系統神學緒論(周必克) - 第05講 我們何時從事神學研究

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本課程是2020清教徒改革宗神學院的序幕講座

我們什麼時候從事神學研究？
When do we do theology, when?
這裡我會很快地提及幾點。
Just a couple of things I wanna quickly say here.
我們一定要記住，如生命中所有其他的事物一樣，
Of course, we must remember that our Prolegomena must be shaped ultimately by,
我們的系統神學緒論必須取決於我們的末世論。
like everything else in life, by our eschatology.
我們正在通往永恆的路上，
We’re on our way to eternity,
我們身處末世，在等待著基督的再來。
we’re in the last times, we are waiting for Christ to come.
我們在兩個特定的時間里以兩種特定的方式研究神學。
We are doing theology in two ways at two particular times.
首先，我們在通往榮耀的天路歷程中研究神學。
First of all, we are doing theology during our pilgrimage to glory.
符合聖經的末世論教導我們，我們生活在恩典的時代，
A biblical eschatology teaches us that we live in the day of grace,
還沒到榮耀的時代。
not in the day of glory.
基督還沒有再來。
Christ hasn’t come back yet.
因此，我們一生都要謹記，我們還沒有到達。
So throughout our lifetime, we remember that we have not yet arrived,
正如保羅在腓立比書3章12節中所寫的那樣。
as Paul put it in Philippians 3:12.
我們仍是行在旅途中的旅行者。
But we are travelers, we are wayfarers.
過去的改教家曾說，我們是在去天國路上的
The old reformers used to say we are “viator” in Latin,
旅行者（拉丁語是“viator”）、朝聖者。
we’re pilgrims on the way, or we’re wayfarers, traveling to the celestial city.
經典例證當然就是《天路歷程》這本書。
The classic example here, of course, is Pilgrim’s Progress.
我們在前往天國的路上。
We’re on the way to the celestial city.
我們就是在這個大背景下來研究神學的，
We’re doing theology in this context,
希伯來書11章13節說，我們“在世上是客旅、是寄居的”。
when we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” Hebrews 11:13 says.
所以，我們的神學並非是眼睛可見的神學，
So our theology is not yet the theology of vision,
因為我們還沒有見到基督，也還沒有與他一起得榮耀。
for we do not yet see Christ, nor are we fully glorified with him.
雖然在原則上已經是的。
Principally yes.
這是一場由來已久的爭論，我們到底是生活在已成還是未成？
It’s the old debate, are we living in the now or the not yet?
答案就是，我們既生活在已成，也生活在未成，兩者都有。
And the answer is we are living in the now not yet, we are doing both.
保羅在哥林多前書3章(更正:哥林多前書13章)中這樣解釋道,
Paul explains it in the 1 Corinthians 3 (Correction: 1 Corinthians 13),
“我們現在所知道的有限，先知所講的也有限；”
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
“等那完全的來到，這有限的必歸於無有了。
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
我做孩子的時候，話語像孩子，心思像孩子，意念像孩子；
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
既成了人，就把孩子的事丟棄了。”
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
“我們如今仿佛對著鏡子觀看,模糊不清,到那時就要面對面了。”
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.”
因此，在這個世上研究神學，會在某種程度上讓我們謙卑。
So there’s a certain humility that comes out of doing theology while on earth.
當我還是一個14歲的男孩時，我就很熱愛神學，
Because you know, since I was a boy of 14 years old,
細細數來，如今已經是第50個年頭了。
so now this is going onto my 50th year, I do love theology.
我熱愛關於神學的一切，對於我而言，它就是生命的核心。
I do love everything about theology, to me it’s just the heart of life itself.
但我同時也十分清楚，在進入榮耀的五分鐘後，
But I am also acutely aware that five minutes after entering into glory,
所有我曾經研究過、寫過、思考過、默想過、討論過、
all the theology that I have studied and written about and thought over, meditated on, debated
講道時講過和教導過的神學，在我進入榮耀後五分鐘，
and preached and taught, five minutes after I’m in glory,
當我回頭看我所寫過的書，我會說，那是我寫的？
I’ll look back at all my books and say, I wrote that?
