二、雅威以圣言即神性真理降世，且未离神性良善
85# 雅威上帝以神性真理降世，神性真理即是圣言，且降世之时并未与神性良善隔绝分离。
构成上帝本质者有二：神性之爱与神性智慧；换而言之，即是神性良善与神性真理。此二者共为上帝之本，已于前文第三十六至四十八条予以证立。
圣言之中，此二者皆以 “雅威上帝” 一名表出：“雅威” 对应神性之爱，亦即神性良善；“上帝” 对应神性智慧，亦即神性真理。是以圣言内二者分叙有别，时而独称 “雅威”，时而独称 “上帝”。凡论及神性良善之处，则称雅威；凡论及神性真理之处，则称上帝；若二者并述，便合称雅威上帝。
雅威上帝以神性真理降世，而神性真理便是圣言，此理可由约翰福音经文明证：“太初有道，道与上帝同在，道就是上帝（上帝就是道）。万物是借着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。道成了肉身，住在我们中间。”（约 1:1，3，14）
此处所言 “道”，所指即是神性真理。盖教会所持之圣言，本就是神性真理自身；由雅威亲口启示而出，凡出自雅威之口者，皆为纯粹的神性真理，别无他物。
【2】唯此神性真理经由诸层天堂，直达世间，故经文有所调适，既可适配天堂天使，亦能适配地上世人。是以圣言存有两层含义：其一为属灵意义，神性真理在其中全然显于光明之内；其二为属世意义，神性真理在其中隐于阴影之下。约翰福音中所言的 “道”，所象征的便是圣言内里的神性真理。
另有一事更可佐证：主降临世间，乃是为成全圣言一切记载。故此经文屡次记载，各样事发生在祂身上，都是为要应验经上的话。“弥赛亚” 或称 “基督”，所表征的无非神性真理；“人子” 所表征的亦无非神性真理；主离世之后所差遣的保惠师圣灵，其所表征者同样是神性真理。
至于主登山变像，在三位门徒面前显现荣光（太17:1-13；可9:2-13；路9:28-36），以及在启示录中向约翰显现自身（启 1:12-16），如何将自己彰显为圣言本体，将于专论圣言一章详加阐明。
【3】主在世之时便是神性真理，可由祂亲口之言为证：“我就是道路、真理、生命。”（约 14:6）另有经文佐证：“我们也知道，神的儿子已经来到，且将智慧赐给我们，使我们认识那位真实的；我们也在那位真实的里面，就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神，也是永生。”（约壹 5:20）
此外，祂又被称作 “光”，亦可印证此理，经文如下：“生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。”（约 1:4，9）耶稣对众人说：“光在你们中间还有不多的时候，应当趁着有光行走，免得黑暗临到你们；那在黑暗里行走的，不知道往何处去。你们应当趁着有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。”（约 12:35-36）“我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。”（约 12:46）“我在世上的时候，是世上的光。”（约 9:5）
西面也曾言说：“我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的荣耀。”（路 2:30-32）“光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光，倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。但行真理的必来就光。”（约 3:19，21）其余经文亦多有相似见证，可见圣言中所称之“光”，所表征的正是神性真理。
85# （2）耶和华神作为神性真理，即圣言而降临；然而，祂并没有将神性良善与神性真理分离。有两样事物构成神的本质，即神性之爱和神性智慧，或也可说，神性良善和神性真理。前面（TCR 36-48节）已经说明，这两者是神的本质。此外，在圣言中，“耶和华神”这个名就是指这两者，“耶和华”是指神性之爱或神性良善，“神”是指神性智慧或神性真理；因此，这两个名字在圣言中以各种方式被区分开来；经上有时只用“耶和华”这个名，有时只用“神”这个名：当论述神性良善时，就用“耶和华”这个名，当论述神性真理时，就用“神”这个名；当论述这两者时，则用“耶和华神”这个名。耶和华神作为神性真理，即圣言而降临，这一点从约翰福音中的这段经文明显看出来，在那里，经上说：
起初有圣言，圣言与神同在，神就是圣言。万物都是藉着祂造的，凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着祂造的。圣言成了肉身，住在我们中间。（约翰福音1:1，3，14）
“圣言”在此是指神性真理，因为在教会里所接受的圣言是神性真理本身，圣言是由耶和华自己口授的；耶和华所口授的，只是圣洁的神性真理，不能是别的。
但由于圣言通过天堂传到这个世界，所以它既适合天上的天使，也适合世上的人。因此，圣言里面既有一种属灵意义，也有一种属世意义：在属灵意义，即灵义上，神性真理出现在清晰的光中，而在属世意义上，神性真理只是隐约可见。因此，约翰福音中所指的，正是我们圣言中的神性真理。这一点从以下事实明显看出来：主降世是为了应验圣言的一切；这就是为何我们经常读到，这样或那样的事发生在祂身上是为了“应验圣经”（参看TCR 262节）。“弥赛亚”或“基督”，或“人子”，或主离世后所差来的“圣灵保惠师”也只是指神性真理。在关于圣经那一章（TCR 222节）可以看到，在山上，主在三个门徒面前变了形像（马太福音17:1-13; 马可福音9:2-13; 路加福音9:28-36），还在约翰面前变了形像（启示录1:12-16），在此期间，主将自己表现为圣言。
在世上的主就是神性真理，这一点从主自己的话明显看出来：
我就是道路，真理，生命。（约翰福音14:6）
这一点也从这些话看出来：
我们知道神的儿子已经来到，且给我们理解力，使我们认识那位真实的；我们也在那位真实的里面，就是在祂儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神，也是永生。（约翰一书5:20）
