A CLASSIC SEMINARY EDUCATION:
My Recommended Reading List
(Biblical Studies)
神学教育典范﹕神学生必读书目
（《圣经》研究工具书部分）
Samuel Ling
林慈信编着
www.chinahorizon.org http://samling.ccim.org
November 2005
A CLASSIC SEMINARY EDUCATION:
My Recommended Reading List
(Biblical Studies portion only)
神学教育典范﹕神学生必读书目
（《圣经》研究工具书部分）
What the 21st century longs and needs to see, are Christians and churches who have a message to proclaim. Do you know what you believe? Building one’s own theological foundation is a life time task. It may involve going to seminary, or it may not. Not everyone has that opportunity. Sadly, very often a seminary degree does not mean a solid foundation in the doctrines of the Bible. However you can launch out on your own seminary education. It will involve effort and sacrifice of time. You also need to ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, so that you avoid going the way of worldly scholarship, and end up really hearing the message proclaimed by and in the Bible. But it is most rewarding, and most importantly, it strengthens your faith and your ministry.
21世纪需要听到的，是有信仰根基的信息﹔21世纪渴望看见的，是有道可传的教会与信徒。可是，建立一个基督徒的信仰基础，不是一两天的功夫可以做到的，需要一辈子的努力。
有些基督徒进神学院进修，装备自己带职事奉，可是不是每一位信徒都有这机会。不幸的是，很多神学院毕业生没有为自己的神学 (信仰) 打好根基。不少
当代的神学院 (包括福音派) 因为崇尚学术而在建立信仰根基这方面失败了。不
过，你还是可以自己开始这个漫长而有意义的旅程，自己来精心设计一个对生命和事奉有帮助的进修计划。这需要你牺牲时间和长期的毅力，和恳求圣灵赐你智慧，避免走世俗学术的道路，真正听到《圣经》宣讲的信息。这是绝对值得的投资，给你的信仰和事奉建立稳固的基础。
First we must correct a wrong concept among Christians: many want to buy and read new books only. Beware! New books are not always better than old books. Spiritual giants like John Stott (司徒德/史托特) and J.I. Packer (巴刻) advises the reader to drink from the foundations of ripe, mature theology which has been handed down through the centuries. Let the beginner take heed!
很多人只喜欢看新书、买新书，这是一个首先要更正的错误观念。事实上新书不一定比旧书好，不一定有经得起时间考验的智慧。有一次 （1976年）我听到史托特牧师劝导神学生，要从旧书中找智慧﹔巴刻同样地告诉我们，要从历代以来经得起历史考验的智慧泉源吸取心灵的营养。初步入门的，要好好听劝﹗
The content of our beliefs is the Bible; the standard for our beliefs is also the Bible, God’s inspired, inerrant and infallible Word. A system of belief, therefore, must be consistent, and completely based on the Bible. However, to build a belief system you may begin at a number of points, since a theological system is a comprehensive whole made up of many parts. You may start with a serious study of each book of the Bible; or by studying systematic theology. You may begin by using reference works (e.g. theological dictionaries) to supplement your preparation for Sunday School classes and Bible studies; or you may choose to follow a Bible survey or a Bible textbook.
我们信仰的内容 、准则都来自《圣经》 ，是上帝所默示的、无误无谬的话语。完备而合乎《圣经》的信仰系统，应是前后一贯的整体。因此，学习的计划可以从不同地方入手。你可以先好好地细读《圣经》的书卷，或者从学习系统神学开始。前者比较属归纳法思维方式，后者比较像演绎法，两者都是合理的思维方式。
BIBLE VERSIONS AND STUDY BIBLES 《圣经》版本，研读版《圣经》
A profitable Bible study lifestyle is an excellent starting point to build your theological foundation. Christians need to make the most out of their personal devotions! For those who serve as Bible study leaders or Sunday School teachers, it will help to take advantage of some reference books, especially a good Bible dictionary. Or you may begin by using a survey of the Bible.
一个有益的读经生活，是建立扎实的信仰根基的起点。在查经和主日学事奉的弟兄姐妹们，可以用一些信仰稳固的参考书来帮助你准备主日学或查经班，例如一本有份量的《圣经》辞典。或者，你可以跟着一本《圣经》入门 (《圣经》综览) 和一本《圣经》教科书来读经。
Although most Christians are now using The New International Version (NIV， 新国际版) of the Bible, there are problems. A British edition of the NIV has been published, using “inclusive language.” I have recently switched back to the New American Standard Bible (NASB). It may not read as smoothly as the NIV, but it is more accurate to the original words of Scripture. If you shop carefully at your local Christian bookstore, there may be a rather inexpensive version of the NASB (as low as US $7), which you may buy for your entire Sunday School class/Bible study group. Also the English Standard Version (ESV) is receiving very favorable comments from conservative scholars since its recent publication.
目前英语世界的基督徒，很多爱用《新国际版圣经》(NIV)，不过这里不无问题。将来出版的 《今天新国际版圣经》 (Today’s NIV)，可能采用女权主义的词汇 (即英文的所谓 inclusive language)。笔者已从《新国际版》改回用《新美国标准版》 (New American Standard Bible, NASB)﹔后者可能没有《新国际版》 (NIV) 读起来那么舒服，可是对原文的字句忠实得多 (比方说，罗3 ﹕24的挽回祭，意即主耶稣在十字架上挽回父神的忿怒，这观念 NASB 不会翻译成赎罪祭)。读者不妨到附近的基督教书店逛一逛，有时可以买到较便宜的《新美国标准版》。可以为你的主日学的学生购买，让人手一册﹗另外，《英文标准版》 (English Standard Version, 简称 ESV) 近年来面世，获得很多信仰保守的信徒与学者的赞赏。
For Chinese readers, I recommend both the Union Version (He he ben， 和合本) and the newer New Chinese Bible (Zhong wen xin yi ben 中文新译本), which is somewhat patterned after The NASB. Do not confuse the New Chinese Bible (a translation) with Xian dai zhong wen yi ben 现代中文译本, which is the Chinese version of The Good New Bible (only a paraphrase).
中文读者除了《和合本圣经》 (1919) 以外，可以考虑《中文新译本》﹔
后者翻译原则有点像《新美国标准版》。《中文新译本》与《现代中文译本》是两本不同的《圣经》﹔后者是意译的，采用的原则与英文的 Good News Bible 相似。
In recent years we see many styles of the Chinese Bible. For example, there is a parallel Bible with both the Union Version and the New Chinese Bible. This parallel Bible is worth buying and using!
近年来有很多不同形式的《圣经》出版，例如﹕和合本和《中文新译本》对照圣经，是非常值得购买的。
A solid tool to accompany your Bible study is The Reformation Bible former name: The New Geneva Study Bible (Ligonier Ministries, www.ligonier.org, list price: $39.99). The notes and the special articles all seek to build a solid theological foundation from the historic, 16th century Reformational perspective. This is the Bible I use at present; it uses the text of the English Standard Version. If we complement this with something like the Life Application Bible (Tyndale and Zondervan, 1988), we will have two tools to build solid, practical Bible studies and sermons.
可以用英文读《圣经》者，应考虑用《宗教改革圣经》 (以前称《新日内瓦圣经》)。这本研读本《圣经》提供不少的解释与专文，以十六世纪的宗教改革运动的精神，帮助读者建立扎实的信仰根基。我个人目前在用这本《圣经》。我认为这本可以与《灵修圣经》一起并用，必定有很大的收获。
For Chinese readers, the NIV Study Bible published by Christian Renewal Ministries (Sheng jing: xin guo ji ban yan du ben 《圣经﹕新国际版研读本》, or The CRM Study Bible, Milltown, NJ: Christian Renewal Ministries, 1996) is the most complete study Bible. This Bible gives you background and guides you to understand the meaning and content of the Bible.
