山道期刊
总第五十一期（2023年6月）
| 主题： | 在盼望中活出信仰 包括专题文章五篇、讨论文章两篇及书评五篇 |
| 页数： | ix+228 |
| 售价： | HK$100 |
| 编者的话 | 点击查阅 | |
| 专题文章 | ||
| 佘庆基 | 漆黑中的一点光——潜藏于撒母耳记的弥赛亚盼望 | Abstract |
| 曹杰明 | 与植物有关的隐喻怎样在十二先知书中唤起盼望 | Abstract |
| 陈合英 | 还我们应有的名誉——以腓立比书二章5至11节及四章4至9节为例 | Abstract |
| 张略 | 希伯来书中的盼望 | Abstract |
| 潘怡蓉 | 怀着盼望的行动中的默观者 | Abstract |
| 讨论文章 | ||
| 何善斌 | 侨民，乔迁，桥梁——从使徒行传看基督群体凝聚与分散的感染力 | Abstract |
| 陈显宗 | 心窄问题如何演变为宗教强迫症 | Abstract |
编者的话
吴国杰
近年，许多香港人受着种种负面情绪困扰。国际间，中美贸易战带来政治危机，俄乌战事引发通货膨胀，新冠疫症导致封关锁城。在本地，反修例风波促使人际关系撕裂，政局改变衍生矛盾的情绪，香港移民潮下出现离愁别绪。凡此种种都直接间接影响港人的心情，城市仿佛被厚厚的阴霾笼罩。 2023年的统计研究指出，香港人的快乐指数在亚太区排名倒数第一；当中尤其以年轻受访者的快乐指数最低，普遍对生活感到悲观。作为蒙神差遣在地上作盐作光的教会群体，我们当如何回应时代，为黑暗的世界带来亮光？今期《山道期刊》以「在盼望中活出信仰」为主题，期盼借着众学者对旧约圣经、新约圣经和灵修神学的研究，给身处困境的现代基督徒带来启迪。
今期共有主题文章五篇。佘庆基的〈漆黑中的一点光──潜藏于撒母耳记的弥赛亚盼望〉反对诺夫（Martin Noth）的观点，后者认为申典历史的编写目的是要说明以色列的历史已走到绝望的终结。作者指出撒母耳记（即申典历史中叙述王国诞生的部分）早已埋藏弥赛亚的永恒盼望，这盼望正可成为亡国百姓走上回转之路的力量泉源。这弥赛亚的盼望主要隐藏在撒母耳记的三首诗歌（哈拿之歌、大卫之歌、大卫最后的话）；作者对比诗歌的信息及其身处的故事脉络，从两者不吻合之处窥见这盼望。
第二篇旧约研究的专文，是曹杰明的〈与植物有关的隐喻怎样在十二先知书中唤起盼望〉。作者运用近年兴起的概念隐喻理论（conceptual metaphor theory）和概念合成理论（conceptual blending theory），探讨十二先知书中与植物有关的众多隐喻，尝试指出这些隐喻（特别是将人或神比喻为树木的经文），实际上如何能给古代以色列人带来提振作用，如何唤起他们联想神赐予生命又保守供应、向上生长等意念，从而引发对将来的盼望。这种植物隐喻，其后的昆兰古卷和新约圣经也有采用，同样具唤起盼望的作用。
新约研究方面，有陈合英的〈还我们应有的名誉——以腓立比书二章5至11节及四章4至9节为例〉。文章首先查考古代希腊、罗马和犹太文献中有关荣辱的论述，借此介绍早期基督教文化以外的荣辱观念；然后在这背景下，以腓立比书二章5至11节和四章4至9节为研究焦点，探索保罗如何延续或转化当时代的文化传统，试图改变教会群体对荣辱的价值判断，从而为耶稣基督和他本人所遭遇的「羞辱」提出辩解，并帮助信众建立自身对基督徒身分的认同，以将来要得的荣耀作为坚忍持守信仰的盼望。
本期另一篇新约研究专文，是张略撰写的〈希伯来书中的盼望〉。此文重构希伯来书收信人的处境，解释他们当时面对的困难和危机；指出希伯来书中的盼望，如何为读者带来安慰和动力。神子耶稣带来盼望，祂不单成全了旧约的应许，还给世人开拓通往终极盼望的路。借着神子这位远升高天的大祭司，信徒可以进到神面前，成为神家里的人。因此，信徒当与神子认同，因着将来的盼望而甘心忍耐现今的艰难；且要彼此相顾，团结友爱，借此表明忠于神家。
潘怡蓉的〈怀着盼望的行动中的默观者〉，属灵修神学进路的研究。文章回溯初期教父、中世纪修士，以及现代教会领袖和灵修学大师的属灵追求进路，突显历代属灵传统的转变和多元；并且加以整合，指出默观场景有向内和向外的多方性，又提出十三项基本的灵修重点，鼓励读者群体各按自身的需要和处境加以调节。同时，文章提倡透过结合行动和默观来反省及追求信仰，那就是：向外行动时，常常回归本源，寻求神的引导，适时调整，如此才能有效回应时代处境。
本期另有讨论文章两篇。何善斌的〈侨民，乔迁，桥梁──从使徒行传看基督群体凝聚与分散的感染力〉，乃本刊上期「聚与散」主题的延伸。文章采用叙事评鉴的释经进路，并根据对当时代犹太圣典和传统的理解，且参考近代关于社会身分的研究理论，尝试解读使徒行传中与聚散有关的故事，从中找出适切的信息应用在今天「被分散」或「被留下」的香港信徒群体身上。
另一篇是陈显宗的〈心窄问题如何演变成宗教强迫症〉。文章解释「心窄」就是「在没有罪的地方看出罪来」，因而产生怀疑、恐惧等负面情绪。文章探讨教会处理心窄问题的历史演变，又指出依纳爵和马丁路德克服有关困扰的不同进路，分别近乎现代行为治疗和认知治疗的模式，并建议将两者整合，相信认知行为治疗是现时应对心窄的最有效方法。
一如既往，本期还有多篇书评，涉及近年出版的多本中、英文书籍。期望今期文章能给困苦中的广大读者带来一点亮光，帮助教会群体确切怀着信心和盼望，活出信仰，在这世代里为主作美好的见证！
A Hope in Total Darkness: A Hidden Messianic Hope in the Book of Samuel
Tony HK SHER
Deuteronomic History, composed of the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, is considered to be written in the 6th century BC at the time of the destruction of the Israelite kingdoms, with the main purpose of explaining to the survivors the reason why the disaster has fallen upon them. But is the only purpose of this masterpiece merely to pass a pessimistic message to its readers telling them the disaster that came to them was because of their and their fathers' sinful deed, as proposed by Martin Noth , the advocator of the Deuteronomic History theory? This paper argues that a Messianic hope is embedded in a crucial episode of the work, ie the book of Samuel, in particular in the three songs of the book, the Song of Hannah, the Song of David, and the Last Word of David. All these songs fit in with their literary contexts, yet at the same time creating tension with them. This tension directs the readers away from the time and events narrated in the stories surrounding these songs to events to come—a hope for the future. It is this embedded hope that is most needed in the time of darkness for the survivors to face up to their current hardship and to repent and return to the proper path of faith.
