|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
Translated by Olivia Jansen
奥利维亚·詹森 翻译
With Study Questions for Reflection
附有供默想的学习问题
In this modest volume, I seek to provide a clear exposition of the Christian faith as professed by Reformed Churches across all lands and ages.
在这本篇幅不大的著作中，我力求清晰地阐述历代各地改革宗教会所认信的基督教信仰。
The title, “Magnalia Dei,” is drawn from Acts 2:11.
书名“Magnalia Dei”（神的作为）取自使徒行传2章11节。
中文下载
There, we are told that the disciples of Jesus, upon receiving the Holy Spirit, began to proclaim the great works of God in languages understood by all.
那里告诉我们，耶稣的门徒领受圣灵后，便开始用众人都明白的语言宣扬神的大作为。
These great works of God do not refer solely to specific events, such as the resurrection of Christ, but rather encompass the entirety of the salvation history wrought by God through Christ.
神这些伟大的作为并不仅仅指诸如基督复活之类的特定事件，而是涵盖了神藉着基督所成就的整个救赎历史。
The Holy Spirit was poured out so that the congregation might come to know, glorify, and offer thanks and praise to God for these works.
圣灵被浇灌下来，为要使会众认识、荣耀这些作为，并为此向神献上感谢和赞美。
This conveys the idea that the Christian religion is not merely a collection of words or doctrines, but is in essence a divine work, achieved in the past, unfolding in the present, and destined for completion in the future.
这传达了一个观念：基督教信仰并非仅仅是言语或教义的集合，其本质乃是一项神圣的工作，已在过去成就，正在现今展开，并注定在将来完成。
The substance of the Christian faith is neither a scientific theory nor a philosophical formula explaining the world, but rather an acknowledgment and confession of the great works of God, which span the ages, encompass the entire world, and will find fulfillment in the new heavens and the new earth where righteousness dwells.
基督教信仰的实质既非解释世界的科学理论，也非哲学公式，而是对神伟大作为的承认和认信；这些作为跨越时代，涵盖整个世界，并将在有义居于其中的新天新地中得以成全。
Such understanding is no longer widely grasped or appreciated.
这样的理解已不再被广泛领会或珍视。
The knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, is steadily declining.
那合乎敬虔的真理知识正日益衰减。
Interest in the mysteries of the kingdom of God diminishes daily, not only outside but also within Christian circles.
对神国奥秘的兴趣逐日减少，不仅在基督教圈外，圈内亦然。
Fewer and fewer live by the truth with their whole heart and soul, nourishing themselves with it daily.
越来越少的人全心全意凭真理而活，每日以真理滋养自己。
Those who still accept it often see it merely as a set of teachings, perhaps worthy of belief, but disconnected from life and irrelevant to the present.
那些仍然接受它的人，往往仅将其视为一套教导，或许值得相信，但与生活脱节，与现今无关。
Several reasons account for this lamentable state of affairs.
造成这种可悲状况的原因有几个。
The demands placed on those preparing for or engaged in various professions are so heavy that there is neither pleasure nor time left for other pursuits.
那些为各种职业做准备或已从事各种职业的人们所承受的要求如此沉重，以致没有乐趣也没有时间从事其他追求。
Life has become so rich and complex that obtaining an overview requires great effort.
生活变得如此丰富和复杂，以致获得一个概览需要付出巨大的努力。
Political, social, and philanthropic interests increasingly claim our time and strength.
政治、社会和慈善事业日益占据我们的时间和精力。
The reading of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and brochures consumes our free moments.
阅读日报、周报、杂志和小册子消耗了我们空闲的时间。
There is neither the desire nor the opportunity to study the Scriptures or the old theological works.
既没有愿望也没有机会去研读圣经或古老的神学著作。
Moreover, those old works are no longer in tune with our times.
此外，那些古老的著作已不再与我们的时代合拍。
Differences in language, style, thought, and expression make them feel foreign to us.
语言、风格、思想和表达方式的差异使我们感到它们很陌生。
Issues once deemed paramount have lost much, if not all, of셔 their significance.
曾经被认为至关重要的问题，即使没有完全失去，也已在很大程度上失去了其重要性。
New interests, not addressed by these works, now dominate our attention.
这些著作未曾涉及的新兴趣，如今主导着我们的注意力。
Enemies they once fought no longer exist, have been replaced, or engage us in entirely different ways.
他们曾经与之战斗的敌人已不复存在，或已被取代，或以完全不同的方式与我们交战。
We are children of a new era, living in a different century.
我们是新时代的儿女，生活在不同的世纪。
Clinging to old forms merely because they are old is futile and contradicts our own confession.
仅仅因为形式陈旧就固守旧形式是徒劳的，并且与我们自己的认信相矛盾。
Precisely because the Christian faith is the recognition of a divine work spanning from the beginning of time to our present day, its essence is timeless, but its form must be contemporary.
正因为基督教信仰是对一项从创世之初延续到我们今日的神圣工作的认识，其本质是永恒的，但其形式必须是当代的。
No matter the good that works like Frank’s “Kern,” Marck’s “Merg,” and Brakel’s “Redeemer’s Religion” did in their time, they cannot be revived today.
无论像弗兰克（Frank）的《核心》（Kern）、马克（Marck）的《精髓》（Merg）和布雷克尔（Brakel）的《救赎主的宗教》（Redeemer’s Religion）这样的著作在它们那个时代有多么大的益处，它们今天都无法复兴。
They no longer resonate with the younger generation and inadvertently suggest that Christianity is outdated.