这一点从祂被称为“光”进一步看出来，如以下经文；约翰福音：
那是真光，照亮一切来到世上的人。（约翰福音1:4，9）
又：
耶稣说，光在你们中间还有不多的时候。你们应当趁着有光的时候行走，免得黑暗临到你们。你们应当趁着有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。（约翰福音12:35，36，46）
又：
我是世上的光。（约翰福音9:5）
路加福音：
西面说，我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，是启示外邦人的光。（路加福音2:30-32）
约翰福音：
这就是审判，光来到世上；行真理的必来就光。（约翰福音3:19，21）
此外还有其它地方。“光”是指神性真理。
85. 2. Jehovah God came down as the divine truth, which is the Word; but he did not separate the divine goodness from it. Two things constitute the essence of God: divine love and divine wisdom; or, what is the same, divine goodness and divine truth. (Above at 3648 we showed that these two constitute the essence of God.) The expression "Jehovah God" in the Word means these two qualities. "Jehovah" means divine love or divine goodness; "God" means divine wisdom or divine truth. This is why these names occur in various ways in the Word. At times just Jehovah is named; at other times, just God. When the subject is divine goodness he is called Jehovah. When the subject is divine truth he is called God. When both are involved he is called Jehovah God.
It is clear from John that Jehovah God came down as divine truth, which is the Word:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by it, and nothing that was made came about without it. And the Word became flesh and lived among us. (John 1:1, 3, 14)
"The Word" in this passage means divine truth because the Word that exists in the church is divine truth itself. The Word was dictated by Jehovah himself, and what Jehovah dictates is pure divine truth - it cannot be anything else.
[2] Nevertheless, because it passed all the way through the heavens into the world, it became adapted to angels in heaven and also to people in the world. As a result, in the Word there is a spiritual meaning in which divine truth is in the light and there is an earthly meaning in which divine truth is in shadow. The divine truth in this Word is what was meant in John.
This is clearer still from the fact that the Lord came into the world to fulfill all the things in the Word. This is why it says many times that this or that happened to him in order to fulfill Scripture [see 262]. Divine truth is precisely what "the Messiah" and "Christ" mean, what "the Son of Humankind" means, and what the Comforter, the Holy Spirit that the Lord sent after his death means. During his transfiguration on the mountain before his three disciples (Matthew 17[:1-13]; Mark 9[:2-13]; Luke 9[:28-36]) and also during his transfiguration before John in , the Lord represented himself as the Word, as we will see in the chapter below on Sacred Scripture [222].
