BA 9 Assurance from Eye-Witness Testimony
BA 9 来自目击者证词的保证
Lesson Nine
第九课
Assurance from Eye-Witness Testimony
来自目击者证词的保证
Eye-witness testimony is one of the most convincing forms of evidence in a criminal justice system. Few things can convince a jury of a defendant's guilt or innocence more quickly than eye-witness testimony. Yet, in some cases, eye-witness testimonies turn out to be false because human observation and memory are unreliable. A good jury must put every testimony through a series of tests to determine whether or not the testimony is valid.
在刑事司法系统中，目击者的证词是最有说服力的证据形式之一。很少有东西能比眼见为实的证词更快说服陪审团相信被告有罪或无罪。然而，在某些情况下，由于人类的观察和记忆是不可靠的，眼见为实的证词被证明是错误的。一个好的陪审团必须将每份证词都经过一系列的测试，以确定证词是否有效。
The Christian faith is based largely on eye-witness testimony. The question is, “Can the testimony of the witnesses be trusted?” In this lesson, we will examine eye-witness testimonies found in the New Testament. Then, we will apply the tests used in court trials to determine whether or not these testimonies hold up under scrutiny.
基督教信仰主要基于眼见为实的证词。问题是，"证人的证词是否可信？" 在本课中，我们将研究新约中的目击者证词。然后，我们将应用法庭审判中使用的测试，以确定这些证词是否经得起推敲。
The Glorification of Jesus on a Mountain
耶稣在山上的荣耀
One day, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain to pray. As Jesus was praying, his face became bright like the sun, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. At that moment, Moses and Elijah “appeared in glorious splendor” and talked with Jesus about his impending death.
有一天，耶稣带着彼得、雅各和约翰到一座高山上祷告。当耶稣在祈祷时，他的脸变得像太阳一样明亮，他的衣服变得像闪电一样明亮。那一刻，摩西和以利亚 "以荣耀的光辉出现"，与耶稣谈论他即将到来的死亡。
When Peter, James, and John saw the glory of Jesus and the splendor of Moses and Elijah, they didn't know what to say. Peter blurted out, “Lord, let me put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” As Peter was talking, “a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice spoke from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well-pleased. Listen to him’” (Matthew 17:5). Terrified, Peter and his companions fell face-down onto the ground. Jesus touched them and said, “Stand up. Don't be afraid.”
当彼得、雅各和约翰看到耶稣的荣耀以及摩西和以利亚的辉煌时，他们不知道该说什么。彼得脱口而出："主啊，让我搭起三个棚子--一个给你，一个给摩西，一个给以利亚"。就在彼得说话的时候，"有一片明亮的云彩笼罩着他们，有声音从云彩里说：'这是我的儿子，我所爱的；我以他为乐。听他说'"（马太福音17:5）。彼得和他的同伴们吓坏了，脸朝下倒在地上。耶稣抚摸着他们，说："站起来。不要害怕"。
When they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw no one but Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8; Luke 9:28-36).
当他们抬头时，摩西和以利亚已经走了，他们没有看到任何人，只有耶稣（马太福音17：1-8；路加福音9：28-36）。
Peter's Eyewitness Testimony
彼得的目击证言
In his second letter, Peter wrote, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the majestic glory saying, ‘This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well-pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).
彼得在他的第二封信中写道："我们告诉你们主耶稣基督的能力和降临时，并不是按照巧妙编造的故事，而是亲眼目睹了他的威严。因为他从父神那里得到了尊贵和荣耀，当时有声音从威严的荣耀中向他说：'这是我的儿子，我所爱的，我以他为乐。我们在圣山上与他同在的时候，也听见这从天上来的声音"（彼得后书1：16-18）。
Here, Peter claims to have seen the glorified Christ on the mountain. He claimed to have heard the voice of God from the luminous cloud, identifying Jesus as his Son. And Peter implies that the glorified body of Jesus on the mountain was a preview of what Jesus will look like when he comes again to take us to his glorious home in heaven. Peter's eye-witness testimony fills us with blessed assurance.
