【问答】八:“阿门”是什么意思?

PrayingPerson01 (150 x 231)如果你有基督徒朋友,也许你听过他说“阿门”二字。几年前,我所认识的一位妇女时常说“阿门”。差不多任何事情,她的反应是“啊门”!我相信非基督徒朋友听她这样说就觉得莫名其妙;也许他们认为她有问题。连我听她常常说“阿门”,我听腻了!“阿门”变成她的口头禅似的。我想这位妇女不懂“阿门”是什么意思。

“阿门”有几个意思和用法,如下:

1. “阿门”是“愿为如此”的意思。
2. “阿门”是“愿神成全”的意思。
3. “阿门”时常是“同意”的意思;用法常常跟 “同意”有关。
4. “阿门”也是“郑重、慎重”的意思。
5. “阿门”指耶稣而言,形容耶稣为诚信真实。
6. “阿门”用来为“结束”的意思。基督徒祷告最后两个字时常是“阿门”。

基督徒祷告最后两个字时常是“阿门”。我想很多基督徒认为“阿门”就是“我这个祷告词完毕、结束了”。事实上,祷告结束,我们说“阿门”,意思应该是“我同意这个祷告词,而且我愿意主成全这个祷告”。因此,“阿门”时常是: 1)我这个祷告词结束;2)我同意这个祷告词;3)我恳求主成全这个祷告。

下面我提几个《圣经》经文帮助我们明白“阿门”的几个意思和用法。有时候在某一个经文“阿门”包含着两三个意思。

1)历代志上16:36b:“‘耶和华以色列的神,从亘古直到永远是应当称颂的!’众民都说:‘阿门!’并且赞美耶和华。”当时,以色列人聚集在一起敬拜神。最后他们说“阿门”并且他们赞美了神。换句话说,以色列人的礼拜仪式结束后,他们说“阿门”。

2)列王纪上1:36:“耶何耶大的儿子比拿雅对王说:“阿门!愿耶和华我主我王的神也这样命定”。比拿雅希望神要让大卫王的计划成全。基督徒说“阿门”也有“我愿意主成全这个祷告”的意思在内。

3)申命记27:17-18:在《申命记》里摩西列下很多诫命,把诫命摆在以色列人面前。摩西说出诫命后,会众要说“阿门”,就是“我们同意”的意思。请注意两个例子:摩西说“‘挪动邻居地界标志的,要受上帝诅咒。’会众要回答:‘阿们!’”摩西又说:“‘故意领盲人走错路的,要受上帝诅咒。’会众要回答:‘阿们!’” 在这两个例子中,“阿门”的意思是百姓听懂诫命、他们同意诫命、他们接受诫命、他们准备按照诫命度日——所以说“阿门”。

4)提摩太前书1:17:“但愿尊贵、荣耀归于那不能朽坏、不能看见、永世的君王——独一的神,直到永永远远!阿门!”在此,“阿门!”意思是“愿为如此”,也包括“这句话就是事实!原来神就是这样;以后神也是这样!”(请参看启示录第一章。)

5)哥林多后书1:20:“上帝一切的应许在基督身上都成为‘是’了。因此,我们藉着他说‘阿们’来荣耀上帝”。这句话告诉我们,基督徒祷告时,要奉耶稣的名向神祷告。因此,基督徒祷告最后一句是,“奉耶稣的名祷告,阿门!”

6)申命记27:15:摩西教导犹太人,说:如果有人制造耶和华所憎恶的偶像,在暗中设立,偷偷的供奉,那人必受咒诅。百姓都要答应说:“阿门!”在这里,“阿门”意思是“原为如此”,包括“如果我违反此诫命——敬拜偶像——我会接受所说的惩罚”。

7)希伯来书13:21:“在各样善事上成全你们,叫你们遵行他的旨意,又借着耶稣基督在你们心里行他所喜悦的事。愿荣耀归给他,直到永永远远!阿门。” 在这里,希伯来书的作者为他的读者祷告。“阿门”是“我愿主成全我的祷告”的意思。在此,是一个人为别人祷告。

