第24章 罪恶的起源
§1
第二十四章 罪恶的起源
§2
Chapter 24—Origin of Evil
§3
罪恶的起源及其存在的理由，在许多人的思想中乃是一个引起许多疑虑的谜。他们在惶惑犹疑之中，便看不到圣经里所明白启示并与救恩密切相关的真理。圣经既没有提供解释，有人就抓住这一点作为弃绝圣经的藉口。{4SP 316.1}
§4
To many minds the origin of sin and the reason for its existence are a source of great perplexity. In their interest in these questions, the truths plainly revealed in God’s word and essential to salvation are neglected; and the fact that the Scriptures furnish no explanation, is seized upon as an excuse for rejecting the words of Holy Writ. {4SP 316.1}
§5
我们不可能解释罪恶的起源或说明罪恶存在的理由。罪恶乃是一个入侵者，因为它的存在是毫无理由的。它是神秘而不可思议的；原谅它就等于袒护它。如果能找出一点足以原谅它的理由，或是指出它存在的原因，那么罪就不成其为罪了。我们对于罪恶所下的唯一定义，就是圣经所说：“违背律法就是罪”（约壹3:4）。{4SP 316.2}
§6
It is impossible to explain the origin of sin, or to give a reason for its existence. It is an intruder, for whose existence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it, is to defend it. Could it be excused, could a cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin. Our only definition of sin is that given in the word of God; it is “the transgression of the law.” {4SP 316.2}
§7
罪恶的始作俑者原是上帝所最器重的，地位仅次于基督，在天上居民中是最有权柄最有尊荣的。路锡甫在堕落之前，是遮掩约柜的基路伯，是圣洁而没有玷污的。上帝的先知说：“你从受造之日所行的都完全，后来在你中间又察出不义”（结28:15）。所有的天使都完全顺从上帝的旨意，得享平安与喜乐。他们以爱上帝为至上，彼此无私相爱。这种状况在罪恶进入之前是长期存在的。{4SP 316.3}
§8
Sin originated with him, who, next to Christ, stood highest in the favor of God, and highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of Heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was the covering cherub, holy and undefiled. The prophet of God declares, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” [Ezekiel 28:15.] Peace and joy, in perfect submission to the will of Heaven, existed throughout the angelic host. Love to God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Such was the condition that existed for ages before the entrance of sin. {4SP 316.3}
§9
但这种幸福的状态发生了变化。先知论到邪恶之君说：“你因美丽心中高傲，又因荣光败坏智慧”（结28:17）。尽管上帝创造路锡甫是高贵美丽的，也赋予他尊荣超过其他天使，然而祂却未将他置于行恶的可能性之外。撒但有权选择滥用这些禀赋。他本来可以一直蒙上帝喜悦，并受众天军的敬爱。他本该以慷慨、无私的关怀施行他崇高的权利，来造福其他天使，荣耀他的创造主，并享有他崇高的地位。但是逐渐地，他开始追求自己的尊荣，运用他的能力来引起注意，荣耀自己。他也逐步引诱那些他所管辖的天使来侍奉他，而不去奉献他们全部的能力去侍奉他们的创造主。这种行为败坏了他的思维，也败坏了那些毫无保留地服从他权威的天使。{4SP 317.1}
§10
But over this happy state there came a change. Says the prophet, addressing the prince of evil, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” [Ezekiel 28:17.] Though God had created Lucifer noble and beautiful, and had exalted him to high honor among the angelic host, yet he had not placed him beyond the possibility of evil. It was in Satan’s power, did he choose to do so, to pervert these gifts. He might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the angelic throng, presiding in his exalted position with generous, unselfish care, exercising his noble powers to bless others and to glorify his Maker. But, little by little, he began to seek his own honor, and to employ his powers to attract attention and win praise to himself. He also gradually led the angels over whom he ruled to do him service, instead of devoting all their powers to the service of their Creator. This course perverted his own imagination, and perverted those who yielded implicitly to his authority. {4SP 317.1}
§11
天庭的议会恳劝路锡甫改变自己的行径。上帝的儿子警告和规劝他不要这样冒险羞辱他的创造主，自取灭亡。然而撒但没有屈服，却对那些爱戴他的天使声称自己受了不公正的裁判，并声称他的尊严没有被重视，他的自由将要受限制了。{4SP 317.2}