[3] From the Lord's own words it is clear that he was present in the world as divine truth: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). This is also clear from these words: "We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we would know the truth. And we are in the truth in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).
This becomes still clearer from the fact that he is called the light, as in these passages:
He was the true light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world. (John 1:9)
Jesus said, "For a brief time the light is still with you. Walk while you have the light so the darkness will not overtake you. While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of the light. " (John 12:35-36)
I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)
Simeon said, "My eyes have seen your salvation, a light of revelation to the nations. " (Luke 2:30, 32)
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world. Those who do the truth come toward the light. (John 3:19, 21)
There are other such passages as well. "The light" means divine truth.
85. (ii) JEHOVAH GOD CAME DOWN AS THE DIVINE TRUTH, WHICH IS THE WORD, YET HE DID NOT SEPARATE THE DIVINE GOOD FROM IT.
There are two factors which make up the essence of God, the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom, or, what is the same thing, the Divine Good and the Divine Truth. This dual essence of God was proved above (36-48). The same pair is meant in the Word by Jehovah God; Jehovah means the Divine Love or the Divine Good, God the Divine Wisdom or the Divine Truth. Hence these terms are distinguished in various ways in the Word; at one point only Jehovah is named, at another only God. Where the subject is the Divine Good, the name Jehovah is used, where it is the Divine Truth, God; and where both are meant, He is called Jehovah God. It is evident from John that Jehovah God came down as the Divine Truth, which is the Word:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was nothing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, John 1:1, 3, 14.
The reason why the Word there means the Divine Truth is that the Word possessed by the church is Divine Truth itself, for it was dictated by Jehovah Himself, and what Jehovah dictates is pure Divine Truth and could not be anything else.
[2] But because the Word passed through the heavens in its descent to the world, it was made suitable for angels in heaven, and for men in the world. So the Word contains a spiritual sense, in which the Divine Truth is illuminated, and a natural sense, in which the Divine Truth is in shadow. So what is meant in John is the Divine Truth in this Word. This is also plain from the Lord's coming into the world to fulfil everything in the Word. This is why we read so many times that this or that happened to Him 'that the scripture might be fulfilled.' Nothing but the Divine Truth too is meant by 'the Messiah' or 'Christ', or by 'the Son of Man', or by 'the Holy Spirit the Comforter', which the Lord sent after He left the world. In His transfiguration before the three disciples on the mountain (Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9), and before John in Revelation (Revelation 1:12-16), He represented Himself as that Word, as will be seen in the chapter on the Holy Scripture [222].
[3] It is plain from the Lord's words that in the world He was the Divine Truth:
I am the way, truth and life, John 14:6.
and:
We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and everlasting life. 1 John 5:20.
This is also shown by His being called 'light', as in these passages, among others:
He was the true light which illuminates every man coming into the world, John 1:4, 9.
Jesus said, For a short while yet the light is with you. Walk so long as you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. So long as you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may be sons of light, John 12:35-36, 46.
I am the light of the world, John 9:5.
Simeon said, My eyes have seen your salvation, a light to be a revelation to the nations, Luke 2:30-32.
This is the judgment, that the light came into the world; he who does the truth, comes to the light, John 3:19-21.
Light means the Divine Truth.
85. (2) Jehovah God descended as Divine Truth, which is the Word, although He did not separate from it the Divine Good. There are two things that constitute the essence of God, the Divine love and the Divine wisdom, or what is the same, Divine good and Divine truth. That these two are the essence of God has been shown above (n. 36-48). Moreover these two are what are meant in the Word by the name "Jehovah God," "Jehovah" meaning the Divine love or Divine good, and "God" the Divine wisdom or Divine truth; and for this reason these two names are distinguished in the Word in various ways; sometimes the name "Jehovah" alone is used, and sometimes the name "God" alone-the name "Jehovah" when the Divine good is treated of, and the name "God" when the Divine truth is treated of; and the name "Jehovah God" when both are treated of. That Jehovah God descended as the Divine truth, which is the Word, is shown in John as follows:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among, us (John 1:1, 3, 14).
By "the Word" here the Divine truth is meant; because the Word, which is in the church, is Divine truth itself, for it was dictated by Jehovah Himself; and what is dictated by Jehovah is nothing but Divine truth, and can be nothing else.
