MHCC:創世記 1

Genesis is a name taken from the Greek, and signifies "the book of generation or production;" it is properly so called, as containing an account of the origin of all things. There is no other history so old. There is nothing in the most ancient book which exists that contradicts it; while many things recorded by the oldest heathen writers, or to be traced in the customs of different nations, confirm what is related in the book of Genesis.

該書名源於希臘文，意為「起源或產生之書」。該書名副其實，因其包含了萬物起源的記載。沒有哪本書對歷史記載如此久遠。現存年代最古老的書籍也與創世紀毫無矛盾之處。年代最久遠異教作者的記載，或不同國家的風俗傳承，都證明與創世紀內容有關。

God creates heaven and earth. (1,2) The creation of light. (3-5) God separates the earth from the waters, and makes it fruitful. (6-13) God forms the sun, moon, and stars. (14-19) Animals created. (20-25) Man created in the image of God. (26-28) Food appointed. (29,30) The work of creation ended and approved. (31)

上帝創造天地。（1，2）

光的創造。（3—5）

上帝將大地從諸水中分離，令大地結果豐盈。（6—13）

上帝造太陽、月亮和眾星。（14—19）

創造動物。（20—25）

按照上帝的形象造人。（26—28）

賜予食物。（29，30）

結束創造，看為甚好。（31）

Verses 1-2 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The faith of humble Christians understands this better than the fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world; nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit, whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.

1，2 聖經第1節為我們提供了天地起源圓滿且有效的記載。謙卑的基督徒憑着信心領受，勝過最博學之輩的奇幻想象。通過天地萬物，我們感悟到偉大造物主的大能。受造者的位份也提醒我們基督徒的職分：仰視諸天，管理大地。神造天地之時，與聖父同在的聖子與神同在。啊，我們知道神造世界，世界無一不是籍他所造。我們敬拜偉大的神，奉偉大中保之名而求，想來何等奇妙！在聖卷開端，我們也讀到聖靈，聖經各章中聖靈在人心做工的記載比比皆是。注意，起初世界空虛混沌，一無所有。同樣，恩典在我們靈里的工作也是一種嶄新創造：缺少恩典的靈魂，沒有重生，只有混亂、困惑和一切罪惡；沒有善，因為沒有神；屬黑暗，也是黑暗本身；我們生來如此，直到偉大恩典在你我裡面做工得以改變。

Verses 3-5 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness, by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given 1 john approved of. God divided the light from the darkness; for what fellowship has light with darkness? In heaven there is perfect light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let us use both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in him every night, meditating in his law both day and night.

3—5神說要有光，祂一有這個意願，立刻就有了光。哦，這就是神的話語的能力！在新的創造中，首先被造在靈魂裡面的是光。聖靈通過光照我們的智慧，作用於我們的意志和情感。那些與罪在一起的，是黑暗的，與聖靈在一起的，就在主裡面變光明。如果神的兒子不將智慧給我們，黑暗就永遠在墮落的人之上。（參約翰一書5：20）神所願意的光是祂所稱讚的。神將光明從黑暗分開，那麼光明和黑暗的關係是怎樣的呢？天堂喜歡光明，在那裡完全沒有黑暗；在地獄裡則是完全黑暗，沒有一絲光。白天和晚上都是主的，讓我們為了祂的榮耀而將日夜都利用起來。白天天天為祂工作，晚上夜夜安息在祂裡面，日夜活在祂的律法當中。

Verses 6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are dried up.

6—13地是空虛的，但因為話語的發出，就充滿了神的豐富，祂的話語今天依舊如此。儘管神的話語被允許由人來使用，但這些話必須來自於神，而且是為了祂的工作和榮耀而被使用。在神的命令下，地長出了青草、蔬菜和各種果子。我們從地的出產中得到好處，而神必須因為這而得到榮耀。籍着聖靈，如果我們對祂有一個心志，那麼當今生慈愛的溪流乾涸時，我們還能喜悅在祂裡面，因為祂是泉源。

Verses 14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully, and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God, as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but do not mind our Master's work.