How Metaphors Related to Plants Evoke Hope in the Book of the Twelve
Marcus KM TSO
This paper gives a succinct introduction to two seminal cognitive approaches to the study of metaphors, namely, Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Conceptual Blending Theory. It then identifies instances of images of plants in the Book of the Twelve and how they might evoke hope, as metonymies of the blessings of the good life, as metaphors for God's people, and in a unique instance, as metaphors for God. The paper then analyzes these metaphors using the cognitive approaches presented, seeking for coherence among the diversity of related but inconsistent metaphors. Drawing from the results, this paper focuses on how the predominant metaphorical blend “people as tree” had continued its life in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament, outlining some of the ways the blend had been elaborated through different self-definitions and theologies. The body of this paper finishes by applying metaphor theories to examine the continuities and discontinuities between how plant-related metaphors might work in the contemporary world and how they might have worked in antiquity. This results in the proposal of two general strategies for working with these biblical metaphors in the church now. Finally, and following the insights of the cognitive approaches presented, this paper concludes that the best way to release the power of metaphors to evoke hope today is not only to understand how they work but to explore and live in the blend.
Giving Back Our Deserved Honor—Taking Philippians 2:5-11 and 4:4-9 as Examples
Michelle HY CHAN
New Testament scholar Vernon Robbins highly values the importance of anthropology in the study of the New Testament, pointing out that the authors of the New Testament deliberately cultivated a unique culture of Christianity through their writings. This is to distinguish the Christian community from other groups in society and to give them a special and attractive identity so that they would not be absorbed by other contemporary cultures. Another New Testament scholar, Joseph Hellerman, points out that the colony of Philippi was highly conscious of social status symbols. In addition, Paul used quite a lot of honor and shame language in Philippians. It is thus reasonable to assume that the Philippians were living in a strong culture of honor and shame.
The purpose of this article is to explore how Paul uses an honor and shame discourse in Philippians to construct the concept of honor and shame in Christian culture. On the one hand, it is to provide a powerful justification for the humiliation suffered by Jesus and Paul himself. On the other hand, it serves to transform the Philippians' cultural values of honor and shame, thus helping them to establish their Christian identity. This article first explores the concept of honor and shame in other non-Christian cultures by examining the literature of the Greeks, the Romans, and the Jews. Then an analysis is made by comparing their concept of honor and shame with that in the discourse of Philippians 2:5-11 and 4:4-9, so as to get a glimpse of the Christian concept of honor and shame that Paul wants to construct.
