285.该律法因是联结主与人，并人与主的工具，故被称为“约”和“证言”（Testimony）。之所以被称为“约”，是因为它产生结合，之所以被称为“见证”，是因为它确认约定的条款。在圣言中，“约”表示结合，而“证言”表示对条约的确认和见证。这就是为何石版有两块，一块适用于神，另一块适用于人。结合是主成就的，不过，前提是人必须实践写给他的那块石版上的条约。主一直临在，并想要进入；而人必须凭主所赐予他的自由意志向祂开放，因为主说：
看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有人听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。（启示录3:20）
刻有律法的那两块石版被称为“约版”，存放它们的柜子被称为“约柜”，律法本身被称为“约”（参看民数记10:33；申命记4:13，23；5:2，3；9:9；约书亚记3:11；列王纪上8:21；启示录11:19等）。由于“约”表结合，故经上论到主说，祂将成为“众民的约”（以赛亚书42:6；49:9）；祂还被称为“立约的使者”（玛拉基书3:1）；祂的血被称为“立约的血”（马太福音26:28；撒迦利亚书9:11；出埃及记24:4－10）。因此，圣言被称为旧约和新约，因为立约是为了爱、友好、联系和结合。
285. 因為此律法成就了主與人,人與主之間的合作關係, 所以被稱為"約"與"見證"。被稱為"約", 因其發揮紐帶的聯結作用; 被稱為"見證", 因其證實了這種合作關係。在聖言中, "約"表示一種合作關係, 而"見證"表示對約定的確證。這就是為何有兩塊石版, 一塊適於上帝,另一塊適於我們。這種合作的關係由上帝提供, 不過只有在我們行出自己那塊石版所寫內容時才發生這種關係。主一直同在並期望進入, 只是我們當運用主所賜的自由意志去打開那門。因為祂說:"看啊！我站在門外叩門, 若有人聽見我聲音就開門的, 我要進到他那裡去, 我與他, 他與我一同坐席"(啟示錄3:20)。
律法刻於其上的石版被稱為"立約之版", 安放石版之櫃因此被稱為"約櫃", 其中的律法被稱為"約"(參看民數記10:33;申命記4:13, 23; 5:2-3; 9:9;約書亞記3:11;列王記上8:21;啟示錄11:19;以及其它章節)。
因為"約"或"立約"表示合作的關係, 聖言中論到主, 說祂將成為"眾民的約(和合本譯成'中保', 原文為'約')"(以賽亞書42:6; 49:9)。祂還被稱為"立約的使者(或約的天人)"(瑪拉基書3:1), 祂的血被稱為"立約的血"(馬太福音26:28;撒迦利亞書9:11;出埃及記24:4-10)。這就是為何聖言被稱為"舊約"與"新約"的原因。立約是為了仁愛,友好,聯盟與連接。
285. Since this law provides for the Lord's partnership with us and our partnership with the Lord, it is called the covenant and the testimony. It is called the covenant because it provides for partnership; it is called the testimony because it confirms the agreements in the covenant. In the Word a "covenant" means a partnership and "testimony" means something confirming and witnessing to its agreements. This is why there were two tablets, one for God and one for us. The partnership comes from the Lord, but it comes when we do the things that have been written on our tablet. The Lord is constantly present and wanting to come in, but we have to use the freedom we have been given by the Lord to open the door. He says, "Behold! I am standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and will dine with them and they with me" (Revelation 3:20).
The stone tablets on which the law was engraved were called the tablets of the covenant. Because of them the ark was called the ark of the covenant and the law itself was called the covenant (see Numbers 10:33; Deuteronomy 4:13, 23; 5:2-3; 9:9; Joshua 3:11; 1 Kings 8:21; Revelation 11:19; and elsewhere).
Because "covenant" means partnership, it is said of the Lord that he will be "a covenant for the people" (Isaiah 42:6; 49:9). He is also called the angel or messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1), and his blood is called the blood of the covenant (Matthew 26:28; Zechariah 9:11; Exodus 24:4-10). This is why the Word is called the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Covenants are made for love, friendship, association, and partnership.
285. Since this law is the means of linking the Lord with man and man with the Lord, it is called a covenant and a testimony. It is called a covenant because it serves as a link, and a testimony because it establishes the terms of the covenant. For covenant in the Word means linking, testimony the establishment and witnessing of its terms. That is why there were two tablets, one for God and the other for man. The link is provided by the Lord, but only when man does what is written in his tablet. For the Lord is continually present, and wishes to enter; but man must open the door by the free will which the Lord gives him. For He says:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me, Revelation 3:20.
The stone tablets on which the law was written are called the tablets of the covenant, and the Ark is called from them the Ark of the covenant; the law itself is called the covenant: see Numbers 10:33; Deuteronomy 4:13, 23; 5:2-3; 9:9; Joshua 3:11; 1 Kings 8:21; Revelation 11:19; and elsewhere.