如果有几个人(或很多人)在一块祷告(譬如,在敬拜神的聚会中)有一个人为其他的人祷告或带领他们祷告,在祷告结束时会众说“阿门”,就是“我们同意”的意思。会众都说“阿门”就是——“刚才这个人的祷告词也是我的祷告词。他所感谢的恩典,我也感谢;他所说的赞美,我也同意。他所求的事情,我也求。他的祷告词也代表了我的心意。”

因此可知,你听别人祷告时,如果你同意他所说的,就说“阿门”。如果你不同意,或者如果你没有注意到带你祷告的那人所说的话,或没有听懂他的话,就不应该说“阿门”。

8)约翰福音10:7: “…耶稣又对他们说:“我实实在在地告诉你们:我就是羊的门。” 中文传统的和合本《圣经》把耶稣常说的“阿门,阿门,我告诉你们”这句希腊语翻译为“我实实在在的告诉你…”。现代中文译本把同一句话翻译为“我郑重的地告诉你…”。希腊原文是“阿门,阿门”;意思是,“下面这句话很重要!很沉重!很慎重!很实在!所以你要注意的听!”虽然中文翻译为“我实实在在的告诉你…”或“我郑重的地告诉你…”,希腊原文是“阿门,阿门”。

9)启示录3:14:“你要写信给老底嘉教会的使者说:‘那为阿门的,为诚信真实见证的,在神创造万物之上为元首的说…’ ” 在此经文里,“阿门”是指耶稣和神而言。这个经文告诉我们耶稣是那位真实的,说实话的主。他不撒谎,所以“阿门”是他的一个称呼。因为我们是他的门徒,我们所说的话也必须是实话!我们说“阿门”时,要小心一点吧!

总结:“阿门”的意思包括:“愿为如此”、“愿神成全”、 “同意”、“郑重、慎重”和“诚信真实”在内。基督徒向神祷告时要奉耶稣的名祷告。下次您祷告时,请注意到您怎么样用“阿门”一词。

愿神赐福给您!阿门!

What Does “Amen” Mean?

Christians usually end their prayers with “Amen,” and thus see it to mean that their prayer is finished. In fact, however, our meaning should be that we agree with this prayer and I hope God will bring about the things mentioned in it.

Below are ways “Amen” is used in the Bible:

1) 1 Chronicles 16:36: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said ‘Amen’ and ‘Praise the LORD.’” Worship in Israel included saying “Amen.”

2) 1 Kings 1:36: “Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, ‘Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.’” Benaiah wanted God to bring King David’s plan to completion. When Christians say “Amen,” it means that they want God to act according to their prayer.

3) Deuteronomy 27:17-18: “’Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.’” Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’” Here “Amen” is an acknowledgement that the command is both understood and that the people intend to obey it.

4) 1 Timothy 1:17: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” “Amen” means “May it be so,” and includes acknowledgement that this statement is a fact—God is this way and will continue to be so. (See Revelation 1.)

5) 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Christians pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ.

6) Deuteronomy 27:15: “’Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’” Here “Amen” means “May the punishment come upon us if we disobey this command.”

7) Hebrews 13:21: “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Here the author of Hebrews prayers for the reader; “Amen” means “May God bring about my prayer.” When people are together and someone prays, if “Amen” is said at the end, it is an expression that: This person’s prayer is also my prayer; his petitions are my petitions and his expressions of thanksgiving are also said by me. His prayer represents my heart. If you do not agree with what was stated in the prayer, or if you do not understand it, you should not say “Amen.”

8) John 10:7: “Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.” The Greek for “very truly” in this passage is “amen, amen.” Here it means that this is a solemn and truthful statement.

9) Revelation 3:14: “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” Here “Amen” refers to Jesus and God. As Jesus is always truthful, so we—his disciples—should be people of truth.


【问答】八:“阿门”是什么意思?
FAQ’s About Christianity (08): What Does “Amen” Mean?
作者:谢德华 ©By Edward Short

 

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