Scottish Journal of Theology 55,no. 1 (2002): 36-57.

The greatest possible blessing: Calvin and Deification

我们可能获得最大的祝福：加尔文和神化

By Carl Mosser

St Mary's College, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JU, Scotland, UK cm54@st-andrews.ac.uk

圣玛利亚学院，圣安德鲁大学，圣安德鲁 KY16 9JU，苏格兰，联合王国

Abstract 摘要

Many assume that the patristic notion of deification is absent from the mainstreams of post-patristic Western theology. Recent scholarship, however, identities deification in Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, early Anglicanism, early Methodism and Jonathan Edwards - all fountainheads of Western theology. This article contends that deification is also present in Calvin's theology. It is not a prominent theme in its own right and some of the bolder patristic terminology is not employed. Nonetheless, the concept and imagery of deification regularly appear on stage while other doctrines are explicated. For Calvin, deification is the eschatological goal and blessing greater than which nothing can be imagined.

许多人假设教父教导的神化教义不存在于教父后的西方神学主流中。近期的研究表明，在奥古斯丁、阿奎那、路得、早期的英国国教主义、早期的遁道主义和约拿森爱德华（Jonathan Edwards）--在这些西方神学的源头中，都能够找到神化的教义。本文主张神化也出现在加尔文的神学之中。它不是加尔文神学的主轴，也缺少教父们所使用的词汇。即便如此，在诠释其他的教义之时，神化的观念有规律的出现在（加尔文神学的）舞台之上。对于加尔文，神化乃是救赎的目标和祝福，我们无法想像出还有什么事情会能够比它还更伟大。

Introduction 介言

To Western ears unaccustomed to its bold terminology theosis, usually associated with patristic and Eastern Orthodox writers, can sound blasphemous. Theosis is described under a number of theological rubrics. These include adoption to divine sonship, participation in God, sharing of divine life, impartation of immortality, restoration of the imago dei, glorification, and consummation of the marriage between Christ and the Church. Succinctly, theosis is for believers to become by grace what the Son of God is by nature and to receive the blessings that are his by right as undeserved gifts. Most boldly, theosis is described as a transforming union of the believer with God and Christ usually, if inadequately, translated as `divinization' or `deifcation'. The goal of salvation is for the believer to be `in-godded' and thereby made a `god'.

西方学者的耳朵不太能够适应神化（Theosis）这个大胆的词汇，总是将其联系于古教父和东正教的作者，并觉得听起来是亵渎神的。神化也被描述为不同的神学题目。包括被认养而得到神儿子的名分，有份于神，有份于神圣的生命，被注入不朽（immortality），重建人里面神的形像（imago dei），荣化（glorification），和基督与教会连理的最终结果。简单的说，神化对于信徒而言，乃是借由恩典成为神儿子性质之所是，并领受那些他原不配得着的恩典，作为理所当得的祝福。神化通常更被大胆的描述为，一个信徒与神和基督的，在变化中的联合，有时候，也被不恰当的被翻译为‘divinization（圣化）’或‘deification（即神化）。’救赎的目的乃是要信徒成为‘在神里面的（in-godded）’，故而成为‘神（god）’。

Until recently most scholars have assumed that after the patristic period deification is foreign to Western Christianity except in medieval mysticism and unorthodox sects. It has even been claimed that deification is antithetical to the contents and methods of Western theology. There are several reasons for these widespread assumptions. One is that it has been commonplace for Orthodox polemicists to assert that deification is absent in the West because of its alleged incompatibility with Augustinian theology and scholasticism. Another is the influence Adolph von Harnack has had upon several generations of scholars. Harnack viewed deification as a prime example of the corrupting influence of Greek philosophy upon Eastern Christianity. He grudgingly admitted that Augustine had at one point taught deification. But he also claimed that it was Augustine who brought the doctrine `to an edifying end' in the West.

直到近日，大部分的学者都认为在古教父时期后，除了在中古世纪的神秘主义和某些不正统的教派中，神化对于西方神学是一种异类的教导。西方的神学甚至宣称神化乃是具有伤害性的（教义）。这种普遍的假设是建立在几个理由之上。其一乃是，他们都坚信对于正统的神学辩证法而言，因为神化无法与奥古斯丁神学和经院神学相容，而被排除在西方神学之外。另一个原因乃是，极具影响力的Adolp von Harnack以及几代学者们共有的看法。Harnack视神化为希腊哲学腐蚀东方基督教的主要范例。他被迫承认奥古斯丁确实一度教导神化的教义。但是他也宣称，也是奥古斯丁为此教义在西方画上了终止符。

Yet as far as I am aware, no major Western theologian has ever repudiated the patristic concept of deification. More significantly, a fact increasingly recognized by recent scholarship is that Augustine did not bring deification to an end in the West. It is now clear that deification played an important role in Augustine's theology, including his mature theology. It is also found in Aquinas, the paradigmatic scholastic theologian.  Finnish Lutherans have made the most startling discovery of deification in the West, at least to Harnack's theological heirs. The Finns have discovered deification in Luther. They have proposed some controversial reinterpretations of Luther's theology. But controversy aside, the Finns have brought to our attention unambiguous statements making it incontrovertible that Luther affirmed deification. Deification is also found in early Anglicanism, early Methodism (both Arminian and Calvinistic), in the writings of Jonathan Edwards, and in the works of the eminent Baptist theologian Augustus Hopkins Strong. In the mid-twentieth century the ever popular Anglican writer C. S. Lewis affirmed the doctrine. Increasingly contemporary theologians are recovering and utilizing the ancient notion of theosis. Perhaps surprising to some, a number of evangelicals from differing confessional backgrounds are among them. Noticeably absent from the list is John Calvin. It is very difficult to find secondary literature that discusses, however brietly, Calvin's acceptance or rejection of deification. F. W. Norris's assumption is typical of the rare comments one finds: `John Calvin seems to have avoided teaching deification or not known of it.' I will argue that Calvin knew about and affirmed the deification of believers. Though not a prominent theme in its own right, deificatory language and imagery can be found at many points of Calvin's theology.

然而，根据我所知道的，没有任何主要的西方神学家拒绝或否认教父对于神化的观念。更重要的事实是，越来越多近代的学者发觉奥古斯丁并没有终结西方神化的教义。明显的，神化的教义反而在奥古斯丁的神学中占有一个凸出的地位，包括他成熟后的神学。它也能在阿奎那，这位经院神学的代表神学家的神学中被发现。Harnack的神学继承人-芬兰路德会提出了对于神化教义在西方神学中最令人震惊的发现。芬兰学者在路得的神学中发现了神化的教义。他们提出了引起争议的，对于路得神学的重新诠释。若我们先搁置争议的部分，芬兰学者们把我们的注意力转向了无可否认，路得肯定神化教义的明确教训之上。神化也出现在英国国教和早期的卫理公会（包括亚米念和加尔文主义双方），约拿森爱德华的作品中，以及著名的浸信会神学家斯特郎（Augustus Hopkins Strong）的著作中。在二十世纪重要，非常著名的英国国教作者鲁易士（C. S. Lewis）也肯定了这个教义。越来越多的当代神学家们在重新发掘并运用古代对于神化的理解。或许，许多人士会惊讶于，他们也包括了一批从不同信仰背景而来的福音派人士。但是，最令人注目的乃是约翰加尔文并不在这个名单里面，甚至根本找不到他接受，或肯定神化教义的文章。F. W. Norris的评论是鲜有的：‘约翰加尔文看起来在避免教导神化，或根本就不知道它。’我将强烈主张，加尔文不但知道，并肯定信徒的神化。虽然它并不是一个突出的主题，但是我们还是可以在加尔文神学中多处，看见神化的用词和描述。

Four primary proof-texts for deification dominate patristic and Orthodox discussions: 2 Peter 1:4, Ps 82:6/John 10:34-5, 1 John 3:2 and John 17. I will begin by examining Calvin's commentary on 2 Peter 1:4 since there Calvin is most explicit. I will then illustrate the presence of deification language and imagery in various parts of Calvin's soteriology, eschatology and Trinitarianism. Calvin's commentary on John 17 will be discussed in the course of this. Additional evidence for Calvin's view will then be adduced from his debates with the `half-papists' and Andreas Osiander. Calvin's explicit rejection of erroneous concepts of deification will further clarify what he believed and did not believe. Calvin's interpretation of Ps 82:6/John 10:34-5 will be reserved for last. It will be shown that Calvin diverged from the patristic interpretation of these verses. But, partly on the basis of 1 John 3:2, he would not have found the bold language patristic writers used these verses to support inappropriate - if properly understood.