在中文《圣经》中，《圣经﹕新国际版研读本》是最佳的选择，更新传道会出版，有足够的学术水平，同时能实际地帮助读者明白经文的意义，与其他帮助基督徒灵修的《圣经》是有所不同的。
Another helpful Chinese tool is the study Bible edited by China Graduate School of Theology’s faculty: Sheng jing: chuan zhu zhu xi ben 《圣经﹕串珠注释本》 [The Bible: CGST Study Edition] (Hong Kong: Christian Communications Ltd., 1987). The bottom half of every page is shaded in gray, and packed with thought-provoking questions (no answers, just questions!).
另外一本是由早期的中国神学研究院讲师编写的 《 圣经﹕串珠注释本》
(香港﹕证主，1987) ，每一页的下半页都有查经的问题，让读者好好的回到经文
去找答案。(没有答案，只有问题﹗)
Christian Renewal Ministries has recently published The Quest Bible 灵修圣经, which is the Chinese translation of The Life Application Bible.
更新传道会最近在出版《灵修圣经》，是读经者的好消息，有很多实际的应用、提示与《圣经》人物介绍。
The ones I have listed are aimed at building one’s theological foundations.
There are other study Bibles for devotional use. For example, The Living Bible (当代圣经)or its newer edition, The New Living Translation (Tyndale House), as well as the very popular Good News Bible (American Bible Society), are paraphrases, not translations. They are helpful for you to get a contemporary twist to the text, but do not rely on them to give you the accurate meaning of the text. In fact, Dr. Kenneth Taylor originally did The Living Bible translation to help his elementary-school age children to understand the Bible.
这里介绍的《圣经》，都是帮助你严谨研究《圣经》的工具。市面上还有其他《圣经》，如《当代圣经》和《现代中文译本》等。《当代圣经》英文版的译者是泰来博士，他当初翻译《圣经》的目的，是为家里孩子们在家庭灵修时用的。《当代圣经》与《现代中文译本》都是意译的版本。
There are non-evangelical translations which can be scholarly, but should be used for reference only: e.g. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV—National Council of Churches USA); The New English Bible (Oxford University Press/Cambridge University Press); The New Jerusalem Bible (Roman Catholic); and The New American Bible (Roman Catholic).
在福音派大家庭以外还有其他的版本，如美国教协 (NCC) 的《修订标准版》RSV (Revised Standard Version, 1952) 和 《新修订标准版》NRSV (New Revised Standard Version). 天主教则出版 了《耶路撒冷圣经》 (Jerusalem Bible) 。
Two older translations formed the background to the NASB, and are very solid and reliable: The Revised Version (RV) of the 1880’s, and The American Standard Version (ASV) of the 1900’s. The Reformation Bible is based on The New King James Version (NKJV), which patterns itself after the King James Version of the 1610s – archaic sounding, but quite good.
新美国标准版出版之前，在历史上有两次重要的翻译﹕1880 年代的 Revised Version， 与 1900 年代的上 ASV。近年来英语世界出版了 《宗教改革精神圣经》 (原称《新日内瓦圣经》) ，《新日内瓦圣经》采用的是新鉴定版 (New King James Version) ，英文比较古老，可是却是一本信仰可靠的工具书。
Both Chinese and English Bible readers should be aware that The Restoration Bible (hui fu ban， 恢复本) is published by The Living Stream Ministries (shui liu zhi shi zhan 水流职事站), operated by the cult commonly known as The Local Church Movement, begun by the late Witness Lee. Another cultic Bible is The New World Translation, published by The Watchtower Society 守望台 (Jehovah’s Witnesses 耶和华见证人). College students often receive a copy of the New Testament of this translation on campuses.
英文与中文读者需要留意，异端也出版《圣经》，如李常受的异端 (英称地
方教会运动，出版社名水流职事站) 最近出版了《恢复本圣经》；耶和华见证人 (守望台) 的《圣经》名为《新世界翻译本》 ( New World Translation ) 。这些翻译本都属正统基督教范围以外。
BIBLE STUDY AIDS 查经法（技巧），材料
My suggestion for personal Bible study is: before you dig into a book of the Bible, first read the 2-page introduction which is given before that book, in most study Bibles. Then for every day after that, read 10-12 verses, or one major paragraph. Re-read this section 1-2 days later. Make good use of study questions or notes on the bottom, or at the margin of your study Bible. Perhaps in our hectic lifestyle we will be able to retain some insights that we learn day by day, week after week!
我对个人读经计划的建议是﹕查考一卷书前，先读一本研读版《圣经》对该卷的介绍 (入门) ，作为一天的灵修。通常这种介绍不会超过两页。然后每天读半章或一段 (十到二十节) ，隔一两天后重复。第二次读的时候，可以好好善用研经版里的问题或解释。这样做，活在现代社会的我们或有可能真正默想我们所读的，一年下来，可能记得一些经训与心得﹗
To help you along in your Bible study, I would recommend works which stimulate your thinking.
让我们介绍一些能刺激你的思想，严谨研究《圣经》的工具书。
The best tool is Search the Scriptures (London: Inter Varsity Press, 1949), which has been translated into Chinese as Yan Jing Ri Ke 《研经日课》 (Hong Kong: Christian Communications Ltd., 1972, 1980, 1982; 3 volumes). Two sets of questions are given for every passage from Genesis to Revelation. No answers, just questions! This is probably the most difficult book in its category, but well worth your diligent effort in digging into the Word of God. When you have adequately and correctly answered the two questions for every passage, you almost have a sermon/Bible study lesson ready!
The Chinese version has been out of print for many years; there are rumors that this book will be re-issued. When it is, it will be tremendous good news for all Bible students.
我认为，查经工具书中对学生最有帮助的，是《研经日课》 (三卷， 香
港﹕证主，1972，1980， 1982) 。对每一段经文，都提出两套问题。书中并不提
供答案﹗在查经书中，这本可能是最难用的，可是值得花时间、精神去使用。按照问题回到经文去找答案，然后把答案写出来，就差不多有一篇讲章或一课查经/主日学了﹗这本工具书的中文版多年来已经绝版，听说将会再版，这将是研究《圣经》信徒的大好消息。
Another book in the same category is This Morning With God (IVP), and the Chinese translation is Qing Chen Jing Si Zhu Hua《清晨静思主话》 (Hong Kong: Seed Press, 1976-1981; 4 volumes). There are a greater number of questions for each passage; and they are easier to answer. I would use this book in conjunction with Search the Scriptures 《研经日课》。
另外一套，与《研经日课》一样是写给大学生读经用的，就是《清晨静思主话》 (香港﹕种籽， 1976-1981，四卷)。每一段经文的研读问题比较多，也比较浅易。我的建议是﹕与《研经日课》一起用。
For those who cannot get hold of either volume, The Navigators 导航会 (Navpress) as well as Inter Varsity Press have been producing series after series of Bible study guides. I have particularly enjoyed using The “Lifechange Series” published by Navpress. These are guides which points you to open the Bible and find the answers to the study questions. You see, a good Bible study guide does not only stimulate discussion; it guides all members of the group back to the Bible text itself, to find the original meaning and teaching. A reliable Bible study guide which is orthodox in its beliefs, certainly would not insert the editor’s own personal, secular theories into the discussion.
