June 11,2006 18:25
【初代教父】殉道士游斯丁論教會敬拜(church worship)
有關教會敬拜模式的最早一份完整敘述,是出自第二世紀中葉殉道士游斯丁(Justin Martyr)的筆下……模式基本上是從猶太傳統而來,按照猶太會堂的部份慣例,另外再加上一些從基督教導裡得到的其他元素,混合在教會的敬拜裡。
有關教會敬拜模式的最早一份完整敘述,是出自第二世紀中葉殉道士游斯丁(Justin Martyr)的筆下:
「在星期日這一天,所有住在同一個特定城市或是農村地區的人,大家會一起聚集。只要時間允許,將會當眾宣讀使徒回憶錄或是先知著作,接著,當朗讀者唸完,主席會在講道中告誡並力勸眾人要迎向各樣善事。然後,我們全部的人都一起站立禱告。當我們禱告完畢時,餅、酒和水會呈上。同樣站著的主席要按照自己能力來作禱告和感謝,並且全體會眾要大聲喊出他們的贊同,說『阿們』。在獻上感恩之後,這些聖餐元素就被分派給每一個人,至於那些無法出席之人則會有執事為他們送去。那些收入較豐且有樂意之心者,各人要按著自己的意願來奉獻,而且當場所收到的捐項將存放於主席處。再由他來分派給孤兒寡婦,還有那些因為生病或是其他原因而有缺乏的人,以及那些被囚之人、旅居的過客。總之,他成為每一位有需要之人的保護者。
我們所有的人普遍都在星期日來聚會,因為這一天是神改變黑暗、創造天地的第一日,而且,我們的救主耶穌基督同樣在這一天裡從死裡復活。因為他們是在星期六的前一日把祂釘十字架,然後在後一日,就是太陽日,祂向他的使徒和門徒顯現,並且教導這些我們已提供給你們參考的事情」。
(引自殉道士游斯丁的《首辯》,第六十七段,弗谷森翻譯,《教會歷史》雜誌第卅七卷)
原文:
"On the day called Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live in a given city or rural district. The memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. Then when the reader ceases, the president in a discourse admonishes and urges the invitation of these good things. Next we all rise together and send up our prayers. When we cease from our prayer, bread is presented and wine and water. The president in the same manner sends up prayers and thanksgivings according to his ability, and the people sing out their assent, saying 'Amen'. A distribution and participation of the elements for which thanks had been given is made to each person, and to those who are not present they are sent by the deacons. Those who have means and are willing each according to his own choice gives what he wills and what is collected is deposited with the president. He provides for the orphans and widows, those who are in need on account of sickness or some other cause, those who are in bonds, strangers who are sojourning, and in a word, he becomes the protector of everyone who is in need.
We all make our assembly in common on Sunday since it is the first day on which God changed darkness and matter and made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead on the same day. For they crucified him on the day before Saturn's day, and on the day after, which is the day of the sun, he appeared to his apostles and to his disciples and taught these things which we have offered for your consideration".
(Justin Martyr, First Apology, 67; in Everett Ferguson, “How We Christians Worship,” Christian History, issue 37 (Vol. XII, No. 1):10-11)
版主評註:
殉道士游斯丁是一位活躍的教會平信徒,從他的護教作品中所告訴我們有關第二世紀的典型崇拜儀式,可以得知早期教會的敬拜模式基本上是從猶太傳統而來,按照猶太會堂的部份慣例,另外再加上一些從基督教導裡得到的其他元素,混合在教會的敬拜裡。
根據游斯丁指出的崇拜儀式,其中包含的要素有:第一是在週日舉行;第二是要固定朗讀經文。在此宣讀的是使徒回憶錄或先知著作。使徒回憶錄當然就是福音書,第二世紀中葉當時才剛在教會內流通,另外還有保羅的許多書信也開始在教會裡面流傳;先知著作則是指舊約的作品。第三就是講道,由主席來宣講,有可能是指主教的地位,至於講章本身在本質上則是釋經性的,根據一段朗讀的經文來闡明其中經意,及其生活上的應用。第四是禱告,屬於集體性的聯合公禱。接下去當然就是聖餐的感恩慶祝,也就是主的晚餐。接著是收取奉獻,不分男女,各人要按照自己所願來決定奉獻多寡。他們對有需要之人付出的關心與捐項,正是他們落實出來的敬虔。