14—19第四天的工作是創造太陽、月亮和眾星。這一切都是神的作為。眾星展現在我們的面前，但我們沒有被告知它們的數量、屬性、方位、尺寸或運動方式，因為聖經的書寫不是為了滿足我們的好奇心或者使我們成為天文學家，而是將我們導向神，使我們成為聖徒。天上的光的被造是為神自己服務的，這些光忠實地為之工作，按季節照耀，毫無差錯。我們同樣被作為世界上的光為神服務，但我們有沒有以合適的方式回報我們的被造？沒有。當神的光照耀在我們面前，我們的光並沒有照在神的面前。我們燃燒主的蠟燭，但我們並不以主的工作為念。

Verses 20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the effect of his blessing.

20—25上帝命令魚和雀鳥的被造，他又親自執行了這一命令。在數量上比鳥獸要多得多，而且同樣奇妙的昆蟲，看來也是這一天的工作的一部分。一隻螞蟻能夠像一頭大象一樣證明造物主的智慧和能力。神的意志的能力保存在一切事物中，它們的生養眾多是因為神的祝福。

Verses 26-28 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be put together in him. God said, "Let us make man." Man, when he was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's image. Man was made upright, ecclesiastes 7:29 . His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!

26—28人是最後被造的，這既是人的榮耀也是給人的恩惠。然而人和走獸是在同一天被造；人的身體和走獸的身體都是相同的泥土所造；他們的肉身和走獸們居住在同一片大地上。但是，神禁止我們象走獸那樣放縱肉體及肉體的欲望，走向毀滅！人應該與到目前為止神所創造的一切受造物都不同。肉體和靈魂，天堂和地獄都必須安置在他裡面。上帝說：「我們要……造人。」人在被造的時候就是為了榮耀聖父、聖子、聖靈。我們奉這個偉大的名施洗，因為我們的生命也是這個偉大的名所給的。人的靈魂承載着神的形象。人被造原是正直的（參傳道書7：39）。他的智慧能將屬靈的事物看得清楚真切，在他的認識中沒有錯誤和偏差；在任何事上，他的意志都與神的意志相一致。他的情感都是合適的，他沒有不好的欲望和激情。他的思想很容易被提升到最好的事物上去。我們的始祖是如此的聖潔，如此的喜悅，有上帝的形象在他們身上。可惜人身上的上帝的形象竟被破壞了！只有主能籍着祂的聖靈在我們靈裡面實現更新！

Verses 29-30 Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and all the products of the earth. Let God's people cast their care upon him, and not be troubled about what they shall eat, and what they shall drink. He that feeds his birds will not starve his babes.

29，30蔬菜、水果、五穀，以及一切地上的出產都必然成為人的食物。好使得的神的子民能夠全心關注神，而不需要為吃什麼、喝什麼而憂慮。祂餵養飛鳥，豈會讓祂的孩子挨餓？

Verse 31 When we come to think about our works, we find, to our shame, that much has been very bad; but when God saw his work, all was very good. Good, for it was all just as the Creator would have it to be. All his works, in all places of his dominion, bless him; and therefore, bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Let us bless God for the gospel of Christ, and when we consider his almighty power, let us sinners flee from the wrath to come. If new-created unto the image of God in holiness, we shall at length enter the "new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

31當我們想到我們的工作，實在慚愧，許多都是如此糟糕。但是當上帝看到自己的工作，一切都是如此的好。這一切好是因為它們正如造物主所要的。在上帝管轄的一切領域，祂所有的作為都在讚美祂；哦，我的靈啊，你也要讚美你的主！讓我們因基督的榮耀讚美上帝；當我們想到祂的大能，讓我們這些罪人逃離那將要來的憤怒。如果在聖潔里重新擁有神的形象，我們將最終進入新天新地，那裡居住着正直和公義。