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约翰壹书生命读经 · 第11篇

神圣的光与神圣的真理（三）

The Divine Light and the Divine Truth (3)
1读经：约翰一书一章五至七节。在本篇信息中，我们要继续看新约里真理一辞的意义。
1Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:5-7 In this message we shall continue to consider the meaning of the word truth in the New Testament
事情的真相
THE TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS
2我们看过，真理是神，是基督，是那灵，是神的话，是信仰的内容，是关于神、人和宇宙的实际，也是真实、可信、真诚；就著神说，是神圣的美德，就著人说，是人性的美德。除了真理这七方面以外，我们还需要看见，在新约里真理是指实在或真实的事物、事情（事实）的真相或实情、实际、真确；与虚假、欺骗、伪装、伪善、错谬相对。(可五33，十二32，路四25，约十六7，徒四27，十34，二六25，罗一25，九1，林后六7，七14，十二6，西一6，提前二7。）
2We have seen that truth is God, Christ, the Spirit, the Word of God, and the contents of the faith, the reality concerning God, man, and the universe, and the genuineness, truthfulness, and sincerity of God as a divine virtue and of man as a human virtue. In addition to these seven aspects of the truth, we need to see that truth in the New Testament denotes things that are true or real, the true or real state of affairs (facts), reality, veracity, as the opposite of falsehood, deception, dissimulation, hypocrisy, and error (Mark 5:33; 12:32; Luke 4:25; John 16:7; Acts 4:27; 10:34; 26:25; Rom. 1:25; 9:1; 2 Cor. 6:7; 7:14; 12:6; Col. 1:6; 1 Tim. 2:7
3真理这八方面几乎都是指三一神。那是一切事物之实际的三一神，在话里启示出来，且藉著话传输给我们。在话里所启示并藉著话所传输的，乃是我们基督徒信仰的内容，也是新约的内容。这内容含示关于神、人、宇宙、人与神、以及人与人彼此的关系、人对神的责任这些事的真实光景。这种种不同的实际与那独一的实际有关，这独一的实际乃是三一神自己。然后藉著我们经历基督，这实际就成了我们人的实际，就是成了我们用以敬拜神的人性美德。最后，真理是指实在和真实的事物。新约所启示各种不同的实际，都直接或间接与那独一的实际─三一神─有关。所以，我们基督徒对实在或真实事物的认识，必须来自我们对三一神的经历。
3Nearly all these eight aspects of the truth refer to the Triune God. The Triune God, who is the reality of everything, is revealed in the Word and conveyed to us by the Word. What is revealed in and conveyed by the Word is the content of our Christian belief and also the content of the New Testament. This content implies the real situation concerning God, man, the universe, man’s relationship to God and to others, and our obligation to God. All these different realities are related to the unique reality, which is the Triune God Himself. Then through our experience of Christ this reality becomes our human reality, that is, it becomes our human virtue with which we worship God. Finally, truth refers to things which are true and real. All the different realities revealed in the New Testament are related either directly or indirectly to the unique reality—the Triune God. Therefore, for us Christians the knowledge of what is true or real must come through our experience of the Triune God
神圣的实际
THE DIVINE REALITY
成为我们的真实
BECOMING OUR GENUINENESS
4我们所说过关于真理的八样事物，前五样是指素质上同一的实际。神、基督、那灵─神圣的三一─在素质上乃是一。因此，这三者是神圣实际之本质的基本元素，其实三者乃是一个实际。这一个神圣的实际，就是神的话这神圣启示的本质。因此，这个实际成了神圣话语中所启示神圣的实际，使神圣的话成为实际。神圣的话传输这一个神圣的实际作信仰的内容，而信仰的内容乃是整本新约所启示福音的本质，成为新约的实际。这也就是神圣三一的神圣实际。我们有分于并享受这神圣的实际，这实际就成为我们的真实、真诚、诚实、可靠，作为我们行为上优越的美德，以彰显我们所凭以活著的神，这是实际的神；我们也成了过真理生活的人，毫无虚假或伪善，过一种与那藉著受造之物和圣经所启示之真理一致的生活。
4Of the eight matters we have covered concerning truth, the first five refer to the same reality in essence. God, Christ, and the Spirit—the Divine Trinity—are essentially one. Hence, these Three, being the basic elements of the substance of the divine reality, are actually one reality. This one divine reality is the substance of the Word of God as the divine revelation. Hence, it becomes the revealed divine reality in the divine Word and makes the divine Word the reality. The divine Word conveys this one divine reality as the contents of the faith, and the contents of the faith are the substance of the gospel revealed in the entire New Testament as its reality, which is just the divine reality of the Divine Trinity. When this divine reality is partaken of and enjoyed by us, it becomes our genuineness, sincerity, honesty, and trustworthiness as an excellent virtue in our behavior to express God, the God of reality, by whom we live; and we become persons living a life of truth, without any falsehood or hypocrisy, a life which corresponds to the truth revealed through creation and the Scripture.