[2] But inasmuch as the Divine truth passed down through the heavens even to the world, it became adapted to angels in heaven and also to men in the world. For this reason there is in the Word a spiritual sense in which the Divine truth is seen in clear light, and a natural sense in which it is seen obscurely. Thus it is the Divine truth in our Word that is here meant in John. This is made still clearer by the fact that the Lord came into the world to fulfill all things of the Word; and this is why it is so often said that this or that was done to Him "that the Scripture might be fulfilled." Nor is anything but the Divine truth meant by "the Messiah" or "the Christ," or "the Son of man," or "the Holy Spirit the Comforter," which the Lord sent after His departure. In the chapter on the Sacred Scripture it will be shown that in His transfiguration before the three disciples on the mount (Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9), and also before John in the Apocalypse (1:12-16), the Lord represented Himself as that Word.
[3] That the Lord in the world was the Divine truth is evident from His own words:
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6);
also from these words:
We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know the True; and we are in the True, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20);
and still further by His being called "the Light," as in the following passages:
There was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:4, 9).
Jesus said, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not. While ye have the light believe in the light, that ye may be sons of light (John 12:35-36, 46).
I am the light of the world (John 9:5).
Simeon said, For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:30-32).
And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world; he that doeth the truth cometh to the light (John 3:19, 21);
besides other places. "Light" means the Divine truth.
85. (2) JEHOVAH GOD DESCENDED AS THE DIVINE TRUTH, WHICH IS THE WORD; AND YET HE DID NOT SEPARATE THE DIVINE GOOD.
There are two things which constitute the Essence of God: Divine Love and Divine Wisdom, or what is the same, Divine Good and Divine Truth. It has been shown above in numbers 36-48, that these two are the Essence of God. These two are also meant in the Word by Jehovah God: by Jehovah is meant the Divine Love or the Divine Good, and by God the Divine Wisdom or the Divine Truth. Therefore it is that in the Word they are distinguished in various ways; at one time the name Jehovah is used alone, at another time the name God; for when the Divine Good is treated, the name Jehovah is used, and when the Divine Truth is the subject the name God is used; while when both are being treated, the expression Jehovah God is used. That Jehovah God descended as the Divine Truth, which is the Word, is evident from this passage in John, where it is said:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" John 1:1, 3, 14.
By the Word is there meant Divine Truth, because the Word, which is received in the Church, is Divine Truth itself, for it was dictated by Jehovah Himself; and what is dictated by Jehovah is Divine Truth in its purity, and can be nothing else.
[2] As the Word passed through the heavens down to this world, it was accommodated to the angels in heaven and also to men in the world. There is thus in the Word at spiritual sense, in which the Divine Truth appears in clear light, and a natural sense, in which the Divine Truth is but dimly seen. Therefore it is the Divine Truth in this Word that is meant in John. Moreover, this is evident from this consideration that the Lord came into the world to fulfil all things in the Word; and for this reason we so often read that this or that was done by Him that the Scripture might be fulfilled. The Divine Truth is also meant by the Messiah or Christ, by the Son of Man, and by the Holy Spirit the Comforter, whom the Lord sent after His departure from the world.
It will be seen in the chapter on the Sacred Scripture that the Lord represented Himself as that Word in the Transfiguration on the Mount before His three disciples, Matthew 17; Mark 9; and Luke 9; and also before John in the Revelation 1:12-16.
[3] That the Lord, when in the world, was the Divine Truth, is evident from His words:
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life" John 14:8; and from these words:
"We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know the truth (A.V., him that is true); and we are in the truth (A.V., him that is true), even in His Son Jesus Christ, This is the true God and eternal life" 1 John 5:20.
It is still further evident from the fact that He is called the Light, as in these passages:
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" John 1:4, 9.
"Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you... While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light" John 12:35-36, 48.
"I am the light of the world" John 9:5.
Simeon said: "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation,... a light to lighten the Gentiles" Luke 2:30, 32.
"This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,... But he that doeth truth cometh to the light" John 3:19, 21.
and other passages might be quoted where by light is meant the Divine Truth.