§12
The heavenly councils admonished Lucifer to change his course. The Son of God warned and entreated him not to venture thus to dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin upon himself. But instead of yielding, Satan represented to those who loved him, that he had been wrongly judged, that his dignity was not respected, and that his liberty was to be abridged. {4SP 317.2}
§13
他觉得基督应当视他为改革之必需，把他提升到更高的位置。于是他产生了抵触的情绪。他指控上帝的儿子企图在众天使面前羞辱他。撒但通过误表基督的话，歪曲事实或直接撒谎，赢得了他手下天使的同情。他们和他一起反叛上天的权威。{4SP 318.1}
§14
That Christ should regard him as needing to be corrected, and should presume to take the position of a superior, aroused in him a spirit of resistance, and he charged the Son of God with a design to humble him before the angels. By misrepresentation of the words of Christ, by prevarication and direct falsehood, Satan secured the sympathy of the angels under his control, and they united with him in revolt against Heaven’s authority. {4SP 318.1}
§15
最后，他拒绝承认自己的行为是应受指责的。当他悖逆的后果显露出来，上帝下令一切同情他的天使将要被逐出天庭时，这个大骗子就把罪责完全推到基督身上。撒但和他的全军异口同声地把自己叛逆的罪完全归咎基督，声称祂若没有责备他们，他们是决不会叛变的。他们就是这样的存心不忠、顽梗不化、大胆无礼、妄图推翻上帝的政权，同时还说自己是专制暴力之下无辜的牺牲者；如此，这个大叛徒和他的同党终于被逐出天庭了。{4SP 318.2}
§16
To the last, he refused to acknowledge his own course to be deserving of censure. When the consequence of his disaffection became apparent, and it was decreed that with all his sympathizers he must be forever banished from the abode of bliss, the arch-deceiver threw the blame wholly upon Christ. With one accord, Satan and his hosts declared that had they not been reproved, the rebellion would never have occurred, thus making Christ responsible for their course. Thus stubborn and defiant in their disloyalty, seeking vainly to overthrow the government of God, yet blasphemously claiming to be themselves the innocent victims of oppressive power, the arch-rebel and all his sympathizers were at last banished from Heaven. {4SP 318.2}
§17
这在天庭发动叛乱的同一个精神，现今还在地上鼓动叛乱。撒但从前在天使身上施用什么手段，今日他在世人身上也施用什么手段。撒但的精神现今在悖逆之子心中作主。斥责罪恶的人现今还是会惹起憎恨和反抗之精神的。当上帝向犯罪的人传达警告或纠正的信息时，撒但却叫人自以为义，并设法使别人同情他们的罪行。他们不但不改正自己的错误，反而挑唆众人去反对那斥责罪恶的人，令众人看他们为造成困难的唯一祸根。从义人亚伯的日子起，直到我们现今的时代为止，世人向一切胆敢指责罪恶之人所表现的都是这一种精神。{4SP 318.3}
§18
The rebellion in Heaven was prompted by the same spirit which inspires rebellion on earth. Satan has continued with men the same policy which he pursued with the angels. His spirit now reigns in the children of disobedience. There is a constant hatred of reproof, and a disposition to rebel against it. When God sends to wrong-doers a message of warning or correction, Satan leads them to justify themselves, and to seek the sympathy of others. Instead of changing their wrong course, they manifest great indignation against the reprover, as if he were the sole cause of difficulty. From the days of righteous Abel to our own time, such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to condemn sin. {4SP 318.3}
§19
为了博得同情，撒但宣称上帝待他不公正，把最高的尊荣给了基督。在判处将他逐出天庭之前，必须清楚地证明他的行为是错的。他有机会承认自己的罪，并承认上帝的权威是公正的。但他选择一意孤行，坚持自己的主张。为了维护他声称上帝不公正的指控，他甚至不惜采用歪曲创造主言行的手段。{4SP 319.1}
§20