5真理这辞原文在新约里用了一百多次，每次出现的含意须由该处上下文断定。譬如在约翰三章二十一节，照上下文看，是指正直，（与邪恶相对约三19～20，）就是人照著神的所是活在神里面，所显出的实际；正直也与神圣的光相符，这光就是那是真理源头的神，在基督里显现出来。在约翰四章二十三至二十四节，照该章上下文以及约翰福音的整个启示看，乃是指神圣的实际成了人的真实和真诚，（与不道德之撒玛利亚敬拜者的伪善相对─约四16～18，）好对神有真正的敬拜。神圣的实际乃是基督，祂就是实际，（约十四6，）是旧约为著敬拜神之一切祭物的实际，（约一29，三14，）也是活水的泉源，就是赐生命的灵，（约四7～15，）给祂的信徒享受并畅饮，成为他们里面的实际，最终成了他们的真实和真诚，藉此他们以神所寻找的敬拜敬拜祂。在约翰五章三十三节和十八章三十七节，照约翰福音的整个启示看，是指那在神的儿子基督里所具体表现、启示并彰显的神圣实际。在约翰八章三十二节、四十节、四十四至四十六节，照该章上下文看，是指启示在神的话里，（约八47，）并具体表现在神儿子基督里面（约八36）之神的实际，这实际释放我们脱离罪的辖制。
5The word aletheia is used in the New Testament more than one hundred times. Its denotation in each occurrence is determined by its context. For example, in John 3:21, according to the context, it denotes uprightness (opposite to evil—vv. 19-20), which is the reality manifested in a man who lives in God according to what He is and which corresponds to the divine light, which is God, as the source of the truth, manifested in Christ. In John 4:23-24, according to the context of this chapter and also to the divine revelation of John’s Gospel, it denotes the divine reality becoming man’s genuineness and sincerity (opposite to the hypocrisy of the immoral Samaritan worshipper—vv. 16-18) for the true worship of God. The divine reality is Christ who is the truth (John 14:6) as the reality of all the offerings of the Old Testament for God’s worship (John 1:29; 3:14) and as the fountain of living water, the life- giving Spirit (John 4:7-15), partaken of and drunk by His believers to be the reality within them, which eventually becomes their genuineness and sincerity in which they worship God with the worship He seeks. In John 5:33 and 18:37, according to the entire revelation of the Gospel of John, truth denotes the divine reality embodied, revealed, and expressed in Christ as the Son of God. In John 8:32, 40, 44-46, according to the context of the chapter, it denotes the reality of God revealed in His word (v. 47) and embodied in Christ the Son of God (v. 36), which sets us free from the bondage of sin
实行真理
PRACTICING THE TRUTH
6在约壹一章六节这里，真理是指在神圣的光这面所启示出来神的实际。这实际是五节里神圣之光的流出和实化。神圣的光是在神里面的源头，真理是神圣之光在我们里面的流出和实化。当我们住在神圣的光中，（这光就是我们在神圣生命的交通里所享受的，）我们就实行真理。（这真理就是我们在神圣的光中所实化的。）当我们住在源头中，
6Here in 1 John 1:6 aletheia denotes the revealed reality of God in its aspect of the divine light. It is the issue and realization of the divine light in verse 5. The divine light is the source in God. Truth is its issue and realization in us. When we abide in the divine light, which we enjoy in the fellowship of the divine life, we practice the truth—what we have realized in the divine light. When we abide in the source, its issue becomes our practice.