若不能找到上述两套书，导航会 (Navpress) 与 Inter Varsity Press 都出版了一
套套的查经书，可供个人灵修或查经小组用。笔者很喜欢导航会出版的 Lifechange Series 系列。好的查经书或小书，不只是让小组的讨论活泼生动，也必定要带领读者回到经文去反复思想，找出原意和经训。信仰可靠的查经书籍，一定不会把作者的主观意见，或来自当代世俗学术的理论，插进讨论经文意义 (meaning) 的材料中。(如﹕有一次笔者在某教会夫妇团契参加查经，用一位美国中部浸信会牧师编写、学园传道会出版的婚姻查经书。书中在讨论彼前第3章时，把经义倒过来，说假如是彼得对妻子说的话，他会教导妻子要看待丈夫为缺乏安全感的人。这跟经文原意没有关系，最多是该书作者的主观意见；更甚者，是将当代世俗心理学读进了《圣经》，这是研经法严重的错误。)
Very often Bible study group leaders and Sunday School teachers try to gather many books and create their own lessons each week. This can be very unwise and unproductive, since the “experts” have already done the homework, and produced solid series of Bible study guides. My recommendation is to follow one book each quarter for your Bible study group, such as the “Lifechange” series by Navpress, or any number of paperback guides from Inter Varsity Press. Increasingly, similar sets of booklets are available from Taiwan and Hong Kong, e.g. Campus Evangelical Fellowship, China Evangelical Seminary.
查经班的负责人和主日学教员们，常常自行编制教材，其实「专家」 们已经花了多年时间编好了这么多系列的查经材料，我们大可以采购使用。除了导航会、IVP以外，校园出版社、中华福音神学院、香港基督徒学生福音团契、读经会 (Scripture Union) 等都出版这类材料。若有好的书籍在这里没有介绍，请原谅。
One criterion to keep in mind, when you are shopping for Bible study guides in the Christian bookstore, is: Does this guide merely encourage group discussion? Does this guide merely encourage people to open up themselves and talk about their present and past experiences, including hurts and pains? Or does this guide primarily point the group members to explore the text of the Bible? Is there a balance between “observation” and “interpretation” questions, on the one hand (which forces the reader to grapple with the text), and “application” and “ice-breaker” questions, on the other (which brings the Bible to our own situation)? A study guide which does not have a solid portion (at least half) of study questions in the “observation” and “interpretation” category, may be wasting your group members’ precious time.
选购查经材料时要注意，该书是否只鼓励活泼的讨论与分享，还是真正带领读者有系统地进入经文寻找真理，找出查经问题的答案﹖一本好的查经书所提供的问题，应该有一半以上是观察方面和解释方面的问题 (而不都是应用方面的问题)，会带领读者好好地探索经文。(不是每一次查经都需要以讨论弟兄姐妹们幼年时的经历作开场白 [ice breaker]﹗)
HOW TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE 释经
Evangelicals have historically insisted that the Bible is God’s own Word. For decades in the 20th century, T. Norton Sterrett’s How to Understand Your Bible (Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 1974) was one standard evangelical text, for Sunday School, Bible studies and Bible college classes. The Chinese translation is: Ru he ming bai sheng jing 《如何明白圣经》 (Taipei: China Sunday School Association 中国主日学协会). This book asks the student to use an English Bible and an English dictionary to look up the meaning of words. It does not point the student to Greek or Hebrew study aids. Thus, it is easy to use for the beginner.
福音派一向相信《圣经》是神的话，解释《圣经》的出发点，就是相信《圣经》是神向我们说的话。20世纪福音派的「如何查经」 书籍中，T. Norton Sterrett 的 How to Understand Your Bible (Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 1974 )中译本﹕ 《如何明白圣经》 (台北﹕中国主日学协会) 是很有代表性的。读者不必懂原文，用英文《圣经》和英文字典便可开始系统查经生活。 这种上一代的保守学者，写书时并没有感到向世俗理论低头的必要，也不处处参考福音派圈子以外的意见。写释经学的书时，往往承认圣灵是默示《圣经》的那一位，《圣经》是神的话。
Sterrett begins his book by declaring that the Bible is God’s Word, it is God’s gift to us. We must treasure it, keep it, learn and understand it, then obey it. He tells us what a prerequisite mindset should be as we begin Bible study: we must have a new heart, an obedient, disciplined heart, and a teachable heart.
《如何明白圣经》一书开始便宣告﹕「《圣经》是上帝对我们所说的话。基督徒相信，上帝赐给我们这份奇妙的礼物，是要我们宝贵、保存、学习、了解并且遵行。」 ( 诺顿˙史特瑞，《如何明白圣经》 ，新加坡﹕新加坡福音书房，1985 ﹔第一章﹕「个人研经的必要」，页8。) 该书在第二章说明，解释《圣经》者应具备甚么条件﹕
并不是每一个人都可以正确地解释《圣经》。《圣经》主要的真理是属灵的，所以只有属灵的人才可以明白。神的话是给那些能够而且愿意听从的人的。每一个真正的基督徒都具备了一些必须的条件，其他的他则可以去求得。…
- 新的心。解经的人必须是重生了的人。《圣经》的信息是说到神和人，以及他们彼此的关系。因此，站在这关系之外的人，会把神说的话漏掉很多。他或许也能收集很多的事实，也能解决一些语言上的问题。如果他是一个学者，他也许可以得到很多有关《圣经》的知识。但是一个没有从神来的属灵生命的人，缺少一个明白神信息的基本条件。
- 饥渴的心。…
- 顺服的心。…
- 自律的心。…
- 受教的心。…
(诺顿˙史特瑞，《如何明白圣经》 ，新加坡﹕新加坡福音书房，1985 ﹔「谁可以明白圣经﹖」，页15-19。) 这是一本典型的、福音派的查经手册。
This book belongs to the generation when evangelicals were not running to the non-evangelicals for guidance, and when evangelicals really believed, and emphasized, the fact that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit. These authors would encourage the reader to wait upon the Holy Spirit for illumination, and to study the Bible with a reverent attitude.
《如何明白圣经》属于上一代作者的著作，当时大部分的福音派作者都相信《圣经》是圣灵默示的，因此写解经教科书的时候，都强调这一点，也鼓励信徒好好等候圣灵的光照，以恭敬的态度研究《圣经》。
Another standard textbook on Biblical hermeneutics is Louis Berkhof’s Principles of Biblical Interpretation (Eerdmans).
另一本上一代保守信仰的释经学教科书是﹕ Louis Berkhof, Principles of Biblical Interpretation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans) 《释经学原理》 – 香港﹕浸信会出版社)。
With the advent of neo-evangelicalism, however, so-called “evangelical” Bible scholars are shying away from emphasizing the inspiration and doctrinal unity of Scripture. They often lean toward highlighting the historical progression and the variety of literary genres reflected in the various books of the Bible, even emphasizing the discrepancies between authors. They also emphasize how traditional evangelical approaches to the Bible failed to answer many difficult questions, and that there is a variety of viewpoints among evangelicals toward the Bible – thus, we must develop new approaches to the Bible. This type of books (all too common on the bookstore shelves) often bewilder the layperson.