四处主导教父和东正教对于神化讨论的经文是：彼后1：4，彼得82：6/约翰10：34-5，约壹3：2，约翰17。我会先开始检视加尔文对彼后1：4的注释，因为该处代表加尔文对该教义最清晰的解释。我接着会从加尔文的救赎论，末世论和三位一体论不同的部分，展示其神化用语和描述。加尔文对于约翰17章的注释也会在这个过程中被讨论。加尔文的其他观点，以及他和Andreas Osiander关于‘半教皇主义（half-papists）’的辩论，也会被用来作为证据。加尔文明确拒绝错误的神化观念，并进一步的澄清他相信什么和他不相信什么。加尔文对于诗篇82：6/约翰10：34-5的注释会被留到最后。它将表明，加尔文偏离了教父们对于这些经文的诠释。但是，在一定成度上，根据约壹3：2，他并不会使用教父们在这些经文上使用的大胆语言来支持不合适的教训—若我们能够正确的了解他。

Deification: the greatest possible blessing 神化：我们所能获得最伟大的祝福

2 Peter 1:4 claims that because of divine promises believers `may become partakers of the divine nature'. Commenting on the first half of 2 Peter 1:4 Calvin notes that `the promises of God are to be given the highest possible value, and that they are free, because they are offered to us as gifts'. The excellency of the promises `arises from the fact that they make us partakers of the divine nature'. Calvin immediately identifies partaking of the divine nature as that `than which nothing more outstanding can be imagined' [quo nihil praestantius cogitari potest]. This phrase is a clear adaptation of Anselm's definition of God as `that than which nothing greater can be conceived' [quo nihil maius cogitari potest]. Calvin's implicit reasoning is that God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived, i.e. the greatest possible being. Therefore, partaking of his divine nature is that blessing than which nothing more excellent can be conceived; i.e. the greatest possible blessing.

彼后1：4宣称，因为神的应许，信徒‘能够成为神性的分享者（may become partakers of the divine nature）。’在注释彼后1：4的前半节的时候，加尔文注意到，‘神的应许乃是带着一个最高的价值被赐给我们，它们也是白白的，因为它们被当作恩典（或礼物）赐给我们。’这些应许最超绝的地方乃是‘使我们成为神性的分享者这事实。’加尔文立刻指出有份于神性乃是‘远超我们所求所想的’ [quo nihil praestantius cogitari potest]。这句话明确的采用了安色伦对于神的定义，‘乃是远超过我们所能想像的’[quo nihil maius cogitari potest]。加尔文未言明的理由乃是，神是我们无法想像的，例如，最伟大的存有。故此，有份于祂的神性就是一个超越我们一切想像的祝福，例如，最伟大的祝福。

With classic theosis language Calvin interprets the meaning of the phrase `partakers of the divine nature' in terms of being raised up to God and united with him. He writes: `We must take into account whence it is that God raises us to such a peak of honour. We know how worthless is the condition of our nature, and the fact that God makes Himself ours so that all His possessions become in a sense ours is a grace the magnitude of which our minds can never fully grasp.'Contemplation of this `ought to give us abundant cause to renounce the world entirely and be borne aloft to heaven'. Calvin then boldly states: `We should notice that it is the purpose of the Gospel to make us sooner or later like [conformes] God; indeed it is, so to speak, a kind of deification [quasi deificari].' The older translation conveys the boldness of the thought more adequately: `Let us then mark, that the end of the gospel is, to render us eventually conformable to God, and, if we may so speak, to deify us.' In concert with the patristic writers Calvin views the believer's partaking of the divine nature as a kind of deification. 

加尔文用传统神化的语言将‘有份于神性’诠释为，一个人被提高到神并与神联合。他写到：‘我们必须考虑神把我们提升到那么荣耀的高度。我们就知道我们的境况是如何的低贱，而神让祂自己成为我们的，好从某种意义而言，叫祂所有的一切成为我们的，这个恩典的深广乃是我们的思想从未能够掌握的。’了解这个后‘就能够给我们足够的理由来完全拒绝世界，并把我们带到天上。’加尔文接下来就放胆宣告：‘我们需要注意，福音的目的就是要使得我们立刻或在未来[被模成]像神；实际上，也能够说，是某种的神化[quasi deificari]。’旧的翻译更能够正确的表达这个想法的大胆之处：‘让我们指出，福音的终结就是让我们最终能够被模成像神，或者我们能够说，神化我们。’加尔文于古教父们一致，将信徒有份于神性视为某种的神化。

The language and imagery of theosis throughout Calvin's theology 加尔文神学中神化的语言和描述

Imago dei 神的形像

Deification is not merely an eschatological concept for Calvin. It is rooted in the divine intentions for the creation and recreation of humanity. According to Calvin humanity was created in the image and likeness (which are synonymous for Calvin) of God that our minds might zealously be virtuous and meditate upon eternal life. Humans were endowed with reason and understanding `so that, by leading a holy and upright life, we may press on to the appointed goal of blessed immortality'. As creatures in the image of God humans `ought to be thought the reflection of God's glory'. Furthermore, being created in the image of God is in some sense `participation in God'. Humans rebelled against God, were separated from him, destitute of all glory, and spoilt by sin. The image of God became deformed. `Our happiness', then, `lies in having God's image, which was blotted out by sin, restored and reformed in us.' Christ is God's image as the eternal Word.

神化不单单是加尔文的一种末世论的观念。它乃是根据于神创造，并重造人类的旨意之中。对加尔文而言，人性乃是根据神的形像和样式所造的（这也是加尔文的说法），好叫我们的思想会渴望成为有道德的，并认为能够达到永远的生命。人类被赐予理智和理解的能力，好叫借由神圣和向着上（天）的生命，我们能够得着那个命定给我们的，有福的不死目标。作为根据神的形像被造之物，人类当被认为是神荣耀的返照。除此以外，根据神的形像被造从某种意义而言，就是‘有份于神。’人类背叛神，与神分离，失去了一切的荣耀，并被罪所玷污。神的形像也被分解了。‘我们的喜乐乃是在那个被罪所玷污，又在我们里面被恢复并重新组成的那个神的形像里面。’作为永远的道，基督是神的形像。

But, `even on His human nature, which He has in common with us, the imprint (effigies) of the Father's glory has been engraved, that He might transform His members to it'. It follows that `none is to be reckoned among Christ's disciples unless there is seen the Glory of God impressed on him by the likeness (effigie) of Christ as by the seal of a ring'. The goal of salvation, in other words, is for believers to have the image and likeness of God restored in them as fully as it is in Christ and thus to participate in God and reflect his glory.

然而，‘甚至祂所拥有的那个与我们一样的人性，神的荣耀被雕刻并被拓印在其上，好叫祂能够把祂的肢体变化成为它’。其结果就是‘除非看见神的荣耀借由基督的像（effigie），如同戒指的印一样的，拓印在他身上，基督的门徒们不会想到这点。’换句话说，救赎的目地乃是要让信徒拥有神的形像和样式，并在他们里面完全恢复这种在基督里的形像和样式，因而在神里有份，并返照祂的荣耀。

Union with our mediator 与我们的中保联合

In order to save humanity from the lapsed condition, the race needed Christ's intercession as mediator. To be a true mediator between God and humanity Christ had to be true God and true human. To benefit from Christ, believers must be united with him. Because of the great difference between our uncleanness and God's holiness, in the incarnation the Son had to become Immanuel `in such a way that his divinity and our human nature might by mutual connection grow together. Otherwise the nearness would not have been near enough, nor the affinity sufficiently firm, for us to hope that God might dwell with us.' But human sinfulness was not the only reason we needed a mediator. `Even if man had remained free from all stain, his condition would have been too lowly for him to reach God without a Mediator.'

为了把人类从失丧中拯救出来，人类需要基督作为中保介入。为了成为神和人之间的真正中保，基督必须是真神和真人。信徒若要从基督得着帮助，就必须与祂联合。因为在我们的不洁和神的圣洁间那个巨大的差异，在子成为以马内利的道成肉身中，‘以这样的方式让祂的神性和我们的人性能够借由互相的关系一同成长。否则，再亲密的也是不够亲密，再坚固的还是不够坚固，因为我们期盼神能够住在我们里面。’但是人类的罪并不是我们需要中保的唯一理由。‘即使人是完全没有污点的，他的情况仍然是那么的低贱，若没有一个中保，他不可能接触神。’

Christ's accomplishment as Mediator made it such that `all his things are ours and we have all things in him'. His task was to make children of men, children of God, to make heirs of Ghenna, heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

基督作为中保所成就的，使得‘万有都成为我们的，我们在祂里面拥有万有’。祂的任务就是要把人的儿女，作成神的儿女，把地狱的继承者，作成属天国度的继承者。

Who could have done this had not the self-same Son of God become the Son of man, and had not so taken what was ours as to impart what was his to us, and to make what was his by nature ours by grace? . . . we trust that we are sons of God, for God's natural Son fashioned for himself a body from our body, flesh from our flesh, bones from our bones, that he might be one with us. Ungrudgingly he took our nature upon himself to impart to us what was his, and to become both Son of God and Son of man in common with us . . . the only Son of God, to whom it wholly belongs, has adopted us as his brothers.

