161.“所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的”表他们应思想一切敬拜起初是属世的，后来通过出于圣言的真理和照之的生活变成属灵的，以及除此之外的许多其它事。这些就是通过这些话所理解的事物；另外，人人都通过圣言、取自圣言的教会教义和布道知道，当学习真理，人通过真理拥有信仰、仁爱和教会的一切事物。事实的确如此，这一点在伦敦出版的《天堂的奥秘》一书有大量说明，如：信仰藉由真理而来（4353，4977，7178，10，367节）；对邻之爱或仁爱藉由真理而来（4368，7623，7624，8034节）；对主之爱藉由真理而来（10，143，10，153，10，310，10，578，10，645节）；聪明和智慧藉由真理而来（3182，3190，3387，10，064节）；重生藉由真理实现（1555，1904，2046，2189，9088，9959，10，028节）；藉由真理才有对抗邪恶与虚假，并地狱的能力（3091，4015，10，488节）；藉由真理才能从邪恶与虚假洁净（2799，5954，7044，7918，10，229，10，237节）；教会凭真理存在（798，1799，3963，4468，4672节）；天堂凭真理存在（6690，9832，9931，10，303节）；智慧的纯真藉由真理而来（3183，3494，6013节）；藉由真理才有良知（1077，2053，9113节）；藉由真理才有秩序（3316，3417，3570，4704*，5339，5343，6028，10，303节）；天使凭真理而拥有美丽，属于其灵的世人的内在也是（553，3080，4985，5199节）；人凭真理而为人（3175，3387，8370，10，298节）；这一切都是凭着源于良善的真理，而非凭着没有良善的真理，而一切良善皆来自主（2434，4070，4736，5147节）。
可谁想过这些？如今，只要人敬拜就行，至于他知道什么样的真理，人们则漠不关心？因为很少有人怀着学习真理并活出真理的目的来查考圣言，所以人们对敬拜是死是活一无所知。而事实上，人自己是死是活，正取决于敬拜的品质。否则，圣言有何用处？教义有何用处？安息日、布道，以及教导手册，有何用处？事实上，教会和宗教信仰又是为了什么呢？一切敬拜起初都是属世的，后来通过圣言的真理和照之的生活而变成属灵的，这是众所周知的。因为人生来是属世的，但他会接受教育，以便变得文明、道德，再后来变得属灵，从而重生。故这些事由“要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的”来表示。
161. "'Remember therefore how you have received and heard.'" (3:3) This symbolically means that it should occur to them that all worship in its beginning is natural, and later becomes spiritual through truths from the Word and by a life according to them, and so on.
This is what is these words mean. They also mean that from the Word, from the teaching of the church drawn from the Word, and from sermons, everyone knows that truths must be learned, and that it is through truths that a person has faith and charity and everything else having to do with the church.
[2] The reality of this is something we showed many times in Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), which we published in London. See, for example, the following:
That faith is acquired through truths, nos. 4353 4977, 7178, 10367.
That love for the neighbor or charity is acquired through truths, nos. 4368 7623, 7624, 8034.
That love toward the Lord is acquired through truths, nos. nos. 10143 10153, 10310, 10578, 10645.
That intelligence and wisdom are acquired through truths, nos. 3182 3190, 3387, 10064.
That regeneration is accomplished through truths, nos. 1555 1904, 2046, 2189, 9088, 9959, 10028.
That power against evils and falsities and against hell is gained through truths, nos. 3091 4015, 10488.
That purification from evils and falsities is accomplished through truths, nos. 2799 5954, 7044, 7918, 10229, 10237.
That the church is formed by means of truths, nos. 1798 1799, 3963, 4468, 4672.
That heaven is formed through truths, 6690, 9832, 9931, 10303.
That the innocence of wisdom is attained through truths, nos. 3183 3494, 6013.
That conscience is formed through truths, nos. 1077 2053, 9113.
That order is achieved through truths, nos. 3316 3417, 3570, 4104, 5339, 5343, 6028, 10303.
The beauty of angels is due to truths, and so, too, is the beauty of people as regards their inner qualities which are those of their spirit, nos. 553 3080, 4985, 5199.
That a person is human as a result of truths, nos. 3175 3387, 8370, 10298.
Even so, however, all of these effects are occasioned by truths springing from goodness, and not by truths apart from goodness, goodness that comes from the Lord, nos. 2434 4070, 4736, 5147.
That all goodness comes from the Lord, nos. 1614 2016, 2904, 4151, 5147, 9981.
[3] But who gives any thought to this? Is it not a matter of indifference today whether someone knows this or that truth, provided he attends services of worship? Moreover, because few explore the Word in order to learn truths and live by them, people do not know anything about their worship as to whether it is lifeless or living, and yet it is according to the character of his worship that a person is himself dead or alive.
