希伯来书系列信息(一)——无比超越的基督
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来1:1-3
希伯来书是写给一群在逼迫和压力环境下的犹太基督徒,他们熟悉旧约的敬拜制度、祭司体系,却因逼迫、压力开始动摇,想要退回到旧约的宗教形式。希伯来书的作者阐述耶稣基督的无比超越性,祂超越先知、天使、摩西、亚伦,旧约的律法制度和祭祀体系等。指明福音胜于律法,新约胜于旧约,基督超越神仆。
希伯来书警告信徒离弃基督信仰回归犹太教的危险,在信仰上竭力进到完全的地步,并鼓励信徒为真道忍受逼迫。因此劝勉信徒持守对耶稣基督的信心,鼓励信徒不要退后而要持守,呼召信徒在艰难的环境中忍耐到底。
希伯来书的作者不详。可能的人选包括:保罗,巴拿巴,路加, 亚波罗,西拉, 腓利;其他还有双作者说,如保罗和路加,巴拿巴和路加,亚基拉和百居拉等。
早期教父俄利根说,“只有神道是谁写了希伯来书。”(Origen, “Who wrote the epistle of Hebrews? Only God knows.”)
总之,无论是谁写了希伯来书,在高举基督的一卷书中,圣灵有意省去著书者的名字,是十分合宜的。
希伯来书虽然属于书信类文体,但却没有书信体开头惯常使用的问安祝福,乃是开门见山地直奔主题:来1:1-3作为全书的序言,使用极为浓缩的语言,以极其崇高的立意,申明耶稣基督的无比超越。
“神既在古时藉着众先知,多次多方的晓谕列祖,就在这末世,藉着祂儿子晓谕我们,又早已立祂为承受万有的,也曾藉着祂创造诸世界。祂是神荣耀所发的光辉,是神本体的真像,常用祂权能的命令托住万有,祂洗净了人的罪,就坐在高天至大者的右边。”(来1:1-3)
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”(Heb 1:1-3,NKJV)
神对人的启示分为两大时段:古时(In time past)和末世(In these last days),即旧约和新约两个时代。
神在旧约、新约时代分别如何向人启示?
| 启示媒介 | 启示方式 | 启示对象 | 启示性质 |
旧约时代 | 藉众先知 | 多次多方 | 晓谕列祖 | 片段、渐进 |
新约时代 | 藉祂儿子 | 一次完成 | 晓谕信徒 | 完整、终极 |
神是一位自我启示的神,若不是神藉着祂自己的话语向人启示,人永远也不可能认识神。人类对神的揣测和想象,便是创造出形形色色的偶像和各种不同的宗教。大体上说,旧约圣经各卷,就像一个个路标分别指向基督;新约则是基督的应验和彰显。
“神既在古时藉着众先知,多次多方的晓谕列祖。”(来1:1)
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.”(Heb 1:1,ESV)
旧约时如何晓谕列祖?神说话(God Spoke)!
藉着祂的话(这些话被记录在圣经中),神向人启示祂是怎样一位神。
首先是创造,神藉着祂的话语“说有就有、命立就立”(诗33:9)地创造世界。“我们因着信,就知道诸世界是藉神话造成的。”(来11:3)
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”(Heb 11:3,KJV)
“神说,‘要有光,’就有了光。”(创1:3)
“And God said, ‘Let there be light.’ And there was light.”(Gen 1:3,KJV)
其次是救赎,可以说整个圣经的历史就是神救恩的历史,它穿插于人类的历史事件之中。
圣经有关创造的记载,只出现于创世记第一、二章,从创世记第三章一直到启示录都是在讲神的救赎。浩瀚无边的宇宙,神用口中的话语轻松创造;但神对罪人的救赎,却是颇费周折,几乎占据圣经的全部篇幅。
当亚当、夏娃犯罪堕落悖逆神时,神藉对魔鬼撒旦的宣判,发出整本圣经的第一个预言,也是第一个有关基督的弥赛亚预言。
“我又要叫你和女人彼此为仇,你的后裔和女人的后裔也彼此为仇。女人的后裔要伤你的头,你要伤祂的脚跟。”(创3:15)
“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”(Gen 3:15,NKJV)
这第一个弥赛亚预言揭示救恩的本质:女人的后裔(基督)要伤魔鬼的头,摧毁撒旦的权势,将世人从罪恶与死亡的奴役中拯救出来。但代价是魔鬼要伤祂的脚跟,预示着基督的十字架!