7这源头的流出就成了我们的实行。
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8我信一段时间以后，也许再过十年，主恢复里的真理会非常盛行。我们并不在意人数。但如果有几千位圣徒能受真理的训练，这盛行的真理要为著主的定旨成就许多事。
8I believe that after a period of time, perhaps another ten years, the truth in the Lord’s recovery will be very prevailing. We do not care for numbers. But if several thousand saints can be trained with the truth, the prevailing truth will accomplish much for the Lord’s purpose
藉著受造之物启示出来的神
GOD REVEALED THROUGH CREATION
9我们现在来看书信里使用真理这辞的一些经节。保罗在罗马一章十八节说，『原来神的忿怒，从天上显示在那些以不义抑制真理之人一切的不虔不义上。』这节的真理是甚么？要答覆这个问题，我们需要读罗马十九、二十节：『因为神的事情，人所能知道的，原显明在人里面，因为神已经给他们显明了。自从创造世界以来，神那看不见永远的大能，和神性的特征，是人所洞见的，乃是藉著受造之物，给人晓得的，叫人无法推诿。』按照这两节，十八节的真理指神一切的所是、一切关于神和神存在的事物、以及有关这些事的知识。所以，我们以罗马一章十八至二十节为根基，就可以说，真理是指关于神、宇宙和人的实际。因为这真理已经显明出来，人就无法推诿。保罗接著在罗马二章进一步说到真理：『我们知道行这样事的人，神必按真理审判他。』(罗二2。）这节的真理是甚么？这里的真理是指人真实的光景和情形。毫无疑问，这也是指罗马一章十八至二十节的真理，这是关于那正在显明出来神的实际的真理。那些抑制这真理的人，有一天神要按这真理审判他们。在罗马一章十八节，真理是指神的所是。按照罗马一章十九、二十节，这真理，这实际，可以藉著神所创造之物而得知。我们需要持守这真理。有一天，神要按这真理审判所有抑制真理的人。
9Let us now consider certain verses in the Epistles where the word truth is used. In Romans 1:18 Paul says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness.” What is the truth in this verse? In order to answer this question, we need to read verses 19 and 20: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, being apprehended by the things made, are clearly seen, both His eternal power and divinity, for them to be without excuse.” According to these verses, the truth in verse 18 means all that God is and all the things concerning God and His existence and the knowledge of them. Therefore, with Romans 1:18-20 as the basis, we may say that truth denotes the reality concerning God, the universe, and man. Because this truth has been manifested, man is without excuse. Paul goes on to speak further concerning the truth in chapter two of Romans: “But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who practice such things” (v. 2). What is the truth in this verse? Truth here means the actual situation and condition of man. No doubt, it also refers to the truth in Romans 1:18-20, the truth concerning God’s reality being manifested. Those who hold down this truth will one day be judged by God according to it. In Romans 1:18 truth refers to what God is. According to Romans 1:19 and 20, this truth, this reality, can be known through God’s creation. We need to hold to this truth. One day, God will judge according to this truth all those who hold it down.
10保罗在罗马二章二十节接著说：『是愚昧人的管教者，是幼稚人的教师，在律法上有知识和真理的规模。』这里的律法是指摩西的律法。在摩西的律法里有一些神圣的真理。所有的人都该按这真理而行。否则，神要按这真理审判他们。我用罗马书这些经节说明一个事实：新约里真理一辞表明不同的事物。我们在罗马一、二章所看过有关真理的点，与约翰福音里真理的意义大不相同。按照约翰福音，神成为肉体来作真理，基督是神圣生命的真理，而那灵是基督的真理，实际。这些当然都与神圣的三一有关。但罗马一、二章的真理与神圣的三一无关，却与藉著受造之物所启示出来神的所是有关。所有藉著受造之物所启示出来关于神的事物，都是真理，实际，我们需要持守这真理。不仅如此，罗马书这些经节的真理，指明关于神、宇宙、人、人与神的关系、人与人的关系、以及人对神的责任之实际，这些都是藉著受造之物和圣经所启示的。
10In Romans 2:20 Paul goes on to say, “An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.” The law here refers to the Mosaic law. In the Mosaic law there is a certain amount of the divine truth. All human beings should act according to this truth. Otherwise, God will judge them according to it. I use these verses from the book of Romans to illustrate the fact that in the New Testament the word truth signifies different things. The point concerning the truth we have considered in Romans 1 and 2 is very different from the meaning of truth in the Gospel of John. According to the Gospel of John, God is incarnated to be the truth, Christ is the truth of the divine life, and the Spirit is the truth, the reality, of Christ. All these matters, of course, concern the Trinity. But the truth in Romans 1 and 2 does not concern the Trinity. Rather, the truth in these chapters is related to what God is, as revealed through creation. Whatever is revealed concerning God through creation is a truth, a reality, and we need to hold on to this truth. Furthermore, truth in these verses from Romans denotes the reality concerning God, the universe, man, man’s relationship with God and with others, and man’s obligation to God, as revealed through creation and through the Scripture.
