1019# 启16:19.“那大城裂为三段”表示取自圣言的真理教义的一切都消散了。这从“城”和“裂为三段”的含义清楚可知：“城”是指教义(对此，参看AE223节)；所指的是取自圣言的教义的一切，因为它被称为“大城”；所指的是真理的教义的一切，因为经上补充说“列族的城也都倒塌了”，这句话表示良善的教义的一切；因为教义既论述论及信的真理，也论述论及爱的良善；因此，我们才会说真理的教义和良善的教义。“裂为三段”是指消散。“裂为三段”之所以是指消散，是因为“三”表示全部或一切、完整和完全；当这些分裂时，随之而来的就是消散。“三”表示全部或一切、完整和完全，并论及真理(参看AE532节)。以西结书(5:2)中“分为三部分”具有相同的含义。
(第八诫)
现在要解释十诫的第八诫，“不可作假见证”。“作假见证”在最接近字面的意义上表示通过诬告邻舍而说邻舍的谎言。但它在内义上表示称公义为不义，称不义为公义，并通过虚假来证实它；而它在至内在的意义上表示歪曲圣言的真理和良善，另一方面表示通过利用谬误、表象、虚构、错误应用的知识、诡辩等等确认教义的虚假来证明这虚假是真理。这些确认本身和由此产生的说服就是假见证，因为它们是假证词。由此可见，此处所指的，不仅是法官面前的假见证，而且还是在屈枉正直中使公义成为不义，使不义成为公义的法官自己，因为他和证人自己一样扮演了假证人的角色。这同样适用于凡使直看似曲，使曲看似直的人，以及凡歪曲圣言的真理，败坏圣言的良善的教会领袖。总之，对真理的一切歪曲，无论这真理是属灵的，还是道德的和文明的，若是出于一颗邪恶的心来做的，就是假见证。
1019. (Verse 19) And the great city was divided into three parts. That this signifies that everything of the doctrine of truth from the Word was dissipated, is evident from the signification of a city, as denoting doctrine (concerning which see n. 223). The reason why all things of doctrine from the Word are denoted is, that it is called a great city. And the reason why everything of the doctrine of truth is denoted is, that it follows that the cities of the nations fell, whereby are signified everything of the doctrine of good; for doctrine treats of the truths that are predicated of faith, and of goods that are predicated of love. Therefore is it said, the doctrine of truth and the doctrine of good. It is also evident from the signification of being divided into three parts, as denoting to be dissipated. The reason why being divided into three parts denotes to be dissipated is, that three signifies all, whole, and full; and when these are divided, dissipation follows. That three signifies all, whole, and full, and is said of truths, may be seen above (n. 5:2).
[2] The explanation of the Eighth Precept of the Decalogue, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," now follows.
By bearing false witness, in the proximate sense, is signified to lie against the neighbour by accusing him falsely. But, in the internal sense, to call what is just unjust, and what is unjust just, and to confirm it by falsities is signified; and, in the inmost sense, to falsify the truth and good of the Word is signified; and, on the other hand, to verify the falsity of doctrine, by confirming it by fallacies, appearances, fictions, scientifics, falsely applied, sophisms and similar things. Such confirmations, and the persuasions resulting therefrom, are false testimonies, for they are false declarations.
It is therefore evident that not only the false witness before a judge is here meant, but also the judge himself who makes what is just unjust, and the reverse, in perverting the right; for he equally with the witness himself acts the part of a false witness. Also every man who causes what is straight to appear crooked, and what is crooked to appear straight. The same is the case with the prelate who falsifies the truth of the Word, and perverts the good thereof. In a word, every falsification of truth, as well spiritual as moral and civil done from an evil heart, is false witness.
1019. Verse 19. And the great city was divided into three parts, signifies that all things of the doctrine of truth from the Word were dissipated. This is evident from the signification of "city" as being doctrine (See n. Ezekiel 5:2)
(The Eighth Commandment)
[2] The eighth commandment of the Decalogue, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," shall now be explained. "To bear false witness" signifies in the sense nearest to the letter to lie about the neighbor by accusing him falsely. But in the internal sense it signifies to call what is just unjust, and what is unjust just, and to confirm this by means of falsities; while in the inmost sense it signifies to falsify the truth and good of the Word, and on the other hand to prove a falsity of doctrine to be true by confirming it by means of fallacies, appearances, fabrications, knowledges falsely applied, sophistries and the like. The confirmations themselves and the consequent persuasions are false witnesses, for they are false testimonies. From this it can be seen that what is here meant is not only false witness before a judge, but even a judge himself who in perverting right makes what is just unjust, and what is unjust just, for he as well as the witness himself acts the part of a false witness. The same is true of every man who makes what is right to appear crooked, and what is crooked to appear right; likewise any ecclesiastical leader who falsifies the truth of the Word and perverts its good. In a word, every falsification of truth, spiritual, moral, and civil, which is done from an evil heart, is false witness.
1019. (Vers. 19.) "Et facta est urbs magna in tres partes." - Quod significet quod omnia doctrinae veri ex Verbo dissipata sint, constat ex significatione "urbis", quod sit doctrina (de qua (supra). n. 223); quod sint omnia doctrinae ex Verbo, est quia dicitur "urbs magna"; et quod sint omnia doctrinae veri, est quia sequitur quod "urbes gentium ceciderint", per quas significantur omnia doctrinae boni; doctrina enim agit de veris quae vocantur fidei, et de bonis quae sunt amoris; inde dicitur, doctrina veri et doctrina boni: et ex significatione "fieri in tres partes", quod sit dissipari; quod "fieri in tres partes" sit dissipari, est quia per "tria" significatur omne, totum et plenum; et cum haec dividuntur, tunc fit dissipatio.
(Quod "tria" significent omne, totum et plenum, et dicatur de veris, videatur supra, n. 532.)
Simile per "dividi in tres partes" significatur apud Ezechielem (cap. 5:2).
[2] (PRAECEPTI OCTAVI)
Sequitur nunc explicatio
PRAECEPTI OCTAVI DECALOGI, "NON ERIS FALSUS TESTIS, "
Per "false testari" in sensu proximo significatur mentiri in proximum, vituperando illum falso; in sensu autem interno significatur justum dicere injustum ac injustum dicere justum, confirmando illud per falsa; et in sensu intimo significatur verum et bonum Verbi falsificare, ac vicissim falsum doctrinae verificare, confirmando per fallacias, apparentias, figmenta, scientifica false applicata, sophistica, et similia: ipsae confirmationes et inde persuasiones sunt falsa testimonia, nam sunt falsae testificationes. Inde constare potest quod non modo testis falsus coram judice hic intelligatur, sed etiam ipse judex qui justum facit injustum, et vice versa, pervertendo jus, nam is aeque agit testem falsum sicut ipse testis: similiter omnis homo qui facit ut rectum appareat curvum, ac ut curvum appareat rectum: similiter antistes qui verum Verbi falsificat, et bonum ejus pervertit. Verbo, omnis falsificatio veri, tam spiritualis quam moralis et civilis, quae fit ex corde malo, est falsum testimonium.