在这里，彼得声称在山上看到了得了荣耀的基督。他声称从发光的云中听到了上帝的声音，确认耶稣是他的儿子。彼得暗示，耶稣在山上荣耀的身体是耶稣再来带我们到他在天上的荣耀的家时的预演。彼得的亲眼见证使我们充满了有福的保证。
John's Eye-Witness Testimony
约翰的目击证言
John was there with Peter and James on the Mount of Transfiguration. He and Peter saw and heard the same amazing things. That mountaintop experience impacted James and John as much as it did Peter.
约翰与彼得和雅各一起在变容山上。他和彼得看到和听到了同样的惊人之事。那次山顶经历对雅各和约翰的影响与对彼得的影响一样大。
The apostle John claims to have witnessed the things he taught. In 1 John 1:1-4, John wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched–that we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you may also have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.”
使徒约翰声称自己见证了他所教导的事情。在《约翰一书》1:1-4中，约翰写道："那从起初的事，就是我们所听见的，我们亲眼所见的，我们所看的，我们所摸的--我们所传的，就是生命的道。生命出现了，我们看见了，也为它作了见证，我们向你们宣告那与父同在，向我们显现的永生。我们将所见所闻的传给你们，好叫你们也与我们有交通。我们的团契是与父和他的儿子耶稣基督的。我们写这些，是要使我们的喜乐完全。"
These four verses have been called “The Christian Manifesto.” In the original Greek text, all four verses are one long, complicated sentence–a sentence packed with meaning.
这四节经文被称为 "基督教宣言"。在希腊文原文中，所有四节经文都是一个复杂的长句--一个充满意义的句子。
The phrase “Word of life” refers to Jesus in his pre-existent state (John 1:1-3, 14). He was with the Father in the beginning. He is eternal. He is divine. This “Word of life” entered the world as a flesh-and-blood human being. The original Greek words that John uses here imply, “We have heard his voice with our own ears. We have seen him with our physical eyes. We have gazed on him intently and have studied him carefully over a long period of time. Our physical hands have touched him. We apostles know through our physical senses that Jesus was fully human. Yet, we also know from observing his unique insights, his super-human wisdom, and his super-natural power, that he is also fully divine.” John declared what he had seen and heard.
生命的道 "这个短语指的是耶稣在其存在之前的状态（约翰福音1:1-3，14）。他一开始就与父同在。他是永恒的。他是神圣的。这个 "生命的道 "作为一个有血有肉的人进入世界。约翰在这里使用的希腊原文意味着："我们已经用自己的耳朵听见他的声音。我们用我们的肉眼看见他。我们曾仔细地凝视他，并在很长一段时间内仔细研究他。我们的肉体之手曾触摸过他。我们使徒通过我们的身体感官知道，耶稣是完全的人。然而，我们也通过观察他独特的洞察力，他超人的智慧，和他超自然的能力，知道他也是完全神圣的"。约翰宣布了他所看到和听到的。
All the Apostles Were Eye-Witnesses.
所有的使徒都是目击者。
After Jesus ascended to the Father, the eleven apostles returned to Jerusalem and met with 120 believers in an upper room. During their prayer meeting, Peter stood up and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas. . . . For it is written in the book of Psalms, . . . ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection” (Acts 1:13- 16, 21-22).
耶稣升到父那里后，十一个使徒回到了耶路撒冷，在一个上房里与120个信徒见面。在他们的祷告会上，彼得站起来说："弟兄们，圣灵很久以前借着大卫的口说的关于犹大的经文必须应验。. . . 因为《诗篇》中写道：......。'愿别人代替他的领导地位。因此，有必要从主耶稣在我们中间进进出出的整个过程中，从约翰受洗开始到耶稣被带离我们的时候，在这些人中选择一个。因为这些人中必须有一个人和我们一起见证他的复活"（使徒行传1：13- 16，21-22）。
Joseph, called Barsabbas, and Matthias qualified as witnesses, so the apostles prayed, “Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two men you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs” (Acts1:24-25). After this, they cast lots, “and the lot fell on Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26). Every apostle was able to give eyewitness testimony of Jesus' ministry, death, burial, and resurrection.