若不是神的儿子成为人的儿子，穿上我们所有的（译者：指人性），将祂所有的注入到我们里面，并借由恩典把祂的本质作成我们的本质，谁能够成就这一切呢？。。。

我们认定我们就是神的儿子（sons of God），因为神的儿子从我们的身体为自己塑造了一个身体；从我们肉身而来的肉身，从我们骨而来的骨，叫祂能够成为我们中的一个。祂自愿披上我们的本质，并把祂的所是注入到我们里面，成为神的儿子和与我们一样之人的儿子。。。神的独子，万有都属于祂，已经领养我们成为祂的众弟兄。

Calvin begins Book 3 of the Institutes by asking how we receive the benefits that the Father bestowed upon his only begotten Son – benefits bestowed not for his use but to enrich poor and needy men. The answer is that Christ must become ours and dwell within us. As long as Christ is outside us his benefits do us no good: `all he possesses is nothing to us until we grow into one body with him'. Union with Christ `alone ensures that, as far as we are concerned, he has not unprofitably come with the name Savior. The same purpose is served by that sacred wedlock through which we are made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone [Eph. 5:30], and thus one with him.' This intimate union is not merely union with Christ as human mediator, but with God. In fact, the Word `took upon himself the person and office of Mediator, that he might join us to God'. It was for the purpose of continually bringing believers into ever closer union with God that Christ was given all authority. `The Father has given all power to the Son that he may by the Son's hand govern, nourish, sustain us, keep us in his care, and help us. Thus, while for the short time we wander away from God, Christ stands in our midst, to lead us little by little to a firm union with God.'

加尔文以询问我们如何领受父所倾倒在祂的独生子身上的益处来开始《要义》第三部-这些益处并不是为了祂自己，乃是为了那些贫穷，有需要的人。答案乃是基督必须成为我们的，并著作我们里面。只要基督一直在我们的外面，祂的益处对我们是毫无用处的：‘直到我们与祂一同成长为一个身体，祂所有的一切对我们都是虚空的。’与基督联合，‘就能够保证，就我们所顾虑的，祂就不会带着救主的空名而来。我们借由神圣的结合（婚姻）而成为祂肉中的肉，骨中的骨[以弗所5：30]，并与祂是一，也是基于同样的目的而提供给我们。’这种亲密的联合不只是把基督当作一个人类中保而与祂合一，而是与神合一。事实上，道‘为自己取了中保的地位和职分，让祂能够把我们跟神联结在一起。’基督被赐予所有的权柄，也是为了不断的把信徒带入于神更亲密的联合。‘父已经将一起的权柄赐予子，好叫祂能够借由子之手的管制，喂养并维系我们，把我们保守在祂的看护之下，并帮助我们。这样，当我们在远离神的那个短暂的时间中，基督站在我们中间，一点一点的引导我们进入与神更坚固的联合之中。’

Baptism and ingrafting 受浸和接枝

Christ was baptized `in order that he might have it in common with us as the firmest bond of the union and fellowship which he has deigned to form with us'. Our baptism testifies to us that we are engrafted not only into the death and life of Christ, `but so united to Christ himself that we become sharers in all his blessings'. Commenting on Paul's phrase `if we have been united' (with Christ) in Romans 6:5, Calvin notes that our

基督受浸乃是‘为了让祂与我们一样，好成为祂为我们屈尊而建立的联合与交通最坚固的联系。’我们的受浸向我们见证我们不单单被接枝入基督的死和生命中，‘也与基督自己联合好叫我们成为祂一切祝福的分享者。’加尔文在注释保罗在罗马6：5的‘若我们（与基督）联合’这句话的时候，他指出我们

ingrafting signifies not only our conformity to the example of Christ, but also the secret union (arcanam coniunctionem) by which we grow together with Him, in such a way that He revives us by His Spirit, and transfers His power to us. Therefore, as the graft has the same life or death as the tree into which it is ingrafted, so it is reasonable that we should be as much partakers of the life as of the death of Christ.

被接枝不单单意表以基督为榜样被模成，这也是一个奥秘的联合(arcanam coniunctionem)，借由这个联合我们与祂一同生长，祂以这种方式，借由圣灵点活我们，并把祂的能力传输给我们。故此，作为枝子，我们拥有被接入之树同样的生命或死亡之中，所以我们能够合理的成为基督之生命和死亡的有份者。

Nothing `right or sincere is found in men so long as they remain in their own nature'. Therefore there must be a disparity between the ingrafting of trees and our spiritual ingrafting into Christ. `In the grafting of trees the graft draws its nourishment from the root, but retains its own natural quality in the fruit which is eaten.' The same is not true of spiritual ingrafting. Echoing 2 Peter 1:4, Calvin says that in spiritual ingrafting `we not only derive the strength and sap of the life which flows from Christ, but we also pass from our own nature into His'.

‘只要人一直留在他们的本性中，在他们里面就没有公义和真诚。’故此，被接枝到（物质的）树木和我们属灵的被接枝入基督是不同的。‘在接枝的树身上，枝子从根汲取养分，但是被吃的果子仍然保留其原来的特质。’属灵的接枝却不是一样。加尔文回应彼前1：4说，在属灵的接枝中，‘我们不单单得到从基督流出生命之大能和肥汁，我们也把我们的本性带入祂的里面。’

Lord's Supper 主的晚餐

In one particularly beautiful passage on the Lord's Supper Calvin brings together many of the terms and images of deification. Godly souls can gather great assurance and delight from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper because in it they have a witness of our growth into one body with Christ such that whatever is his may be called ours. As a consequence, we may dare assure ourselves that eternal life, of which he is the heir, is ours; and that the Kingdom of Heaven, into which he has already entered, can no more be cut off from us than from him; again, that we cannot be condemned for our sins, from whose guilt he has absolved us, since he willed to take them upon himself as if they were his own. This is the wonderful exchange which, out of his measureless benevolence, he has made with us; that, becoming Son of man with us, he has made us sons of God with him; that, by his descent to earth, he has prepared an ascent to heaven for us; that, by taking on our mortality, he has conferred his immortality upon us; that, accepting our weakness, he has strengthened us by his power; that, receiving our poverty unto himself, he has transferred his wealth to us; that, taking the weight of our iniquity upon himself (which oppressed us), he has clothed us with his righteousness.

在一段关于主的晚餐，非常优美的段落中，加尔文把许多关于神化的名词和描述合并在一起。属神的魂能够从主的晚餐之礼得到（对救恩）伟大的保证和喜悦，因为在其中他们有一个我们与基督一同成长入一个身体的见证，并叫祂所有的一切成为我们所有的。其结果就是，我们能够肯定我们自己拥有永远的生命，祂这位后嗣也是我们的；祂已经进入的属天的国度也不会再与我们隔绝的；另外，我们也不会在因我们的罪行被定罪，因为祂已经为我们承担了一切的罪行，祂也愿意亲自背负他们，好像他们就是自己的（羊）一样。这个美妙的互相交换（wonderful exchange）是从祂那个无限的仁慈（benevolence）而来的；祂成为与我们一样的人的儿子，并把我们与祂一同作成神的众子；借由祂的降世，祂也为我们预备了升天；借由取了我们的必死，祂也将祂的不死倾倒在我们身上；祂接受了我们的软弱，好用祂的大能加力给我们；祂亲自接受了我们的贫穷，好把他的丰富转赐给我们；祂将（压迫）我们罪恶的重负背在自己的身上，好让我们穿上祂的公义。

In the same context of the Lord's Supper Calvin says that Christ is called the `bread of life' not because of the sacrament but because he showed himself as such when `being made a sharer in our human mortality, he made us partakers in his divine immortality'.

在同一段关于主的晚餐的段落中，加尔文说基督并不是因为圣礼而被称作‘生命的粮’，而是因为祂在‘成为我们人性之有限的分享者，并让我们成为祂神性的不朽的有份者的时候，’显明祂自己就是‘生命的粮’。

Glorification 得荣

The glorification of believers is an important theme in patristic and Orthodox discussions of deification. Theosis is a union with God such that the divine glory shines through and is reflected by the redeemed. Calvin understands the glorification mentioned in 2 Thess 1:10 not as God's being honoured and praised but as God's luminescent glory shining through the saints in virtue of their union with him. When Christ returns, says Calvin, he will `shine upon [the godly] with His glory' that `they may partake of it'. It is as if Paul were saying that Christ `will not possess this glory for Himself alone, but it will be shared among all the saints'. Furthermore, `It is the chief and unique consolation of the godly that when the Son of God will be manifested in the glory of His kingdom, He will gather them together into the same fellowship with Himself ' and `will pour His glory upon them'. Calvin continues this theme in his comments on verse 12 of the same chapter:

信徒的得荣在古教父和东正教对于神化的讨论中，是一个主要的题目。神化是与基督联合到一个程度，神的荣耀从被救赎的人中照出，并被他们返照。加尔文并没用将帖后1：10提到的得荣理解为神得着尊敬并被赞美，而是信徒在与祂联合的时候，神光辉的荣耀从他们的美德中照耀出来。加尔文说，当基督回来的时候，祂将会‘以祂那个神的荣耀照耀[一切敬虔的人]’好叫‘他们能够有份与祂。’这就好像保罗在说，基督‘并不会为自己拥有荣耀，这个荣耀乃会被所有的圣徒所分享’。除此以外，‘这就是当神的儿子在祂国度的荣耀中显现的时候，敬虔者的主要和唯一的安慰，祂将聚集他们到与祂的同一个交通之中’并‘将自己的荣耀倾倒在他们身上。’加尔文在他对于同一章的12节之注释中，继续这个主题：

Particularly worthy of notice is the remark which [Paul] adds that those who have extolled the glory of Christ are to be glorified in their turn in Him. The amazing goodness of God is especially seen in the fact that He desires His glory to be conspicuously displayed in us who are entirely covered with dishonour. It is, however, a double miracle, that He afterwards shines upon us with His glory, as though He would do the same for us in return.