寫得太簡單、太基礎了。
You know that’s so simple, that’s so elementary.
所以在世上研究神學，我們要謙卑。
You see, so there’s a humility about doing theology on earth.
因為我們知道，最好的還沒有到來。
Because you know the best is yet to come.
我們只是在試著幫助自己和其他一起在旅途中的人。
And you’re just trying to help yourself and trying to help other people along the way.
當我們面對面地見到基督時，更好的在等著我們。
But so much better is awaiting you when you see Christ face to face.
保羅在腓立比書第3章就談到了這一點，不是嗎？
So Paul speaks of it in Philippians 3, doesn’t he?
正是“向著標竿直跑，
As pressing “toward the mark
要得神在基督耶穌里從上面召我來得的獎賞”。
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
與此同時,我們需要記得,我們是在一個特殊的時代研究神學。
But also, we need to remember, we’re doing theology at a special time.
我們是在我所稱之為末世的時代研究神學。
We’re doing it, at what I’m calling, during the last days.
雖然我們還沒有在榮耀里，但是我們有幸生活在末世，
Though we are not in glory, we are privileged to live in the last days
因為此時上帝的啟示已經達到頂峰。
when God’s revelation has reached its highest point in this age.
這是怎樣的榮幸！
And what a privilege we have!
不僅我們有聖經，我們的會眾們也有聖經。
Not only do we have Bibles, our people have Bibles.
我們不僅有聖經，還有各種各樣的好書，
Not only do we have Bibles, we have all kinds of good books
向我們傳遞歷世歷代的智慧。
of the wisdom of all the ages.
聖靈在兩千年的教會歷史中不停地在作工。
The Holy Spirit has been working, by the way, through 2,000 years of church history.
我們有幸，可以站在奧古斯丁、
We got the advantage of being able to stand on the shoulders of Augustine,
路德、加爾文、佈雷克和鐘馬田等人的肩膀之上。
and Luther, and Calvin, and Brakel, and Lloyd Jones.
哦，這如雲彩一般的見證人行在了我們的前面！
O what a cloud of witnesses have gone before us!
而現在我們身處末世，這邪惡、不敬畏上帝的末世。
And now we are in the last times, the wicked godless last times.
但我們也正在通往榮耀的路上。
But we are on the way to glory.
我們期待著主的到來，我們聽到他的腳步聲近了。
We are anticipating the coming of the Lord, we hear his footsteps coming.
在這個時代研究神學，是一件令人激動的事情。
It’s an exciting time to do theology.
查爾斯·狄更斯說,我們生活在最好的時代,也是最壞的時代。
We live in the best of times, and the worst of times, says Charles Dickens.
他說得沒錯。
And so it is.
不敬虔的人變得更不敬虔，但是敬虔的人也越來越敬虔。
The ungodly are becoming more ungodly. But the godly are also becoming more godly.
我在世界各地都見證到了正在發生的、非常美好的事情。
And I’m seeing, from place to place, wonderful things happen in the earth.
就在六月，我在多米尼加共和國。
I mean, just in June, Dominican Republic,
在我早上講完道後，那裡的一位牧師接著教了一堂課，
and the pastor there taught a class after I preached in the morning,
那堂課的程度比我在自己教會中教同一門課的程度還要高。
at a level, in Dominican Republic,
這可是多米尼加共和國啊！
it is higher than I would teach that class in my own church.
之後,人們又問了很多問題,聽起來就像是一群牧師在問問題。
And the people were asking questions afterward, that you’d think they are all ministers.
真是令人難以置信。
It was unbelievable.
看到這樣忠心的服侍，實在是太美好了。就如這位牧師，
And it’s just so beautiful to see how faithful ministry, like this man,
一位非常有恩賜的人，在那裡已經服侍了二十年之久。
he’s a very gifted man, he’s been there for 20 years.
他不斷地建造那間教會，使之達到了一個更高的神學層次上，
He’s just build up that church to a higher level of theology
這是就連宗教改革時期也沒有能夠達到的高度。
that you just won’t have that even in the times of the Reformation.
