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约翰慕理《罗马人书注释》卷2_12(罗9:15-17)

主讲:林慈信牧师_校对:刘加立弟兄_英文:Cherry姐妹_文字:丽燕姐妹

Epistle to the Romans Volume 2 Session 12《罗马人书注释》卷二第12讲

我们上一讲开始讲了第九章的14-16节,我们现在继续。我们看到保罗回答上帝是不是公义这个问题的时候,祂就引用旧约就满足了。我们这样看到保罗看圣经的地位、圣经的权威是多么的高。He quotes from Exodus 33:19。保罗引用了出埃及记第33章第19节。

我们来读一读出埃及记第33:12-19:摩西对耶和华说:“你吩咐我说:‘将这百姓领上去’,却没有叫我知道你要打发谁与我同去。只说:‘我按你的名认识你,你在我眼前也蒙了恩’。我如今若在你眼前蒙恩,求你将你的道指示我,使我可以认识你,好在你眼前蒙恩,求你想到这民是你的民。”耶和华说:“我必亲自和你同去,使你得安息。”摩西说:“你若不亲自和我同去,就不要把我们从这里领上去。人在何事上得以知道我和你的百姓在你眼前蒙恩呢?岂不是因你与我们同去,使我和你的百姓与地上的万民有分别吗?”耶和华对摩西说:“你这所求的我也要行,因为你在我眼前蒙了恩,并且我按你的名认识你。”摩西说:“求你显出你的荣耀给我看。”耶和华说:“我要显我一切的恩慈,在你面前经过,宣告我的名。我要恩待谁,就恩待谁;要怜悯谁,就怜悯谁。”

This is God’s answer to Moses’s request “show me, I pray thee, Thy glory” (verse 18)上帝在第19节回答摩西的要求,就是“求你显出你的荣耀”but perhaps of greater relevance 但是更重要的是 to the anxiety of Moses expressed in verses 13-16 that he should find favor in God’s sight and that God’s presence would prove that Israel were God’s people separate from all other people upon the face of the earth. 更重要的是,上帝回答摩西的焦虑,这个在第13-16节能够看出,摩西很担心祂是否在上帝的眼前蒙恩,上帝是否与以色列人同在,这样子来证明以色列是上帝的子民,与地上所有其他的民族是不同的。

Although Paul quotes this word without in any way restricting its application to the question as at issue,the force is increased when we take into account the particular occasion on which it was spoken. 保罗虽然引用了这话,而一点都没有限制上帝的话语对保罗当前讨论的问题的应用,但是我们若考虑到原来的上帝的话的处境,就更加能够体会这话的意义的。The favor shown to Moses is thereby certified to proceed from God’s sovereign mercy. 这个上帝所讲的话,证实了上帝对摩西的恩宠是源自上帝主权的怜悯。Even Moses and with him God’s people can lay no claim to any favor;it is altogether a matter of God’s free choice and bestowment. 摩西和上帝的子民都没有任何权利使他们必然的领受上帝的恩宠,这是上帝主权的选择和所赐下的恩典。

It is not necessary to press the distinction between the two terms “have mercy” and “have compassion”. 我们不必区别“怜悯”和“恩待”。There are two emphases in the text. 经文要强调的有两点。The first is the reality, the security and the effectiveness of God’s mercy. 首先是要强调上帝怜悯的真实性、坚定性和有效性。This is accented by the two parallel clauses, 这个由两个平衡相应的从句显明出来, the one expressing His favor in terms of mercy,the other in terms of compassion. 一个从句表达了上帝怜悯的恩宠,另一个从句表达了恩慈。The second emphasis is primary. 而第二个强调是主要的。It is not so well expressed in English unless we render “on whom” as “on whomsoever”,accentuating God’s free and sovereign choice. 英文翻译不容易翻译出原意,我们应该这样翻译:“在任何的人身上”,上帝愿意在任何的人身上恩待他们,就在“任何的人”身上恩待他们,为了要凸显出上帝主权的拣选。

In this context we may not tone down the soteric import. 在这段经文里面,我们不可以冲淡恩待和怜悯的救赎性的意义。This is Paul’s answer to the question of justice that arises from the sovereign discrimination on God’s part on which Paul had based his argument in verses 6-13. 保罗在这里回答,因为上帝主权的区分所引起的问题,就是上帝是否公义的问题,而上帝主权的区分,乃是根据保罗在第6-13节的论证。This differentiation as shown above is concerned with the realization of God’s covenant promise in those who are the beneficiaries of the election of grace. 正如我们在上文指出,上帝这个的区分是与上帝实现祂的约里面的应许是有关的,上帝要在祂的恩典的拣选的受惠者身上实现祂的约里的应许。

我再说一次,上帝要在谁身上实现祂的约里的应许呢?就是那些祂开恩拣选的人身上。If lesser import were given to the mercy and compassion of God,the apostle’s answer would fall short of the question with which he is dealing. 上帝的怜悯和恩慈的意义若比救赎是更含糊的话,保罗的回答就没有处理他在讨论的问题了。

