275# 自太古以来即已有宗教，且世上各处居民皆知上帝，并多少知道死后生命；这并非出于他们自身，也非出于他们自己的聪明，而是出于古圣言（见前文264—266节），后来又出于以色列圣言。各种宗教正是从这两部圣言流传而出：传入印度及其诸岛；又经埃及与埃塞俄比亚，传入非洲诸国；并且从亚洲沿海传入希腊，再由希腊传入意大利。
然而，由于圣言不能不以表象事物写成；所谓表象事物，即世上与天上之事相对应、并因而表征它们的那些事物，所以列邦的宗教便转为偶像崇拜，在希腊则转为神话；而神性的属性与称谓，也被化作同样多的诸神；他们又在诸神之上设一位至高者，称之为朱庇特，或许此名出自雅威。
他们曾有关于乐园、洪水、圣火、四个时代——从最初的黄金时代直到最后的铁器时代——的知识，这是众所周知的；正如但以理书二章31—35节所见。
275# 宗教自上古时代起就已经存在了，地上各个地方的居民都有关于神的知识和关于死后生活的某种知识。这种知识不是源于他们自己或自己的聪明，而是源于前面（TCR 264-266节）提到的古圣言，后来源于以色列的圣言。宗教体系或概念从这两部圣言中传播到了印度群岛及其岛屿，通过埃及和埃塞俄比亚传到非洲国家，从亚洲或中东的沿海地区传到希腊，又从希腊传到意大利。然而，由于圣言只能通过代表来写，代表就是诸如在世上对应于并表示天上事物的那类事物，所以这些民族或外邦人的宗教变成了偶像崇拜，在希腊变成了神话传说。神性的特征和属性变成了许多神，甚至在他们上面又立了一个至高无上的神，他们称其为朱庇特，可能源于耶和华。众所周知，他们拥有关于伊甸园、大洪水、圣火，以及四个时代（如但以理书2:31-35所描述的），从第一个时代或黄金时代到最后一个时代或黑铁时代的知识。
275. Since the earliest times, religion has existed and the inhabitants of our planet have known about God and something about life after death. People did not receive this knowledge from themselves or their own intelligence; they received it from the ancient Word discussed above (264-266). Later on people received this knowledge from the Israelite Word. From these two Word's, religious concepts spread to the Indies and their islands; through Egypt and Ethiopia into the countries of Africa; and from the coastal regions of the Middle East into Greece and from there into Italy.
Because that Word could be written only in language that was highly symbolic, using things in the world that correspond to and therefore stand for things in heaven, the nations eventually turned its religious concepts into idolatrous concepts - in Greece into myths - and turned divine attributes and characteristics into as many gods. Over these gods they placed a supreme god whom they called Jove, perhaps from Jehovah.
It is generally known that they had a concept of paradise, a flood, sacred fire, and four ages - starting with the golden age and ending with the iron age, as recorded in Daniel 2:31-35.
275. Religion existed from the most ancient times, and the inhabitants of all parts of the world knew about God, and something about life after death. This knowledge did not come from them themselves or their own intelligence, but from the ancient Word (described above, 264-266), and later on from the Israelite Word. Religious beliefs based upon these two Words spread to the Indies and the adjacent islands, and by way of Egypt and Ethiopia to the kingdoms of Africa; and from the coasts of Asia to Greece and so to Italy. But because the Word had to be written by means of representatives, which are the sort of things in the world which correspond to heavenly things and so stand for them, the religious beliefs of the heathen turned to idolatry, and in Greece to fables. The attributes and qualities of God became so many gods, and they set over them the highest whom they called Jove, perhaps after Jehovah. It is well known that they knew about paradise, the flood, the sacred fire, and the four ages beginning with the golden and ending with the iron age (as in Daniel 2:31-35).
275. It was not from themselves nor from their own intelligence, but from the ancient Word (see above(264-266), and afterwards from the Israelitish Word, that from the most ancient times religion has existed, and the inhabitants of the earth everywhere have had a knowledge of God, and some knowledge of a life after death. From these two Words religious systems spread into the Indies and their islands; through Egypt and Ethiopia into the kingdoms of Africa; from the maritime parts of Asia into Greece, and from Greece into Italy. But as the Word could be written only by representations, which are such things in the world as correspond to and thus signify heavenly things, the religions of these nations were turned into idolatries, and in Greece into fables; and the Divine attributes and properties were turned into as many gods, over whom one was made supreme, whom they called Jove, possibly from Jehovah. It is known that they had a knowledge of Paradise, of the flood, of the sacred fire, and of the four ages, from the first or golden age, to the last or iron age (as described in Daniel 2:31-35).
275. Religion has existed from the most ancient times, and the inhabitants of the earth everywhere have had a knowledge of God, and some knowledge of a life after death. This has not originated from themselves or their own intelligence, but from the ancient Word, mentioned above in264-266; and in later times from the Israelitish Word. From these two Words forms of religion spread to the Indies and their islands; through Egypt and Ethiopia to the kingdoms of Africa, from the maritime parts of Asia to Greece, and thence to Italy. However, as the Word could only be written by representatives, that is, by such things in the world as correspond to, and consequently signify, heavenly things, religion with the Gentiles was turned into idolatry, and in Greece into mythology. Divine properties and attributes were turned into so many gods, and over these men set one supreme deity whom they called Jove, possibly from Jehovah; while it is well known that they had some conception of Paradise, some knowledge of the Flood, the sacred fire, and the four ages from the first or golden age to the last or iron age, as described in Daniel 2:31-35.
275. Quod ab antiquissimis temporibus fuerit Religio, et Incolae Orbis ubivis noverint de Deo, et aliquid de vita post mortem, non fuit ex ipsis, aut ex propria illorum intelligentia, sed ex Verbo Vetusto, de quo supra 264-266, et postea ex Verbo Israelitico: ex duobus Verbis his Religiosa emanaverunt in Indias et illarum Insulas, perque Aegyptum ac Aethiopiam in Regna Africae, et ex Maritimis Asiae in Graeciam, 1 et inde in Italiam: sed quia Verbum non potuit aliter quam per Repraesentativa esse conscriptum, quae sunt talia in Mundo quae correspondent Coelestibus, et inde significant illa, ideo Religiosa Gentium versa sunt in Idololatrica, et in Graecia in Fabulosa, ac Attributa et Praedicata Divina in totidem Deos, quibus praefecerunt Supremum, quem vocaverunt Jovem, forte a Jehovah; quod illis cognitio fuerit de Paradiso, de Diluvio, de Igne sacro, de quatuor Aetatibus, a Prima aurea ad Ultimam ferream, ut apud Danielem 2:31-35, notum est.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: Craeciam.