REGENERATION ｜ 重生

ENREGENERATION. Palingenesia, re-creation (Titus 3:5). Born again, born from above, born anew—gennethe anothen (John 3:3, 7). Begotten again—anagennao (1 Pet. 1:3, 23). Created, creature, make, produce—ktizo, ktisis (Eph. 2:10; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15). Transformed—metamorphoo (Rom. 12:2). All these are terms of equivalent or of kindred meaning. Their significance is a new birth or creation of the human spirit by the Divine Spirit; a spiritual quickening from death to life; a radical transformation of spiritual character by Divine renewal; a restoration to the lost image and likeness of God. [Man is only then man when he is ruled by God—when his life is rooted in glad and habitual fellowship with the author and the archetype of his being, when he is born from above, moved by celestial impulses and inspirations. Using the word in this scriptural sense, regeneration is the prime and universal necessity. Only as a man is born from above can he be a citizen of the kingdom of God. The self-directed man is the man without a crown, the man in moral collapse; his character is fatally deficient. Behrends.] The Spirit of God, the new Creator, is the sole regenerating Agent: John 1:12, 13. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God . . . which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 3:6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Titus 3:5. He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Eph. 2:10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Eph. 4:24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 2 Thes. 2:13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Eph. 2:1, 5. And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins . . . even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. Ezek. 36:26, 27. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you . . . And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes.

BSBTitus 3:5 He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

中重生。Palingenesia，再造、更新（提多书 3:5）。重生、从上头生、重新生——gennethe anothen（约翰福音 3:3, 7）。重生（被重新生出）——anagennao（彼得前书 1:3, 23）。创造、新造的人、造成——ktizo, ktisis（以弗所书 2:10；哥林多后书 5:17；加拉太书 6:15）。变化——metamorphoo（罗马书 12:2）。这些词的意义或相等或相近。它们的含义是：人的灵被神的灵重新生出或重新创造；灵性上从死里被苏醒过来；藉神的更新而使属灵品格根本改变；恢复那已失去的神的形像与样式。〔人惟有被神管治时才成其为人——惟有当他的生命扎根于与他存在之创始者、原型的那种欢欣而习常的相交中，当他从上头生、被属天的激励与感动所推动时，才成其为人。按圣经这一含义使用这个词，重生就是首要而普世的必需。人惟有从上头生，才能作神国的国民。自己作主的人，是没有冠冕的人，是道德上崩塌的人；他的品格有着致命的缺欠。贝伦兹（Behrends）〕神的灵，这位新的创造者，是唯一施行重生的主：约翰福音 1:12-13 —— 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄作神的儿女。这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。3:6 —— 从肉身生的就是肉身；从灵生的就是灵。提多书 3:5 —— 乃是照他的怜悯，藉着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。以弗所书 2:10 —— 我们原是他的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善。4:24 —— 并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。帖撒罗尼迦后书 2:13 —— 因为他从起初拣选了你们，叫你们因信真道，又被圣灵感动成为圣洁，能以得救。以弗所书 2:1, 5 —— 你们死在过犯罪恶之中，他叫你们活过来……当我们死在过犯中的时候，便叫我们与基督一同活过来。以西结书 36:26-27 —— 我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面……我必将我的灵放在你们里面，使你们顺从我的律例。

ENThe new creation is "in Christ Jesus": Eph. 2:10. Created in Christ Jesus. 2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Gal. 6:15. But a new creature. Rom. 8:2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. John 10:10. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Col. 3:4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear. Christ as Prophet reveals the love of God; as Priest exhibits and impresses it in His humiliation and death; and as King subdues and wins the heart to responsive trust and love: John 16:13, 14. For He shall not speak of Himself . . . He shall glorify Me. The Word is employed by the Spirit as an instrument or means in regeneration. The Word brings assured Divine testimony and evidence to inform the reason and impress the judgment; it presents supremely desirable objects to interest and engage the affections; and it presses fitting and adequate motives to act effectively upon the will. All of these—the judgment, the affections, with the aims and purposes—are radically changed in regeneration. Ps. 119:50. Thy word hath quickened me. Ps. 119:93. For with them Thou hast quickened me. James 1:18. Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth. James 1:21. And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 1 Pet. 1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 2 Cor. 3:18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