可是，随着所谓新福音派的兴起，很多《圣经》学者不再在他们的书中强调《圣经》的默示和《圣经》教义的合一性（统一性）。他们往往强调《圣经》的启示是历史性的、渐进性的，还有，不同的书卷用不同文体写出，甚至有时候强调《圣经》书卷之间的矛盾。他们也指出，传统福音派的解经法不能回答一些棘手的问题，而宗派之间、学者之间也持不同的解经理论和意见，因此我们需要新的解经方法。这种著作往往使平信徒困惑，可是它们往往是书店找得到的大部分解经书。
Bernard Ramm’s book, Protestant Bible Interpretation, is very scholarly. Ramm changed his doctrinal stance in 1980 from evangelicalism to neo-orthodoxy, declaring such a change in his book, Beyond Fundamentalism. Personally I prefer to use Bible study texts by Louis Berkhof, A.M. Stibbs, John Stott, R.C. Sproul and T. Norton Sterrett.
兰姆（Bernard Ramm） 的Protestant Bible Interpretation（《基督教释经学》）多年来颇受欢迎。兰氏在80年后接受巴特的神学立场，从比较保守的立场走到新福音派或新正统派。 我个人比较喜欢推荐《明白神的话》 和Louis Berkhof, A.M. Stibbs, John Stott, T. Norton Stererett与 R.C. Sproul等的作品。
Newer books, such as the very very popular How To Understand The Bible For All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee and others 《读经的艺术》, conveniently skips over the doctrine of inspiration (only lighting mentioning the Bible’s “eternal relevance”), and immediately points the reader to the various kinds of literature in the Bible – a dangerous move). This book represents the new generation of scholars who no longer emphasize the Bible’s inspiration, but rather presents the Bible as a book which needs our interpretation. These authors also do not believe in approaching the Bible in order to discover doctrines (propositions) to believe and obey (see the introduction to the book). In other words, they don’t believe in “propositional revelation.”
近年来福音派作者的作风，更忽略《圣经》的默启示，较着重《圣经》的人性，将《圣经》当作一本人写的书来研究。例如 How To Understand The Bible For All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee et al（中译: 《读经的艺术》），是当今最受欢迎的释经学书之一。两位作者们很方便地跳过《圣经》默示的教义（只轻轻地提到《圣经》的永恒适切性），很快带读者注意到《圣经》里不同的文体──这是危险的作法。这种当代作者告诉我们，《圣经》是一本需要解释的书（不再强调《圣经》是上帝所默示的）。他们并不相信我们应该藉研究《圣经》来发现《圣经》中的教义。意思是说，他们并不相信命题式的启示，有意无意地反对《圣经》里有一套单一的、稳定的教义。
More recent books on interpretation have been written by R.C. Sproul and John Stott. Shorter works in Chinese include A. Stibbs’ Understanding God’s Word 《明白神的话》(Milltown, NJ: Christian Renewal Ministries, 1975). Stibbs’ books represent the work of an earlier generation of solid British authors.
- C. Sproul 和 John Stott 都写了一些易懂的解经原则书籍。更新传道会出版了《明白神的话》等书，代表上一代英国作者的属灵遗产。
Dan Doriani’s Getting the Message (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1996) is a fresh, dynamic approach to Bible interpretation which is faithful to the inspiration and authority of Scripture, and in dialogue with contemporary theories of interpretation. Doriani also balances concerns of the heart with those of the mind. Consider using this along with Berkhof, Stott and Sproul! Other very solid textbooks are Vern Poythress, God Centered Interpretation, and Dan MacCartney, Let the Reader Understand (www.prpbooks.com).
近年来比较保守的神学教授写了一些释经学的书，如﹕Dan Doriani （圣约神学院的教务主任）着有Getting the Message (P&R, 1996) ；Vern S. Poythress, God Centered Interpretation, 和Dan McCartnery, Let the Reader Undersand (P&R)；可在网上订购﹕www.prpbooks.com; 或电话联络﹕800 631 0094.)
BIBLE DICTIONARIES 圣经词典
The one single volume which I think a Christian should purchase to supplement his/her Bible is The New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans; originally published by Inter Varsity Press, 1962); Chinese translation: Sheng Jing Xin Ci Dian 《圣经新辞典》(2 volumes; Hong Kong: 天道Tien Dao, 1993, 1997). The Chinese version, based on the 1982 2nd edition, is expensive (approx. US $155 in North America for the two volumes), but well worth the investment. You need to learn to use it regularly!
You can also use the CD-Rom version of the Chinese edition, produced by Almega （启创）.
笔者认为，除了《圣经》以外，基督徒最需要具备的一本书，就是《圣经新辞典》（香港﹕天道，1993，1997）。中文版比较昂贵（在美国零售价﹕约US $155）；可是读者可以考虑购买 CD-Rom 版（启创，www.almega.com.hk ）。
When you are preparing for a Bible study lesson or sermon, after you have studied the passage, look up the most significant (“heavy”) doctrinal words in the dictionary. Here are some examples:
当你准备查经或主日学或讲章的时候，研读了经文之后，可以查考经文出现，又在《圣经新辞典》里找得到的教义性或专题性文章﹕
Sacrifice 牺牲，献祭
Temple 圣殿
Church 教会
Love 爱
Righteousness 公义
Faith 信心
Justification 称义
Inspiration 默示
God 神
Education (Teaching)
The New Bible Dictionary lists all the contributing authors in the front of Volume 1. You can learn to identify the author of each article. Here are some authors who are solid and reliable, who have written significant articles on doctrinal themes in The New Bible Dictionary:
《圣经新辞典》在前面列出了所有的作者，下列的一些作者都在神学和《圣经》研究方面作出了重要的贡献﹕
Leon Morris 莫理昂－－澳洲新约学者与神学家 。Australian theologian, wrote article on “Atonement”.
- A. France 法兰士－－着有 The Living God (《认识永生神》，校园) 等 。Author of The Living God (Chinese: Ren shi yong sheng shen 《认识永生神》，台北﹕校园 ) and several other books.
- I. Packer 巴刻－－辞典中着有 「默示」 (“Inspiration”) 等文章﹔著作有中译本者包括《认识神》、《简明神学》、《活在圣灵中》、《传福音与神的主权》、《基要主义与神的道》 等。 Packer wrote the articles on “Inspiration,” “Predestination” and many others; author of Knowing God, God’s Words, Concise Theology《简明神学》 , Keep in Step with the Spirit 《活在圣灵中》, and The Quest for Godliness, etc.
- F. Bruce – New Testament scholar, for many years professor in Manchester, England; author of The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (IVP)
Donald Guthrie －－多年来在伦敦圣经学院任教； 着有 New Testament Introduction, New Testament Theology 等。 Bible scholar, London Bible College; author of New Testament Introduction, New Testament Theology.
John Murray 慕理－－威敏斯特神学院已故教授; 着有 Redemption Accomplished and Applied (中译本﹕《再思救赎奇恩 》 ，天道) ; 他的《罗马书注释》被认为基
督教历史中最重要的著作之一。 Late professor, Westminster Seminary; his classic works include The Imputation of Adam’s Sin (Presbyterian and Reformed); Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Eerdmans); Commentary on Romans; and his 4-volume Collected Works of John Murray (Banner of Truth Trust).
- V. G. Tasker －－英国学者，着有《圣经》注释数本。British author of several commentaries.
- A. Motyer －－英国学者，着有《圣经》注释数本。British author of several commentaries, esp. in the Tyndale OT/NT commentaries series.
- J. Young 杨以德－－威敏斯特已故教授，保守派旧约大师;着有 Thy Word Is Truth (Banner of Truth); Studies in Genesis One; Thy Servants the Prophets; 以赛亚书注释 （三册）; 中文有﹕《旧约导论》 (基督教文艺出版社) 。 Late Old Testament professor, Westminster Seminary; author of Thy Word Is Truth (still in print from Banner of Truth); Studies in Genesis One; Thy Servants the Prophets; a 3-volume commentary on Isaiah; An Introduction to the Old Testament 中译﹕《旧约导论》（香港﹕基督教文艺出版社，或道声出版社）, etc.