在宗教改革時期,雖然確實有復興,有令人贊嘆不已的事情發生,
Yes, there was revival, there was wonderful things happening,
但我認為那時候普通人的屬靈成熟度,不如這間教會的會眾。
but that level of spiritual maturity, I don’t think it was there among the common people at that time.
那時候人們為了養家，每天要工作13個小時之久，
People would have to work 13 hours a day to get bread on the table,
他們沒有太多時間可以來研究神學。
and they didn’t have much time to do theology.
（我講的是從理論上來說。）
I am talking about it now in a bookish form.
因此，他們並不能夠很好地理解神學上的這些事情。
And so they didn’t always have such a good grasp of things.
雖然牧師也會幫助他們,但我們如今所處的時代是前所未有的,
Ministers help them, but in a way today, with all the media
我們擁有所有這些供我們支配的媒體,向多方傳遞信息的途徑,
we have at our disposal, and the access we have to get the word out in so many directions,
這是前所未有的。
there’s never been a day like today.
所以我們要記住,我們既在一個有著極多需求的時代里研究神學,
So remember, we do theology in a very needy day,
也在一個到處都充滿機遇的時代里研究神學。
but also a day that just flood with opportunity on every hand.
因此，這是一個危機的時代，也是一個機遇的時代。
So a time of danger, a time of opportunity,
在這個時代，我們需要清晰地明白自己在說什麼，
a time when we need to know what we are saying
因為人們一定會提出挑戰和質疑。
because people will challenge.
保羅在他的時代就已經對提摩太說過，
Paul already said to Timothy in his day,
“聖靈明說，在後來的時候，必有人離棄真道，
“the Spirit speaketh expressly, in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
聽從那引誘人的邪靈和鬼魔的道理。”
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils”.
而約翰也說過，“小子們哪，如今是末時了。
And John already said, “Little children, it is the last time:
你們曾聽見說那敵基督的要來，
and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,
現在已經有好些敵基督的出來了；
even now are there many antichrists;
從此，我們就知道如今是末時了。”
whereby we know that it is the last time”.
所以，因著這眾多的原因，我們今日需要研究神學，
So we need to do theology today for a whole host of reasons,
不僅僅是為了保護教會、使之避免步入謬誤之中，
not the least, which is to protect the church from error,
同時也是為了抓住所有上帝賜給我們的機會，
but also to use all the opportunities given to us
將祂的真理傳遞到世界上、教會中。
to spill truth out into the world and the church.
最後的結語。
So conclusion.
正如我們上周在這一部分的開頭將神學與攝影做了一個類比，
Just as we compared theology to photography at the beginning of this section of our lecture last week,
現在我們也可以將神學比作講故事，
so we may compare theology to the telling of the story,
這是一個關於上帝、創造、墮落、救贖的成就、救贖的實施、
the grand story of God, creation, fall, redemption accomplished, redemption applied,
新造的人，以及最後的萬物復興的偉大故事。
a new people formed, and ultimately the restoration of all things.
這個神學故事貫穿永恆的過去和永恆的未來,它的美妙之處在於,
And the beautiful thing about the story of theology that runs from eternity past to eternity future,
我們自己也被包含在我們所研讀的這個故事之中。
is that we are embedded ourselves within the very narrative that we study.
我們並非是置身事外的觀察者。
We are not objective outside observers when we do theology.
我們研究神學時,需要認識到我們在這個故事中所處的立場、
We do theology, aware of our own place in the story,
以及這一立場會對我們對故事的解讀產生怎樣的影響。
and even aware of how that impacts our interpretation of the story.
因此，我們需要問自己，何時、何地、以及如何來研究神學。
And so we need to ask ourselves, when and where and how we do theology.
我們可以問自己這樣的問題：
Questions like these:
我在研究神學時,是否真的在敬拜和侍奉這位三位一體的上帝?
as I do theology, am I self a true worshipper, a true servant of the Triune God?
我是否把自己視為按上帝的形象所造的人，
Do I regard myself as really one created in God’s image,
能在上帝的恩典下對上帝有真正的認識？
who has, by grace, true thoughts of God?