Satan had excited sympathy in his favor by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him in bestowing supreme honor upon Christ. Before he was sentenced to banishment from Heaven, his course was with convincing clearness shown to be wrong, and he was granted an opportunity to confess his sin, and submit to God’s authority as just and righteous. But he chose to carry his points at all hazards. To sustain his charge of God’s injustice toward him, he resorted to misrepresentation, even of the words and acts of the Creator. {4SP 319.1}
§21
撒但暂时获得了优势。他以自己在这方面所妄称对于天使，甚至对于上帝本身的优势而欢喜雀跃。撒但可以用欺骗和诡辩来达到他的目的，上帝却不能撒谎。路锡甫象蛇一样，可以采用不正当的手段，扭动身躯滑行，把自己掩饰起来。上帝只能采用诚实坦率的方法。路锡甫用虚假的外衣把自己伪装起来。这件外衣一时又很难剥下，以显露出他极为丑陋的品性。必须让他把他残忍，狡猾，邪恶的行为暴露出来。{4SP 319.2}
§22
Here, for a time, Satan had the advantage; and he exulted in his arrogated superiority, in this one respect, to the angels of Heaven, and even to God himself. While Satan can employ fraud and sophistry to accomplish his objects, God cannot lie; while Lucifer, like the serpent, can choose a tortuous course, turning, twisting, gliding, to conceal himself, God moves only in a direct, straight-forward line. Satan had disguised himself in a cloak of falsehood, and for a time it was impossible to tear off the covering, so that the hideous deformity of his character could be seen. He must be left to reveal himself in his cruel, artful, wicked works. {4SP 319.2}
§23
当他初次表现不满和不顺从的精神时，上帝并没有立即撤除他的高位，就是到他开始在忠心的天使面前陈述他的虚伪主张之后，上帝还是没有这样作。祂却让路锡甫长久留在天庭。路锡甫一再得蒙赦免的机会，其唯一的条件就是要他悔改顺从。上帝所用来使他悔悟自己错误、回到忠诚道路上的种种方法，只有祂才能作到。上帝要维护天上的秩序。如果路锡甫愿意谦卑顺从地重新效忠，他还是可以恢复原职，担任遮掩约柜的基路伯的。但他固执地维护自己的行径，坚持自己无需悔改。天上的上帝必须维护自己的公义和祂宝座的尊严；必须把撒但和所有同情他的天使驱逐出去。{4SP 319.3}
§24
He was not immediately dethroned when he first ventured to indulge the spirit of discontent and insubordination, nor even when he began to present his false claim and lying representations before the loyal angels. Long was he retained in Heaven. Again and again was he offered pardon on condition of repentance and submission. Such efforts as God alone could make, were made to convince him of his error, and restore him to the path of rectitude. God would preserve the order of the heavens, and had Lucifer been willing to return to his allegiance, humble and obedient, he would have been re-established in his office as covering cherub. But as he stubbornly justified his course, and maintained that he had no need of repentance, it became necessary for the Lord of Heaven to vindicate his justice and the honor of his throne; and Satan and all who sympathized with him were cast out. {4SP 319.3}
§25
撒但引诱人类犯罪，也是用诬蔑上帝品性的方法，象他过去在天上所做的一样。他使亚当看上帝为严酷专制的暴君。撒但既然使人类堕落了，便宣称这都是上帝不合理的约束所造成的，正如先前造成他的叛变一样。{4SP 320.1}
§26
By the same misrepresentation of the character of God as he had practiced in Heaven, causing him to be regarded as severe and tyrannical, Satan induced man to sin. And having succeeded thus far, he declared that God’s unjust restrictions had led to man’s fall, as they had led to his own rebellion. {4SP 320.1}
§27
那永远长存的主却亲口宣布自己的品德说：“耶和华是有怜悯有恩典的上帝，不轻易发怒，并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实。为千万人存留慈爱，赦免罪孽、过犯、和罪恶，万不以有罪的为无罪”（出34:6-7）。{4SP 320.2}
§28
But the Eternal One himself proclaims his character: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] {4SP 320.2}
§29
在驱逐撒但离开天庭的事上，上帝声明了自己的公义，并维护了祂宝座的声誉。但及至人类屈服于这叛逆之灵的欺骗而犯了罪之后，上帝竟牺牲了自己的独生子来为堕落的人舍命，作为祂慈爱的证据。上帝的品德在基督为人赎罪的事上显明出来了。十字架的有力论据向全宇宙说明：路锡甫所自取犯罪的途径是决不能归罪于上帝的。激起他心中叛逆精神的，决不是因为上帝无端地扣留了祂的恩典，或是上帝的政权有什么欠缺之处。{4SP 320.3}