旧约神的启示是片段性的、渐进性的、不完整的,犹如小孩子们玩的拼图游戏(jigsaw puzzle),很多图片组成一个完整图案,但当你拿出孤立的一片图片时,几乎看不清它到底是什么。
同样,神的救恩蓝图在神那里是完整的,但旧约时代的圣徒、先知所得到的信息,都是片段性的、不完整的(也许先知以赛亚所领受的启示相对比较完整,几乎涵盖基督生平的每一个阶段)。只有到新约时代,藉耶稣基督的最后启示,这幅救恩的蓝图才最终完整地、清晰地向人们显明出来。
创3:15的预言,显示女人的后裔要战胜撒旦拯救罪人。创世记第四章,当夏娃生下一个男婴时,她很是激动,以为神的拯救这么快就来到了。
“有一日,那人和他妻子夏娃同房。夏娃就怀孕,生了该隐(就是“得”的意思),便说,‘耶和华使我得了一个男子。’”(创4:1)
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.”(Gen 4:1,KJV)
神对亚伯拉罕说话:“耶和华对亚伯兰说,‘你要离开本地,本族,父家,往我所要指示你的地去。我必叫你成为大国,我必赐福给你,叫你的名为大,你也要叫别人得福。为你祝福的,我必赐福与他。那咒诅你的,我必咒诅他,地上的万族都要因你得福。”(创12:1-3)
“Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."”(Gen 12:1-3,NKJV)
这被称作是亚伯拉罕之约,这约在创世记22章重述,“地上万国都必因你的后裔得福。”(创22:18)
“In your Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.”(Gen 22:18,NKJV)
神在不同时间和地点,多次多方地向旧约其他圣徒和先知说活:祂在梦中向以撒和雅各说话;神透过雅各对他十二个儿子的预言性祝福,指出救主将出自犹大支派(创49:10);神经常性、面对面地向摩西说话,神直接对先知撒母耳说话;神透过先知对大卫说话,指示大卫基督要出自他的家;神在异象中对先知以赛亚说话,神透过实物教材对先知耶利米和以西结说话;神透过先知何西阿的婚姻对以色列百姓说话…
“圭必不离犹大,杖必不离他两脚之间,直等细罗(就是赐平安者)来到,万民都必归顺。”(创49:10)
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”(Gen 49:10,NKJV)
“必有童女怀孕生子,给祂起名叫以马内利。”(赛7:14)
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”(Isa 7:14,KJV)
“耶和华说,日子将到,我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约,…耶和华说,那些日子以后,我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样,我要将我的律法放在他们里面,写在他们心上。我要作他们的神,他们要作我的子民。”(耶31:31-33)
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: …But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”(Jer 31:31-33,KJV)
神在旧约除了直接说话以外,也借着历史事件、历史人物、祭祀系统、律法礼仪等遥远指向新约的耶稣基督,被称作是预表。比如,挪亚方舟,亚伯拉罕献以撒,至高神的祭司麦基洗德,雅各的天梯,约瑟的被卖、受苦与高升,逾越节的羊羔,摩西带以色列出埃及,旷野的吗哪,活水的磐石,以色列的逃城,摩西旷野举蛇,像摩西一样的先知,约书亚带领以色列进迦南,大卫、所罗门受膏,乃缦大麻风得洁净,约拿在鱼腹中三日三夜等。所有这些都指向新约耶稣基督的位格与工作。
“就在这末世,藉着祂儿子晓谕我们。”(来1:2a)
“But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”(Heb 1:2a, ESV)
神在古时藉着祂的先知对祂的子民说话,但在这末世,祂藉着祂的儿子对祂的儿女说话。耶稣不是先知中的一位,祂乃是那位大先知(The Prophet);祂不是替神传话的使者,乃是神自己在说话。祂是神的儿子,祂是预言的应验,祂是旧约的成全。
“莫想我来要废掉律法和先知。我来不是要废掉,乃是要成全。”(太5:17)
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”(Matt 5:17,NKJV)