Herman Ridderbos – Dutch Reformed New Testament theologian
- Barton Payne －－旧约教授，曾任教于圣约神学院，惠敦大学。 Former professor, Covenant Seminary and Wheaton College.
- D. Douglas －－苏格兰教会历史家，多年来驻新加坡神学院；乃《圣经新辞典》之主编。 Scottish church historian; for many years professor at Singapore Bible College; the original general editor of The New Bible Dictionary!
Meredith Kline －－旧约权威，专著有关盟约的神学书籍，曾任教威敏斯特，哥敦神学院等。Brilliant Old Testament scholar; former professor at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and Westminster Seminary.
The New Bible Dictionary is an excellent “buffet table” where you can try “nuggets” from the giants listed above. Once in a while, in some of the articles authored by other scholars, one finds objectionable viewpoints, e.g. that parts of the Five Books of Moses were written after the Exile, etc. Let the reader beware.
《圣经新辞典》好像一台宴席，又像自助餐厅，让你品尝当代神学大师的杰作。不过，有时也会遇见一些作者在当代《圣经》批判理论面前低头的，如﹕说摩西五经是被掳后才写成的 (特别是在第二，三版里) ， 读的时候须谨慎。
For the course on “introduction to systematic theology” which I teach, I usually assign students to read these articles from the New Bible Dictionary:
我开「系统神学导论」一科时，都会指定学生细读《圣经新辞典》里的下列文章﹕
Knowledge 知识
Wisdom 智慧
Faith 信心
Obedience 顺服
Authority 权威
Revelation 启示
Scripture (Bible) 圣经
Inspiration 默示 (by J.I. Packer)
Covenant 盟约
Other helpful ones include:
还有一些会对读者有帮助﹕
Predestination 预定
Jesus Christ 耶稣基督
And the title of most of the books of the Bible!还有所有《圣经》的书卷！
Note: there are at least three English versions: the original New Bible Dictionary (the cover may look different because of different printings); the Tyndale Illustrated Bible Dictionary (3 volumes); and the New Bible Dictionary: Third Edition. I prefer the first: it is the original, it is the cheapest, and since it is older, it is not as much affected by contemporary theories of biblical criticism. The Tyndale edition is in 3 volumes, and has many illustrations in color. The text is the same as the older version; only the illustrations are new; and the price is rather high.
英文世界里 《圣经新辞典》以好几种形式出现。有原本的 New Bible Dictionary (第1、2版) ： 1962 年出版的第一版为最正统，可惜已经绝版，读者可去网上拍卖旧书的圈子去找；第二、三版加插了一些近代的《圣经》批判理论，读者留意。另外是Tyndale Illustrated Bible Dictionary (三册，附彩色图片)和 New Bible Dictionary: Third Edition。 总的来说，IVP 等出版社的产品，每出一次修订版，书里比较接受或同情最新的《圣经》研究理论的文章就会比上一版多些。
TOPICAL GUIDE TO THE BIBLE 主题汇编
Many Christians use the cross-references along their Bibles’ margins to look up the same word in other passages. This may or may not be a profitable avenue of exploring the Bible’s message. A much more helpful way is to use Baker’s Topical Guide the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1991) edited by Walter Elwell of Wheaton College. Chinese translation was published in 1996 as Zhu Ti Hui Shi Sheng Jing 《主题汇析圣经》 (Logos Publishers 基道出版社, Hong Kong). There is a simplified-script Chinese version as well as the traditional script version.
This is an excellent tool, because it is simply an arrangement of Bible verses, all typed out in full, according to an order of doctrine/systematic theology. This is helpful as you study a particular topic or doctrine.
多年来，信徒喜欢用串珠《圣经》。可是，有的时候所串的经文并不相关，让信徒有点随意地把一些经文连在一起来解说。最近在福音派圈子内出版了一本非常独特的参考书，中译本是 《主题汇析圣经》 (香港﹕ 基道出版社, 1997)。 英文原著书名为﹕ The Topical Analysis of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1991)； 后来易名为 Baker’s Topical Guide to the Bible。主编是惠敦大学的资深神学教授 Walter Elwell. 这本参考书非常宝贝，因为它看上来虽然与经文汇编一样，可是它的排法乃是按照教义（系统神学）的主题，如﹕启示、神论、人论、罪论、基督论、圣灵论、教会论等。这样，读者可是对某一个教义主题的主要经文一目了然，所有的经文都完全打了出来。《主题汇析圣经》已有光盘版本 (e-book, CD Rom)，由香港启创 (Almega) 出版。要为自己的信仰打好根基的信徒，不容错过。
BIBLE SURVEYS AND BIBLE INTRODUCTION (BACKGROUND)
《圣经》综览，《圣经》入门
The main message of the Bible is: the eternal God, the creator of the universe, has entered into time and space, to concretely reveal himself. Therefore God’s revelation is understandable. This message stands in stark contrast with what many modern theologians are saying: that God is “wholly other,” we cannot really know God himself, and his revelation is really beyond the grasp of human reason or experience. Many theologians have given up the belief in “propositional revelation” (that is, God has told us things, ideas, concepts, doctrines, in the Bible). Dear brother/sister, the Holy Spirit has given us the words of the Bible by inspiration; we can read the Bible to understand and know what God has said! We need to meditate upon Scripture day and night, and obey it all the years of our lives. The Bible is a book we can come to understand!
After mankind fell in Adam, God revealed himself as the covenant-making lord and covenant-keeping lord. The theme of the Old Testament is “covenant”: God has come to establish the relationship of covenant with his people; he will be their God, they are his people. The theme of the New Testament is the “kingdom of God”: this means that God has come, to be king, to rule as king. Jesus Christ is the king from heaven; he has come, therefore the kingdom has come (or has drawn near). Christ will return a second time; at that time the kingdom will completely become a reality. You see, the Old and the New Testament both revolve around God and his plan. Our faith is not man-centered, it is God-centered. Everything comes from him, works through him, and is unto his glory. Is it this way with your faith? Is your faith self-centered or God-centered?
在人类堕落之后，神显现自己为立约的神、守约的神。旧约的主题乃是神的约 (covenant)﹕神作以色列人的神，以色列作神的子民。新约的主题是天国 (kingdom)：天国（神的国）的意思就是，神来了，要作王，掌王权。耶稣基督是天国的王，祂来了，因此天国来了(或说﹕近了)。主耶稣必再来，天国完全实现在宇宙中。因此，新旧约《圣经》都以神和神的计划为中心。我们的信仰不是以人为中心的，是以神为中心，因为万物都出于祂、借着祂（依靠祂），也归于祂。你我的信仰到底是以自己为中心，还是以神为中心呢？
If you are getting started in Bible study, you need to make sure that you use reliable, Bible-believing guides to establish your faith. A reliable Bible survey will help you grasp the main theme of each book of the Bible. Before you use a “Bible survey,” you should have already been using a standard study Bible (NIV Study Bible, Spirit of the Reformation Bible, etc.). You should already know something about the author, background and main theme of each book of the Bible.