我们特别应该主义[保罗]所加上的提醒，就是那些高举基督荣耀的人，将会在他们与祂一同回来的时候得荣。神那令人惊叹的良善能够在祂所期盼的，就是祂的荣耀能够毫无阻拦，从我们这些完全被羞辱所覆盖的人身上被表明出来的这件事实上，被清楚的看见。这乃是一件双重的神迹，祂能够用祂的荣耀照耀在我们身上，即使祂愿意为我们这样做，当作对我们的回报。

Commenting on Rom 5:2, Calvin links glorification and partaking of the divine nature: `The hope of the glory of God has shone upon us by the Gospel.' The gospel in turn `testifies that we shall be partakers of the divine nature, for when we shall see God face to face, we shall be like him (II Pet. 1.4; I John 3.2)'. In the Institutes Calvin directly associates the partaking of the divine nature, glorification, and union with Christ: `Indeed, Peter declares that believers are called in this to become partakers of the divine nature [II Peter 1:4]. How is this? Because ``he will be . . . glorified in all his saints, and will be marveled at in all who have believed'' [II Thess. 1:10]'. In the very next sentence Calvin writes: `If the Lord will share his glory, power, and righteousness with the elect - nay, will give himself to be enjoyed by them and, what is more excellent, will somehow make them to become one with himself, let us remember that every sort of happiness is included under this benefit.'

在对罗马5：2的注释中，加尔文把得荣和有份与神性串联起来：‘神已经借由福音把荣耀的盼望显明给我们。’福音就是‘见证我们要成为神性的分享者，当我们面对面见神的时候，我们就会像祂（彼后1：4；约壹3：2）。在《教义》中加尔文直接将有份神性，得荣和与基督联合串联起来：‘彼得反而宣告信徒们被称作并成为神性的分享者[彼后1：4]。这是怎么一回事呢？因为“祂将会。。在祂所有的圣徒里面得荣耀，并被那些相信祂的人们所赞叹”[帖后1：10]。’在紧接着的下一句话里面，加尔文写到：‘若主愿意与选民分享祂的荣耀，能力和公义--唉，祂自己也会成为他们的享受，更超越的事乃是，祂将以某种方式使他们与自己成为一，让我们基督所有一切的喜乐都被包括在这个福气的下面。’

Trinitarianism 三位一体

For Calvin the union of the believer with God is fundamentally Trinitarian and involves all three members of the Godhead. As we have seen, according to Calvin Christ was given all authority and power in order to bring believers into union with God. He can do this because believers are in union with him as mediator. What has not yet been noted is the implicit structure of Calvin's thought here. It follows the two distinct levels of union with Christ found in his writings. The fundamental level is the hypostatic union of the eternal Word with the humanity believers share with every other person. At this level there is a communication of properties between Christ's divinity and his humanity. The consequent level is the particular union of Christ with individual believers. Christ unites believers to God because in his person God and humanity are already united. Significantly, this distinction is the very heart of patristic and Orthodox notions of deification. In patristic terms, individual believers can be deified because the incarnation of Christ deified human nature.

对于加尔文，信徒与神的联合乃是基于三位一体论，并且与神格的三位都有关。如同我们已经看见的，根据加尔文，基督被赐予所有的权柄和能力好把信徒们带入与基督的联合里面。因为信徒在祂这位中保的里面，祂就能够完成这件事。加尔文在此未明言的思想还没有被点出来。在他的作品中，与基督的联合有两种不同的层次。基本的层次是永远的道与信徒们彼此共享的人性所产生的位格的联合。在这个层次上，在基督的神性和人性之间，有属性的相通（communication of properties）。接下来的层次乃是基督与信徒个人的那个特别的联合。基督将信徒联于神，因为在祂的位格中，神和人类已经联合为一了。值得我们注意的是，这个分别就是教父和东正教神化思想背后的核心。在古教父的用词中，信徒各人因为基督的道成肉身神化了（祂的）人性，而得以被神化。

Calvin is keen to emphasize that all that Christ did was for our sake and all that he has is his only for him to give it to us. This includes the love of God the Father, the life and blessings of Christ, the Holy Spirit and even his unity with the Father. Christ unites believers with himself in order that they may participate, as members of his body, in the inner life and love of the Trinity which he has eternally known. Thus, the deification of the believer not only has a Trinitarian basis, but a Trinitarian goal. This is most clearly seen in comments Calvin makes on John 15:9 and 17:21-6.

加尔文敏锐的强调，基督所成就的一起都是为了我们，祂所拥有的一切都只是祂的，也都是为了祂能够将其赐给我们。这包括父神的爱，基督的生命和祝福，圣灵，以及祂与父的合一。基督将信徒与自己联合为一，成为自己身体的许多肢体，并他在永远中已经知道，这是在三位一体里的生命和爱里面的。故此，信徒的神化不单单只是基于三位一体而言，而是三位一体的目标。我们可以从加尔文对约翰15：9和17：21-6的注释中可以清楚的看见这点。

The fullness of blessings and what was hidden in God are now made plain in Christ `that He may pass it on to His people; as the water flowing from the fountain through various channels waters the fields everywhere'. If the unity of the Son with the Father is not to be fruitless and useless, `its power must be diffused through the whole body of believers'. From this `we infer that we are one with Christ; not because He transfuses his substance into us, but because by the power of His Spirit He communicates to us His life and all the blessings He has received from the Father'. In short, Christ had nothing for himself alone but was rich to enrich his believers.

在基督里面，原来隐藏在神里面丰满的祝福已经被显明了‘好叫祂能够将其赐给祂的子民；就好像水从泉源经过许多的溪流灌溉各处的土地一样。’如果子和父的合一不是无效果和无用的，‘它的大能必然能够遍及信徒身体的每个角落’。从此，‘我们就能够总结，我们乃是与基督是一；不是因为祂把祂的性质渗透到我们里面，而是因着祂圣灵的大能把祂的生命和祂从父所领受的一切祝福交流给我们’。总而言之，基督在祂里面没有别的，只有将赐予信徒们的丰富。

Strictly speaking, Calvin writes, Christ was not loved by the Father for his own sake. Rather, God's love was completely poured out on Christ `that it might flow from Him to His members'. The love with which God loves us `is none other than that with which He loved His Son from the beginning . . .. It is an inestimable privilege of faith that we know that Christ was loved by the Father for our sake, that we might be made partakers of the same love and that forever.' Furthermore, Christ was loved `that He may unite us along with himself to the Father'.

严格的说，加尔文写到，基督并不是因自己的缘故为父所爱。反而，神的爱完全倾倒在基督身上‘好叫它能够从祂流向祂的肢体’。这个神爱我们的爱‘就是祂在太初就爱祂儿子的那个爱。。。知道基督为了我们的缘故为神所爱是信仰中一个无可估量的特权，叫我们能够成为这个同样永恒之爱的分享者。’更进一步，基督被爱‘好叫祂能够将我们向着父，联于祂自己。’

The role of the Holy Spirit should not be forgotten as he also plays an important role. It is the Spirit who `breathes divine life into us'. The goal of this regeneration `is that Christ should reform us to God's image'. In the meantime the gifts of the Spirit (which we lack by nature) allow us to `perceive that we are truly joined to God in perfect blessedness'. In sum, the Holy Spirit is the `bond by which Christ effectually unites us to himself '.

我们不能忘记圣灵的角色，祂也具有非常重要的地位。圣灵将‘神的生命吹到我们里面。’重生的目的乃是要‘基督能够把我们被归正为神的像。’同时，圣灵的恩赐（是我们的本性中所没有的）让我们能够‘领会我们乃是在那个完美的祝福中，与神联合为一。’总而言之，圣灵是‘基督将我们有效的与自己联合的联系。’

Debates with half papists and Osiander 与半教皇主义者和Osiander的辩论

Deification as such was never a major point of dispute between Calvin and his opponents. Nonetheless, the language and imagery of theosis are prominent in disputes on tangentially related topics. It is instructive to observe how deeply ingrained this is in Calvin's thought by the way it comes out in his rebuttals of the `half papists' and Andreas Osiander. One also finds in these discussions additional important evidence for the thesis of this article.

神化从来不是加尔文和他的对手在辩论中的重点。即使如此，神化的用词和描述在与争辩有关的间接题目中，都是显著的。我们从加尔文和半教皇主义者和Osiander的激辩中发现，这个教义在加尔文的思想中是何等的根深蒂固。读者也会在这些讨论中发现与这篇文章之主题有关的其他重要线索。

Certain `half papists' taught a doctrine of justification that, Calvin says, put Christ outside the believer. In response Calvin emphasizes that the salvific benefits which the believer receives are the effect of the union between Christ and the believer. Calvin stresses the nature and degree of this union - it is union with Christ himself growing by degrees until he and the believer are completely one.

某些‘半教皇主义者’教导一种称义的教义，加尔文称之为，他们把基督扔在了信徒的外面。为了回应他们，加尔文强调信徒所领受救恩的益处就是基督和信徒联合的结果。加尔文强调这个联合的本质和程度 – 它乃是与基督本身的联合，并会随着联合的程度而增长，直到信徒和基督完全成为一。

For we await salvation from him not because he appears to us afar off, but because he makes us, ingrafted into his body, participants not only in all his benefits but also in himself . . .. Christ has been so imparted to you with all his benefits that all his things are made yours, that you are made a member of him, indeed one with him . . .. Not only does he cleave to us by an invisible bond of fellowship, but with a wonderful communion day by day, he grows more and more into one body with us, until he becomes completely one with us.

