Mar 12, 2025 - 
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Default No Comments 在舊約中的教會 (轉譯)
作者：加州西敏神學院 (WSC)
原文：英文
現在，有些人可能會不同意，他們會說舊約中找不到 “教會” 這個詞。Now some might disagree, arguing that we don’t find the word church in the Old Testament,他們是對的——但僅限於英語而言。and they would be correct, but only for the English.在新約中，被翻譯為 “教會” 的希臘詞是 ἐκκλησία ，The Greek word that is translated as church is ekklēsia ,它可以指基督徒的特定聚會，或所有信徒的整體。and is used in the New Testament for a specific gathering of Christians, or for all believers together.
同樣的詞 ἐκκλησία 也出現在舊約的希臘譯本 “七十士譯本” (Septuagint 或 LXX) 中，The same word, ekklēsia , is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint,用來翻譯希伯來詞 קָהָל (qāhāl)，意思是 “集會” (assembly)。to translate the Hebrew term qāhāl , “assembly.”它用於指以色列人在神面前聚集，或泛指整個以色列民。It is used for Israel as they gathered together to appear before God or as a general reference to all of Israel.
另一個用於翻譯 קָהָל (qāhāl) 的希臘詞是 συναγωγή (sunagōgē)。Another Greek word used to translate qāhāl is sunagōgē .它也被用來翻譯另一個描述以色列的詞：עֵדָה (‘ēdâ)，意為 “會眾” (congregation)。It is also used to translate another word for Israel: ‘ēdâ , “congregation.”在新約中，συναγωγή (sunagōgē) 通常指猶太會堂 (synagogue) 或其成員，In the New Testament, sunagōgē is most often used of a synagogue or its members,但在 雅各書 2:2 的 “會堂” 也用來指基督徒的聚會。but is used for a gathering of Christians in James 2:2.
新約中用於 “教會” 的術語並非新詞，而是植根於舊約。The terms used in the New Testament for the church are not new ones but are rooted in the Old Testament.因此，從某種意義上講，以色列確實是舊約中聚集的教會會眾 (church-assembly-congregation)！Thus, in at least some sense, Israel really was the Old Testament church-assembly-congregation!
新約中用於 “教會” 的術語並非新詞，
而是植根於舊約。
然而，我們可以說，教會的歷史可以追溯得更遠，甚至早於以色列。And yet, we could say that the church stretches back further, even before Israel.教會包括被召出列國的 亞伯拉罕 (創 12:1)，The church includes Abraham who was summoned out of the nations (Gen 12:1),呼求主名的塞特的後裔 (創 4:26)，the line of Seth who called upon the name of the Lord (Gen 4:26),以及接受神 “首次福音” 信息的亞當和夏娃 (創 3:15)。and Adam and Eve who embraced God’s first gospel message (Gen 3:15).教會甚至可以包括當初完美被造、與神同在的亞當和夏娃，The church could even include Adam and Eve as created in perfection to dwell in God’s presence,但我們現在不深入探討這一點。but we will not pursue that now.
《海德堡要理問答》在第 54 問答中表達了類似的觀點：The Heidelberg Catechism says much the same thing in Q&A 54:
“問：你相信 ‘聖而公之教會’ 是什麼？”“Q. What do you believe concerning ‘the holy catholic church’?
“答：‘我相信，神的兒子藉着祂的聖靈和聖道，A. I believe that the Son of God, through his Spirit and Word,從整個人類中，從世界的起初直到末了，out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end,為自己召聚、護衛、保守一個蒙揀選、得永生、在真信仰里合一的群體。gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith.而且在這個群體中，我是，並永遠是，一個活的肢體。’”And of this community I am and always will be a living member.”
當我們思考《海德堡要理問答》的教導時，As we think about what the Heidelberg is teaching,我們要記住，我們可以用兩種方式談論教會。it is helpful to remember that we can speak about the church in two ways.《海德堡要理問答》在這裡講的是我們通常稱為 “無形教會” (Invisible Church) 的群體，The Heidelberg is speaking of what we usually call the invisible church,即 “蒙揀選、得永生” 的人——選民。those “chosen for eternal life” – the elect.但當我們談論舊約中的教會時，But as we think of the church in the Old Testament,通常指的是 “有形教會” (Visible Church)，we are usually thinking about the visible church,即不同歷史時期和地域中聖約群體的各種聚集。the various gatherings of the covenant community in different times and places.聖經清楚地表明，這些聚集不僅包括選民，The Bible makes clear that these gatherings can include not only the elect也包括那些口裡承認卻心裡不信的人。but also those who profess with their mouth but not with their heart.
神的聖約群體——有形教會的各種聚集，在歷史中呈現出不同的形式。These various gatherings of God’s covenant community, the visible church, look quite different throughout history.西奈之前的教會大多以家庭為中心，Most of what is described before Sinai is very family-centered而在以色列時期，我們看到的是一個神權國家。while with Israel we find a theocratic nation.為什麼會這樣？Why?簡單來說，神在救贖歷史中，以祂的聖約和律法，In summary, God has formed his covenant community in different ways throughout Redemptive History以不同的方式建立祂的聖約群體，by his covenants and laws目的是引導我們歸向基督和祂最終的國度。to point us to Christ and his consummate kingdom.因此，在基督降臨之後，Thus, after the coming of Christ,用 “教會” 一詞來指稱神的聖約群體，there is some wisdom in using the designation of the church for God’s covenant community有助於區分它在救贖歷史中的獨特地位。to distinguish its unique place in Redemptive History.
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