§30
In the banishment of Satan from Heaven, God declared his justice, and maintained the honor of his throne. But when man had sinned through yielding to the deceptions of this apostate spirit, God gave an evidence of his love by yielding up his only begotten Son to die for the fallen race. In the atonement the character of God stands revealed. The mighty argument of the cross demonstrates to the whole universe that God was in no wise responsible for the course of sin that Lucifer had chosen; that it was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, which inspired in him the spirit of rebellion. {4SP 320.3}
§31
当救主在地上服务时，基督与撒但之间的斗争揭露了这个大骗子的真面目。他对世界的救赎主所进行残酷无情的打击，使众天使和效忠上帝的全宇宙对于撒但再没有丝毫的感情了。此外再没有什么事足以那么有效地作到这一点。且看他胆敢叫基督敬拜他；僭妄地把祂带到高山和殿顶上，存心毒辣地催逼祂从高处跳下；夜以继日凶狠地到处追逐祂；后来又煽动祭司和民众拒绝祂的爱，最后喊叫说：“钉祂十字架！钉祂十字架！”──凡此一切，使全宇宙都震惊愤慨不已。{4SP 321.1}
§32
In the contest between Christ and Satan, during the Saviour’s earthly ministry, the character of the great deceiver was unmasked. Nothing could so effectually have uprooted Satan from the minds and affections of the heavenly angels and the whole loyal universe as did his cruel warfare upon the world’s Redeemer. The daring blasphemy of his demand that Christ should pay him homage, his presumptuous boldness in bearing him to the mountain summit and the pinnacle of the temple, the malicious intent betrayed in urging him to cast himself down from the dizzy height, the unsleeping malice that hunted him from place to place, inspiring the hearts of priests and people to reject his love, and at the last to raise the cry “Crucify him! crucify him!”—all this excited the amazement and indignation of the universe. {4SP 321.1}
§33
那鼓动世人拒绝基督的乃是撒但。邪恶之君用尽他一切的力量和狡计要毁灭耶稣；因为他看出救主的慈悲与仁爱，祂的同情与怜悯，都在向世人表显上帝的品德。撒但对于上帝的儿子所提出的每一项主张和权分都进行抗争，并利用人作他的爪牙使救主的生活充满痛苦和忧伤。他所用来阻碍耶稣工作的诡诈与虚伪，和他借悖逆之子所表显的仇恨，以及他为诬告这一位度着空前良善之生活的主所用的手段，都是出于他那根深蒂固的报仇雪恨之心。那郁积在他胸中的嫉妒、怨毒、仇恨、报复之念，象烈火一般，在髑髅地山上，都迸发在上帝儿子的头上了。同时全天庭惊愕万状，哑口无言，凝视这一幕惨景。{4SP 321.2}
§34
It was Satan that prompted the world’s rejection of Christ. The prince of evil exerted all his power and cunning to destroy Jesus; for he saw that the Saviour’s mercy and love, his compassion and pitying tenderness, were representing to the world the character of God. Satan contested every claim put forth by the Son of God, and employed men as his agents to fill the Saviour’s life with suffering and sorrow. The sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to hinder the work of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the children of disobedience, his cruel accusations against Him whose life was one of unexampled goodness, all sprang from deep-seated revenge. The pent-up fires of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth on Calvary against the Son of God, while all Heaven gazed upon the scene in silent horror. {4SP 321.2}
§35
及至那最伟大的牺牲成功之后，基督便升上天庭。祂拒绝众天使的敬拜，直等到祂向父请求说，“父啊，我在哪里，愿祢所赐给我的人也同我在那里”（约17:24）。然后天父从祂的宝座那里以无法形容的大爱和能力发出回答说：“上帝的使者都要拜祂”（来1:6）。那时耶稣身上毫无玷污瑕疵。祂的屈辱结束了，祂的牺牲完成了，有一个超乎万名之上的名赐给祂。{4SP 322.1}
§36