我们并不是因为祂远远的向我们显现，才等待从祂而来的救恩，而是因为祂把我们接枝到祂的身体里面，不只是有份于祂所有的益处，而是祂的自己。。。基督将祂一切的益处都给了你们，好叫祂所有的一切都成为你的。你成为祂的一个肢体，与祂成为一。。。祂不单单用一个看不见交通之联结黏住了我们，一天又一天，在一个奇妙的交通中，祂与我们一同逐渐成长进入一个身体里面，直到祂完全与我们是一。

In the 1545 edition of the Institutes these statements about believers being made one with Christ are even bolder when Calvin says that we are `made of one substance with him' and `daily he more and more unites himself to us in one, same substance'. References to a unity of substance were likely removed in the 1559 edition to avoid the appearance of contradicting the rebuttals of Osiander he had inserted.

在1545年版的《教义》中，这些关于信徒与基督成为一的教训，在加尔文说我们‘成为与祂同一性质’和‘祂天天在一个，同样的性质里面，更紧密的把祂自己与我们联合为一’的时候，显的更为大胆。在1559年版里面，这些关于性质联合的化被删除，以避免与他插入的，反驳Osiander的段落相互冲突。

Osiander taught that Christ as a man was foreknown by God and therefore the pattern after which humanity was formed. As a consequence he had to argue that Christ would have been incarnated even if Adam had not fallen. One of his inventive arguments was based upon Jesus' quotation of Gen 2:23-4 (the description of the first marriage) in Matt 19:4-6. Osiander took Jesus' quotation to imply that these words were a prophecy related to the union of Christ and the Church. Pre-lapsarian, the `prophecy' implied that it was necessary for Christ to be incarnated even if Adam had not fallen. Calvin responds that in this passage Jesus `is not discussing the mystical union with which he graced the church, but only fidelity in marriage'. Neither, says Calvin, will Paul's similar quotations help Osiander's view (1 Cor 6:16; Eph 5:31). For, though Paul `set forth under the figure and likeness of marriage the holy union that makes us one with Christ', neither did he intend to indicate that the words of Genesis were a prophecy.

Osiander教导，基督作为一个人，乃是被神所预知的，并以祂为范本造人。这造成他必须争辩，即使亚当没有堕落，基督仍然必须道成肉身。他所发明的一个论点乃是基于耶稣在马太19：4-6中对创世纪2：23-4的引用（对于第一个婚姻的描述）。Osiander采用了耶稣引用的经文来暗示这些话是对于基督和教会之联合的预言。这个‘预言’暗示即使亚当没有堕落，基督也必须道成肉身。加尔文回应说，在耶稣说的这段话‘并不是在讨论祂赐给教会的那个奥秘的联合之恩典，而只是婚姻的忠贞。’加尔文说，保罗也没有用类似的经文来支持Osiander的看法（哥林多前书6：16；以弗所5：31）。因为，即使保罗‘把婚姻作为预表，详细的解释那个使我们与基督成为一的奥秘联合。’他也没有任何把创世纪的经文当作预言的意思。

More problematic was Osiander's view that justification was an in- pouring or infusion of Christ's divine essence into the believer which rendered the believer righteous. Osiander supported his position by citing biblical passages indicating believers are one with Christ. Calvin agrees that believers are one with Christ. He denies that this means `Christ's essence is mixed with our own'. Osiander is mistaken in the claim that `we are substantially righteous in God by the infusion both of his essence and of his quality'. If God's essence were united with that of believers, Calvin contends, that would make believers part of God - an implication Calvin cannot accept. According to Calvin, Osiander's mistake was that he had not observed that scripture indicates that believers are united with Christ `by the secret power of his Spirit', not by an infusion of the divine essence.

Osiander的观点中，更严重的问题乃是，称义是基督神性融合到信徒之中，使得信徒成为公义，而被悦纳。Osiander认为他引用经文的立场表明信徒乃是与基督是一。加尔文同意信徒与基督是一。但是否认这代表‘基督的素质与我们混合（mixed）’。Osiander错误的宣称‘借由把祂的素质和祂的质量融合到我们里面，我们的本质在神里成为公义的。’如神的素质与信徒联合，加尔文坚持，这也不会把信徒变成神的一部分 – 这是加尔文无法接受的意思。根据加尔文，Osiander的错误乃是在于他忽视了圣经乃是指出信徒与基督的联合是‘借由祂的圣灵之奥秘的大能’，而不是借由神的素质之融合。

Osiander's notion of `essential righteousness' soon comes under two further criticisms that touch upon our topic. First, Calvin attributes to Osiander the view `that God pours himself into us as a gross mixture'. This parallels Osiander's error in thinking that Christ is physically present and eaten in the bread of the Lord's Supper. Calvin's view is that Christ is really present but not physically present. His understanding of the union between Christ and the believer is parallel. There is a real union, but not an essential or `physical' union.

Osiander对于人的素质变成公义的想法立刻遭到从两方面来的批判。这两个批判都触及了我们的题目。首先，加尔文将Oisiander的观点归纳为‘神把自己当作一个粗俗的混合物倾倒在我们身上。’这符合Osiander误认为基督乃是以物质的方式显现于主的晚餐中的饼里面。加尔文的看法乃是，基督确实显现了，但是不是一个物质的显现。他认为基督和信徒间的联合是平行的。那是一个真实的联合，但不是素质的，也不是‘物质的（physical）’联合。

Second, Osiander is criticized for applying to the present what is proper only to the future state. Calvin has no intention of refuting Osiander's proof-texts on the union of Christ and believers. Instead he cites two additional passages that show that the kind of thing Osiander is postulating for the present in justification is reserved for the eschaton. The two passages are 2 Pet 1:4 and 1 John 3:2, standard patristic proof-texts for deification. Calvin denies that believers will ever be united to the divine essence, but they will partake of the divine nature and be changed to be like Jesus. Calvin aptly says of this union:

其次，Osiander被批判应用了基督本该属于未来的状态。加尔文并没用驳斥Osiander用来证明基督和信徒联合之经文的意思。反而，他还加上了另外两处经文，以表明Osiander宣称的，所谓（基督）在称义中的显现乃是被保留给末世（eschaton）的。加尔文使用的两处经文是彼后1：4和约壹3：2，教父们用来证明神化教义的标准经文。加尔文否认信徒有任何与神圣素质联合的可能性，但是他们能够有份于神性，并变化成为像也是。加尔文确切的描述这个联合：

That joining together of Head and members, that indwelling of Christ in our hearts - in short, that mystical union - are accorded by us the highest degree of importance, so that Christ, having been made ours, makes us sharers with him in the gifts with which he has been endowed. We do not, therefore, contemplate him outside ourselves from afar in order that his righteousness may be imputed to us but because we put on Christ and are engrafted into his body - in short, because he deigns to make us one with him.

基督在我们心中内住的基督（that indwelling of Christ in our hearts）将身体和头联结为一 – 简单的说，就是那个奥秘的联合 – 对于我们，没有什么比这个更重要了，好叫基督成为我们的，也让我们与祂一同分享倾注于祂身上的恩典。故此，我们无法在我们之外从远方注视祂，好叫祂的公义能够被注入我们里面，而是因为我们披上了基督，并被接枝入祂的身体里面 – 简单的说，祂屈就我们，为了使我们与祂是一。

Calvin's two uses of the term `mystical union' (mystica unio) in the course of rebutting Osiander is further evidence in favour of the thesis that Calvin's doctrine of union with Christ is substantially the same as the patristic notion of theosis. `Mystical union' is very often a technical phrase for deification from at least the time of Pseudo-Dionysius. It was commonly used as such by medieval mystics, including Bernard of Clairvaux. Scholars have not failed to associate Calvin's mentions of mystica unio to Bernard's influence. Etienne Gilson's classic study of Bernard did not fail to make the connection between Bernard's mystical union and the patristic doctrine of deification. Gilson especially noted the influence of Maximus Confessor on Bernard and cites passages in which Bernard unhesitatingly speaks of deification. On this basis it is reasonable to infer that Calvin too is referring to deification. Oddly, however, the obvious connection between mystical union and deification is not made in recent comparisons of Bernard's and Calvin's understanding of mystical union.