The all-important aspect of verse 15 is 第15节至为重要的事实,乃是 that in support of the “God forbid” of verse 14 the mercy of God is not a matter of justice to those who are partakers of it but altogether of free and sovereign grace. 为了要指出第14节的“断乎不可”,为了要支持这个14节的“断乎不可”,保罗说上帝的怜悯对那些受惠者,不是一件公义的事,而是完全出于上帝自由的、主权的恩典。This is true whether the mercy be viewed as the theocratic election of Israel to covenant privileges or, in terms of what is the apostle’s particular interest, as the mercy that is unto salvation. 无论我们看上帝的怜悯是上帝的神治制度里面拣选以色列民族享受约里的特权,还是说根据保罗这里所特定关注的,是指使人得救的怜悯,总之上帝主权的怜悯都是事实。Justice presupposes rightful claims, 施行公义的前提,是受惠者是有一些权利,使他们有权领取一些好处, and mercy can be operative only where no claim of justice exists. 而怜悯的运行,必定是在没有权利领取公义的情况中运行的。

Since mercy alone is the constraining consideration,既然催逼上帝的考虑唯独是怜悯,the only explanation is God’s free and sovereign determination. 唯一能够解释怜悯的原因,就是上帝祂的自由的主权的决定。He hath mercy as He pleases。祂随己意施怜悯。This is the emphasis of Exodus 33:19这个是出埃及记33:19节所强调的and to this Paul makes his definitive appeal. 保罗在这里决定性地诉诸于这段经文的。Back of this thesis is the polemic of the apostle in the earlier part of the epistle for the principle of grace. 在这个论点的背后,就是保罗在罗马书前文为证实恩典这个原则所做出的争辩。

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Verse 16 can be regarded as the inference drawn from Scripture quoted in verse 15。第16节我们可以这样来理解,这个是为了第15节引用的经文所引出的推论but it is preferably regarded as a statement of what is involved in the truth just asserted. 但是,可能更好的理解是保罗在这里(第16节)说出前文所宣称的真理所牵连到的事。The relation would then be as follows:那么这个前文跟这一节之间的关系乃是: if God hath mercy on whomsoever He will,“then it is not of him that willeth,nor of him that runneth,but of God that hath mercy”. 上帝若是要怜悯谁就怜悯谁,那么就不在乎那定意的,也不在乎那奔跑的,乃是在乎那位施怜悯的上帝。The emphasis falls here on the exclusion of man’s determination as a negative counterpart to God’s exercise of mercy. 保罗这里强调的是,人的决定被排除了,这个是与上帝施行怜悯相反的、与祂对照的The first negation refers to human volition, 第一个否定是指人的意志,the determination belonging to  man’s will; 就是人的意志的决定; the second refers to man’s active exertion. 第二个否定,就是不在乎奔跑的,是指人竭力的行为。

我们看一些的经文:Refer to certain passages:1 Cor. 9 : 24 ,26 哥林多前书第九章24和26节:岂不知在场上赛跑的都跑,但得奖赏的只有一人?你们也当这样跑,好叫你们得着奖赏。26所以我奔跑,不像无定向的;我斗拳,不像打空气的。Galatians 2:2 加拉太书第二章第二节:我是奉启示上去的,把我在外邦人中所传的福音对弟兄们陈说,却是背地里对那有名望之人说的,唯恐我现在或者从前徒然奔跑。Galatians chapter 5 verse 7 加拉太书第五章第七节:你们向来跑得好,有谁拦阻你们,叫你们不顺从真理呢?Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 希伯来书第十二章第一节:我们既有这许多的见证人,如同云彩围着我们,就当放下各样的重担,脱去容易缠累我们的罪,存心忍耐,奔那摆在我们面前的路程

The mercy of God is not an attainment gained by the most diligent labor to that end but a free bestowal of grace. 上帝的怜悯不是通过人勤奋的努力的结果,乃是祂自由的、主权的所施予的恩典。No statement could be more antithetic to what accrues from claims of justice or as the awards of labor. 没有其他的说法,更加与有权领取公义或者工作的报酬更加的势不两立的与上帝的怜悯对立了。

Romans 9 :17-18 罗马书第九章第17节和第18节:17  For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might shew in thee My power, and that My name might be published abroad in all the earth. 我们读新译本:经上有话对法老说:“我把你兴起来,是要借着你显出我的大能,并且使我的名传遍全地。”18  So then He hath mercy on whom He will, and whom He will He hardeneth。这样看来,祂愿意怜悯谁就怜悯谁,愿意叫谁刚硬就叫谁刚硬。

Here another proof from Scripture is introduced. 保罗在这里提出另一个源自经文的证据。The most distinctive feature of this passage is that it expressly mentions the opposite of mercy. 这段经文最突出的特点是,它明文提到怜悯的相反,就是叫人刚硬。Verses 15, 16 had referred only to the exercise of mercy。而第15,16节只提到上帝施行怜悯。If all men were the recipients of this mercy there would be no interference with the sovereignty of His exercise. 全人类若都是这个怜悯的受惠者,就没有什么会与上帝施行怜悯的主权发生冲突了。It would have been of God’s free choice that He determined to make all men its beneficiaries. 上帝若决定要全人类都是怜悯的受惠者,是祂自由主权的选择。