一位在查经起步的学生，应该用一些信仰保守可靠的《圣经》导论书籍，来帮助建立一个以神为中心的信仰。一本可靠的《圣经》综览 (Bible survey) 能帮助读者掌握每一卷书的主要内容。使用《圣经》综览之前，应该已经善用一本研读版《圣经》（更新传道会主办的新国际版是标准的研读版《圣经》），对每一卷书的作者、背景和主题已有一般的认识。
There are many surveys of the New Testament; for may years, Merrill Tenney’s New Testament Survey has been very reliable. Dr. Tenney served during his lifetime as dean of Wheaton College Graduate School of Theology. During roughly the same time (mid-20th century), Dr. Gleason Archer was teaching Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute and later Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His text, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, was nicknamed “the yellow Bible,” because so many of his quizzes and examinations were based on a detailed grasp of the material in it! Both Tenney and Archer are available in Chinese.
新约《圣经》综览方面，多年来最可靠之一的是﹕滕慕理，《新约综览》 (香港﹕宣道出版社，1976；原著﹕Merrill Tenney, New Testament Survey, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1961) 。 Tenney 博士生前曾任惠敦大学神学研究院教务主任多年 (dean, Wheaton Graduate School)。
旧约综览方面，Gleason Archer 的A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1964，中译本﹕《旧约概论》) 是多年来慕迪圣经学院和芝加哥三一神学院学生的必读教科书，被称为 「黄皮圣经」 (yellow Bible), 因为作者往往要学生仔细掌握内容，准备考试！
The word “introduction” is a technical term in theological studies. Thus, an “introduction to the Bible” is more advanced in content than a “survey of the Bible.” Edward J. Young, who taught for many years at Westminster Seminary, has written An Introduction to the Old Testament, in which he stands firm in evangelical convictions, yet engages with liberal critical scholars. Donald Guthrie, former dean of London Bible College, has given us New Testament Introduction. Guthrie gives an overview of the many theories on a debate, and then seeks to offer reasonable support for the conservative view. This is the kind of approach which contemporary evangelical scholars should, but do not, imitate. Both Young and Guthrie solidly stood within the evangelical tradition.
入门 (introduction)是神学的专用名词，一本《圣经》入门就比《圣经》综览仔细，学术程度比较高。旧约入门方面，杨以德 (Edward J. Young)，《旧约导论》 (香港﹕基督教文艺出版社) 是持守坚固福音派立场，同时与当代学术理论对话的一本少有的好书 。伦敦圣经学院的Donald Guthrie也着有 New Testament Introduction，内容比较详细。这两本信仰立场都保守可靠。
More recently, two Westminster professors, the late Raymond B. Dillard and Dr. Tremper Longman III, has written An Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994) in the spirit of E.J. Young’s masterpiece. Well worth your careful study; but use E.J .Young as your standard for orthodoxy. Available in Chinese.
近年来威敏斯特神学院两位教授，继承杨以德的精神出版了《21世纪旧约导论》，值得参考，不过还是以杨以德 (E.J. Young) 为信仰正统的标准！（原著﹕Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, An Introduction to the Old Testament, Zondervan, 1994; 中译本﹕《21世纪旧约导论》，刘良淑译，台北﹕校园，1999。）
Two helpful Old Testament history textbooks are: Leon Wood, A Survey of Israel’s History (Zondervan 1970) and Jack Scott’s God’s Plan Unfolded (Whreaton: Tyndale House 1976). Scott’s is a clearly covenantal perspective on the Old Testament. Wood is available in Chinese.
另外，《以色列民族史综览》 是一本易读的旧约历史教科书(原著﹕Leon Wood, A Survey of Israel’s History, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1970) 。旧约历史综览方面，还有一本英文书﹕Jack Scott, God’s Plan Unfolded (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1976)。
More recently, Palmer Robertson has written Christ of the Covenants, and Christ of the Prophets (both published by www.prpbooks.com). On a more popular level, he has written Covenants for adult Sunday School use (www.gcp.org).
Increasingly we are seeing new works done by Chinese evangelical authors; some of these books are directly adopted as adult Sunday School curriculum in Chinese churches.
华人创作的新旧约成年《圣经》教科书，近年来有很多的努力，成果也不少，读者可去各大华人基督教书局询问。不少教会已经采用在成人主日学事工上。
A special genre of books deals with the major themes of the Old and New Testaments. Dr. Che Bin Tan, recently retired president of Taiwan’s China Evangelical Seminary, has written this type of book. His teacher, F.F. Bruce, was author of The Message of the New Testament.
有一类的书籍，是以《圣经》的信息为主题，扼要地勾画新约或旧约的教训。陈济民博士，前任中华福音神学院院长，写了好几本这种的书；他的指导老师 F.F. Bruce 也着了 The Message of the New Testament (中译﹕《新约信息》)，读者不容错过。
Unfortunately, a number of Chinese Bible scholars have imbibed liberal critical theories in Bible interpretation. For example, some might say that Genesis was not intended to give us a historical account of God’s work of creation; it is a book about the history of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc.). They reject much of evangelical / fundamental beliefs as outdated, or “rotten theology.” Let the reader beware!
不过，在华人创作的《圣经》研究书籍中，好些不幸染上了最新的《圣经》批判理论，例如﹕说《创世记》的主题不是上帝创造天地，而是先祖的历史；先知不是未卜先知等等。结果让读者怀疑，是否所有以前所听、所领受的都是错误的？有的作者，称以前福音派的信念为 「坏鬼神学」（注﹕粤语 「坏鬼」的意思是﹕食物坏掉，不能吃），似乎是多破坏而少建设。读者买书时必须谨慎，阅读这类的书籍，应常求圣灵的光照，以免信仰走歪。
My position is: the Bible student should start with a clearly and solidly conservative reference tool such as Young and Archer.
我的立场是﹕起步研经的信徒，最好靠一些保守的作者，如杨以德的《旧约导论》，或 Archer 的《旧约概论》。
BIBLE HANDBOOKS 《圣经》手册
A handbook of the Bible combines material from a “survey” and a “dictionary,” often with material similar to that found in study Bibles. A standard example is the Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible (Lion Handbook to the Bible in the British Commonwealth).
《圣经》手册的内容，包括《圣经》辞典和《圣经》综览里的一些背景资料，和研读版《圣经》里关于每一卷书的介绍。比较常用的有《证主圣经手册》。
BIBLE COMMENTARIES 《圣经》注释
We have seen above that authors of Bible study books have different presuppositions (convictions)! The more common presupposition among evangelical Bible scholars is: the Bible is a book written by men, and should be studied as such. Many Bible scholars no longer believe that God has given us propositional revelation (i.e., that God told us things, ideas, concepts, truths, doctrines, in the Bible). This is at variance with what evangelicals have always believed, at least since the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century.
我们在上文看见，如何查经和释经学这类的参考书籍，不同的作者们对《圣经》的预设都不同。目前福音派的神学家中，比较普遍的预设乃是：《圣经》是人写的，而且神并没有要向人类启示一些命题 (presuppositions)或教义 (doctrines)。在这方面读者们必须儆醒，因为这与几百年的正统（福音派）信仰有所出入。
Let us now look at Bible commentaries.
我们继续介绍基本的《圣经》注释 (commentaries)。
Jonathan Edwards, the eighteenth-century theologian and leader in the Great Awakening, once said that, our understanding of one passage of Scripture must be based on our understanding of the entire Bible. What he meant was: we must have a basic, overall grasp of what the Bible teaches. Otherwise, it is so easy to take Bible passages out of context!