被称为巴撒巴的约瑟和马提亚有资格作为见证人，所以使徒们祷告说："主啊，你知道每个人的心。请告诉我们，在这两个人中，你选择哪一个来接替犹大离开去的使徒的事工"（使徒行传1:24-25）。之后，他们抓阄，"阄落在马提亚身上，于是他被加在十一个使徒里"（徒1:26）。每个使徒都能为耶稣的事迹、死亡、埋葬和复活提供目击证词。
The Four Gospels Are Based on Eye-Witness Testimony
四本福音书是基于目击者的证词
Matthew and John traveled with Jesus for more than three years. They listened to him teach, observed his mighty works, and shared in his ministry. They were with Jesus in the upper room the night he was betrayed by Judas. On that night, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to them to remind them of everything he had told them (John 14:26) and to lead them to all truth (John 16:13).
马太和约翰与耶稣一起旅行了三年多的时间。他们聆听他的教导，观察他的大能行为，并分享他的事工。在耶稣被犹大出卖的那个晚上，他们在上房与他在一起。那晚，耶稣应许派圣灵给他们，提醒他们他所告诉他们的一切（约翰福音14:26），并引导他们明白一切真理（约翰福音16:13）。
In their gospels, Matthew and John recorded what they had seen and heard, and their eye-witness testimony was protected from error by the Holy Spirit who guided them to all truth.
在他们的福音书中，马太和约翰记录了他们的所见所闻，他们的目击证词得到了圣灵的保护，避免了错误，圣灵引导他们了解一切真理。
According to the extant writings of second century church leaders, the gospel of Mark is a record of the eye-witness testimony of Peter, his mentor and traveling companion. Peter and Mark were both guided by the Holy Spirit.
根据现存的第二世纪教会领袖的著作，马可福音记录了他的导师和旅伴彼得的目击证词。彼得和马可都是由圣灵引导的。
The gospel of Luke, also, is based on eye-witness testimony that Luke gathered from people who were with Jesus during his earthly ministry. Moreover, Luke wrote his gospel as he was guided by the Holy Spirit.
路加的福音书也是基于路加从耶稣在世时与他在一起的人那里收集的目击证词。此外，路加是在圣灵的指引下写的福音书。
The Book of Acts Is Based on Eye-Witness Testimony
《使徒行传》是基于目击者的证言
Luke's history of the first-century church in the book of Acts is based on the apostles' eye-witness testimony as well as his own observations as he traveled with Paul. The historical accuracy of Luke's writing has been vindicated by archaeologists again and again. Luke is known as one of the greatest historians in the first century.
路加在《使徒行传》中关于第一世纪教会的历史是基于使徒们的目击证词以及他自己与保罗一起旅行时的观察。路加写作的历史准确性已被考古学家一再证实。路加被誉为第一世纪最伟大的历史学家之一。
Paul's Eye-Witness Testimony
保罗的目击证言
Saul of Tarusus was an enemy of Jesus until Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light on the Road to Damascus. Jesus said to Saul, “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you” (Acts26:16). In Damascus, Ananias came to Saul with a similar message. Ananias said, “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One [Jesus] and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:14-16).
塔鲁斯的扫罗是耶稣的敌人，直到耶稣在通往大马士革的路上以刺眼的光芒向他显现。耶稣对扫罗说："我向你显现，是要任命你为仆人，为你所见我的和我要指示你的作见证"（使徒行传26：16）。在大马士革，亚拿尼亚带着类似的信息来找扫罗。亚拿尼亚说："我们祖宗的神拣选了你，要你知道他的旨意，看见那义者[耶稣]，听他口中的话。你要作他的见证，向众人说明你所见所闻的。现在，你还在等什么呢？起来，受洗，洗净你们的罪，称他的名"（使徒行传22:14-16）。
Saul of Tarsus, the enemy of Christ, thus became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Immediately after Ananias baptized Paul into Christ, he started preaching that Christ was the promised Messiah. Paul would later ask the Christians in Corinth, “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus?” (1 Corinthians 9:1). Paul gave eye-witness testimony.
大数的扫罗，基督的敌人，因此成为保罗，外邦人的使徒。在亚拿尼亚给保罗施洗加入基督后，他立即开始宣扬基督是应许的弥赛亚。保罗后来问哥林多的基督徒："我不是使徒吗？我不是见过耶稣吗？"（哥林多前书9:1）。保罗提供了目击者的证词。
Can These Eye-Witnesses Be Trusted?