加尔文在驳斥Osiander的过程中两次使用‘奥秘的联合（mystica unio）’，是对于加尔文在与基督联合的教义上，与古教父神化概念完全一致，更进一步的证据。最起码，‘奥秘的联合’是在伪迪奥尼修（Pseudo-Dionysius）时代常常用来描述神化的专业术语。在中古世纪奥秘派中也是常用的词汇，包括Bernard of Clairvaux。学者们常常忽视Bernard对于加尔文提及奥秘的联合之影响。Etienne Gilson对于Bernard的那个经典的研究并没用忽视Bernard的奥秘的联合和古教父神化的教义间的关联。Gilson特别提到坚信者马克西姆（Maximus Confessor）对于Bernard的影响，并摘录了Bernard毫不掩饰教导神化的材料。在这个基础上，我们可以合理的推断，加尔文讲的就是神化。但是，很奇怪的是，近代对于Bernard和加尔文对于奥秘的联合之了解的比较中，并没将奥秘的联合与神化联系起来。

`You are gods' ‘你们是神’

Patristic writers commonly refer to deified or glorified believers as `gods'. The biblical text cited to justify this language is Ps 82:6. The relevant statement reads: `I say, ``You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.'' ' In his commentary on Psalm 82 Calvin writes: `I indeed grant that it is quite common for the Hebrews to adorn with the title of God whatever is rare and excellent.' Here it appears `that this name of the Divine Being is applied to those who occupy the exalted station of princes, in which there is afforded a peculiar manifestation of the majesty of God'. Therefore, the name `gods' in this psalm is to be understood as referring to judges `on whom God has impressed special marks of his glory'.Commenting directly on v. 6, Calvin says that `God has invested judges with a sacred character and title' and that `This verse may also be viewed as addressed by God himself to rulers, and as intimating, that, in addition to his clothing them with authority, he has bestowed upon them his name.' This exegesis is consistently maintained in the Institutes as well as in his commentary on John 10:34-5.

古教父们常常把神化或荣化了的信徒比喻为‘神（gods）’。被引用来支持这个说法的经文是诗篇82：6。其经文说：‘我说，“你们是神，都是至高者的儿子。”’加尔文在他对诗篇82篇的注释中写到：‘我必须承认，对于希伯来人，他们常常称那些稀有和超绝的东西为神（God）。’又说到‘这个神圣者的名字乃是被用在那些占有君王崇高地位（的人），他们能够以一种特殊的方式彰显出神的尊荣。’故此，在这首诗歌中，‘神（gods）’这个名字应该被当作指那些被神以祂的荣耀印拓了特别记号的人。加尔文对于6节的注释说，‘神已经将神圣的特性和称号赐予那些审判者，’‘这节也能够被当作是神自己对于掌权者说的话，再暗示，除了祂将使他们披上权柄外，祂还要将自己的名浇灌于他们身上。’这样的解经不断的出现在《教义》中，以及他对于约翰10：34-5的注释之中。

This interpretation clearly diverges from patristic interpretations. But Calvin does not contradict the doctrine or the language the fathers used these passages to support. In fact, he says nothing whatsoever about the patristic interpretation. Should we infer from Calvin's divergence that he would have viewed the bold language of the fathers as inappropriate? No. On the contrary, the logic of several of Calvin's statements, including comments on Psalm 82, leads to the conclusion that Calvin would have had no difficulty with the application of the term `gods' to glorified human beings so long as the term is properly understood.

这个诠释明显的和教父们的诠释不同。但是加尔文并没有违反教父们用这些经文所要支持的教义或用词。事实上，他完全没有提及教父们的诠释。我们是否该因加尔文（与教父们）的不同推断，而推论出他认为教父们那些大胆的用词是不合适的？不。相反的，好几处加尔文教训背后的逻辑，包括诗篇82篇的注释，都让人相信加尔文对于使用‘神（gods）’这个词来荣耀人类，不会有任何的问题，只要这个词能够被正确的理会。

In the discussion about angels in Book 1 of the Institutes Calvin notes that when scripture mentions all the angels very often the designation `gods' is applied to them. This `ought not to seem anything marvelous; for if the honor is given to princes and governors [Ps. 82:6] because they are viceregents of God, who is the highest King and Judge, there is far greater reason why it should be conferred upon the angels, in whom the brightness of the divine glory shines forth much more richly'. Calvin's argument is that the term `gods' can be properly applied to persons who imitate God in ruling and judging since he is the paradigmatic king and judge whose power they are entrusted with. It can be applied to angels even more appropriately because they do not merely imitate God's functions, they reflect the divine glory itself.

在《教义》卷一中对于天使的讨论中，加尔文指出，凡圣经提到天使的是，常常将‘神（gods）’这个字用在他们身上。这‘不应该被当作一件很奇怪的事情；就像尊敬他们是君王和执政者[诗篇82：6]，因为他们是至高王和审判者之神的副执政者，神圣的荣耀能够从他们里面以一种更为丰盛的方式照耀出来。’加尔文的论点乃是，‘神（gods）’这个词能够合理的被用在那些如同神管理和审判的人身上，因为祂是真正的王和审判者，并将祂的权能托付给他们。它也能更合适的被用在天使身上，因为他们不单单模仿神的功用，他们也返照出神的荣耀。

In his commentary on 1 John 3:2 (`when he appears we shall be like him'), an important patristic deification proof-text, Calvin describes the eschatological transformation of believers in such a way as to intimate that they will reflect the divine glory even more than angels do. When Christ returns `we shall be like Him in that He will conform our lowly body to His glorious body . . .. For the apostle wanted to show us briefly that the ultimate aim of our adoption is that what has, in order, come first in Christ, shall at last be completed in us.' What is Christ's glorious body like to which believers will be conformed? This glory is so great that `it will fill the ungodly with fear' and `they will flee from the sight in terror. His glory will so dazzle their eyes that they will be confounded and stupefied.' We `shall be partakers of the divine glory', Calvin says, and God already `begins to restore His image in us; but in what a small measure!' When glorified, believers will then be prepared to see God to the degree that `our little capacity can grasp'. It is not the vision of God that affects the transformation but the transformation that will permit the vision of God. For, unless `our nature were spiritual and endued with a heavenly and blessed immortality, it could never come so near to God'. Once transformed and fitted for the vision of God we will then be like Christ - dazzlingly radiant, glorious, immortal beings whose sight will strike fear into the hearts of the ungodly.

在他对约壹3：2的注释中（‘当祂显现的时候，我们必要像祂’），引用了一处教父用来支持神化的重要经文，加尔文描述在末世信徒的变化，他们乃是以一种亲密的方式，比天使更能够返照出神的荣耀。当基督回来的时候，‘我们将会像祂，在其中，祂会将我们低贱的身体模成祂荣耀的身体。。。因为使徒想要简要的告诉我们，我们被认养最终的目的是什么，好叫这个目的先在基督里来临，至终在我们里面得以完成。’信徒要被模成的那个基督荣耀的身体是什么呢？这个荣耀是那么的伟大，以至于‘它将使得不敬虔的人充满恐惧’和‘他们将在各种的异像中恐惧奔逃。祂的荣耀将要使得他们无法睁眼，让他们觉得诅丧，和呆若木鸡。’我们‘则要成为神荣耀的有份者，’加尔文说，神已经‘开始恢复祂在我们里面的形像；在我们里面这个像是何等的微小啊！’当我们得荣时，信徒将被预备好见神，直到一个程度‘我们这个微小的能力都能够掌握’。它不是神那个影响我们变化过程的异象，而是变化会让我们看见对于神的异象。因为，除非‘我们的本质是属灵的，并能够承受属天和有福的不死，我们就无法接近神’。等我们一变化完成，配的上神的异象，我们就会成为像基督（be like Christ）-- 夺目的光辉，荣耀，不死的存有，这些景象将会将恐惧打入不敬虔人的心里。

The appropriateness of angels being designated gods due to their reflection of the divine glory combined with statements about believers' glorification leads to the conclusion that glorified believers can appropriately be designated gods. Further, believers are in union with God and share not only his glory but his power, life and love. It follows that they could be referred to as gods in an even stronger sense than when the term is applied to angels. Though Calvin does not explicitly draw this conclusion, his reasoning inescapably leads to it. For broad theological reasons rather than a single proof-text he would have found the designation of glorified believers as `gods' acceptable and even appropriate if one properly understood what was and was not meant by it.

天使之配被称作神（gods）乃是因为他们返照了神的荣耀，加上那些关于信徒荣化的宣告，是的被荣化的信徒能够被合适的称作神（gods）。除此以外，信徒在与神的联合中，不单单有份于祂的荣耀，也有份于祂的能力，生命和爱。其结果就是，他们能够以一个比天使被称作神（gods）还更合适的意义上，被称作神（gods）。虽然加尔文并没有特别归结出这个结论，他的论证毫无疑问就是指向它。从一个更全面的神学论证，而不是从个别单个的经文，他将会发现把得荣的信徒称作‘神（gods）’是可以被接受的，甚至，若人能够合适的理会它意表什么，不意表什么，就会觉得这个称呼甚至是合适的。

A counter-example 反例

There is one passage in the Institutes that prima facie looks like a clear counterexample to the thesis of this essay. In rebutting Servetus's arguments against infant baptism Calvin comes to one argument that he deems more absurd than the rest. According to Calvin, Servetus had offered something like the following argument: (1) `we become gods by regeneration'; (2) gods are those `to whom the Word of God came' (quoting John 10:34 in reference to Ps 82:6); but (3) it is impossible for infants to have received the word. The unstated conclusion is that (4) since infants cannot receive the word, be regenerated and thus be gods it is inappropriate for them to be baptized. Calvin mentions that it is one of Servetus's `delusions [deliriis] to imagine deity in believers [deitatem affingit fidelibus]' and that to `twist a verse of a psalm into such an alien meaning is an act of abandoned shamelessness'. Clearly, Calvin strongly disagrees with this view but says `this is not the place to examine it'. Rather, he merely repeats the interpretation of Psalm 82 we examined earlier.

