theologico-political treatise p3(神学与政治专题研究3)-第5节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
taken and compiled。 （42） The above conclusion may be supported by
many reasons。
（43） I。 Because the books of both Testaments were not written by
express command at one place for all ages； but are a fortuitous collection
of the works of men； writing each as his period and disposition dictated。
（44） So much is clearly shown by the call of the prophets who were bade
to admonish the ungodly of their time； and also by the Apostolic Epistles。
（45） II。 Because it is one thing to understand the meaning of Scripture
and the prophets； and quite another thing to understand the meaning of
God； or the actual truth。 （46） This follows from what we said in Chap。 II。
（47） We showed； in Chap。 VI。； that it applied to historic narratives； and to
miracles： but it by no means applies to questions concerning true religion
and virtue。
（48） III。 Because the books of the Old Testament were selected from
many； and were collected and sanctioned by a council of the Pharisees； as
we showed in Chap。 X。 （49） The books of the New Testament were also
chosen from many by councils which rejected as spurious other books
held sacred by many。 （50） But these councils； both Pharisee and Christian；
14
… Page 15…
A Theologico…Political Treatise
were not composed of prophets； but only of learned men and teachers。 （51）
Still； we must grant that they were guided in their choice by a regard for
the Word of God ； and they must； therefore； have known what the law of
God was。
（52） IV。 Because the Apostles wrote not as prophets； but as teachers
（see last Chapter）； and chose whatever method they thought best adapted
for those whom they addressed： and consequently； there are many things
in the Epistles （as we showed at the end of the last Chapter） which are not
necessary to salvation。
（53） V。 Lastly； because there are four Evangelists in the New
Testament； and it is scarcely credible that God can have designed to
narrate the life of Christ four times over； and to communicate it thus to
mankind。 （54） For though there are some details related in one Gospel
which are not in another； and one often helps us to understand another； we
cannot thence conclude that all that is set down is of vital importance to us；
and that God chose the four Evangelists in order that the life of Christ
might be better understood； for each one preached his Gospel in a separate
locality； each wrote it down as he preached it； in simple language； in order
that the history of Christ might be clearly told； not with any view of
explaining his fellow…Evangelists。
（55） If there are some passages which can be better； and more easily
understood by comparing the various versions； they are the result of
chance； and are not numerous： their continuance in obscurity would have
impaired neither the clearness of the narrative nor the blessedness of
mankind。
（56） We have now shown that Scripture can only be called the Word of
God in so far as it affects religion； or the Divine law； we must now point
out that； in respect to these questions； it is neither faulty； tampered with；
nor corrupt。 （57） By faulty； tampered with； and corrupt； I here mean
written so incorrectly； that the meaning cannot be arrived at by a study of
the language； nor from the authority of Scripture。 （58） I will not go to such
lengths as to say that the Bible； in so far as it contains the Divine law； has
always preserved the same vowel…points； the same letters； or the same
words （I leave this to be proved by； the Massoretes and other worshippers
15
… Page 16…
A Theologico…Political Treatise
of the letter）； I only； maintain that the meaning by； which alone an
utterance is entitled to be called Divine； has come down to us uncorrupted；
even though the original wording may have been more often changed than
we suppose。 （59） Such alterations； as I have said above； detract nothing
from the Divinity of the Bible； for the Bible would have been no less
Divine had it been written in different words or a different language。 （60）
That the Divine law has in this sense come down to us uncorrupted； is an
assertion which admits of no dispute。 （61） For from the Bible itself we
learn； without the smallest difficulty or ambiguity；； that its cardinal precept
is： To love God above all things； and one's neighbour as one's self。 （62）
This cannot be a spurious passage； nor due to a hasty and mistaken scribe；
for if the Bible had ever put forth a different doctrine it would have had to
change the whole of its teaching； for this is the corner…stone of religion；
without which the whole fabric would fall headlong to the ground。 （63）
The Bible would not be the work we have been examining； but something
quite different。
（64） We remain； then； unshaken in our belief that this has always been
the doctrine of Scripture； and； consequently； that no error sufficient to
vitiate it can have crept in without being instantly； observed by all； nor can
anyone have succeeded in tampering with it and escaped the discovery of
his malice。
（65） As this corner…stone is intact； we must perforce admit the same of
whatever other passages are indisputably dependent on it； and are also
fundamental； as； for instance； that a God exists； that He foresees all things；
that He is Almighty； that by His decree the good prosper and the wicked
come to naught； and； finally； that our salvation depends solely on His
grace。
（66） These are doctrines which Scripture plainly teaches throughout；
and which it is bound to teach； else all the rest would be empty and
baseless； nor can we be less positive about other moral doctrines； which
plainly are built upon this universal foundation … for instance； to uphold
justice； to aid the weak； to do no murder； to covet no man's goods； &c。 （67）
Precepts； I repeat； such as these； human malice and the lapse of ages are
alike powerless to destroy； for if any part of them perished； its loss would
16
… Page 17…
A Theologico…Political Treatise
immediately be supplied from the fundamental principle； especially the
doctrine of charity； which is everywhere in both Testaments extolled above
all others。 （68） Moreover； though it be true that there is no conceivable
crime so heinous that it has never been committed； still there is no one
who would attempt in excuse for his crimes to destroy； the law； or
introduce an impious doctrine in the place of what is eternal and salutary；
men's nature is so constituted that everyone （be he king or subject） who
has committed a base action； tries to deck out his conduct with spurious
excuses； till he seems to have done nothing but what is just and right。
（69） We may conclude； therefore； that the whole Divine law； as taught
by Scripture； has come down to us uncorrupted。 （70） Besides this there are
certain facts which we may be sure have been transmitted in good faith。
（71） For instance； the main facts of Hebrew history； which were perfectly
well known to everyone。 （72） The Jewish people were accustomed in
former times to chant the ancient history of their nation in psalms。 （73）
The main facts； also； of Christ's life and passion were immediately spread
abroad through the whole Roman empire。 （74） It is therefore scarcely
credible； unless nearly everybody； consented thereto； which we cannot
suppose； that successive generations have handed down the broad outline
of the Gospel narrative otherwise than as they received it。
（74） Whatsoever； therefore； is spurious or faulty can only have
reference to details … some circumstances in one or the other history or
prophecy designed to stir the people to greater devotion； or in some
miracle； with a view of confounding philosophers； or； lastly； in speculative
matters after they had become mixed up with religion； so t