“耶稣对他们说,‘这就是我从前与你们同在之时,所告诉你们的话,说,摩西的律法,先知的书,和诗篇上所记的,凡指着我的话,都必须应验。’”(路24:44)
“Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."”(Luke 24:44,NKJV)
神的儿子耶稣基督为何是最后的、终极的启示?接下来希伯来书的作者记述基督的位格与工作,引介耶稣基督的七重身份和属性。
“又早已立祂为承受万有的,也曾藉着祂创造诸世界。祂是神荣耀所发的光辉,是神本体的真像,常用祂权能的命令托住万有,祂洗净了人的罪,就坐在高天至大者的右边。”(来1:2-3)
“Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”(Heb 1:2-3,NKJV)
一.承受万有
“又早已立祂为承受万有的。”(来1:2)
“Whom He has appointed heir of all things.”(Heb 1:2)
万有的承受者,英文的Heir,就是Owner(拥有者)的意思。“承受”即合法的拥有,耶稣基督对万物拥有终极主权。承受万有,代表着拥有和管治。
诗篇第二篇是弥赛亚诗篇,神应许弥赛亚说,“你求我,我就将列国赐你为基业,将地极赐你为田产。”(诗2:8)
“Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”(Ps 2:8,NKJV)
“要照所安排的,在日期满足的时候,使天上地上一切所有的,都在基督里面同归于一。”(弗1:10)
“That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.”(Eph 1:10,NKJV)
“父爱子,已经把万有交在祂手里。”(约3:35)
“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.”(John 3:35,KJV)
“又将万有服在祂的脚下,使祂为教会作万有之首。教会是他的身体,是那充满万有者所充满的。”(弗1:22-23)
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”(Eph 1:22-23,KJV)
神的救赎不仅救拔罪人脱离地狱的刑罚,也是令万有都回归基督的王权之下,信徒也与基督一同作为神的后嗣承受万有。“既是儿女,便是后嗣,就是神的后嗣,和基督同作后嗣。”(罗8:17)
“And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”(Rom 8:17,KJV)
如果基督承受万有,那么信徒一切的拥有或失去,都在基督的主权之下。
二. 创造世界
“也曾藉着祂创造诸世界。”(来1:2)
“Through whom also He made the worlds.”(Heb 1:2,NKJV)
耶稣基督作为三一真神的第二位格,直接参与宇宙万物的创造,万有都是借着祂造的。
“万物是藉着祂造的。凡被造的,没有一样不是藉着祂造的。”(约1:3)
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”(John 1:3,NKJV)
从浩瀚的星系到看不见的原子,从奇花异草、飞禽走兽,到在显微镜下才能看到的细胞亚结构,从谷物蔬果到海中鱼虾,都是借着耶稣基督创造的。
“因为万有都是靠祂造的,无论是天上的,地上的,能看见的,不能看见的,或是有位的,主治的,执政的,掌权的,一概都是藉着祂造的,又是为祂造的。”(西1:16)
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”(Col 1:16,NKJV)
“我们只有一位神,就是父,万物都本于祂,我们也归于祂。并有一位主,就是耶稣基督,万物都是藉着祂有的,我们也是藉着祂有的。”(林前8:6)
“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.”(1 Cor 8:6,NKJV )
耶稣基督创造世界与你我有什么关系?耶稣基督是万物的创造主,祂是你生命的源头,离开创造主,人无法活出被造的目的,生命真正的价值与意义只能在基督里实现。人只有回归祂才能活出被造的目的,在神的心意中活出你生命中的最大潜力。
三.荣耀光辉
“祂是神荣耀所发的光辉。”(来1:3)
“He is the radiance of the glory of God.”(Heb 1:3,ESV)
“光辉”(ἀπαύγασμα)(Radiance)是一个合成词,由ἀπό (From)和αὐγάζω (Shine)两个字组成。所以,这里的“光辉,”不是如月亮反射太阳那样的反射光,乃是自身发出的光辉,乃是神自己的荣光。