We could not but think, however, of differentiation in the bestowal of mercy in such a context as this because it is with such the apostle is dealing. 但是,在这个情况里面,我们就很自然会想到,上帝在施行怜悯的时候,在受惠者上是有区别的,因为保罗这里在讨论的就是这个上帝施行怜悯的事。So in this second appeal to Scripture the negative of mercy is expressly stated–所以在这里,当保罗第二次诉诸经文的时候,他直截了当地表达了与怜悯相反的是–“whom He will He hardeneth”(verse 18). 就是“祂要叫谁刚硬,就叫谁刚硬”(第18节)。

The sovereignty of which the apostle is speaking is, therefore, not an abstract sovereignty因此,保罗这里所讨论到的上帝的主权,不是一个抽象的主权的概念but that which was concretely exemplified in the history connected with Moses in a twofold exercise of this determinative will of God, “he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth”. 不是一个抽象的主权的概念,乃是在摩西时期的历史具体表现出来的主权,上帝在两方面使用了祂预定的旨意,“祂要向谁施怜悯就向谁施怜悯,要叫谁的心刚硬就叫谁的心刚硬”。

In view of the sustained emphasis on the free, sovereign will of God,we must recognize that this sovereignty is just as inviolate in the hardening as it is in showing mercy.保罗既然不断的强调上帝的自由主权的旨意,我们就必须要看到,这个主权在使人刚硬上和施怜悯一样,是一个不可侵犯的主权。Otherwise the relevance to the subject in hand would be impaired. 不然的话,会影响它与当下讨论的问题的关系的。This is but another way of saying that the sovereignty of God is ultimate in both cases and as ultimate in the negative as in the positive. 换言之,上帝在两件事情上的主权都是至高的主权,就是使人刚硬或者施怜悯,在负面和正面上,上帝的主权都是最高的。

The way in which the instance of Pharaoh is introduced is again significant for the apostle’s use of Scripture. 再次说,保罗如何引进法老王的事,对保罗如何引用旧约圣经是非常的重要的。The words quoted are the word of God spoken to Pharaoh through Moses. 所引用的是上帝的话,是上帝借着摩西向法老所讲的话。But here the formula is not “he saith”, as in verse 15,但这里的说法不是“祂说”好像第15节一样,but “the Scripture saith”,乃是“圣经说”,indicating that this has the same effect as “God saith”. 这就指出,圣经说就等于上帝说,是同样的意思的。

The word quoted (Exodus 9:16) is that spoken through Moses after the sixth plague,that of boils upon men and beast. 这里引的话(是出埃及记第九章16节)是在第六灾之后,透过摩西说的,预言了人和动物都要生出起泡的脓疮来。In view of the preceding verse (Exodus 9:15),the verse quoted could be understood of the preservation of Pharaoh from being cut off from the earth in that particular instance by the pestilence of boils. 根据前一节(就是出埃及记九章15节),这句引用的话可以这样来理解,上帝会借着脓疮这个灾来保存着法老王的性命,叫他不从地上被灭绝掉。But the term that Paul uses here, “raise up”, is one that is used in the Greek Old Testament in the sense of raising up on a scene of history for a particular purpose. 但是保罗所用的词汇,“兴起”,是希腊文旧约圣经所用到的,意思就是说在历史上为了一个特定的目标兴起一个人。

我们来读一些引用的经文:Refer to certain passages:Numbers 24:19 民数记24章第19节:有一位出于雅各的必掌大权,祂要除灭城中的余民。2 Samuel 12:11 撒母耳记下第12章第11节:耶和华如此说:“我必从你家中兴起祸患攻击你,我必在你眼前把你的妃嫔赐给别人,祂在日光之下就与她们同寝。”Job 5:11 约伯记5章第11节:将卑微的安置在高处,将哀痛的举到稳妥之处。Habakkuk 1:6 哈巴谷书第一章第六节:我必兴起迦勒底人,就是那残忍暴躁之民,通行遍地,占据那不属自己的住处。Finally Zechariah 11:16 最后是撒迦利亚书第11章第16节:因我要在这地兴起一个牧人,祂不看顾丧亡的,不寻找分散的,不医治受伤的,也不牧养强壮的,却要吃肥羊的肉,撕裂它的蹄子。上帝兴起一个人,为了要在历史上成就一个目的的。

So, with many commentators, the quotation is best taken here as referring to the position Pharaoh occupied by the providence of God on the scene of history and to the role he played in connection with the redemption of Israel from Egypt. 因此我们与很多解经家一样,这样来理解这段所引用的经文,是指法老在上帝在历史中的护理所安排的地位,是指法老祂在上帝救以色列人出埃及的事情上要扮演的角色。

我们下次继续来讲,上帝兴起法老这件事情。

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