Of what value otherwise are the Word and doctrine drawn from it? Of what value otherwise are observance of the Sabbath and sermons, or theological treatises? Indeed, of what value otherwise are the church and religion?
That all worship in the beginning is natural, and later becomes spiritual through truths from the Word and a life according to them, is something people know. For a person is born natural, but is taught to become civic-minded and moral, and later spiritual, for thus he is reborn.
All of this is symbolically meant, then, by the directive, "Remember therefore how you have received and heard."
161. [verse 3] 'Remember therefore how thou hast accepted and heard' signifies so that it may come into the thought that all worship is natural to begin with, and afterwards becomes spiritual by means of truths out of the Word and a life in accordance with them, besides many [other things]. These are the things that are understood by means of these words; then also that every one has knowledge out of the Word, and out of sermons, that truths ought to be learned, and that men have faith, charity, and everything of the Church by means of truths.
[2] That this is the case has been shown frequently in ARCANA CAELESTIA published at London; as that by means of truths there is faith (4353, 4977, 7178, 10367); that by means of truths there is love towards the neighbour, or charity (4368, 7623-7624, 8034); that by means of truths there is love directed to the Lord (10143, 10153, 10310, 10578, 10645); that by means of truths there is intelligence and wisdom (3182, 3190, 3387, 10064); that by means of truths there is regeneration (1555, 1904, 2046, 2189, 9088, 9959, 10028); that by means of truths there is power against evils and untruths, and against hell (3091, 4015, 10488); that by means of truths there is purification from evils and untruths (2799, 5954, 7044, 7918, 10229, 10237); that by means of truths there is the Church (798, 1799, 3963, 4468, 4672); that by means of truths there is heaven (6690, 9832, 9931, 10303); that by means of truths there is the innocence of wisdom (3183, 3494, 6013); that by means of truths there is conscience (1077, 2053, 9113); that by means of truths there is order (3316, 3417, 3570, 4704, 5339, 5343, 6028, 10303); 1that by means of truths angels have beauty, and men also as to the interiors that are of their spirit (553, 3080, 4985, 5199); that by means of truths a man is a man (3175, 3387, 8370, 10298): nevertheless all these things are by means of truths derived from good, and not by means of truths without good, and good is from the Lord (2434, 4070, 4736, 5147). That every good is from the Lord (1614, 2016, 2904, 4151, 9981, 5147).
[3] But who thinks this? At this day is it not a matter of indifference whether a man knows one set of truths or another, provided he is in worship? And because few search the Word with the purpose of learning truths and living them, therefore nothing is known about the worship, whether it is dead or alive; and yet in accordance with the quality of the worship a man himself is dead or alive. Otherwise what [use] would the Word be, and the doctrine therefrom? What [use] would sabbaths be, and sermons, as well as dogmatical books? In fact, what would the Church and religion be otherwise? That all worship is natural to begin with, and that it afterwards becomes spiritual by means of truths out of the Word and a life in accordance with them, is known; for a man is born natural, but is educated to become civil and moral, and afterwards spiritual, for in such a manner he is reborn. These latter things therefore, and the former, are signified by 'Remember how thou hast accepted and heard.'
Footnotes:
1. Number 4704 is incorrect. Probably it should be 4104, or possibly 5704
161. Verse 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, signifies that it should come into the thought that all worship in its beginning is natural, and afterwards by truths out of the Word, and by a life according to them, becomes spiritual, besides many other things. These are the things that are to be understood by these words; as also, that everyone may know from the Word, from the doctrines of the church from the Word, and from preachings, that truths ought to be learned, and that by truths man has faith, charity, and all things of the church.
[2] That this is the case, is abundantly shown in The Arcana Coelestia; published at London; that by truths comes faith, (4353, 4977, 7178, 10367). That by truths comes love towards the neighbor, or charity, (4368, 7623, 7624, 8034). That by truths comes love to the Lord, (10, 10143, 10153, 10310, 10578, 578, 10645). That by truths come intelligence and wisdom, (3182, 3190, 3387, 10064). That by truths regeneration is effected, (1555, 1904, 2046, 2189, 9088, 9959, 10028). That by truths there is power against evils and falsities, and against hell, (3091, 4015, 10488). That by truths there is purification from evils and falsities, (2799, 5954, 7044, 7918, 10229, 10237). That by truths the church exists, (1798, 1799, 3963, 4468, 4672). That by truths heaven exists, (6690, 9832, 9931, 10303). That by truths comes the innocence of wisdom, (3183, 3494, 6013). That by truths there is conscience, (1077, 2053, 9113). That by truths there is order, (3316, 3417, 3470, 4104, 5339, 5343, 6028, 10303). That by truths is the beauty of angels, and also of men as to the interiors which are of their spirit, (553, 3080, 4985, 5199). That by truths man is man, (3175, 3387, 8370, 10298). But all this by truths from good, and not by truths without good, and good is from the Lord, (2434, 4070, 4736, 5147). That every good is from the Lord, (1614, 2016, 2904, 4151, 5147, 9981).