神的信实
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
11保罗在罗马三章七节说到真理不同的方面：『但神的真实，若因我的虚谎，越发洋溢出祂的荣耀，为什么我还受审判像罪人一样？』这节的真实原文与真理（实际）同字，乃指神的信实。这当然与一章十八节里真理的意义不同，那里的真理是指藉著宇宙中所见之物显明出来神性的特征。但在罗马三章七节，我们看见另一件关于神的事─神的信实。我们如何能证明罗马三章七节的真实（真理）是指神的信实？藉著研读上下文，就能得到证明。三、四节说，『即便有不信的，这有何妨？难道他们的不信，就废掉神的信么？绝对不能！神总是真实的，人都是虚谎的，如经上所记：『好叫你说话的时候，显为公义；被人审判的时候，可以得胜。』』请注意三节用了『信』（信实）一辞。然后四节有形容词『真实。』四节指明神在祂的说话上是真实、信实的；就是说，神在祂的话上是信实的。在五、六节保罗继续说，『我且照著人的常话说，我们的不义若显出神的义来，我们要说甚么？神降怒，难道是祂不义么？绝对不是！若是这样，神怎能审判世界？』这两节也与神的信实有关。然后保罗在七节接著说到神的真实（真理）。所以，按照上下文，这里的真实（真理）是指神的信实。保罗可以不说『神的真实，』而说『神的信实，』因为这里的真实就等于信实。这是我们将罗马3:7三章七节的真实（真理），解释为神的信实的原因。
11In Romans 3:7 Paul speaks concerning a different aspect of the truth: “But if the truth of God abounded in my lie unto His glory, why still am I also judged as a sinner?” In this verse truth refers to the faithfulness of God. This, of course, is different from the meaning of truth in 1:18, where truth denotes the characteristic of God as revealed through the visible things in the universe. But in Romans 3:7 we have another matter concerning God—God’s faithfulness. How can we prove that the truth in Romans 3:7 denotes God’s faithfulness? This can be proved by studying the context. Verses 3 and 4 say, “For what if some disbelieved? Shall their unbelief make the faithfulness of God of none effect? Certainly not! But let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written, That You should be justified in Your sayings and will overcome when You are judged.” Notice that in verse 3 the word “faithfulness” is used. Then in verse 4 we have the adjective “true.” Verse 4 indicates that God is true, faithful, in what He says; that is, God is faithful in His words. In verses 5 and 6 Paul continues, “But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man. Certainly not! Otherwise how shall God judge the world?” These verses also are related to God’s faithfulness. Then in verse 7 Paul goes on to speak concerning the truth of God. According to the context, therefore, truth here denotes God’s faithfulness. Instead of saying “the truth of God,” Paul could have said, “the faithfulness of God,” since truth here equals faithfulness. This is the reason we interpret the word truth in Romans as denoting God’s faithfulness.
12罗马十五章八节说，『我说，基督是为神的真实，作了受割礼之人的执事，要证实对列祖的应许。』这节的真实也是指神的信实。我们若不明白这节的真实是指神的信实，我们就无法明白这节。基督是为神的真实，作了受割礼之人的执事，要证实那些应许。这就是说，基督为神的信实，作了受割礼之人的执事，要证实那些应许。这里保罗指明，凡神所应许的，祂必成就。神成就祂的应许，因为祂是信实的。我们再次看见，罗马三章七节和十五章八节的真实（真理），是指神一项特别的美德─神的信实。
12Romans 15:8 says, “For I say that Christ has become a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises given to the fathers.” In this verse truth also denotes God’s faithfulness. If we do not understand the word truth in this verse as referring to God’s faithfulness, we shall not be able to understand this verse. Christ became a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises. This means that Christ became a servant of the circumcision for the faithfulness of God, to confirm the promises. Here Paul indicates that whatever God has promised, He will fulfill. God fulfills His promises because He is faithful. Once again, we see that truth in Romans 3:7 and 15:8 refers to a particular virtue of God, God’s faithfulness
人诚实的美德
THE HUMAN VIRTUE OF HONESTY
13马可十二章十四节说，『他们来了，就对祂说，夫子，我们知道你是诚实的，甚么人你都不顾忌，因为你不看人的外貌，乃是诚诚实实教导神的道路。纳税给该撒，可以不可以？我们该纳不该纳？』法利赛人问主这个问题，想要藉此陷害祂。他们题出问题之前，先对主说祂是诚实的，并且诚诚实实教导神的道路。这里的诚实原文也是真理。因为主是真实、诚实的，所以祂是诚诚实实的、不是虚假的教导神的话。所以，这节的诚实（真理），是指人诚实的美德。在林后十一章十节，真理这辞再次用来指人的美德。保罗在这节说，『基督的真实在我里面，这夸口在亚该亚一带，是不会在我身上被堵住的。』这里的真实（真理），指可信、信实、可靠、诚实。首先，这是指主耶稣活在地上为人时的信实、诚实；然后是指在使徒保罗的生活里所陈明的这项美德。这美德乃是基督的属性，但保罗既凭基督而活，凡基督之所是，就都成了他行为上的美德。我们要看见的重点乃是：林后十一章十节的真实（真理），指人可信、可靠、信实、诚实的美德。
13Mark 12:14 says, “And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” The Pharisees were trying to trap the Lord Jesus by asking Him this question. Before they asked the question, they said to Him that He was true and taught the way of God in truth. Here “in truth” means in honesty. Because the Lord was true and honest, He taught the Word of God in honesty, not in falsehood. Therefore, in this verse truth denotes the human virtue of honesty. In 2 Corinthians 11:10 the word truth is again used to denote a human virtue. In this verse Paul says, “The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting shall not be stopped concerning me in the regions of Achaia.” Here truth denotes truthfulness, faithfulness, trustworthiness, honesty. First, it denotes the faithfulness, the honesty, of the Lord Jesus when He lived on earth as a man. Then it denotes this virtue as present in the living of the apostle Paul. This virtue was an attribute of Christ. But since Paul lived by Christ, whatever Christ is became his virtue in his behavior. The important point for us to see is that in 2 Corinthians 11:10 truth denotes the human virtue of truthfulness, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and honesty.