BSB2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

中这新造乃是『在基督耶稣里』：以弗所书 2:10 —— 在基督耶稣里造成的。哥林多后书 5:17 —— 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人；旧事已过，都变成新的了。加拉太书 6:15 —— 要紧的就是作新造的人。罗马书 8:2 —— 因为赐生命圣灵的律，在基督耶稣里释放了我，使我脱离罪和死的律了。约翰福音 10:10 —— 我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。歌罗西书 3:4 —— 基督是我们的生命，他显现的时候……。基督作先知，显明神的爱；作祭司，在他的降卑与受死中把这爱展示出来、印进人心；作君王，制伏人心并把人心赢过来，使之以信靠和爱回应：约翰福音 16:13-14 —— 因为他不是凭自己说的……他要荣耀我。圣灵在重生中以『道』为器具或凭借。道带来神确凿的见证与凭据，以开启人的理性、折服人的判断；道把至可羡慕的对象摆在人面前，以引动并抓住人的情感；道又以合宜而充分的动机施压，有效地作用于人的意志。这一切——判断、情感，连同人生的目标与心志——在重生中都被彻底改变。诗篇 119:50 —— 你的话将我救活了。119:93 —— 因你用这些训词将我救活了。雅各书 1:18 —— 他按自己的旨意，用真道生了我们。1:21 —— 存温柔的心领受那所栽种的道，就是能救你们灵魂的道。彼得前书 1:23 —— 你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子，是藉着神活泼常存的道。哥林多后书 3:18 —— 我们众人既然敞着脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子里返照，就变成主的形状，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。

ENDesigned effects of regeneration, which are also evidences of its actual experience: Ps. 40:3. And He hath put a new song in my mouth. Eph. 2:10. Created unto good works. 1 John 2:29. Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 3:9, 14. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. 1 John 4:7. Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 5:1, 4, 18. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not; and that wicked one toucheth him not. Regeneration and sanctification: the one is the beginning, the other the continuance, progress and development of the spiritual life; the same Divine Agent employs the same instrument, the truth of God as revealed. 2 Cor. 4:16. Yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Eph. 4:23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 2 Pet. 1:4. That by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature. Rom. 12:2. But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

BSB1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

中重生所定意产生的果效，同时也是人确实经历重生的凭据：诗篇 40:3 —— 他使我口唱新歌。以弗所书 2:10 —— 造成……为要叫我们行善。约翰一书 2:29 —— 凡行公义之人都是他所生的。3:9, 14 —— 凡从神生的，就不犯罪。我们因为爱弟兄，就晓得是已经出死入生了。4:7 —— 凡有爱心的，都是由神而生，并且认识神。5:1, 4, 18 —— 凡信耶稣是基督的，都是从神而生。因为凡从神生的，就胜过世界。我们知道凡从神生的必不犯罪，那从神生的必保守他，那恶者也就无法害他。重生与成圣：前者是属灵生命的开端，后者是属灵生命的延续、长进与发展；施行者是同一位神，所用的器具也同是那已启示出来的神的真理。哥林多后书 4:16 —— 然而我们内心却一天新似一天。以弗所书 4:23 —— 又要将你们的心志改换一新。彼得后书 1:4 —— 叫你们……得与神的性情有分。罗马书 12:2 —— 只要心意更新而变化。

ENRegeneration as related to repentance, or metanoia, and conversion. As we have often seen in treating these great and vital truths, there is connected with every phase of the Divine acting touching human salvation an essential condition of demanded responsive human action. So is it in the process of regeneration or spiritual transformation. Thus far we have regarded it from the Divine side; but the process has a human side. It calls for responsive action of the human subject, while it ensures the result of such action to every willing soul. Repentance—or better, metanoia—and conversion (Gr. epistrophe), as human acts, must always be responsive to the Divine regeneration, palingenesia, if an actual spiritual change of new creation is to issue. The Divine agency is not irrespective of the freedom of the human subject, but is exercised in combination and harmony with the laws of his rational and moral constitution. The man himself must go back upon his previous life-controlling views, desires, purposes and pursuits; he must change his standpoint and goal, and reverse his course. This is the plain, oft-repeated demand of God: Repent, change your mind; be converted, turn yourselves; put away the old man, put on the new; be renewed; be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. This demand, like every other demand of God, carries with it the pledge of Divine and gracious strength for its own fulfillment. But it must be accepted, and its obedience willingly, gratefully, gladly attempted; and then the result of Divine regeneration will be assured.

BSBRomans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

中重生与悔改（metanoia）、归正的关系。正如我们在论述这些重大而关键的真理时屡次看到的：凡神在人之得救上所作的每一环，都连着一项必要的条件——就是要求人以行动作出回应。在重生（属灵变化）的过程中也是如此。到此为止我们是从神的一面来看它；但这过程还有人的一面。它要求人这一方以行动回应，同时也向每一个甘心的灵魂保证这行动必有其结果。悔改——或更准确地说，metanoia（心思的转变）——与归正（希腊文 epistrophe），作为人的行动，必须始终是对神的重生（palingenesia）作出的回应；否则那新造的真实属灵改变便不会发生。神的作为并非置人的自由于不顾，而是与人理性与道德构造的规律相配合、相和谐地施行。人自己必须回头检视此前主宰其生命的种种见解、欲望、心志与追求；他必须改换立足点与目标，扭转自己的路向。这正是神一再明明发出的要求：你们要悔改，改变心思；要归正，回转过来；要脱去旧人，穿上新人；要更新；只要心意更新而变化。这一要求，与神其他一切要求一样，本身就带着神施恩赐力以成全它的凭据。但这要求必须被接受，人必须甘心、感恩、欢喜地去顺服；如此，神施行重生的结果就必有保证。（悔改一词的辨析，详见下一词条『悔改』。）