Mar 27, 2008
取去？！
馬太福音 24.37-42
37 挪亞的日子怎樣，人子降臨也要怎樣。
38 當洪水以前的日子，人照常吃喝嫁娶，直到挪亞進方舟的那日；
39 不知不覺洪水來了，把他們全都沖去。人子降臨也要這樣。
40 那時，兩個人在田裡，取去一個，撇下一個。
41 兩個女人推磨，取去一個，撇下一個。
42 所以，你們要儆醒，因為不知道你們的主是那一天來到。
這是支持「被提」（rapture）的招牌經文之一。我們假設了，在「人子降臨」（或說「再臨」）的時候，「取去」的是信徒，「撇下」是不信之人。再用一點想象，「取去」到那裡？那定必是天堂云云…
但這樣的讀法無視了「取去」（παραλαμβάνεται / taken away）未必是divine passive（即「神取去」）的可能。這詞也可以指著負面，因審判而被帶走（如 太27.27）。
但決定因素，卻不是此字的正負用法之可能，而是上文39節的「沖去」（ἦρεν / swept away）。若挪亞的日子，洪水把不醒覺的人全都「沖去」，那人子降臨的日子，被「取去」的，你說是好還是壞？
現在你還恨不恨被「取去」？
Filed by edmund at 5.33 pm under Faith,Matthew |
3 Comments
Anson
Wow, this is very interesting. Your post prompted me to dig in and I think I can confirm your findings.
In BDAG, the other verb “aphietai” (left behind) in verse 40 has these meanings:
1. to dismiss or release someone or someth. from a place or one’s presence
2. to release from legal or moral obligation or consequence, cancel, remit, pardon
3. to move away, w. implication of causing a separation, leave, depart from
4. to have someth. continue or remain in a place. Leave standing/lying
5. to convey a sense of distancing through an allowable margin of freedom, leave it to someone to do something, let, let go, allow, tolerate
I think the second meaning may reinforce the understanding that “to be taken away” is to receive judgment, while those who are left behind are pardoned. Similar imagery comes from Jesus’ parable of the wise builder who builds his house on the Rock (Lk 6:47-49 or Mt 7:24-27).
Great stuff! Biblical studies is always so interesting =)
Mar 27th, 2008
gc2000
Yes, “left behind” can then become GOOD NEWS!!!! We have a long way to “bridge the gap” in our traditional “dis-connected eschatology”. Hopefully NT Wright’s new book “SURPRISED BY HOPE” will be helpful in this battle. Miroslav Volf’s earlier book “WORK IN THE SPIRIT” is also inspirational in connecting “work” and “new creation”.
Apr 3rd, 2008
edmund
I agree with littleho that the idea of a connected eschatology is nothing new. But what is proposed by Wright now is not a completely “connected” eschatology neither (as by the liberal in the early 20th Century). There is both a continuity and discontinuity aspects in the return of the King. But what is often forgotten by North American Christians (and thus the Chinese churches which are greatly influenced by them) is the continuity aspect. One reason is the deeply rooted dualistic nature of their teachings, as well as their confusion between the effects of sin and the nature of creation.
Middleton’s recent article (2006) is a helpful summary of the idea: A New Heaven and A New Earth: The Case for a Holistic Reading of the Biblical Story of Redemption.
Apr 3rd, 2008
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