而我是否意識到，我的這一認識何等貧乏，
And yet, do I realize how little I know,
我永遠無法探測透上帝的無限深度？
that I can never plumb His infinite depth?
我是否承認，即使在我努力研究神學時，
Do I acknowledge the moral corruption is still in my own soul,
道德敗壞仍然存於我的靈魂之中？
even as I try to do theology?
我是否倚賴基督和他的聖靈來照亮我內心的黑暗，
Do I depend on Christ and His Spirit to illuminate my inner darkness,
來征服我內心的叛逆呢？
to conquer my heart’s rebellion?
當我需要寫一篇論文時，當我需要預備一篇講道時，
When I have a paper to write, when I have a sermon to prepare,
我是否向上帝禱告、向祂傾心吐意？
do I really get down on my knees and pour out my heart?
在我們作工的當下、在我們完成論文的當下，
And even as I am working, as you’re putting that paper together,
是否因為需要祈求上帝賜下光照和更深的洞見,
do you have time to go down to your knees and you get back up and you go down to your knees,
我們就特別分出時間不斷地向上帝禱告？
because you are wrestling with God to give you light, to give you insight?
如果我們是牧師、教師、或神學生，
And if you are a pastor, a teacher, or a student of theology,
我們可否有按照保羅給提摩太的建議那樣
do you approach all your studies, as Paul advised Timothy,
去著手研究所有的課題，即“你當竭力在神面前得蒙喜悅”？
“study in order to show thyself approved unto God?”
我們在研究神學中，是否渴望蒙上帝的喜悅？
Are you looking for God’s smile on your studies,
還是將之視為一種職業要求，來滿足和實現自我的野心？
or do you regard theology as a professional requirement to advance selfish ambitions?
此外,我們是否將我們的神學研究視為一種要忍受逼迫的呼召?
And do you see your theology as a call also to suffer persecution?
我們是否預備好了，在神學研究中痛苦地面對人的拒絕？
Are you prepared to face rejection in pain for doing theology?
我們可否有與別人一起、與真基督徒朋友一起研究神學？
And are you doing theology in all your relationships, with your true Christian friends?
我們又是否在上帝賜下的傳福音的機會中研究神學？
But also, doing theology as God gives you opportunity in evangelizing others.
當我們研究神學時，我們是否意識到，
And are you consciously a pilgrim,
自己只是路過這個世界的一名天路客、陌生人、寄居者，
passing through this world, a stranger, a foreigner, as you do theology,
認識到自己與周圍的世界是截然不同的？
recognizing you’re very different from the world around you?
還是我們覺得，自己可以以某種方式既與世界保持親密關係、
Or do you think somehow you can be in bed with the world
又同時與教會保持親密關係？
and be in bed with the church at the same time?
而在我們研究神學時，它是否在某種程度上使我們自高自大，
And now when you do theology, is it puffing you up in some way,
自以為在屬靈上已經達到了某種程度的、顯著的成熟？
do you think you’ve arrived at some level of remarkable maturity?
還是我們真的明白，若比起我們進入榮耀五分鐘後所知道的，
Or you really, understanding that compared to what you are going to know five minutes after glory,
自己在此時此地，不過仍是一個稚嫩的嬰孩？
that you are really just still a babe here and now?
而當我們認識到自己生活在末世這一現實時，
How does the reality of living in the last days
這是否能夠激勵我們的神學研究，
challenge your study of theology,
讓我們既有一種因主恩而來的奇妙的榮幸感，
with an amazing sense of privilege
又有一種對危機的清醒認識？
mingled with a sober recognition of danger?
這些就是我們在最開始、
See, these are questions that we need to ask ourselves
在學習系統神學緒論時就應該問問自己的問題。
at the very beginning when we do Prolegomena.
好，讓我們休息五分鐘，
All right, we are gonna take a five minute break,
休息後我們就馬上開始“我們從事哪一種神學研究”這一部分。
and we’ll then jump into “Which theology do we do?”
只有五分鐘休息，不能太長時間。
Five minutes, no more, not six.

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