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约翰慕理《罗马人书注释》卷2_09(罗9:11-13)

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 9《罗马人书注释》卷二第九讲

我们继续讲上帝拣选的旨意,或者上帝拣选人的旨意,第九章第11节。我们上一讲了读了一些的经文,看到拣选这个字特别是动词 elect 在新约圣经最常出现的时候是指上帝拣选人得救的。

The verb “to elect” occurs frequently in Paul 拣选这个动词常常在保罗书信出现and probably Ephesians 1:4 is the only directly relevant passage where it refers unmistakably to soteric election. 那么以弗所书1:4节可能是最直接相关的一节的经文,毫无疑问的是在讲上帝救赎性的拣选。(以弗所书1:4节:就如上帝从创立世界以前,在基督里拣选了我们,使我们在他面前成为圣洁,无有瑕疵。;Also refer to Mark 13:20 and James 2:5 另外参考马可福音13:20:若不是主减少那日子,凡有血气的总没有一个得救的,只是为主的选民他将那日子减少了。James 2 :5 雅各书2:5节:我亲爱的弟兄们,请听,上帝岂不是拣选了世上的贫穷人,叫他们在信上富足…。)

This application of the term in its various forms to the election unto salvation makes it indefensible to understand it in another sense unless there is a compelling contextual reason. 圣经用这个字的不同形式指救赎性的拣选,因此除非经文上下文有冲突的理由,不然的话,若从其他意义上去理解拣选是没有圣经根据的。There is, secondly, the term “purpose”. 上帝拣选的旨意的第二个要考虑的词汇就是“旨意”这个词汇。This term when used with reference to God uniformly denotes the determinant will of God . 旨意若是指上帝的旨意统一的是指上帝所决定的,换言之上帝所预定的旨意的。

Romans 8:28 罗马书8:28:我们晓得万事都互相效力,叫爱上帝的人得益处,就是按他旨意被召的人。新译本:就是按他旨意蒙召的人。Ephesians 1:11 以弗所书1:11:我们也在他里面得了基业,这原是那位随己意行作万事的,照着他旨意所预定的。新译本:那凭着自己旨意所计划而行万事的,按照他预先所安排的,预定我们在基督里的基业。Ephesians 3:11 以弗所书3:11:这是照上帝从万世以前,在我们主基督耶稣里所定的旨意。新译本:这都是照着上帝在我们主基督耶稣里所成就的永恒的旨意。II Timothy 1:9 提摩太后书1:9:上帝救了我们,以圣召召我们,不是按我们的行为,乃是按他的旨意和恩典,这恩典是万古之先在基督耶稣里赐给我们的。新译本:上帝救了我们,以圣召呼召我们,不是按照我们的行为,却是按照他自己的计划(计划就是这个 purpose 旨意这个字,)和恩典,这恩典是在创世之先在基督耶稣里赐给了我们的。

Thus the whole expression means nothing less than the determinant will of God in election and all that is involved in the expression is confirmed by the verb of which it is the subject “might stand”. 因此整个的表述都是上帝拣选的旨意的意思就是上帝在拣选上所决定了的旨意,而这个表述所有所牵涉到的都由这个动词所证实,就是罗马书9:11这里的动词“被坚立”“坚定”“为了坚定”他拣选的旨意。

(ii)第二方面的资料:The thesis that Paul is dealing merely with the election of Israel collectively in applying the clause in question only to this feature of redemptive history would not meet the precise situation. 若认为保罗只是论到以色列民族被拣选而已,这个论点和把这个从句只用在救赎历史上以色列民族被拣选这个论点是并不能够应付保罗在这里所面对的情况的。The question posed for the apostle is 保罗所面对的问题是: how can the covenant promise of God be regarded as inviolate when the mass of those who belong to Israel, who are comprised in the elect nation in terms of the Old Testament passages cited above, have remained in unbelief and come short of the covenant promises? 这个问题是:当这么多的被拣选的民族的成员持续不信不实现约里所应许的,那么怎能认为上帝约里面的应许是不会废弃的呢?

His answer would fail if it were simply an appeal to the collective, inclusive, theocratic election of Israel. 保罗的回答若只是诉诸于以色列神治国家的群体性的被拣选的话,那他的答案是必然失败的。Such a reply would be no more than appeal to the fact that his kinsmen were Israelites and thus no more than a statement of the fact which, in view of the unbelief, created the problem. 这样的回答只不过诉诸于他的同胞是以色列人这个事实,只不过说出一个事实,而恰恰就是这个事实,从不信的角度来看,造成了保罗要面对的问题。

Paul’s answer is not a collective Israel election of Israel 保罗的回答不是以色列群体的被拣选了,but rather “they are not all Israel, who are of Israel”. 保罗回答乃是说出于以色列的人,不都是以色列人。And this means, in terms of the stage of discussion at which we have now arrived, “they are not all elect, who are of elect Israel”. 从我们讨论到了这个地步,从这一点来看,保罗的意思就是说“那些属于被拣选的以色列民的人不都是被拣选的”。