85. II. QUOD JEHOVAH DEUS DESCENDERIT UT DIVINUM VERUM, QUOD EST VERBUM, ET TAMEN QUOD NON SEPARAVERIT DIVINUM BONUM. Sunt duo quae faciunt Essentiam Dei, Divinus Amor et Divina Sapientia, seu quod idem est, Divinum Bonum et Divinum Verum; quod Essentia Dei sint illa duo, supra 36-48, demonstratum est. Illa duo in Verbo intelliguntur etiam per JEHOVAM 1 DEUM, per Jehovam Divinus Amor seu Divinum Bonum, et per Deum Divina Sapientia seu Divinum Verum, inde est quod in Verbo distinguantur variis modis, et nunc solum nominetur Jehovah, nunc solum Deus, ubi enim agitur de Divino Bono, ibi dicitur Jehovah, et ubi de Divino Vero, ibi Deus, et ubi de utroque, ibi Jehovah Deus. Quod Jehovah Deus descenderit ut Divinum Verum, quod est Verbum, constat apud Johannem, ubi haec, "In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum, omnia per Ipsum facta sunt, et sine Ipso factum est nihil quod factum est. Et Verbum Caro factum est, et habitavit inter nos," 1:1, 3, 14: 2 quod per Verbum ibi intelligatur Divinum Verum, est quia Verbum, quod in Ecclesia est, est ipsum Divinum Verum, est enim ab Ipso Jehovah dictatum, et quod a Jehovah dictatur est pure Divinum Verum, nec potest esse aliud;
[2] sed quia illud transivit Coelos usque in Mundum, accommodatum factum est Angelis in Coelo, et quoque hominibus in Mundo; inde inest Verbo sensus spiritualis, in quo Divinum Verum est in luce, et sensus naturalis in quo Divinum Verum est in umbra; quare Divinum Verum in hoc Verbo est quod apud Johannem intelligitur: hoc adhuc patet ex eo, quod Dominus in Mundum venerit, ut impleret omnia Verbi, quare toties legitur, quod hoc et illud Ipsi factum sit, ut impleretur Scriptura. Nec aliud quam Divinum Verum per Messiam seu Christum, nec aliud per Filium hominis, neque aliud per Paracletum Spiritum Sanctum, quem Dominus post exitum suum misit, intelligitur. Quod in Transformatione coram tribus Discipulis super monte, Matthaeus 17, 3 Marcus 9, et Luca 9, et quoque coram Johanne in Apocalypsi 1:12-16, Se ut Verbum illud repraesentaverit, in Capite de SCRIPTURA SACRA, videbitur.
[3] Quod Dominus in Mundo fuerit Divinum Verum, patet ex his Ipsius verbis, Ego sum Via, VERITAS, et Vita, Johannes 14:6, et ex his, Scimus quod Filius Dei venerit, et dederit nobis Intellectum, ut cognoscamus VERITATEM, et sumus in VERITATE, IN FILIO IPSIUS JESU CHRISTO: Hic est verus Deus, et vita aeterna, 1 Johannes 5:20. 4 Et adhuc per quod dicatur Lux, ut in his locis, "LUX VERA erat, quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in Mundum, Johannes 1:4, 9. Jesus dixit, adhuc breve tempus LUX VOBISCUM est; ambulate quousque LUCEM habetis, ne tenebrae vos apprehendant: quousque LUCEM habetis, credite in LUCEM, ut FILII LUCIS SITIS, Johannes 12:35-36, 46. EGO LUX MUNDI SUM, Johannes 9:5. Simeon dixit, viderunt oculi mei Salutare tuum, LUCEM in revelationem gentium, Luca 2:30-32. Hoc est judicium, quod LUX VENIT IN MUNDUM; QUI FACIT VERITATEM, VENIT AD LUCEM," Johannes 3:19, 21, praeter alibi; per Lucem intelligitur Divinum Verum.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: JOHOVAM.
2. Prima editio: 1:13, 14.
3. Prima editio: Matthaeus 12.
4. Prima editio: 5:20, 21.