[3] But who thinks this? Is it not at this day a matter of indifference what truths a man knows, provided he is in worship? And because few search the Word for the purpose of learning truths and living according to them, therefore nothing is known concerning worship, whether it be dead or living, and yet according to the quality of worship man himself is either dead or living. Otherwise of what use would the Word be, and doctrine thence, or what would be the use of sabbaths and preachings, as well as of books of instruction, yea to what purpose would the church and religion be? That all worship in its beginning is natural, and afterwards by truths from the Word, and a life according to them, becomes spiritual, is known; for man is born natural, but is educated in order that he may become civil and moral, and afterwards spiritual, for thus he is born again. These things therefore are signified by "Remember how thou hast received and heard."
161. (Vers. 3.) "Memento igitur quomodo acceperis et audiveris," significat ut in cogitationem veniat, quod omnis Cultus in suo principio naturalis sit, ac postea per vera ex Verbo et per vitam secundum illa, fiat spiritualis, praeter plura. - Sunt haec quae per illa verba intelliguntur: tum etiam, quod quisque sciat ex Verbo, ex Doctrina Ecclesiae ex Verbo, et ex Praedicationibus, quod vera addiscenda sint, et quod per vera sint homini fides, charitas, et omnia Ecclesiae; quod ita sit, multis ostensum est in Arcanis Caelestibus Londini editis: ut quod per Vera sit Fides, (4353, 4977, 7178, 10367); 1quod per Vera Amor erga proximum seu Charitas (4368, 7623, 7624, 8034); quod per Vera Amor in Dominum (10143, 10153, 10310, 10578, 10645); 2quod per Vera Intelligentia et Sapientia (3182, 3190, 3387, 10064); quod per Vera Regeneratio (1555, 1904, 2046, 2189, 9088, 9959, 10028); 3quod per Vera Potentia contra mala et falsa, et contra Infernum (3091, 4015, 10488); 4quod per Vera Purificatio a malis et falsis (2799, 5954, 7044, 7918, 10229, 10237); quod per Vera Ecclesia (1798, 1799, 3963, 4468, 4672); quod per Vera Caelum (6690, 9832, 9931, 10303); 5quod per Vera Innocentia sapientiae (3183, 3494, 6013); 6quod per Vera Conscientia (1077, 2053, 9113); quod per Vera Ordo (3316, 3417, 3470, 4104, 5339, 5343, 6028, 10303); 7quod per Vera Pulchritudo Angelis, et quoque hominibus quoad interiora quae sunt Spiritus eorum (553, 3080, 4985, 5199); 8quod per Vera homo sit homo (3175, 3387, 8370, 10298); verum tamen omnia illa per Vera ex Bono, et non per Vera absque Bono, et Bonum a Domino (2434, 4070, 4736, 5147); quod omne Bonum sit a Domino (1614, 2016, 2904, 4151, 5147, 9981). Sed quis hoc cogitat; annon sicut adiaphorum est hodie, sive haec sive illa vera sciat, modo in cultu sit; et quia pauci scrutantur Verbum fine discendi et vivendi vera, ideo non scitur aliquid de Cultu, num mortuus sit vel vivus, et tamen secundum cultus quale est ipse homo mortuus aut vivus: quid alioquin Verbum et Doctrina inde, quid Sabbatha et Praedicationes, tum Libri dogmatici, imo quid alioquin Ecclesia et Religio. Quod omnis cultus in principio naturalis sit, et postea per vera ex Verbo et per vitam secundum illa fiat spiritualis, notum est; homo enim nascitur naturalis, sed educatur ut fiat civilis et moralis, et postea spiritualis, sic enim renascitur. Haec itaque et illa significantur per "Memento quomodo acceperis et audiveris."
Footnotes:
1. 4977 pro "4997"
2. 10, 645 pro "10, 648"
3. 1555 pro "1553" et 9959 pro "9954"
4. 10, 488 pro "10, 485"
5. 6690 pro "1690"
6. 3494 pro "3495"
7. 3470 pro "3570" et 4104 pro "4704"
8. 553 pro "353" et 4985 pro "4983"