Cong Fang

改革宗神學常常與 “聖約神學” 聯繫在一起。
Reformed theology is often associated with “covenant theology.”

如果你仔細聽講道，就會常常聽到牧師和教師稱自己是 “改革宗並持守聖約的”。
If you listen carefully, you’ll often hear pastors and teachers describe themselves as “Reformed and covenantal.”

“改革宗” 和 “聖約” 這兩個詞被如此廣泛地一起使用，我們有必要了解它們為何相關聯。
The terms Reformed and covenant are used together so widely that it behooves us to understand why they are connected.

聖約神學 與 加爾文主義

聖約神學是加爾文主義者關於聖經的一項基本信念。
Covenant theology refers to one of the basic beliefs that Calvinists have held about the Bible.

所有忠於其傳統的新教徒都認同 “唯獨聖經” (sola Scriptura) 的信念，即聖經是我們最高且無可質疑的權威。
All Protestants who have remained faithful to their heritage affirm sola Scriptura, the belief that the Bible is our supreme and unquestionable authority.

然而，聖約神學通過強調 神的聖約 統一了整本聖經的教導，從而使改革宗對聖經的看法區別於其他新教觀點。
Covenant theology, however, distinguishes the Reformed view of Scripture from other Protestant outlooks by emphasizing that divine covenants unify the teachings of the entire Bible.

改革宗對聖經的聖約性理解在早期的發展中，於十七世紀的英國達到高峰，當時出現了 1646年的《西敏信仰告白》(1646)、《薩伏伊宣言》(1658)、《倫敦浸信會信條》(1689)，分別代表說英語的不同加爾文主義群體。
Earlier developments in the Reformed, covenantal understanding of Scripture reached a high point in seventeenth-century England with the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), the Savoy Declaration (1658), the London Baptist Confession of 1689, and each representing different groups of English-speaking Calvinists.

這些文件之間雖然有些微差異，但都用整整一章來闡述神與人立約的方式，揭示聖經教導的整體統一性。
With only slight variations among them, these documents each devote an entire chapter to the way God’s covenants with humanity reveal the unity of all that the Bible teaches.

聖經統一性

比如，《西敏信仰告白》提到，神屈尊通過聖約向人啟示祂自己。
For example, the Westminster Confession of Faith speaks of God condescending to reveal Himself to humanity by means of covenant.

它隨後將整本聖經的歷史劃分為兩個聖約：“行為之約” 是在亞當裡面的， “恩典之約” 是在基督裡面的。
It then divides the entire history of the Bible into just two covenants: the “covenant of works” in Adam and the “covenant of grace” in Christ.

“行為之約” 是神與亞當和夏娃在他們墮落之前所立的安排。
The covenant of works was God’s arrangement with Adam and Eve before their fall into sin.

“恩典之約” 則主導了聖經其餘部分的內容。
The covenant of grace governed the rest of the Bible.

在這種觀點中，恩典之約的所有階段在本質上是相同的。它們唯一的差別是：在整段聖經歷史中，神以不同方式施行祂在基督里的那一個恩典之約。
In this view, all stages of the covenant of grace were the same in substance. They differed only as God administered His one covenant of grace in Christ in various ways throughout biblical history.

聖約 與 神的國

同樣地，一些較近代的改革宗神學家，也通過將特定的聖經聖約與新約所說的 “神的國” 聯繫起來，來肯定聖經在聖約上的統一性。
Along these same lines, a number of more recent Reformed theologians have affirmed the covenantal unity of Scripture by relating particular biblical covenants to what the New Testament calls “the kingdom of God.”

耶穌在主禱文的開頭提到神國的重要性：“我們在天上的父，願人都尊禰的名為聖。願禰的國降臨，願禰的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上” (太 6:9-10)。
Jesus indicated the importance of God’s kingdom in the opening words of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9–10).

耶穌的話首先表明，歷史的首要目標是神自己的榮耀與尊崇。
Jesus’ words first indicate that the foremost goal of history is the glory and honor of God Himself.

不過，祂的話也表明，神將藉著祂的國度降臨在地上如同在天上，從而得着這榮耀。
Yet, His words also indicate that God will receive this glory through the coming of His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.

神的目標始終是通過在地上建立祂榮耀的國度，使一切受造物都永遠讚美祂。
God’s goal has always been to receive the eternal praise of every creature by establishing His glorious kingdom on earth.