十八世纪大觉醒复兴运动教复兴 (The Great Awakening) 领袖之一，也是美国最伟大的神学家爱德华兹 (Jonathan Edwards) 曾经说过﹕「我们对每一段经文的认识，乃是建造在我们对整本《圣经》的认识。」他的意思是说，我们对《圣经》的总原则和主题必须有某一程度的掌握，不然的话，很容易断章取义。
Of course, we must begin our journey with studying individual portions (passages, paragraphs) of the Bible, and eventually build up a solid system of beliefs. However, we also must believe that the Holy Spirit does illumine and guide us. Ever since we were converted, we had a certain understanding of the Bible, even though it may be very rudimentary. We all know that Jesus is our Savior; he has forgiven our sins; we are saved. We know something about the power of the cross, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Then we learn a few things about the character (attributes) of God, and we get involved in the ministry of the church – so we learn about the doctrine of the church. At least, we begin to ask questions in these areas! These are all theological questions; they are intimately related with our study of the Bible.
当然，基督徒必须从一段一段经文的研读，来建构我们的信仰系统。可是，我们必须相信圣灵会光照我们。从重生得救之后，我们对《圣经》的主题都会有某一程度的理解，虽然在起初时，这方面的理解非常幼稚，但我们都知道耶稣基督是我们的救主，赦免了我们的罪；后来，对救恩的道理、十字架的能力、圣灵的工作有一些进一步的理解；曾几何时，对神的属性(the attributes of God) 又开始知道一些；事奉一段时间之后，对教会论 (doctrine of the Church) 开始接触，至少心中会产生这方面的问题。这些都是教义 (doctrine)或系统神学的问题，都与我们的解经息息相关。
You see, Biblical studies cannot be separated from doctrine (systematic theology)! Every time we study the Bible, we bring our overall understanding of the Bible (i.e., our presuppositions) with us to the Bible. This is only natural, it should not surprise us! We need to be aware of this fact, and constantly re-evaluate our faith according to the clear teaching of Scripture. We should continue to ask the Holy Spirit to illumine, guide, and correct us. We can then share with all the saints in Christ our common knowledge of Christ’s love, and come to learn something of the mind of God revealed in Scripture.
《圣经》研究与系统神学是不可分开的！我们每次查经的时候，都会把我们对《圣经》的总原则、对《圣经》主题的认识带进我们的研经过程中。这是非常自然的，我们并不需要惊奇，只要我们意识到这点，常常按照《圣经》清楚的教导来检视我们的信仰（教义），而且不断的求圣灵光照、教导、纠正，就可以相信我们是与众圣徒一同在认识基督的丰富上长进，并掌握神在《圣经》里要启示的心意(the mind of God)。
There is no such thing as “neutral interpretation” of the Bible; we cannot naively believe that we must just “let the Bible speak for itself!” From the vantage point of what the church has historically believed to be orthodox beliefs, this is only fanciful thinking on the part of a few scholars! Everyone has presuppositions about the Bible. The critical question is: Are we aware of them? And are these presuppositions consistent with what the Bible itself teaches?
解释《圣经》，并没有「中立」 (neutral) 的地带。所谓「中立」 的解经，或说让《圣经》自己说话 (Let the Bible speak for itself)， 从两千年教会历史和神学的宏观看来，不过是神话，是一些《圣经》学者（不是所有《圣经》学者）的自我安慰。我们每一个人的解经都有预设 (presuppositions)，重要的是，我们有没有意识到自己的预设，这些预设是否合乎《圣经》本身的教导。
Bible commentaries may be helpful as we prepare Bible study lessons or sermons; they encourage us to see the big picture, and not take things out of context. Some pastors discourage Christians from using commentaries; their point is: let’s learn from God’s Word only rather than learning from men. Of course, they have a good point. We need to learn what God says; our goal is to grasp the mind of God. However we are all human – not only the Bible student, but the Bible commentator as well. We are all sinners saved by grace (if evangelical Christians). We all need the illumination by the Holy Spirit, and learn in accountability with other saints throughout history. We all bring our preferences, biases, interests, and spiritual needs into our Bible study.
使用《圣经》注释，在准备讲章和主日学教材时，可以给我们一些帮助，叫我们从大处着眼，不至于灵意解经，或者断章取义。有些传道人可能会说，基督徒读《圣经》时，就应只读《圣经》，不应使用任何参考书，因为后者所代表的是人为的意思，惟有《圣经》是神的话，我们需要的是神的教导，不是人的想法。这种说法，背后的用意是非常正确的。我们读经的目的，的确是要明白神的心意 (the mind of God)。可是，我们都是人 －－ 不论是读经的，或者是写注释书的 －－ 都是蒙恩的罪人（假如是福音派的信徒的话）。我们都需要圣灵的光照，和历代教会众圣徒的彼此守望、彼此学习，因为我们都带着自己的主观经历、个人的喜好、性格、灵性上的需要等来阅读《圣经》。
After we study a passage carefully, we can go to a basic Bible commentary to check whether we have interpreted it properly. The single one-volume Bible commentary most available and most helpful is The New Bible Commentary: Revised (Eerdmans, 1970; Chinese translation was based on original version: The New Commentary, Inter Varsity, 1953; in Chinese: Sheng Jing Xin Shi《圣经新释》, Hong Kong: Christian Witness Press 证道出版社, 1958). It is compact, and does not intend to answer every theological question. But is is a helpful overview of the content of the passage. Remember that this commentary has gone through many editions, including the present 21st century edition. I prefer the older editions, which have not been influenced by contemporary theories of biblical criticism.
当我们经过严谨的读经、查经之后，可以参考一些基本的注释，来检查我们对一段经文的解释，有没有断章取义。中文的《圣经》注释方面，有《圣经新释》这本单行本 (香港﹕证道出版社，1958) 。这本注释是从英文的 New Bible Commentary翻译过来的，不过原著已经绝版，取代的是不同的修订本，包括﹕The New Bible Commentary: Revised (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1970)。《圣经新释》非常的精简，并没有解答所有有关的神学问题，可是它可以给我们每一卷书一个正确的概念。用《圣经新释》时，不要忽略好好地读每一卷书的介绍。 我比较喜欢中译本所用的第一版本，因为后来的版本比较多受最新的《圣经》批判理论所影响，比方说有些旧约书卷（摩西五经等）可能是被掳之后写的，等等。
Ripe, mature commentaries on the various books of the Bible have been written by John Calvin (1509-64), the Puritans and other leaders since the 16th century. Some Puritan commentaries appear in The Geneva Commentaries (Banner of Truth Trust). Try the one-volume abridged Bible commentary by Matthew Henry, or his 6-volume set. It is devotional, and solidly rooted in the Puritan’s reverence study of Scripture.
自从加尔文的系统原文解经以来，基督教在不同时期都出现了严谨的注释。可惜，中译本不多，加尔文的只有一两本。到了清教徒时期，《圣经》注释不断地出版，而亨利马太 (Matthew Henry) 的《圣经》注释，是清教徒运动后期的作品，收集了一百多年(1550年代至1660年代) 的清教徒们的智慧。今天我们可以买到六卷的，或者是单行本的亨利马太《圣经》注释。小的时候，我只知道父亲的书架上放着六本亨利马太的注释，到了几十年后才知道是属灵宝藏。
Campus Evangelical Fellowship in Taiwan 校园 has been translating and publishing the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries and Tyndale New Testament Commentaries series 《丁道尔圣经注释》 (English original published by Inter Varsity Press). They are very helpful. More recently written commentaries contain evangelical scholar’s dialogue with, and use of, contemporary theories of Bible interpretation.