Since a covenant means being joined, it is said of the Lord that He will be a covenant for the people (Isaiah 42:6; 49:8); He is called the messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1); and His blood is called the blood of the covenant (Matthew 26:28; Zechariah 9:11; Exodus 24:4-10). That is why the Word is called the Old and the New Covenants 1 , for covenants are made on account of love, friendship, association and linking.
Footnotes:
1. The author uses the correct Latin translation of the Greek word, which was erroneously translated into Latin in antiquity as testamentum, hence our Testament.
285. Because by that law there is a conjunction of the Lord with man and of man with the Lord, it is called "The Covenant" and "The Testimony;" the covenant because it effects conjunction, and the testimony because it confirms the articles of the covenant; for "covenant" signifies in the Word conjunction, and "testimony" the confirmation and witnessing of its articles. For this reason there were two tables, one for God and the other for man. Conjunction is effected by the Lord, but only when man does what is written in his table; for the Lord is continually present and wishes to enter in, but man, by the freedom which he has from the Lord, must open to Him, for the Lord says:
Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).
That the tables of stone on which the law was written, were called the tables of the covenant, and because of them the ark was called the ark of the covenant, and the law itself was called the covenant, may be seen in Numbers 10:33; Deuteronomy 4:13, 23; 5:2, 3; 9:9; Joshua 3:11; 1 Kings 8:21; Revelation 11:19, and elsewhere. Since "covenant" signifies conjunction, it is said of the Lord,
That He shall be a covenant for the people (Isaiah 42:6; 49:8-9). He is called also the messenger of the covenant (Conjugial Love 3[1]).
And His blood is called the blood of the covenant (Matthew 26:28; Zechariah 9:11; Exodus 24:4-10);
and therefore the Word is called the Old and the New Covenant [Testament]; for covenants are made for the sake of love, friendship, affiliation, and conjunction.
285. Since there is conjunction of the Lord with man, and of man with the Lord, by means of the Law, it is therefore called the Covenant and the Testimony; the covenant because it conjoins, and the testimony because it confirms the articles of the covenant. For a covenant in the Word signifies conjunction, and testimony the confirmation and witnessing of its articles. On this account there were two tables, one for God and the other for man. Conjunction is effected by the Lord, but only when man does what is written on his table. For the Lord is continually present, and desires to enter; but it is man's part, from the freedom which he has from the Lord, to open the door; for He says:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him, and will sup with him, and he with me" Revelation 3:20.
The tables of stone, on which the Law was written, were called the tables of the covenant, and the ark was called from them the ark of the covenant, and the Law itself the covenant, as may be seen in Numbers 10:33; Deuteronomy 4:13, 23; 5:2-3; 9:9; Joshua 3:3, 11; 1 Kings 8:21; Revelation 11:19; and in other places.
Since a covenant signifies conjunction, it is said of the Lord:
"He will be for a covenant to the people" Isaiah 42:6; and Isaiah 49:8.
He is also called the angel of the covenant. Malachi 3:1;
and His blood the blood of the covenant. Matthew 26:28; Zechariah 9:11; and Exodus 24:4-10.
And therefore the Word is called the old covenant and the new covenant; for covenants are entered into for the sake of love, friendship, association and conjunction.
285. Quoniam per Legem illam est conjunctio Domini cum homine, et hominis cum Domino, ideo vocatur illa FOEDUS ET TESTIMONIUM, Foedus quia conjungit, et Testimonium quia pacta foederis confirmat, nam Foedus in Verbo significat conjunctionem, Testimonium pactorum ejus confirmationem et testificationem. Propterea Tabulae illae erant binae, una pro Deo, et altera pro homine; conjunctio fit a Domino, sed tunc quando homo facit illa quae in ejus Tabula scripta sunt; Dominus enim continue praesens est, et vult ingredi, sed homo ex libero, quod illi est a Domino, aperiet; nam dicit, Ecce sto ad januam et pulso; si quis audiverit vocem meam, et aperuerit januam, ingrediar ad illum, et coenabo cum illo, et ille Mecum, Apocalypsis 3:20. Quod Tabulae lapideae, quibus Lex erat inscripta, dicta sint TABULAE FOEDERIS, et Arca ex illis dicta sit ARCA FOEDERIS, et ipsa Lex FOEDUS, videatur Numeri 10:33, Deuteronomius 4:13, 23; 5:2-3; 9:9; Joshua 3:11, 1 Regnum 8:21; 1 Apocalypsis 11:19, et alibi: quoniam Foedus significat conjunctionem, ideo de Domino dicitur, Quod erit in FOEDUS populo, Esaias 42:6; 49:8-9, 2 et vocatur ANGELUS FOEDERIS, Malachias 3:1, et Sanguis Ipsius SANGUIS FOEDERIS, Matthaeus 26:28; Sacharia 9:11; Exodus 24:4-10, et ideo Verbum vocatur FOEDUS VETUS ET FOEDUS NOVUM: Foedera enim fiunt amoris, amicitiae, consociationis et conjunctionis causa.
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