它们不再能引起年轻一代的共鸣，并且无意中暗示基督教已经过时。
Hence, there is a pressing need for a work that can stand in place of the fathers’ writings, presenting the old truth in a form that meets contemporary demands.
因此，迫切需要一部能够取代教父著作的作品，以符合当代要求的形式呈现古老的真理。
Much progress has been made in this direction.
在这方面已经取得了很大进展。
Since the Reformed faith and theology saw revival and growth in the last century, numerous attempts have been made to adapt the old confession to modern understanding.
自从上个世纪改革宗教信仰和神学复兴并发展以来，人们进行了许多尝试，以使古老的认信适应现代的理解。
The contributions of Dr. Kuyper, especially through his rich catechetical expositions, cannot be overstated.
凯波尔博士的贡献，尤其是他丰富的教理问答阐释，怎么强调都不过分。
Yet, there remains a lack of a work that explains the Christian faith’s content in an accessible manner for the broader populace, kept within reach by its modest size and price.
然而，仍然缺乏一部能够以通俗易懂的方式向广大民众解释基督教信仰内容的作品，其篇幅和价格都应在人们可承受的范围之内。
This book aims to fill that gap, offering instruction in the Christian religion to the congregation.
本书旨在填补这一空白，向会众提供基督教信仰的教导。
While the author of this handbook on Reformed doctrine is aware of his limitations, this awareness should not lead to despair and inactivity but should instead drive one to exert all effort and rely on the help of Him who perfects His strength in our weakness.
虽然这本改革宗教义手册的作者意识到自己的局限性，但这种意识不应导致绝望和不作为，而应促使人竭尽全力，并倚靠那位在我们的软弱中成全祂大能的神的帮助。
I do not envisage scholars as the primary readers of this work, those well-versed in the rich and profound thoughts of Scripture as formulated in Reformed theology.
我并不期望学者成为这部作品的主要读者，他们精通改革宗神学所阐述的圣经中丰富而深刻的思想。
Instead, I have in mind ordinary church members, those preparing through catechism for admission to Holy Communion, or those maintaining an interest in the truth’s knowledge.
相反，我心目中的读者是普通的教会成员，那些通过教理问答预备领受圣餐的人，或是那些对真理知识保持兴趣的人。
I particularly consider the young men and women, often already training for their future professions in workplaces, factories, stores, offices, higher education institutions, or grammar schools, where they frequently encounter objections to the Christian faith.
我特别考虑到那些年轻男女，他们常常已经在工作场所、工厂、商店、办公室、高等教育机构或文法学校接受未来职业的培训，并在那里经常遇到对基督教信仰的反对意见。
Many among them still desire to believe but find it exceedingly difficult due to their environment and the objections they hear.
他们中的许多人仍然渴望相信，但由于环境和他们听到的反对意见，发现这极其困难。
Their confession often lacks joy and enthusiasm.
他们的认信常常缺乏喜乐和热情。
Yet, if the truth is rightly understood, joy and enthusiasm will return.
然而，如果真理得到正确的理解，喜乐和热情就会回来。
When the works of God are seen in their true light, they naturally inspire admiration and worship.
当神的作为在其真实的亮光中被看见时，它们自然会激发敬佩和敬拜。
We then perceive that the Christian faith not only deserves belief but also possesses an intrinsic beauty, grounded in its inner truth and glory, appealing to the conscience.
那时我们就会认识到，基督教信仰不仅值得相信，而且具有内在的美，这美植根于其内在的真理和荣耀，并呼唤着良心。
We then thank God, not because we must, but because we may believe.
那时我们感谢神，不是因为我们必须相信，而是因为我们可以相信。
We come to realize the relevance of our faith to our thoughts and lives.
我们开始认识到我们的信仰与我们的思想和生活的相关性。
Each in our own language, we begin anew to proclaim the great works of God.
我们各人用自己的语言，重新开始宣扬神的大作为。
H. Bavinck. Amsterdam, May 1907
H. 巴文克，阿姆斯特丹，1907年5月
MAGNALIA DEI
神的大作为
Table of Contents
目录
FOREWORD
前言
PREFACE
序言
1 THE HIGHEST GOOD
1 至善
2 THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
2 对神的认识
3 GENERAL REVELATION
3 普遍启示
4 THE VALUE OF GENERAL REVELATION
4 普遍启示的价值
5 SPECIAL REVELATION (The mode of revelation).
5 特殊启示（启示的方式）
6 SPECIAL REVELATION (The content of Revelation).
6 特殊启示（启示的内容）
7 THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
7 圣经
8 SCRIPTURE AND CONFESSION
8 圣经与认信
9 THE BEING OF GOD
9 神的存在
10 THE TRINITY OF GOD
10 神的三位一体
11 CREATION AND PROVIDENCE
11 创造与护理
12 ORIGIN, NATURE AND DESTINY OF MANKIND
12 人类的起源、本性与命运
13 SIN AND DEATH
13 罪与死
14 THE COVENANT OF GRACE
14 恩典之约
15 THE MEDIATOR OF THE COVENANT
15 约的中保
16 THE DIVINE AND HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST
16 基督的神人二性
17 THE WORK OF CHRIST IN HIS HUMILIATION
17 基督在降卑中的工作
18 THE WORK OF CHRIST IN HIS EXALTATION
18 基督在升高中的工作
19 THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
19 圣灵的恩赐
20 THE CALLING
20 呼召
21 THE JUSTIFICATION
21 称义
22 THE SANCTIFICATION
22 成圣
23 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
23 基督的教会
24 ETERNAL LIFE
24 永生