When the great sacrifice had been consummated, Christ ascended on high, refusing the adoration of angels until he had preferred the request, “I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” [John 17:24.] Then with inexpressible love and power came forth the answer from the Father’s throne, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” [Hebrews 1:6.] Not a stain rested upon Jesus. His humiliation ended, his sacrifice completed, there was given unto him a name that is above every name. {4SP 322.1}
§37
撒但的罪恶这时便显明是毫无理由的了。撒但对于上帝品德和政权的诬告，这时才显出它的实质。他曾指摘说，上帝要受造之物顺从祂，目的不过是要高抬自己；他又宣称，创造主要求万有舍己为人，而祂自己却没有舍己为人，也没有做任何牺牲。但现在可以看出：为要拯救这堕落有罪的人类，宇宙的主宰已经作了上帝所能作的最大牺牲。此外，还可以看出：路锡甫因贪图尊荣和高位而打开了罪恶的门，但基督为要除灭罪恶起见，竟谦卑虚己，顺命至死。{4SP 322.2}
§38
Now the guilt of Satan stood forth without excuse. His lying charges against the divine character and government appeared in their true light. He had accused God of seeking merely the exaltation of himself in requiring submission and obedience from his creatures, and had declared that while the Creator exacted self-denial from all others, he himself practiced no self-denial, and made no sacrifice. Now it was seen that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful race, the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice which God could make. It was seen, also, that while Lucifer had opened the door for the entrance of sin, by his desire for honor and supremacy, Christ had, in order to destroy sin, humbled himself, and become obedient unto death. {4SP 322.2}
§39
上帝已经显明祂对于叛逆原则的痛恨。从撒但所受的制裁和人类所蒙的救赎这两件事上，天庭全体已经看出上帝的公义。路锡甫曾说，如果上帝律法的性质致使犯罪的刑罚不能取消，那么，一切犯罪的人就必永远不能蒙创造主的喜悦。他又声称，犯罪的人类已无救赎之望，所以他们已经成为他的合法俘虏。如今基督的死乃是为人类所作的辩证，是不能被推翻的。律法的刑罚已经归在那与上帝同等的基督身上。上帝是公义的，因祂使自己的忿怒落在原与祂同等的那一位身上，人类便得到自由可以承受基督的义，并藉着悔改和自卑的生活胜过撒但的权势，正如上帝的儿子得胜一样。{4SP 323.1}
§40
God had manifested his abhorrence of the principles of rebellion. All Heaven saw his justice revealed, both in the condemnation of Satan and in the redemption of man. Lucifer had declared God’s law to be of such a character that its penalty could not be remitted, and therefore every transgressor must be forever debarred from the Creator’s favor. He had claimed that the sinful race were placed beyond redemption, and were therefore his rightful prey. But the death of Christ was an argument in man’s behalf that could not be turned aside. He suffered the penalty of the law. God was just in permitting his wrath to fall upon Him who was equal with himself, and man was set free to accept the righteousness of Christ, and by a life of penitence and humiliation to triumph as the Son of God had triumphed over the power of Satan. {4SP 323.1}
§41
上帝的律法得到了充分的维护。上帝是公义的，同时祂也可以称一切信耶稣的人为义。除了这救赎的计划之外，别无其他方法可以向全宇宙证明上帝的公义。{4SP 323.2}
§42
God’s law stands fully vindicated. He is just, and yet the justifier of all who believe in Jesus. Nothing less than this plan of atonement could convince the whole universe of God’s justice. {4SP 323.2}
§43
在将来最后执行审判时，必要显明罪恶的存在是毫无理由的。当审判全地的主质问撒但说：“你为什么反叛我，并掳去我国度的子民呢？”那时罪恶的魁首必无可推诿。只见万口无声，全体叛逆的群众在大审判台前无言可答。{4SP 323.3}
§44
In the final execution of the judgment it will be seen that no cause for sin exists. When the Judge of all the earth shall demand of Satan, “Why hast thou rebelled against me, and robbed me of the subjects of my kingdom?” the originator of evil can render no excuse. Every mouth will be stopped, and all the hosts of rebellion will be speechless before the great tribunal. {4SP 323.3}