这些目击者是否可以信任？
Some people argue that reports of miracles performed by Jesus and his apostles are patently unbelievable because they are contrary to the laws of nature and are at odds with common human experience. But a verdict cannot be presumed before the evidence is considered.
有些人认为，关于耶稣和他的使徒所行神迹的报告显然是不可信的，因为它们违背了自然规律，与人类的普遍经验相悖。但是，在考虑证据之前，不能推断出结论。
Dean McCormick's book, McCormick on Evidence, is regarded as the foremost authority on rules of evidence in determining the value of a testimony. In McCormick's book, Edward Cleary lists five tests that are widely used to determine the credibility of a witness: (1) Has the witness previously made statements that are inconsistent with his present testimony? (2) Is the witness biased due to emotional ties or self-interest? (3) Does the witness have impeccable character? (4) Is the witness incapable of remembering the facts in his testimony? (5) Do other reliable witnesses present evidence that discredits the testimony of the witness?
迪安-麦考密克的书《麦考密克论证据》被认为是确定证词价值的证据规则的最重要的权威。在麦考密克的书中，爱德华-克利里列出了广泛用于确定证人可信度的五项测试：（1）证人以前是否做过与他现在的证词不一致的陈述？(2) 证人是否因情感纽带或自身利益而有偏见？(3) 证人是否具有无可挑剔的品格？(4) 证人是否没有能力记住其证词中的事实？(5) 其他可靠的证人是否提出了否定该证人证词的证据？
Let us apply these rules to eye-witnesses in the New Testament.
让我们把这些规则应用到新约中的目击者身上。
1. Consistency? There is no evidence that any of the New Testament writers who testified about Jesus contradicted himself or altered his story.
1. 一致性？没有证据表明任何一个为耶稣作证的新约作者都自相矛盾或改变了他的故事。
2. Bias? New Testament witnesses put their lives in jeopardy by clinging to their testimony concerning the deity, teachings, miracles, and resurrection of Jesus. They knew they could be crucified, fed to the lions, killed by Roman gladiators, or burned at the stake for their testimony. They also knew they could escape persecution, torment, and death by recanting, but they refused. It is unreasonable to believe that they were willing to suffer and die for a story they had fabricated.
2. 偏见？新约见证人坚持为耶稣的神性、教义、神迹和复活作见证，使他们的生命处于危险之中。他们知道他们可能会因为他们的见证而被钉在十字架上，被喂给狮子，被罗马角斗士杀死，或者被烧死在火刑柱上。他们也知道他们可以通过悔改来逃避迫害、折磨和死亡，但他们拒绝了。相信他们愿意为自己编造的故事受苦和死亡是不合理的。
3. Character? There is nothing that would impugn the character of New Testament witnesses. Instead, these witnesses professed and lived by the highest moral standards.
3. 性格？没有任何东西可以指责新约见证人的性格。相反，这些证人宣称并按照最高的道德标准生活。
4. Cognitive skills? There is no evidence that New Testament eyewitnesses were mentally handicapped or limited in their ability to remember and record the facts about Jesus. Their writings are brilliant, clear, lucid, and filled with details.
4. 认知能力？没有证据表明新约目击者在记忆和记录有关耶稣的事实方面有智力障碍或能力有限。他们的著作辉煌、清晰、明了，充满了细节。
5. Credibility? All New Testament eye-witnesses said essentially the same things about Jesus. They were unified in asserting that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God who came to save us from destruction, to pay the penalty for our sins, to lead us to higher spiritual ground, and to eventually take us home to be with him and our heavenly Father.
5. 可信度？所有新约目击者对耶稣的评价基本相同。他们一致断言，耶稣基督是上帝的神子，他来拯救我们免于毁灭，为我们的罪孽支付惩罚，带领我们到更高的精神领域，并最终带我们回家与他和我们的天父在一起。
Conclusion
总结
New Testament eye-witnesses pass all five tests with flying colors. Their testimonies have been vindicated. That fills us with blessed assurance.
新约中的目击者以出色的表现通过了所有五个测试。他们的证言得到了证实。这使我们充满了幸福的保证。
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