he is introduced into the future age,which is eternity.他就进入到未来的世代,也就是说进入到永恒。

In the same measure in which there is a change in locality,在什么程度上,在地点方面有转移了,there is also a change of aeon.在什么程度上,也有一个世代性的转移。The things touching the condition of the individual between his death and the general resurrection,在个人的死之后,人类复活之前,这段时期有什么事情是影响到他的状态的,belong to personal or individual eschatology.这个是属于个人的末世论的范围。

Physical death,身体的死亡,the immortality of the soul,灵魂的不灭,and the intermediate condition 中介状态,call for discussion here. 这些都是个人末世论讨论的范围。The study of these subjects will serve the purpose of connecting up the condition of those who die before the parousia with the final consummation.讨论这些的题目呢,就帮助我们把那些在基督再来之前已经死了的人呢,与最后的末了连结起来。

第二章.个人末世论

Chapter II. (末世论的第二章)INDIVIDUAL ESCHATOLOGY个人的末世论

1.第一段:physical death肉体的死亡。

The Scriptural idea of death圣经对死亡的概念,includes physical,spiritual,and eternal death.包含了身体或者肉体的死亡、灵的死亡和永死。Physical and spiritual death are naturally discussed in connection with the doctrine of sin,身体的死亡和灵的死亡很自然地是与罪论有关的,在罪论里面讨论。and eternal death is considered more particularly in general eschatology. 而永死呢,特别在一般性的末世论这个范围里面会考虑到。

For that reason为了这个缘故呢,a discussion of death in any sense of the word might seem to be out of place in individual eschatology.因此呢,在任何的意义上来讨论死呢,好像不适合在个人的末世论的范围里。Yet it can hardly be left out of consideration altogether in an attempt to link up past generations with the final consummation.可是呢,我们不能不考虑到死的意义的,因为我们要把过去已经死的世世代代的人与最后的终结状态要连接起来。

  1. The Nature of Physical Death. 肉体死亡(身体死亡)的性质。

The Bible contains some instructive indications as to the nature of physical death.圣经论到身体死亡的本质呢,有一些教导是非常重要的。It speaks of this in various ways. 圣经用不同的方法来论肉体的死亡。In Matt. 10:28;马太第十章28节;and Luke 12:4,和路加福音十二章第4节, it is spoken of as the death of the body,as distinguished from that of the soul (psuche).死是被称为身体的死,死是被称为身体的死,有别于灵魂的死的。马太十章28:那杀身体不能杀灵魂的,不要怕他们;路加十二章4节:那杀身体以后,不能再做什么的,不要怕他们。身体的死、灵魂的死。

Here the body is considered as a living organism,这里,身体就是人的活着的有机体。and the psuche is evidently the pneuma of man,the spiritual element which is the principle of his natural life.而灵魂呢,或者魂呢?就是人的灵,就是人的属灵的要素,是他整个自然生命的动力,或者是原则。

我们下一讲呢,继续讲这一类的经文,还有其他种类的经文,是如何描述身体的死的。圣经的用法是很丰富、很有弹性的。所以,我们在这里研究死的时候,是非常重要的。我们要避开“人死如灯灭”这种的错误看法,死只不过是从整个人的存在的一种的形态,转移到另外一种的形态或者状态而已。

我们下一讲继续。

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