14约壹三章十八节告诉我们要在真诚上相爱：『孩子们，我们相爱，不要只在言语和舌头上，总要在行为和真诚上。』这里的真诚（真理）与舌头相对，就如行为与言语相对。使徒约翰在这节告诉我们，要在真诚、诚实上相爱。我们若说我们爱弟兄，就该在行为和真诚上爱他。否则，我们只是在言语或舌头上相爱，却不是在真诚上相爱。
14First John 3:18 tells us to love in truth: “Little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and truth.” Here truth denotes sincerity in contrast to tongue, just as deed is in contrast to word. In this verse the apostle John is telling us to love in truth, in honesty. If we say that we love our brother, we should love him in deed and in truth. Otherwise, we shall love only in word or in tongue, but not in sincerity
在真实里相爱并认识真理
LOVING IN TRUTH AND KNOWING THE TRUTH
15使徒约翰在约贰一节的真理有两种用法：『作长老的写信给蒙拣选的夫人和她的儿女，就是我真实所爱的；不单我爱，也是一切认识真理之人所爱的。』首先，约翰说到真实所爱的。这里的真实（真理），指启示出来的神圣实际─三一神在子耶稣基督里分赐到人里面─成为人的真实与真诚。所以，就这意义说，真实（真理）是指人的美德。然而，这美德不是由我们天然的人所产生的，乃是出自对神圣实际的享受。这是神圣的实际成了我们的真实和真诚。在这节里，约翰也说到认识真理。这里的真理是指福音的神圣实际，特别是关于基督的身位。我用这些经节为例子，指出我们需要研读新约中所有说到真理的经节。然后，我们有约壹一章六节关于真理这辞之注解的帮助，就能分辨这辞在不同经节里的用法。就如约贰一节所指明的，这辞在同一节可以有两种不同的用法。在每种情况里，这辞的含意都是由上下文断定的。所以，要明白任何一节里真理这辞的意义，我们需研读该节上下文。我们已经指出，真理这辞原文在新约里用了一百多次。藉著研读这辞的上下文，我们就会得著帮助，对新约中的真理有正确的领会。
15In 2 John 1 the apostle John uses the word truth in two ways: “The elder to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth.” First, John speaks of loving in truth. In this case truth denotes the revealed divine reality—the Triune God dispensed into man in the Son Jesus Christ— becoming man’s genuineness and sincerity. Therefore, truth in this sense denotes a human virtue. However, this virtue is not produced by our natural being; rather, it issues from the enjoyment of the divine reality. This is the divine reality becoming our genuineness and our sincerity. In this verse John also speaks of knowing the truth. Here truth denotes the divine reality of the gospel, especially concerning the Person of Christ. I use these verses as examples to point out our need to study all the verses in the New Testament that speak of the truth. Then with the help of the note on the word truth in 1 John 1:6, we can discern how this word is used in different verses. As 2 John 1 indicates, this word may be used in two different ways in the same verse. In each case, the denotation of the word is determined by the context. Therefore, to understand the meaning of the word truth in any particular verse, we need to study its context. As we have pointed out, the Greek word for truth, aletheia, is used in the New Testament more than one hundred times. By studying this word in its context, we shall be helped to have a proper understanding of truth in the New Testament