As we found above, 正如我们在上文看过, there is a distinction between Israel and the true Israel, between children and true children, between the seed and the true seed. 以色列与真以色列,子孙和真子孙,后裔和真后裔是有区别的。In such a distinction resides Paul’s answer to Israel’s unbelief. 保罗面对以色列人的不信这个问题所提出的回答就是做出这样的区别。So now the same kind of distinction must be carried through to the problem as it pertains to the collective, theocratic election of Israel. 因此现在我们必须把这个区别用在神治的以色列群体蒙拣选这个问题上。In terms of the debate we are now considering 针对我们目前的辩论 we should have to distinguish between the elect of Israel and elect Israel. 我们就必须区别以色列的选民和以色列民族。

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The conclusion, therefore, is 因此我们的结论是 that when Paul says “the purpose of God according to election” he is speaking of the electing purpose of God in a discriminating, differentiating sense that cannot apply to all who were embraced in the theocratic election. 当保罗论到上帝拣选的旨意的时候,他是指上帝拣选人的一个计划,有一种分辨性的意思,这个意思是不能用在神治国度的每一个人的身上的。(换言之In other words )This is to say the clause in question must have a restrictive sense equivalent to “Israel” as distinguished from “of Israel” in verse 6. 我们必须从狭义来理解目前在讨论的从句,从第六节中的以色列和出于以色列将有区别是一样的。

(iii)第三方面的资料:In Romans 11:5 and 7 在罗马书第11章第五节和第七节 the same term for election is again used: 保罗再次用拣选这个词;“a remnant according to the election of grace” (11:5; 11章第五节): 照着拣选的恩典,还有所留的余数 remnant; “the election obtained it and the rest were hardened ”(11:7) 以色列人所求的他们没有得着,唯有蒙拣选的得着了。(新译本:蒙拣选的人倒得着了,其余的人都成为顽固的。)

The apostle is dealing with a remnant of ethnic Israel who had obtained the righteousness of faith. 保罗这里所讨论的是那些得到信心之义,就是因信称义的,那些属于以色列民族的这些的余民。Hence the term “remnant” and “the election” are those conceived of as possessors and heirs of salvation. 所以余民和被拣选是指那些得到救恩,成为救恩的后嗣的人。The election, therefore, is one that has saving associations and implications in the strictest sense 因此在这里拣选是有着得救的狭义上的联想和含义的and must be distinguished from the election that belongs to Israel as a whole. 因此必须与拣选整个以色列民族是要区别的。It is this concept of election that accords with the requirement of Paul’s argument in 9:11 and its context. 唯有这个的拣选的观念符合保罗第九章11节的论点,而且唯有这个观点与上下文是一致的。Since it appears without question in 11:5,7, we have this additional confirmation derived from Paul’s own usage in the general context to which 9:11 belongs. 既然拣选毫无疑问的在第11章5,7节出现过,我们从保罗在第9章11节上下文的用词再次又得到证实了。

(iv)第四方面的资料:The clause, “not of works, but of him that calleth”, is closely related to the clause in question. “不是出于行为,乃是出于呼召的那一位”这个从句都与我们目前所讨论的从句是有密切的关系的。Whatever may be the precise connection the two clauses are intended to express correlative ideas. 无论这两个从句之间的关系是什么,它们的用意是要表达相关的概念的。But “calling” in Paul’s usage, when the call of God is in review and when applied to the matter of salvation, is the effectual call to salvation. 不过根据保罗的用词法“呼召”这个词特别是指上帝呼召的时候,在救恩上用呼召的时候,是指有效的恩召,有效的使人得救的。

有很长的一系列的经文:Romans 8:30 罗马书第八章第三十节:预先所定下的人又召他们来,所召来的人又称他们为义,所称为义的人又叫他们得荣耀。Romans 9:24 罗马书第九章24节:这器皿就是我们被上帝所召的,不但是从犹太人中,也是从外邦人中。这有什么不可呢?1 Corinthians 1:9 哥林多前书第一章第九节:上帝是信实的,你们原是被他所召,好与他儿子我们的主耶稣基督一同得份。7:15 上帝召我们原是要我们和睦。Galatians 1:6 加拉太书第一章第六节:我希奇你们这么快离开那藉着基督之恩召你们的,去从别的福音。 1:15 :然而那把我从母腹里分别出来、又施恩召我的上帝,Galatians chapter 5 verse 8 and verse 13 接下来说第五章8节和第13节:这样的劝导不是出于那召你们的。13弟兄们,你们蒙召是要得自由,只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会,总要用爱心互相服侍。

Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1 and 4 以弗所书第四章第一节跟第四节:我为主被囚的劝你们:既然蒙召,行事为人就当与蒙召的恩相称。4身体只有一个,圣灵只有一个,正如你们蒙召,同有一个指望;Colossians 3:15 歌罗西书第三章第15节:又要叫基督的平安在你们心里作主,你们也为此蒙召,归为一体,且要存感谢的心。1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 12 帖撒罗尼迦前书第2章第十二节:要叫你们行事对得起那召你们进他国、得他荣耀的上帝。1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 7 第四章第七节:神召我们,本不是要我们沾染污秽,乃是要我们成为圣洁。

Chapter 5 verse 24 帖前第五章第24节:那召你们的本是信实的,他必成就这事。2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 14 帖撒罗尼迦后书二章14节:上帝藉我们所传的福音召你们到这地步,好得着我们主耶稣基督的荣光。1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12 提摩太前书第6章第12节:你要为真道打那美好的仗,持定永生。你为此被召,也在许多见证人面前已经作了那美好的见证。2 Timothy 1:9 提摩太后书第一章第九节:上帝救了我们,以圣召召我们,不是按我们的行为,乃是按他的旨意和恩典。这恩典是万古之先在基督耶稣里赐给我们的。

If the Pauline concept of God’s call is to govern our exegesis, it must be given in this instance 9:11 the definition that the whole evidence requires. 假如我们的释经要按照保罗的呼召观所掌控的话,那么罗马书第九章第11节这里的呼召的定义必须要根据一切经文的证据。This is all the more necessary when it is conjoined with the negative “not of works”; 当我们与“不是出于行为”这节连接起来的话,就特别是必须的了;this stresses the freeness and sovereignty as well as the efficacy which are in such prominence elsewhere in connection with God’s call. 因为它就是“不是出于行为”强调上帝呼召的自由、上帝呼召的主权和上帝呼召的大能有效性,这与其他经文与上帝的呼召相关的时候都是非常的显著的。

Since, therefore, the clause that is correlative with that bearing on the election has the strictly soteric import, “the purpose of God according to election” cannot be given any lower significance and understood of election merely to a privilege such as Israel as a people enjoyed. 因此这个从句既然与救赎性的拣选有相关,“上帝拣选的旨意”就不能有更弱的意义,不可以把拣选仅仅理解为以色列民所享有的特权而已。

For all these grounds 基于上述所有的原因 the interpretation which regards the election as the collective, theocratic election of Israel as a people must be rejected 我们必须拒绝这种理解,就是拣选是指上帝神治以色列民被拣选这个理解,我们必须拒绝它and “the purpose of God according to election” will have to be understood as the electing purpose that is determinative of and unto salvation “上帝拣选的旨意”必定是指决定人得救,使人得救的这个拣选的计划equivalent to that which we find elsewhere. 就等于其他经文所说的。(Refer to Romans 8:28-33; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:4 etc. 参考罗马书第8章28-33节;以弗所书第一章第四节;帖撒罗尼迦前书第一章第四节等等,我们就不读这些经文了。)

The second feature of this passage (vss. 10 to-13) that needs to be considered is the clause “not of works, but of him that calleth” 这段经文(就是九章10-13节)里面我们必须考虑的第二个特点是(第11节的)“不是出于行为,乃是在乎呼召的那一位”。The question is that of its relation to what immediately precedes. 问题是这个与上文有什么关系。It would appear that 从表面上来看 it may best be taken as an additional characterization of the electing purpose of God 可能是被理解为对上帝拣选的旨意的另一种的描述,and emphasizes or confirms what is intrinsic to the purpose of God, 强调而且证实上帝计划的本质, namely, that it does not proceed from nor is conditioned by the human will but by the determined will of God. 这个本质就是上帝拣选的计划不源自人的旨意,不受人的意志的影响,而是完全出自上帝决定性的旨意。

Refer to Ephesians chapter 1 verses 5 and 11 参考以弗所书第一章第五节和十一节的第五节:又因爱我们,就按着自己意旨所喜悦的,预定我们藉着耶稣基督得儿子的名分,11我们也在他里面得了基业,这原是那位随己意行作万事的,照着他旨意所预定的。

In order to express this negatively no formula is more suited than “not of works” 从负面上来表达的话“不是出于行为”是最为恰当了,and to express it affirmatively no concept is more appropriate than that denoted by calling. 若要从正面表达的话,呼召那是最为恰当的。The sovereign initiative and agency of God are nowhere more in evidence than in the call. 上帝的呼召是最显著的显明祂主权的主动的,祂是当事者、祂是呼召的那一位。God alone calls 唯有上帝呼召,and its definition derives no ingredient from human activity. 呼召的定义一点都不牵涉到人的作为。We see, therefore, how congruous is this explicatory clause with what precedes whether we take it more particularly with “might stand” or, preferably, with the electing purpose. 因此我们看到这个把前文扩大的这个从句是多么的符合上文,不论我们把这个从句与“为要坚定”连接起来或者与上帝拣选的旨意连接起来。

我们下次继续来讲这个这段经文第三个特点。

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