台湾的校园出版社为华人教会做了一件好事，就是出版旧约和新约的《丁道尔圣经注释》；原著是 Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 和 Tyndale New Testament Commentaries series (Inter Varsity Press). 这些都很有帮助，不过最近写的部分可能包含了最新的《圣经》批判理论。
Some individual Bible commentaries are truly classics: the 3 volume commentary on Isaiah by E.J. Young 杨以德, the 1-volume or 2-volume commentary on Romans by John Murray 慕理, and the 2-volume on The Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones are tremendous feasts of spiritual wisdom. They are all in print at this point! Martyn Lloyd-Jones has been hailed as the greatest preacher in the 20th century. He has written Bible commentary series on Romans and Ephesians, etc. James Montgomery Boice, the late pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, is an able Bible commentator; some of his commentaries have been published in Chinese.
英文的《圣经》注释世界里有一些著作是经典之作，所以，虽然它们有时从一些系列中被取代了，可是出版社还会独自地再版。最好的例子就是慕理的罗马书注释﹕John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans。 另外钟马田的登山宝训和以弗所书，杨以德的以赛亚书注释（三卷）都是不可错过的。钟马田的注释中译本，请中文读者注意。还有 James Montgomery Boice的注释也陆续面世。
My favorite New Testament commentary series is William Hendriksen, The New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker); it was completed after Hendriksen’s death by Dr. Simon Kistemaker of Reformed Theological Seminary. Hendriksen – Kistemaker is expository and homiletical; that is, the commentary reads like a sermon. There are many helpful outlines, and I Corinthians, in particular, was written by Kistemaker who responded intelligently to contemporary debates, e.g. the place of women in the ministry of the church.
我个人喜欢用的新约注释，是William Hendriksen 和 Simon Kistemaker 合着的 New Testament Commentary，对准备讲道很有用，没有学术味道，对传道人和平信徒都适宜。 至于中文出版社陆续出版的中文作者写的《圣经》注释系列，每一位作者对《圣经》的立场都不同，读者可以自行判断，例如﹕作者是否相信以赛亚书是以赛亚写的？还是两个以赛亚写的？摩西五经有没有一些段落是被掳之后才写的？《圣经》的神迹是否事实？等等。
The Anchor Bible and other commentary series published by Word and Zondervan put the reader in touch with contemporary debates in Bible background and interpretation. They do not have the same solid, traditional flavor as Hendriksen, Murray, Young and the Puritans.
(EVANGLEICAL) BIBLICAL THEOLOGY (正统) 《圣经》神学
Biblical theology 《圣经》神学 is different from systematic theology 系统神学. While systematic theology asks the question, “What does the entire Bible teach about a particular topic x?,” Biblical theology is the study of themes which God has revealed, at different periods of the history of revelation. For example, studies on the covenant in the Five Books of Moses; the promise of the Messiah in the Old Testament prophets; the kingdom of God in the Gospels; suffering and the age to come in the epistles of Paul; etc. are classic examples of Biblical theology.
《圣经》神学与系统神学不同。系统神学研究的是﹕整本《圣经》关于某一个题目的教导是甚么？而《圣经》神学问的乃是﹕上帝在某一段时期启示了甚么？例如﹕在摩西五经里的「约」，旧约先知书所预言的「弥赛亚」，保罗书信里的「与基督受苦」和「来世」等，这些都是《圣经》神学研究的典型内容。
Your understanding of the Bible will be greatly enriched through the study of Biblical theology. Another benefit is: you will be amazed how Jesus Christ is really the central figure and focus of the Old Testament.
《圣经》神学能丰富你对《圣经》的理解。另一好处是﹕你会惊讶地发现，耶稣基督乃是旧约的中心人物！
In my view, an effective worship leader should be a student of Biblical theology, especially Old Testament biblical theology.
我认为要做一位有效带领会众敬拜的信徒领袖，必须熟识《圣经》神学，特别是旧约的神学。
Biblical theology is grounded on two beliefs: the historical progression of revelation, and the unity of revelation. Contemporary evangelical Biblical scholars often forget the unity of revelation; e.g. they pitch Jesus (a Hippie-like lover of all people) against Paul (whom they accuse of being a woman-hater). This is the kind of Biblical study which clearly harms the church and erodes the Christian’s confidence in the Bible!
《圣经》神学根据两个信念﹕上帝的启示是历史的、渐进的，同时是统一的、前后一贯的。当代的《圣经》学者往往忽略了《圣经》启示的一贯性，例如﹕他们把耶稣与保罗对立起来。这种《圣经》研究对教会有害无益，因为这样损害了信徒对《圣经》的信任。
A word of caution: Biblical theology refers to the evangelical study of the history of revelation. This is not to be confused with another movement, the “Biblical theology movement” which is non-evangelical (treated by J.I. Packer 巴 刻 in his book, Truth and Power). This non-evangelical type of Biblical theology purports to study what the people of God believed and preached at different points in time; however, these scholars do not necessarily (often they actually do not) believe that the Bible is inspired and inerrant.
在这里提醒读者﹕我们指的「圣经神学」是福音派里的《圣经》神学运动，而不是另外一种新派的所谓「圣经神学」。参考﹕巴刻，《真理与权能》一书。
The great leader of the evangelical Biblical theology movement – as properly understood by J.I. Packer in Truth and Power – is Dr. Edmund P. Clowney, retired president of Westminster Theological Seminary. You can taste the riches of Biblical theology through Clowney’s book, The Mystery Unveiled, or his older work, Preaching and Biblical Theology. A shorter work by one of the numerous students of Clowney, is Charles Drew, Ancient Love Song: Finding Christ in the Old Testament (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2001).
Standard academic works on Old Testament biblical theology include: Gerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology; Meredith Kline, Treaty of the Great King; and Meredith Kline, The Structure of Biblical Authority. Seminary students are often required to read works on biblical theology by non-evangelicals such as Von Rad and W. Eichrodt.
中文的《圣经》神学书籍不多，首推Geerhardus Vos 的《圣经神学》（卷一、二，天道），可惜已经绝版。近年来有《圣经神学辞典》出版，与《圣经新辞典》一起用，勉强可补偿这方面的缺欠。
New Testament biblical theology is best exemplified by the last section in G. Vos, Biblical Theology, and Vos’ other work: Pauline Eschatology. Besides G. Vos, Herman Ridderbos is another name to remember when shopping for books on biblical theology. Ridderbos has a book on Paul. Vos has a shorter book entitled The Coming of the Kingdom.
A French Roman Catholic author has edited a one-volume Dictionary of Biblical Theology, which is very helpful as a supplementary tool.
OTHER TYPES OF BIBLICAL STUDIES PUBLICATIONS
《圣经》研究方面其他著作
There are some other books in the field of Biblical studies: a good Bible atlas may be very helpful. Increasingly there are Chinese books published (written by Chinese authors) on textual criticism; Greek and Hebrew textbooks; Greek and Hebrew Bibles; concordances based on the original languages, concordances based on the English or Chinese Bible, and verse-by-verse interpretation of the original text (e.g. by A.T. Robertson). May you learn to discern, and mature in your grasp of God’s Word! May you be a blessing to Christ’s church!
《圣经》研究是一个很大的范畴，除了上述的几种书籍，还有很多可以考虑的数据﹕《圣经》地图、关于古卷考据的书、希腊文和希伯来文教科书、原文《圣经》、原文经文汇编、中文或英文的经文汇编和原文逐节解经等。愿上帝赐的属天分辨能力，使我们在掌握上帝的话语上逐渐成熟，造福教会！
La Mirada, California
January 6, 2005
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