第七课(lesson 7) 规则六—以经解经

Rule #6

规则六

SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE ITSELF

以经解经

The best way for us to understand what the Bible says, is to allow the Bible to interpret itself. The Bible is God’s Word. Therefore, it is clear and consistent. It does not contradict itself. Some passages may be more difficult for us to understand, but we should turn to other passages in the Bible to shed light on these passages that we may have trouble understanding. (2 Peter 3:16)

对于我们来说,最佳理解圣经的方式就是以经解经。圣经是上帝的话。因此,她是清晰的又是一致的,并不互相矛盾。有些经文对于我们来说可能存在着理解的难度,但是我们应当用圣经的其它经文来照亮那些我们难以明白的经文。(彼后3:16)

The principle, “Scripture Interprets Scripture” is unique to the Lutheran church. In the Catholic Church, the work of interpreting the Bible is given to the Pope, church councils, and church tradition. The Pope is considered infallible whenever he speaks regarding matters related to the Bible. In the 1500’s, Martin Luther studied the Bible for himself, and discovered that the Pope and the Catholic Church were no longer teaching the truths of the Bible, but rather their own human interpretations and perversions of what the Bible said. (For example: purgatory, penance, praying to the saints, the role of the Virgin Mary, the buying and selling of forgiveness, the role of good works in salvation) These and other false teachings were developed by sinful men who did not allow the Bible to stand by itself as God’s Word.

对于路德宗教会来说,“以经解经”的原则是唯一的。在罗马天主教,解经的工作属于教皇,教会公会议,教会传统。无论何时,教皇发表有关圣经的言论总被认为是无误的。在公元1500年,马丁路德自己研究圣经,发现教皇和罗马天主教不再教导圣经的真理,相反,他们传授自己对圣经的解释,曲解圣经的真理(比如:炼狱,苦行,向圣徒祈祷,童贞女马利亚,买卖赎罪卷,善工在救恩中的定位)。这些和其他错误的教导都是由那些不愿意尊圣经为上帝话语的罪人所发展出来。

In the Reformed churches (Baptist, Pentecostal, CMA, Methodist, Evangelical Free, and others) Scripture is subjected to human reason. So Reason must interpret the Bible. This has led the Reformed churches to believe and teach false doctrines in areas such as: double predestination, conversion, baptism, the Lord’s Supper.

在改革宗教会(浸信会,五旬节会, (美国)基督教传教联盟,卫理公会, 福音自由派, 和其他宗派教会),圣经受制于人的理性。因此,理性必须解释圣经。这必然导致改革宗教会去相信和教导错误教义,比如:双重预定,悔改,洗礼,圣餐。

In the Lutheran Church, we insist that the Bible must interpret itself. This means:

在路德宗教会, 我们坚持以经解经,这就意味着:

  1. We understand a passage by comparing it with other passages of the Bible which discuss the same subject.

  2. 我们理解该处经文,是通过与讨论同一主题的其他经文进行比较。

Example: Genesis 3 and Romans 5

举例: 创 3: 和罗 5:

  1. We understand a passage in its context, both immediate and broader. (Hermeneutical circle).

  2. 我们在该处经文的上下文中理解经文,其中包括紧临的上下文和更大的上下文(解释学循环)。

Example: John 15, Romans 3, and James 2

举例:约15:,罗3:,和雅各书2:

  1. We assume that since the Bible is inspired by God, the Bible is perfectly united in what it says, without errors or contradictions.

3.我们认定,既然圣经是神所默示的,那么,圣经的内容是完全统一的,没有错误或矛盾。

Note again: Romans 3 and James 2, also Matthew 25:31-46.

再次注意: 罗3:和雅2:,太25:31-46。

This unity in the Bible is also true when we compare the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was written from 1400 to 400 B.C., and the New Testament from 30 to 100 A.D. There were more than 50 men who wrote parts of the Bible. Yet God is the ultimate author of everything in the Bible, and it is perfectly united in what it teaches.

当我们比较旧约和新约时,我们也可以发现圣经是前后一致。旧约写于公元前400年到公元前1400年,而新约则写于公元30年到公元100年。圣经的作者有50多位。然而,圣经的最终作者则是上帝,并且,圣经的话语是个整体,教导前后一致。

New Testament authors often quoted the Old Testament in order to: show how a prophecy was fulfilled, prove that a teaching of God’s Word was accepted long ago by Jewish believers, illustrate a point that they are making.