在《教义》中有一段话，其主要论点看起来就像是一个针对这篇文章命题的反例。在驳斥Servetus反对婴儿受浸的论点时，加尔文有一个他认为最荒谬的论点。根据加尔文，Servetus提出类似下面的论点：（1）‘我们乃是借由重生成为神（gods）’；（2）神（gods）乃是那些‘神的道所临及的人’（引用约翰10：34来解释诗篇82：6）；但是（3）婴儿无法领受道。其粗制滥造的结论乃是（4）因为婴儿无法领受道，并被重生，所以，即使他们受浸了，也没办法成为神（gods）。加尔文提到，这是Servetus‘在信徒里面编造关于神性[deitatem affingit fidelibus]的幻觉[deliriis]’之一，并‘把诗篇的一处经文扭曲成为完全不同的意义，是一个毫无羞耻的行为。’很明显的，加尔文强烈的反对这个观点，但是他说‘这还不是重点。’他只是重复了我们已经检视过的，对于诗篇82篇的诠释。

It is unfortunate that Calvin chose not to comment further. Does this passage undermine the argument of this essay? By no means. The evidence adduced in favour is remarkably strong, varied and pervasive; it can hardly be overturned by a couple of very brief comments. Further, Calvin's comments are directed against Servetus's teaching, not against the patristic doctrine. It has already been shown that Calvin would have disagreed with the patristic interpretation of Ps 82:6 just as much as he disagreed with Servetus's. But there is no reason to suppose that the two doctrines the verse was cited to prove would have been viewed as the same by Calvin. Thus, it would be inappropriate to assume that the same opinions would have been applied to the patristic fathers who cited the passage in support of theosis.

很可惜的，加尔文选择不进一步的解释这个问题。那么，这段话是否减低了这篇文章论点的分量呢？绝对没有。支持它的证据是强而有力，众多和无处不在的；它无法被（加尔文）一两段简略的注释就推翻掉了。除此以外，加尔文的注释直接反对Servetus的教训，而不是反对教父的教义。我们已经指出，加尔文也会如同反对Servetus一样，来反对教父们对于诗篇82：6的诠释。但是我们没有证据证明加尔文对那两节有同样的诠释。故此，我们不能假设（加尔文）同样的看法也被用在使用同段话来支持神化教义的教父们。

Since Calvin chose not to comment further we cannot know what precisely his main difficulties with Servetus's view were. It seems quite likely, however, that his chief objections would have been similar to those cited earlier against Osiander: (1) Servetus was inappropriately applying to the present life unfulfilled eschatological promises, thus making believers out to be more than what they actually are; (2) Servetus's teaching that `deity' was in believers failed to make the all-important distinction between sharing in God's nature and possessing his essence. He might have also objected to the unqualified use of such bold language, though, as was shown, Calvin could have affirmed the use of such language in certain contexts if it were clear what was meant and what was not meant by it. That Calvin's rejection of Servetus's unorthodox teaching does not in any way undermine the thesis of this essay is confirmed by Calvin's affirmation of theosis in other contexts where he addresses erroneous deification concepts.

因为加尔文不再进一步的注释，我们就不知道他到底为什么不认可Servetus的观点。不论如何，这看起来比较像他主要反对的观点，应该与前面用来反对Osiander的论点很相似：（1）Servetus错误的将今日的生活应用在还未应验的，在末世才应验的应许，使得信徒们脱离了现实；（2）Servetus的教义教导在信徒中的‘神化’并没用清楚的区分在神的性情中有份和拥有祂的素质间的不同。加尔文也反对在没有前提的情况下，使用那样大胆的用词。如同我们已经指出的，加尔文肯定在某些段落中使用那些用词，若它们的意思是清楚明确的。加尔文对Servetus非正统教训的反对毫不能减损这篇文章的题目，加尔文在其他的段落中肯定了神化，并指出错误的神化观念。

Erroneous concepts of deification and important distinctions 错误的神化教义和重要的分别

Calvin did not employ the boldest language of the Church fathers probably to prevent misunderstanding rather than because of questions about its legitimacy. For Calvin was aware of pagan and heretical notions of deification that used similar language with very different intent. For example, Calvin knew of the ancient pagan practice of exalting outstanding heroes, kings and inventors to the status of gods. He referred to this practice as `invented deification' (apotheosis inventorum) and `false deification' (falsa apotheosis).  He traced the rise of polytheism and idolatry to this practice and considered it one of the worst forms of rebellion against the one true God.

加尔文没有使用教会教父们使用的那些大胆的用词，可能是为了避免误解，而不是质疑它们的合法性。因为加尔文警觉到异教和异端将不同的目的赋予神化的观念。例如，加尔文晓得古代异端的异教往往高举某些凸出的英雄，国王和神像的发明者。他把这种实行当作‘（人类）发明的神化’（aptheosis inventorum）和‘假神化’（falsa apotheosis）。他将多神论和崇拜偶像追朔到这个实行，并认为它乃是对于真神最严重的背叛方式之一。

In answering more subtle pagan and heretical notions of deification Calvin always (except in the case of Servetus mentioned above) set the substance of the Christian notion against them. The Manicheans `used to dream that we took our roots from the stem of God and that when we have finished the course of our life we shall revert back to our original state'. Similarly, in Calvin's day there were `fanatics who imagine that we cross over into God's nature so that His nature absorbs ours. This is how they explain Paul's words in I Cor. 15.28 - ``that God may be all in all''. They take this passage in the same sense. This kind of madness never occurred to the minds of the holy apostles.' Against these views Calvin set the true meaning of the apostles' words: `They were simply concerned to say that when we have put off all the vices of the flesh we shall be partakers of divine immortality and the glory of blessedness, and thus we shall be in a way one with God so far as our capacity allows.'

为回应那些顽固的异教和异端的神化观念，加尔文总是（除了上面提到Servetus的案例以外）用基督教信仰的内涵来对付他们。摩尼教‘曾经做梦、幻想我们的根源乃是神的精子，当我们走完我们人生的路程后，我们就会回转到我们原始的状态’。类似的，在加尔文的时代有许多‘幻想我们会进入神的本质，好让祂的本质完全被吸收到我们本质里面的幻想者。这就是他们如何解释林前15：28 – “神是一切，又在一切之内”。他们把这句话当作同样的意思。这种疯狂的想法绝对不会出现在使徒们的脑海中。’为了抵挡这种观点，加尔文为使徒的话下了正确的定义：‘他们只想要教导，当我们脱下肉身所有的一切，我们就会成为神的不死，祝福之荣耀的分享者。所以，只要我们能够脱下一切，我们就会以某种方式与神成为一。’

Plato is commended for being the only ancient philosopher who `recognized man's highest good as union with God' and for everywhere defining `the chief good of man to be an entire conformity to God'. But because Plato `had learned nothing of the sacred bond of that union', he

`could not even dimly sense its nature'. Plato's conception of deification began right, insofar as it went. However, because `he was in the midst of errors, he afterwards glided off to his own inventions'. Christians should disregard `empty speculations' and be satisfied `that the image of God in holiness and righteousness is restored to us for this end, that we may at length be partakers of eternal life and glory as far as it will be necessary for our complete felicity'. The source of this life and glory, the sacred bond of union of which Plato was ignorant, is Christ himself, the head of the church. He `is clothed in heavenly immortality and glory so that the whole body may be conformed to the Head'. What was begun in the head must be completed in all the members because `to separate him from ourselves is not permissible and not even possible, without tearing him apart'.

柏拉图是唯一一个被提到的古代哲学家，他‘认为人最高的好处乃是与神联合’，他作品无处不定义“人最主要的目标是完全模成像神。”但是因为柏拉图‘完全不了解那个联合的神圣连接’，他‘根本无法认清它的本质’。柏拉图对于神化的观念有一个正确的开始。然而，因为‘他乃是在错误中，他随后就从自己的发明（的错误观念）中滑落出去了。’基督徒应该蔑视‘虚空的猜测’并满足于‘神为了这目的在我们里面被重建圣洁和公义中的形像，好叫我们在一生中，都是永远生命和荣耀的分享者，并将其视为我们完美幸福的必要条件。’这个生命和荣耀的源头，就是柏拉图所忽略的神圣的连接，就是基督自己。祂是教会的头。‘披上了属天的不朽和荣耀好叫整个身体都能够被模成像头。’头所开始的，必须在全部的肢体中被完全，因为‘离开了祂，我们自己就不可能不把祂拆散得四分五裂。’

Some of Calvin's bolder statements could be misunderstood as saying the same things as the views he rejects. Thus, he very often qualifies them or makes important distinctions. For example, deification is not the result of human work or merit. All of God's promises `ought to be properly and justly deemed to be the effects of his power and glory', especially the promise of partaking of the divine nature. Peter's word `nature' does not refer to God's essence but to `kind' or `quality' (note the functional similarity with the Orthodox essence/energies distinction). Thus, `it is clear . . . that man is made to conform to God, not by an inflowing of substance, but by the grace and power of the Spirit . . . who surely works in us without rendering us consubstantial with God'. Though believers will be made like Christ, John does not mean that we shall be equal to Christ: `For there must be a difference between the Head and the Members.'

