1、"生命在他里头,这生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗里,黑暗却不接受光。"(《新约·约翰福音》第1章)
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. "John 1-4,5" 这是我最经常诵读的一段经文,也是基督教神学思想的核心。这里的"光"指的是耶稣基督,"生命"指的是永生--战胜死亡,获得真理。
2、"你们要进窄门,因为引到灭亡,那门是宽的,路是大的,进去的人也多;引到永生,那门是窄的,路是小的,找着的人也少。"(《新约·马太福音》第7章)
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Matthew 7-13,14" .
这是耶稣"登山宝训"中最短的一段,但却是整个新教精神的核心。对于清教徒而言,人生就意味着无尽艰险,就意味着走窄门。
3、"爱是恒久忍耐,又有恩慈;爱是不嫉妒,爱是不自夸,不张狂,不作害羞的事,不求自己的益处,不轻易发怒,不计算人的恶,不喜欢不义,只喜欢真理;凡事包容,凡事相信,凡事盼望,凡事忍耐;爱是永不止息。"(《新约·哥林多前书》第1 3章)|
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. I t bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
基督教是"爱的宗教",这就是使徒保罗对爱的诠释。从古到今不知有多少人因这段话而皈依基督教,可见"爱是无可比的"。
4、"死啊,你得胜的权势在哪里?死啊,你的毒钩在哪里?死的毒钩就是罪,罪的权势就是律法。感谢上帝,使我们借着我们的主耶稣基督得胜。"(《新约·哥林多前书》第15章)
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and. The power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
使徒保罗用优美的语言阐明了基督教的脉络:原罪与堕落,牺牲与救赎,胜利与永生。总体说来就是"用爱战胜死亡"。
5、"草必枯干,花必凋残,因为耶和华的气吹在其上;百姓诚然是草。草必枯干,花必凋残;惟有我们上帝的话,必永远立定!"(《旧约·以赛亚书》第40章)
The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades ; but the word of our God will stand forever.
旧约的最大特点是"信念"。这句话就是无比坚定的信念,既是相信上帝,又是相信作为上帝选民的自己。以色列人的辉煌,大半缘自信念。