新约作者经常引用旧约是为了:显明预言如何应验,证明上帝话语的教导早就被犹太信徒所接纳,说明他们正在立论的一个观点。

Examples of fulfillment of prophecy:

预言应验的例子:

Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46

诗22:1 和 太27:46

Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23

赛 7:14 和 太 1:22-23

2 Samuel 7:11-16 and Luke 1:32-33

撒下 7:11-16和路 1:32-33

When we read, study, and teach the Bible, it is sometimes necessary for us to make judgments and deductions that are based on the Bible’s teachings. It was not God’s purpose when he inspired the Bible to write it in the form of long, detailed series of doctrinal statements, or as a series of legal codes that would give specific instructions for every conceivable situation a person may face.

当我们阅读,查考和教导圣经时,有时候我们在圣经教导的基础上进行判断和推论是必要的。上帝并没有用长篇幅、逐条的教义陈述方式来启示圣经,或者用针对一个人任何可能遇到的境遇所提出一系列具体指示的律法规条来启示圣经,这些都不是上帝的本意。

In the Old Testament, God gave to the Israelites civil, ceremonial, and moral laws that were intended to impress upon them that they were to be a different, unique people in the world, and this should be demonstrated by every aspect of their lives. However in the New Testament, God has not given for us such an extensive code of laws.

在旧约里,上帝赐给以色列人民事法,礼仪法和道德法,目的是要他们铭记在心:他们是世界上一个不同的、独特的民族,并且这一点将在他们生活每个层面得到证实。然而,在新约里,上帝并没有赐给我们大量诸如此类的律法。

For us there are many matters of ADIAPHORA, where we need to apply the general principles of God’s Word for ourselves. God has not given us specific commands or prohibitions for these matters. (For example: drinking alcohol, dancing, how much money to give to church, how often to worship, what kind of job to hold, etc.)

上帝在一些日常的事上没有给我们具体的诫命或禁戒(比如:喝酒,跳舞,奉献给教会多少钱,多久需要去礼拜,应从事什么样的工作,等等。)。在这些方面,我们需要运用上帝话语的总原则。

In the Bible we observe that there are:

我们在圣经中注意到以下原则:

  1. UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES

  2. 普遍原则

(Commands of God that apply to all people of all times and places.)

(上帝的诫命适合于所有时代的所有人们。)

  1. APPLICATIONS OF PRINCIPLES

  2. 应用原则

(Commands given by God to a particular group of people at a particular time and place.)

(上帝在一个特定时间和地方将诫命赐给一个特定的团体。)

How do I know when I read a passage from the Bible whether I am reading a Universal Principle or an Application of a Principle? Examine the immediate and broader context of Scripture to see if the passage is limited in any way. . .

当我们阅读圣经中的某一处经文时,我如何知道我所读的此处经文是属于一个普遍原则或是一个应用原则?考查圣经经文的紧临的上下文和更大的上下文,去查考此段经文是否在某方面是有限的……

Is the passage intended only for certain people, and not others?

此段经文是否只指向一些特定的人群,不指其他呢?

Is the passage intended only for a certain place or time?

此段经文是否只指向一个特定的时期和地方呢?

When we distinguish between principles and applications, we should be particularly cautious when we are reading historical events/narratives in the Bible. We dare not establish our own principles based on what actions are merely described. Examples. . .

当我们区分原则和应用时,我们应特别谨慎圣经中的历史事件和叙事。我们不能轻易地根据仅有的描述情节来建立我们自己的原则。 例子……

Abraham in Genesis 16:1-4 and 20:1-5

亚伯拉罕在创世纪 16:1-4 和 20:1-5

John the Baptist and Jesus in Matthew 3:6, 13-17

施洗约翰和耶稣在太3:6, 13-17

Jesus in Matthew 14:23

耶稣在太14:23

A doctrine in which it is very important for us to clearly distinguish between principles and applications is the ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN. Let us briefly examine the key Bible passages for this doctrine and identify the principles, the applications then, and the applications today.

对于我们来说,清楚地区分原则和应用两者,重要的一点就是男人和女人的角色这一教义。 下面我们概要地考查一下这一教义和识别这些原则、当时应用和现今应用的圣经主要关键段落。

See: 参考: Genesis 2 创 2:; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 林前11:3-16 ; 1 Corinthians 14:26-35 林前14:26-35 ; Ephesians 5:22-33 弗 5:22-33 ; 1 Timothy 2:9-15 提前 2:9-15

Consider also: 也考虑:

Jesus’ calling his disciples 耶稣对门徒的呼召

Old Testament prophets, priests 旧约先知们、祭司们

and kings 和诸君王

Principles 原则

Applications Then 当时的应用

Applications Now 现在的应用