某些加尔文大胆的用词会导致误解，好像加尔文在自打嘴巴。所以，他常常为它们加上条件，或指出重要的不同。例如，神化并不是人工作或善工的结果。神所有的应许‘都该被合适并正确的被视为能力和荣耀的结果，’特别是有份与神的生命之应许。彼得的‘性质’这个字并不是指神的素质，而是达到‘种类（kind）’或‘质量（quality）’（当注意与东正教中素质（essence）/能力（energy）间的不同的相似之处）。所以，‘很清楚的。。。人的被造就是为了被模成像神，并不是借由素质的流入，乃是借着圣灵的恩典和能力。。。祂必然在我们里面作工，但不会使我们与神同质（consubstantial）。’虽然信徒们会成为像神，约翰的意思并不是我们会与基督相同：‘因为头和肢体们必然是不同的。’

There is a final important point which Calvin does not explicitly make but which is latent in his comments on a related topic. A deified being can never be considered the same kind of being as the uncreated God. Servetus held that the Father was essentially God from whom the Son and Spirit derived their deity. Calvin responded that the Father would then be the deifier and `nothing would be left in the Son but a shadow; and the Trinity would be nothing else but the conjunction of the one God with two created things'. In other words, if Christ was in some sense a `god' by deification he would be a created being and not the uncreated Creator described in scripture. Mutatis mutandis, deified believers, even if properly designated `gods', remain created beings and therefore different kinds of beings than the one God.

最后有一个加尔文并没有特别凸显，却隐藏在相关注释背后的重点。一个被神化的人绝对不能被当作是与非受造之神一样的存有。Servetus坚持父从本质而言是神，子和圣灵从祂分得到他们的神性。加尔文回应说，那么父就成了神化者（deifier），‘子除了一个影子外，就成了一无所有的了；而三位一体不过就是一位神和两个受造之物的交汇点（conjunction）罢了’。换句话说，若基督从某种意义而言，因神化是一位‘神（god）’，祂就是一个被造之物，而不是圣经所描述之非受造的造物主。正确的修正乃是（Mutatis mutandis），神化的信徒，即使能够合适的被称作‘神（gods）’，仍然是一个被造之物，故此跟那一位神完全是不同的存有。

Conclusion 结论

The believer's union with Christ and the Father, the indwelling presence of the Spirit in our hearts, restoration of the divine image, being made like Jesus and our eventual glorification are each important themes in Calvin's soteriology and eschatology. They are all pervaded by the language and imagery of theosis. There is a risk that readers unfamiliar with the patristic writings may fail to see this since I purposely refrained from quoting patristic parallels to focus attention directly upon Calvin's own statements (as well as save space). Insufficient familiarity with the patristic writings is precisely why many of Calvin's interpreters have not recognized the presence of deification in Calvin even when it has stared them in the face. That and the uncritical acceptance of Harnack's claims have caused many to assume its absence rather than engage in empirical investigation.

信徒与基督和父的联合，圣灵在我们心中内住的同在，神形像的重建，成为与基督相像，以及我们最终的得荣，这每一项都是加尔文的救赎论（soteriology）和末世论（eschatology）中重要的主题。它们都弥漫着神化的用词和描述。不熟悉教父作品的读者们可能会因为看不见这点，而面临一个危险。因为我刻意避免引用教父们同样的教训，好直接着重在加尔文自己的教训上面（也是为了节省篇幅的缘故。）对于教父作品的陌生就是为什么许多加尔文的诠释者无法发现加尔文教训中的神化教义的缘故，即使他们正面对面的在注释它们。Harnakc未经检验的宣告被广为接受，导致读者普遍认为加尔文没有教导神化教义，而不去仔细研究考察。

One should not overstate the significance of deification's presence in Calvin, as the Finns have done with regard to Luther. It would be wrong to say that deification per se is a major element of Calvin's theology or that its presence warrants a radical reinterpretation of Calvin's theology. It must be remembered that deification is a part of the catholic tradition that Calvin and the other Reformers inherited, affirmed and defended. One should never be surprised to find elements of this tradition in the writings of the Reformers.

读者不能低估神化在加尔文神学中的重要性，如同芬兰学者对路得神学的态度一样。同样的，说神化是加尔文神学中的一个重要成分，或神化的出现导致对于加尔文神学的极端重新诠释，也是同样错误的。我们必须记得，神化是加尔文和其他改革者都继承大公教会教义的一部分，他们也肯定，并捍了它。读者不应当惊讶于在改革者的作品中找到这个传统的成分。

More often than not deification in Calvin is presupposed as background rather than explicitly in the foreground. It has the habit of finding its way onto the stage of other issues for brief appearances but never headlines. Therein lies its significance. The largely presuppositional role of deification in Calvin's thought is strong evidence that by the end of his life Calvin had developed something like what the Eastern Orthodox term the patristic phronema or mindset. The fact that the patristic notion of theosis is present in Calvin's theology, yet he never once (so far as I know) cites a patristic authority in support, strengthens this claim. It is both implausible and unnecessary to insist that Calvin reinvented a doctrine that was found in many of the writers we know Calvin had read at length (not the least of which are Irenaeus, Augustine and Bernard if not Athanasius and the Cappadocians). But we should not expect Calvin to have appealed to patristic authority on the matter since it was not a major point of dispute in the sixteenth century. The pervasive but largely presuppositional presence of deification in Calvin's theology is best explained by patristic influence on his biblical exegesis at a level deeper than what can be detected by merely counting and classifying patristic quotations.

在更多的情况下，甚至在加尔文的神学中总是被假设隐藏在背后，而不是明确的被显示在台前。我们总是发现它短暂的出现在其他不相干问题的舞台上，但从来不是主义的标题。假设神化在加尔文思想中地位是一个强而有力的证据，就是在加尔文晚年的时候，已经发展出某种类似东正教和教父思维模式的词汇。事实上，教父对于神化的观念确实出现在加尔文的神学中，然而他从没有（就我所知的）引用过教父的权威作为支持，以加强这个宣告。坚持加尔文重新发明一个在许多其他作者作品中出现的教义是令人难以置信，也是不需要的。我们也知道加尔文大量的阅读了这些资料（即使不包括亚他那修和加帕多加，也包括爱任纽，奥古斯丁和Bernard）。然而我们不应当期盼加尔文将这件事情诉诸于教父权威，因为在十六世纪，它并不是一个主要的争议点。神化教义以无处不在的方式出现在加尔文神学中的假设，最好被解释为教父对他的解经有一种深层的影响，这个影响只能使用教父的语录才能够被发现。

Can we then speak of `Calvin's doctrine of deification'? No and yes. Richard Muller rightly remarks that Calvin himself `might well object to the notion of ``Calvin's doctrine'' of anything, inasmuch as the doctrines that Calvin held and taught were, in large part, not his own! . . . What Calvin intended to teach was the church's doctrine, not his own doctrine.' Though not as bold as the Church fathers sometimes are, Calvin's understanding of deification is simply the patristic notion of theosis. In this sense we should not speak of `Calvin's doctrine of deification'; he was simply teaching and, more often, presupposing the Church's doctrine. Nor should we speak of `Calvin's doctrine of deification' as if he had substantively developed or systematized the doctrine beyond what the patristic writers wrote; on this subject Calvin was quite unoriginal. In another sense, however, we can. The role deification plays in Calvin's theology, its relation to other doctrines, and the minor developments one finds warrant comparative study of `Calvin's doctrine of deification' with that of individual Church fathers, medieval mystics, Eastern theologians, Aquinas, Luther and other sixteenth-century figures.

那么，我们能不能说‘加尔文的神化教义’呢？不可以，也可以。Richard Muller正确的指出，加尔文本人‘可能会反对“加尔文的教义”这样的想法，就像加尔文所坚持并教导的教义，绝大部分都不是他自己的！。。。加尔文所想要教导的是大公教会的教义，而不是他自己的教义。’所以有时候他不像教父们那么大胆，加尔文对于神化的认识就是教父们对于神化的观念。在这个意义上，我们不该说‘加尔文的神化教义’；他不过就是教导，更多的时候，是在支持教会的教义。我们也不该说‘加尔文的神化教义’好像他在教父作者们的作品之上，又发展或组织化了这个教义；在这个题目上，加尔文并不是源头。从另一个意义而言，我们仍可以说‘加尔文的神化教义’。读者在比较‘加尔文的神化教义’和个别教会教父、中古世纪的神秘主义，东正教神学家，阿奎那，路得和其他十六世纪的领袖的教导后，就能发现神化在加尔文神学中的角色的细微发展。

Finally, it is worth pointing out that although the search for common ground was not a motivation for my study, Calvin's doctrine of deification does have value for intra-religious and inter-religious dialogue. Calvin's doctrine is not a bridge of common ground that reconciles Reformed thought with Eastern Orthodoxy or any other religious movement that espouses a notion of deification (e.g. Mormonism). But it can be a point of departure, especially for dialogue between Reformed and Orthodox Christians. At the least, `Calvin's doctrine of deification' is something interesting for the Reformed to talk about among themselves.

最后，还需要指出，我在此并不是为我的研究寻求某种的共同立场，加尔文的神化教义对于信仰内部和信仰间的对话毫无价值。加尔文的教义也不是用来调解改革宗思想和东正教，或其他吸收了神化观念宗教运动（例如摩门教）之桥梁。但是，它确实可以被当作一个起点，特别是为了在改革宗和东正教间的对话。最起码，‘加尔文神化的教训’是改革宗内部值得讨论的，一个非常值得探讨的题目。