主耶稣说,“我与父原为一。”(I and My Father are One.)(约10:30)
“父阿,现在求你使我同你享荣耀,就是未有世界以先,我同你所有的荣耀。”(约17:5)
“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”(John 17:5,NKJV)
“神本性一切的丰盛,都有形有体的居住在基督里面。”(西2:9)
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”(Col 2:9,NKJV)
神全部的属性如圣洁、公义、怜悯、慈爱、荣耀、能力、智慧等,都在基督里完全彰显。
四.本体真像
“是神本体的真像。”(来1:3)
“And the exact imprint of His nature.”(Heb 1:3,ESV)
“真像”(χαρακτὴρ),英文翻译为Imprint,印记。“χαρακτήρ” 在古希腊语中,本来是指雕刻工具、铸币时用的模子,或印章本身,也指由此压印在蜡、金属、硬币上的印记。这印记与原模在形状、线条上完全相同,却又与原模有区别。
英文的Character就是来源于这个希腊字χαρακτὴρ, 耶稣基督“是神本体的真像,”指耶稣基督与父神在本质和属性上完全相同,NASB翻译为:The exact representation of His nature. 意思是:耶稣基督是神完全的代表,祂与神本质完全相同,但却有不同位格。
“从来没有人看见神,只有在父怀里的独生子将祂表明出来。”(约1:18)
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”(John 1:18,KJV)
“腓力对祂说,‘求主将父显给我们看,我们就知足了。’ 耶稣对他说,‘腓力,我与你们同在这样长久,你还不认识我吗?人看见了我,就是看见了父。你怎么说,将父显给我们看呢?’”(约14:8-9)
“Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?”(John 14:8-9,NKJV)
若不藉着耶稣基督,没有人能够真正认识神。神是个灵,没有人能看见父,但当你看到了耶稣基督,你就等于看见了神,因为耶稣基督是父神本体的完全彰显。因此,主耶稣说,“我就是道路,真理,生命。若不藉着我,没有人能到父那里去。”(约14:6)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”(John 14:6,NKJV)
五. 托住万有
“常用祂权能的命令托住万有。”(来1:3)
“And upholding all things by the word of His power.”(Heb 1:3,NKJV)
耶稣基督不仅创造万物,祂也维持万物、护理万物。“祂在万有之先,万有也靠祂而立。”(西1:17)
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”(Col 1:17,NASB)
耶稣基督以祂口中的话语创造世界,也以祂权能的命令维系万有,维持整个宇宙井然有序地运行,使宇宙和人类历史都朝向神所既定的目标行进。长期以来,科学家一直搞不清维系宇宙的引力到底是什么,但圣经清楚表明,是耶稣基督用祂权能的命令托住万有。自然神论者认为,神创造了宇宙之后,犹如钟表上紧了发条,任由其自生自灭。但主耶稣基督积极地引导宇宙和历史的走向。
“托住万有”不仅是物理层面的维系,也是包括历史、自然、人事在内的全面护理:从创造、维持、治理,到最后成就祂自己的救赎计划与荣耀目的。
“两个麻雀,不是卖一分银子吗?若是你们的父不许,一个也不能掉在地上。就是你们的头发,也都被数过了。”(太10:29-30)
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”(Matt 10:29-30,NKJV)
“凡劳苦担重担的人,可以到我这里来,我就使你们得安息。”(太11:28)
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”(Matt 11:28,NKJV)
六.人类救主
“祂洗净了人的罪。”(来1:3)
“When He had by Himself purged our sins.”(Heb 1:3,NKJV)
人人都是罪人,罪使人与神隔绝,罪带来可怕的死亡,不仅是肉身的死,也带来末后的审判和永远的刑罚,这是全人类的悲惨光景。“按着定命,人人都有一死,死后且有审判。”(来9:27)
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”(Heb 9:27,KJV)