正如 啟示錄 11:15 中那句 “著名” 的頌讚所說，在歷史的終結，“世上的國成了我主和主基督的國，祂要做王，直到永永遠遠。”。
To borrow from the well-known praise of Revelation 11:15, at the end of history “the kingdom of the world [will] become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

近來的考古發現表明，神的聖約與祂地上的國度之間有密切關聯。
Recent archaeological discoveries have shown how God’s covenants related to His earthly kingdom.

在聖經時代，以色列周圍許多國家的君王是通過國際條約來擴展他們的國度。
In the days of the Bible, many kings of nations surrounding Israel administered the expansion of their kingdoms through international treaties.

聖經學者注意到，這些古代條約與神和亞當、挪亞、亞伯拉罕、摩西、大衛以及基督所立的聖約之間有驚人的相似之處。
Biblical scholars have noticed remarkable parallels between these ancient treaties and the biblical covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Christ.

這些相似之處表明，聖經將聖約呈現為神在地上擴展祂國度的方式。
These similarities indicate that the Scriptures present covenants as God’s way of administrating the expansion of His kingdom on earth.

聖約在神國度的不同階段

聖經的聖約強調，在神國度的不同階段，需要哪些具體內容，而這些內容是透過推進之前聖約的原則來實現的。
Biblical covenants emphasized what was needed at specific stages of God’s kingdom by furthering the principles of previous covenants.

神從亞當開始，啟示祂自己的王權、人類的角色，以及祂為這世界所預備的命運 (創 1–3)。
God started with Adam to reveal His own kingship, the role of humanity, and the destiny He had planned for the earth (Gen. 1–3).

當神在與挪亞立約時，祂承諾自然界的穩定，以支持人類的使命，這些原則也就得以延續 (創 6, 9)。
These principles were then carried forward as God promised stability in nature for humanity’s service in Noah’s covenant (Gen. 6, 9).

接着，神在亞伯拉罕的聖約中進一步推進祂先前的應許，承諾亞伯拉罕的後裔將成為大國，並將神的祝福帶給萬國 (創 15, 17)。
God enhanced His previous covenants by promising that Abraham’s descendants would become a great empire and spread God’s blessings to all other nations (Gen. 15, 17).

在摩西時期，神賜下律法，進一步建立在這些聖約之上，賜福以色列 (出 19–24)。
God built on these covenants by blessing Israel with His law in the days of Moses (Ex. 19–24).

當神設立大衛的王朝，並應許他的一個後裔將以公義治理以色列和全世界時，之前的每一個聖約都被推向新的高峰 (詩 72; 89; 132)。
Every previous covenant was taken to new heights as God established David’s dynasty and promised that one of his sons would rule in righteousness over Israel and over the entire world (Pss. 72; 89; 132).

舊約中的一切聖約都在基督里得以推進並成就 (耶 31:31; 林後 1:19–20)。
All Old Testament covenants were then furthered and fulfilled in Christ (Jer. 31:31; 2Cor. 1:19–20).

作為大衛的偉大兒子，祂的生命、死、復活、升天與再來，永遠確立了整個地球轉變為神榮耀國度的計劃。
As the great son of David, His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return eternally secure the transformation of the entire earth into God’s glorious kingdom.

聖約神學連貫新舊約

聖約神學使改革宗神學家能夠看見，新約在這三個方面其實與舊約非常相似。
Covenant theology has enabled Reformed theologians to see that the New Testament is actually quite similar to the Old Testament in these three areas.

首先，在這種觀點中，藉著信靠基督得救的恩典之道，是舊約和新約中唯一的得救之路。
First, in this view salvation by grace through faith in Christ was the only way of salvation in both Testaments.

整本聖經都呼召信徒行善，因為得救的信心總是結出順服神的果子。
The entire Bible calls for good works because saving faith always yields the fruit of obedience to God.

第二，聖約神學幫助我們看見，新舊兩約都論到人與神之間的個人關係和集體關係。
Second, covenant theology helps us see that both Testaments speak about individual and corporate relationships with God.

神所立的每一個聖約都在這兩個層面上處理人類的關係。
All of God’s covenants deal with people on both levels.

第三，聖約神學指出，神的國度一直都是屬地又屬靈的。
Third, covenant theology has shown that God’s kingdom has always been earthly and spiritual.

舊約和新約都關注我們在這兩個領域中的侍奉。
The Old and New Testaments focus on our service in both realms.

通過這些方面，以及其他許多方面，聖約神學對更廣泛的福音派群體有極大的貢獻。
In these and other ways, covenant theology has much to offer the broader evangelical community.

我們需要聖約神學

與此同時，今日的改革宗圈子也越來越需要重新堅定地肯定聖約神學。
At the same time, there is also a growing need for covenant theology to be strongly reaffirmed in contemporary Reformed circles.