Hope in Hebrews
Luke L. CHEUNG
The first readers of Hebrews were facing the crisis of yielding to the pressures of persecution, losing sight of the right perspective in life, and deviating from the focus of Christ as central to their confession of faith. Hebrews points out that believers are a pilgrim community moving towards the ultimate life goal, entering into the glorious presence of God, the eschatological rest, the abiding city, the heavenly Jerusalem. It is through Christ as the faithful and merciful high priest that this hope for them has been secured. Through incarnation, suffering, and death, God's Son was perfected and appointed as the heavenly high priest who dedicated himself as sacrificial atonement for people's sins, and he is seated at the right hand of the throne of God in the heavens. In this way, the way to God has been opened for those who believe not only as the ultimate hope at the end but even now. This picture of hope that Jesus achieved for believers inspires them to hold on to the confession of Jesus, the Son of God, as the Great High Priest and holdfast to this hope. Jesus as the Great High Priest is the one through whom the family of God is empowered to face life's pressures, even death. The solidarity of the Son with the sons of God through incarnation is the source of inspiration for them to identify with the Son in shame and suffering, even in martyrdom. The solidarity of the members of the family of God in turn becomes another source of strength for them.
The pilgrim community of the people of God believes and trusts in the one faithful God, with the one Great High Priest over them. This is a community of mutual dependence, holding fast to and embracing one hope, their ultimate destiny. This hope is an objective reality, not a subjective affection. It inspires believers to make the right decisions in life. Eventually, it is Christ who is forever faithful to the family of God and will bring his brothers and sisters into the ultimate glory of God's presence.
Contemplatives in Action with the Hope
PAN Yi Jung
Due to the epidemic, I have had the opportunity to perceive different Chinese Christians' struggles and spiritual needs through online conferences and workshops. People often asked how we can recognize God's presence and activity when the future looks uncertain. Many church leaders shared their sense of helplessness when facing the uncertainty ahead. Contrary to the practice of the last decade, the changing world drove church leaders to adjust their strategies in developing ministries. Numerous ministers are exploring new approaches to guide their congregations.
This article analyzes the nine basic approaches in the tradition of contemplative spirituality and reflects on their different orientations in spiritual transformation. Because of their diverse emphases of spiritual practices, there is variety in the combination between contemplation and action. This article highlights the common ground of contemplation situated between the nine approaches—to get closer to God and to experience the presence of God, which is the ultimate hope in daily life. Especially, the contemplative is emphasized to experience God's interaction in action.
The notion of contemplative in action opens up the passionate concern of the real world, which suggests a profound understanding of God comes from contemplation as well as action in a real context. From the perspective of practical theology, the construction of theology should pay attention to the unique situation of the varied place, including different cultures, personal experiences, and perspectives of marginalized groups. Both historical situations and human experience can be important locations for understanding God's actions. Furthermore, the transcendent God has always been at work in all things. He is willing to act in individuals and churches. He calls and guides people through the Holy Spirit, and even accompanies the world through churches. God continuously leads history towards His salvation plan. Moreover, because the kingdom of God is constantly being manifested in human beings and within the world, the actual practice itself is the locus of theology. Individuals and churches reflect on the Christian faith through serving the Lord and experiencing His presence in grounded practice.
This article argues that Christians can realize hope not only in the far future but also in daily life and communal hospitality by establishing daily rhythms between contemplative life and active life. Facing the unknown journey, God's leading presence and companionship become pilgrims' hope and strength.
“Be Water” Christians Become Bridging Agents – Reading Gathering and Scattering Narratives in the Book of Acts
Sin Pan HO
Because of persecution from fellow civic groups in their cities, Christians were scattered to different places but they would gather again and live out their Christian lives. The Book of Acts testifies to the gathering and scattering of Jesus' groups. Some scholars seek to explain the narrative purpose in Acts in the light of prophecies in Jewish scriptures, particularly the Book of Isaiah. Some scholars explain it from missiological insights and interpret the expansion of Jesus' groups in terms of cultural distance.
This article selects three narratives about gathering and scattering in Acts and does biblical exegesis mainly from the perspective of narrative criticism: figuring out the narrator's messages from his storytelling methods, including the plot's design and the story's character development. As a result, I propose some reflections on the narrative messages and their relevance to the present Christian communities in Hong Kong and Chinese diaspora communities worldwide.
How Scrupulosity Transformed into Religious Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Dennis HC CHAN
This article presents the history of scrupulosity by discussing the opinions of the Jesuits, the research of a historian, and the viewpoints of clinical psychologists, and points out that Ignatius of Loyola got rid of his scrupulosity by a method similar to modern behavioral therapy. This illumined the author that Martin Luther overcame the same problem by adopting a method similar to modern cognitive therapy. The combination of the two methods is similar to today's cognitive behavioral therapy, which is currently the most effective method for coping with scrupulosity. However, the transformation of the scrupulous should not only involve cognition and behavior, but also conscience, five senses, emotions, etc. Therefore, integrating psychotherapy and spiritual exercises would lead to a more holistic transformation.