神出于祂无限的怜悯和慈爱,定意对世人施行拯救。怎么救呢?神的儿子道成肉身,在十字架上为罪人舍身流血,成就赦罪的救恩。
“神使那无罪的,替我们成为罪。好叫我们在祂里面成为神的义。”(林后5:21)
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Cor 5:21,NKJV)
“何况基督藉着永远的灵,将自己无瑕无疵献给神,祂的血岂不更能洗净你们的心,除去你们的死行,使你们事奉那永生神吗?”(来9:14)
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”(Heb 9:14,KJV)
“因为祂一次献祭,便叫那得以成圣的人永远完全。”(来10:14)
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”(Heb 10:14,NKJV)
人的罪需要宇宙的创造主、万有的维护者被钉死在十字架上为罪人赎罪,可见罪的可恶与可怕,也彰显神的慈爱何等长阔高深。“惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死,神的爱就在此向我们显明了。”(罗5:8)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Rom 5:8,NKJV)
七.至高君王
“就坐在高天至大者的右边。”(来1:3)
“Sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”(Heb 1:3,NKJV)
当基督洁净了人的罪,就坐在高天至大者的右边,有如下三重含义:
1) 基督完成赎罪
基督坐在神宝座的右边,代表基督赎罪的工作已经完成了。旧约在圣殿中服事的祭司,从来没有坐下来过,他们要不断地献祭赎罪,因为这赎罪的工作从来没有完成。
但主耶稣在十字架上呼喊说,“成了!”(It is Finished!)(约19:30)
“但基督献了一次永远的赎罪祭,就在神的右边坐下了。”(来10:12)
“But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”(Heb 10:12,KJV)
2) 基督升为至高
坐在神的右边,象征基督对天上地下的一切拥有绝对的权柄和统治。
新约圣经引用最多的旧约经文是:“耶和华对我主说,你坐在我的右边,等我使你仇敌作你的脚凳。”(诗110:1)
“The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."”(Ps 110:1,NKJV)
“所以神将祂升为至高,又赐给祂那超乎万名之上的名,叫一切在天上的,地上的,和地底下的,因耶稣的名,无不屈膝,无不口称耶稣基督为主,使荣耀归与父神。”(腓2:9-11)
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Phil 2:9-11,NKJV)
3) 基督作大祭司
耶稣基督坐在父神的右边,作为大祭司,为圣徒代求。
“谁能定他们的罪呢?有基督耶稣已经死了,而且从死里复活,现今在神的右边,也替我们祈求。”(罗8:34)
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”(Rom 8:34,NKJV)
“我们所讲的事,其中第一要紧的,就是我们有这样的大祭司,已经坐在天上至大者宝座的右边。”(来8:1)
“Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”(Heb 8:1,NKJV)
弟兄姐妹们,希伯来书的作者,开卷没有惯常的问候语,而是直接把我们带到主耶稣基督面前,让我们看到祂到底是谁:祂是神最后的、终极的启示,祂是承受万有的主,祂是创造世界的神,祂是神荣耀所发的光辉,祂是神本体的真像,常用祂权能的命令托住万有,祂洗净我们罪,现今坐在高天至大者的右边,为我们代求。祂配得我们的俯伏敬拜,祂配得我们的生命交托,祂配得我们的忠心服事。
愿我们以Isaac Watts 的诗歌《When I Survey the Wondrous Cross》(《我每思念十字宝架》)回应祂舍己的大爱:
“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
“假若宇宙都归我有,
尽献于主仍觉不够;
爱既如此奇妙深厚,
当得我心我命所有。”
感谢主
任运生牧师
主后二零二六年一月十一日













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