May 2, 20100
再起來的契機
面對耶穌的試驗，彼得實在答對了：一句「主啊，你知道我愛你」正好說明他再不敢將他對主的愛，拿來與別的人與事來比較。
然而問題仍在：一句「主啊，這人將來如何？」說穿了彼得還為主對他的愛，拿來與別人比較。
如此，「與你何干，來跟隨我！」成了真正能讓彼得再次站起來的關鍵。
也成了此後一切曾經經歷徹底失敗之人的契機。
Apr 29, 20100
論罪性：粒糖有毒
有時，音樂需要這樣的荒謬，才可以道出人間的荒謬。
別要甚麼也賴 別信淚水最大
藥引被吹熄竟繼續攻擊真相任你擺
其實甚麼最賣 其實上天最大
回望自己的一塊田給蛀 爛你別費解
在華麗水晶燈背後只有一聲聲拜拜
Apr 28, 20107
Jesus and the Land
Scot Mcknight says some interesting stuff for the new book Jesus and the Land by Gary Burge:
Most evangelical Christians, because they’ve been taught to think this way, simply believe that Israel’s presence in the Land today is not only a God-given promise, but there is a future eschatology tied to that presence in the Land. In fact, many today think the Temple will be rebuilt and Israel will rule in the Land. In other words, many think Israel’s recognition as a nation and having their “location” in the Land of Israel today is by divine-appointment in such a way that it both fulfills promise and portends a fuller possession of the land someday.
But not all are so sure, and very few Christians today have given a serious look at what the NT says about Land — and how little is actually said about the Land. And those who have studied it have written technical books very few read. Until Gary Burge: Jesus and the Land.
And here is the book blurb:
In Jesus and the Land, respected New Testament scholar Gary Burge describes first-century Jewish and Christian beliefs about the land of Israel in order to help contemporary readers develop a Christian theology of the land and assess Bible-based claims in discussions of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. Burge provides a full survey of New Testament passages that directly address the question of land and faith and offers an honest and compelling presentation of present-day tensions surrounding “territorial religion” in the modern Middle East. This accessibly written volume will appeal to undergraduate and seminary students, pastors, teachers, and anyone interested in the Israeli-Palestinian situation.
And now read the endorsements from some biblical scholars heavyweight!
“Gary Burge has made a valuable contribution to the ongoing matter of the ‘Holy Land’ so contested by Israelis and Palestinians. He recognizes the powerful impulse to a territorial dimension in much of Judaism. But then he reflects on New Testament texts–notably those by Luke, John, and Paul–to see that Jesus and the early church distanced themselves from any territorial dimension of faith. This leads Burge to offer a powerful, compelling critique of ‘Christian Zionism,’ to which ‘the NT says: No.’ Clearly a faith that intends to reach Gentiles must, perforce, refuse any closed tribalism that makes exclusive territorial claims. Burge’s reading of Scripture is persuasive and provides a fresh way to think about ‘faith and land.'”–Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Burge writes out of a deep knowledge of Scripture and personal acquaintance with the Middle East to demonstrate how the concern for the geographical land in the Old Testament is transmuted into concern for a spiritual inheritance for God’s believing people, both Jewish and Gentile, in the New Testament. His exposition of the biblical material offers a gracious corrective to some inadequate and misinformed ideas about the role of Israel in the plan of God and about the Palestinian-Jewish situation and has important consequences for Christian belief and behavior. I warmly commend this thorough and scholarly but nevertheless clearly and simply written presentation.”–I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen
“Burge may be American evangelicalism’s foremost expert on a biblical theology of the land of Israel. This book reintroduces sanity, common sense, and exegetical acumen into a discussion that often sadly lacks these traits. Absolutely essential reading for any Christian who wants to hold a biblically defensible position on the topic.”–Craig L. Blomberg, Denver Seminary
“Burge’s accessible consideration of ‘holy land theology’ in relation to New Testament texts cannot be overlooked. From now on, Christians who wish to engage responsibly with this highly charged and controversial issue will need to interact fully with Burge’s careful, constructive, and challenging presentation.”–Bruce W. Longenecker, Baylor University
Interested?
[link: Baker Academic | HT: Jesus Creed]
Apr 27, 20104
新漢語譯本：First Look
《新漢語譯本》的新約部分經已上載到bible360.net（需登記）。我不是新約學者，但也有自己的一些期待，可以在此分享一些first look體會：
1/ 我通常會先看林前7:1的翻譯：
論到你們信上所寫的事，你們說：「男人不親近女人倒是好的。」
終於擺脫了將「男人不親近女人倒是好的」視為保羅觀點的譯法，而（正確地）看為是哥林多教會提問的一部分。好！
2/ 約3:3 「重生」:
耶穌回答說：「我實實在在告訴你，人若不重生，就不能見 神的國。」
是保留「重頭一次」的譯法，不過在譯文註釋內說明「重生」一詞也可譯作「從上而生」，並說約翰在這段經文似想同時保留這兩重意思，但中文翻譯無法同時譯出這兩重意義云云…好過冇。
3/ 約20:23:
你們赦免誰的罪，誰的罪就赦免了；你們留下誰的罪，誰的罪就留下了。
與和合本完全一樣，Ouch! 「被赦免」、「被留下」的perfect tense 時態（have been forgiven / have been retained）未有譯出來，也沒有註解。
4/ Faith(fulness) in/of Christ 的譯法（Rom 3:22, 26; Gal 2:16; 3:22; Phil 3:9）：
Rom 3:22 那就是： 神的義藉着相信耶穌基督，臨到一切相信的人身上。事實上，這並沒有差別
Rom 3:26(25) 就是要在現今顯明 神的義，讓人知道他自己為義，也稱相信耶穌的人為義。
Gal 2:16 但我們知道，人稱義不是因遵行律法，而是藉着相信耶穌基督，連我們也相信了基督耶穌，為要使我們稱義是因相信基督，而不是因遵行律法，因為沒有人可以因遵行律法而稱義。
Gal 3:22 但聖經把所有人都圈在罪之下，為要使那因相信耶穌基督而來的應許賜給那些相信的人。
Phil 3:9 就是讓我可以在他裏面，不是有自己靠着律法而得的義，而是有藉着相信基督而得的義；這義從 神而來，以信心為本。
5段都用objective genitive「相信耶穌基督」作正文。而前3段的譯文註釋則提到 subjective genitive 的可能（基督的信實），後兩段未有提及。
照此看來，《新漢語譯本》是神學上保守，而用比較通順的現代中文譯本。而譯文注釋則加入當代的一些（未有定論）討論作為補充（用途有別於那些「研讀本」（study bible）的註釋）。
Apr 27, 20100
Telling Buddhists about Jesus
Telling Buddhists about Jesus. I like its sane, and non-combative approach.
[link: the Briefing]