近幾十年來，許多新一代改革宗神學的倡導者忽視了聖約神學。
In recent decades, many newer advocates of Reformed theology have neglected covenant theology.

我們越來越常看到，改革宗神學被簡化為我們常說的 “恩典教義” ——即那些耳熟能詳的信念，如全然敗壞、無條件揀選、有限代贖、不可抗拒的恩典，以及聖徒的堅忍。
More and more, we find that Reformed theology has been reduced to what we often call the doctrines of grace — familiar beliefs such as total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.

當然，我們應當珍視這些出自聖經的真理，
Of course, we should value these truths of Scripture,

但若我們忽略了聖約神學所提供的更宏大的結構，我們對聖經的理解就很快會在那三個關鍵領域上受到損害。
but when we fail to stress the larger framework that covenant theology provides, our understanding of the Bible soon begins to suffer in the same three areas.

首先，缺乏聖約神學的恩典教義，使一些人認為改革宗神學的核心，就是教導神的恩典從始至終維繫着基督徒的生命。
First, the doctrines of grace without covenant theology have led some to believe that Reformed theology is primarily concerned to teach that God’s grace sustains the Christian life from beginning to end.

這當然是正確的。然而，新舊兩約的聖約卻始終教導，神的子民在回應祂的恩典時，神總是要求他們付出堅定的努力，祂也會獎賞順服、懲罰悖逆。
Of course, this is certainly true. Yet, the covenants of both testaments consistently teach that God has always required determined effort from His people in response to His grace and that He will reward obedience and punish disobedience.

第二，若沒有聖約神學，我們這一群體中的許多人似乎會認為，改革宗神學的全部重點，是為個人與神建立關係尋找獨特的改革宗方式。
Second, apart from covenant theology, many people in our circles seem to think that our theology is all about finding uniquely Reformed ways for individuals to improve their relationships with God.

在我們這個時代，許多通往個人聖潔與敬虔生活的路徑，已被當作改革宗神學的核心內容來對待。
In our day, a number of paths toward personal holiness and devotion have been treated as the central features of Reformed theology.

雖然聖經對個體的確十分重視，
As important as individuals are in the Bible,

聖約神學同時強調我們與神之間的集體關係。
covenant theology highlights our corporate relationship with God as well.

聖經中沒有任何一個聖約是單單與一個人立的。
No biblical covenant was made with just one person.

每一個聖約都涉及神與一群人建立關係。
They also involved God establishing relationships with groups of people.

因此，新舊兩約都教導我們，信徒的家庭是聖約群體，神的憐憫就是在這樣的群體中一代代地傳承下去。
For this reason, both testaments teach us that the families of believers are covenant communities within which God’s mercy is passed from one generation to another.

此外，新舊兩約中的可見教會，都是聖約群體，是我們領受福音和蒙受普通恩典途徑的所在。
Moreover, the visible church in both testaments is the covenant community within which we receive the gospel and the ordinary means of grace.

第三，恩典教義很容易讓人產生一種印象：改革宗神學只關注屬靈的事務。
Third, the doctrines of grace easily give us the impression that Reformed theology is only concerned with spiritual matters.

我們當中許多人都十分關注藉由真正理解聖經而帶來的內在更新，
Many people in our circles are deeply concerned with inward transformation by a true understanding of Scripture.

但我們卻常常忽略罪與救恩在物質和社會層面所帶來的影響。
Yet, we often neglect the physical and social effects of sin and salvation.

聖約神學為我們作為基督徒的盼望，提供了一個更宏大、更有說服力的願景。
Covenant theology gives us a far larger and more compelling vision of our hopes as Christians.

在新舊兩約中，信徒都將神的國度擴展到屬靈與屬地的領域。
In both testaments, believers extend God’s kingdom both to spiritual and earthly realms.

我們要把基督的福音傳給萬民，使人靈命更新，
We are to teach the gospel of Christ to all nations so that people may be transformed spiritually,

但這種屬靈的更新，目的是為了將基督的主權擴展到世界各地文化的每一個層面。
but this spiritual renewal is for the sake of extending the lordship of Christ to every facet of culture around the world.

所有這些都表明，聖約神學對每一位基督徒都有極大的價值。
All of this is to say that covenant theology has much to offer every Christian.

所以，當我們問自己：“什麼是改革宗神學？” 我們若回答：“改革宗神學就是聖約神學”，這是非常有益的。
So when we ask ourselves, “What is Reformed theology?” it will serve us well to respond, “Reformed theology is covenant theology.”