【問答】八:“阿門”是什麼意思?

PrayingPerson01 (150 x 231)如果你有基督徒朋友,也許你聽過他說“阿門”二字。幾年前,我所認識的一位婦女時常說“阿門”。差不多任何事情,她的反應是“啊門”!我相信非基督徒朋友聽她這樣說就覺得莫名其妙;也許他們認為她有問題。連我聽她常常說“阿門”,我聽膩了!“阿門”變成她的口頭禪似的。我想這位婦女不懂“阿門”是什麼意思。

“阿門”有幾個意思和用法,如下:

1. “阿門”是“願為如此”的意思。
2. “阿門”是“願神成全”的意思。
3. “阿門”時常是“同意”的意思;用法常常跟 “同意”有關。
4. “阿門”也是“鄭重、慎重”的意思。
5. “阿門”指耶穌而言,形容耶穌為誠信真實。
6. “阿門”用來為“結束”的意思。基督徒禱告最後兩個字時常是“阿門”。

基督徒禱告最後兩個字時常是“阿門”。我想很多基督徒認為“阿門”就是“我這個禱告詞完畢、結束了”。事實上,禱告結束,我們說“阿門”,意思應該是“我同意這個禱告詞,而且我願意主成全這個禱告”。因此,“阿門”時常是: 1)我這個禱告詞結束;2)我同意這個禱告詞;3)我懇求主成全這個禱告。

下面我提幾個《聖經》經文幫助我們明白“阿門”的幾個意思和用法。有時候在某一個經文“阿門”包含着兩三個意思。

1)歷代志上16:36b:“‘耶和華以色列的神,從亘古直到永遠是應當稱頌的!’眾民都說:‘阿門!’並且讚美耶和華。”當時,以色列人聚集在一起敬拜神。最後他們說“阿門”並且他們讚美了神。換句話說,以色列人的禮拜儀式結束後,他們說“阿門”。

2)列王紀上1:36:“耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅對王說:“阿門!願耶和華我主我王的神也這樣命定”。比拿雅希望神要讓大衛王的計劃成全。基督徒說“阿門”也有“我願意主成全這個禱告”的意思在內。

3)申命記27:17-18:在《申命記》里摩西列下很多誡命,把誡命擺在以色列人面前。摩西說出誡命後,會眾要說“阿門”,就是“我們同意”的意思。請注意兩個例子:摩西說“‘挪動鄰居地界標誌的,要受上帝詛咒。’會眾要回答:‘阿們!’”摩西又說:“‘故意領盲人走錯路的,要受上帝詛咒。’會眾要回答:‘阿們!’” 在這兩個例子中,“阿門”的意思是百姓聽懂誡命、他們同意誡命、他們接受誡命、他們準備按照誡命度日——所以說“阿門”。

4)提摩太前書1:17:“但願尊貴、榮耀歸於那不能朽壞、不能看見、永世的君王——獨一的神,直到永永遠遠!阿門!”在此,“阿門!”意思是“願為如此”,也包括“這句話就是事實!原來神就是這樣;以後神也是這樣!”(請參看啟示錄第一章。)

5)哥林多後書1:20:“上帝一切的應許在基督身上都成為‘是’了。因此,我們藉着他說‘阿們’來榮耀上帝”。這句話告訴我們,基督徒禱告時,要奉耶穌的名向神禱告。因此,基督徒禱告最後一句是,“奉耶穌的名禱告,阿門!”

6)申命記27:15:摩西教導猶太人,說:如果有人製造耶和華所憎惡的偶像,在暗中設立,偷偷的供奉,那人必受咒詛。百姓都要答應說:“阿門!”在這裡,“阿門”意思是“原為如此”,包括“如果我違反此誡命——敬拜偶像——我會接受所說的懲罰”。

7)希伯來書13:21:“在各樣善事上成全你們,叫你們遵行他的旨意,又藉著耶穌基督在你們心裡行他所喜悅的事。願榮耀歸給他,直到永永遠遠!阿門。” 在這裡,希伯來書的作者為他的讀者禱告。“阿門”是“我願主成全我的禱告”的意思。在此,是一個人為別人禱告。

如果有幾個人(或很多人)在一塊禱告(譬如,在敬拜神的聚會中)有一個人為其他的人禱告或帶領他們禱告,在禱告結束時會眾說“阿門”,就是“我們同意”的意思。會眾都說“阿門”就是——“剛才這個人的禱告詞也是我的禱告詞。他所感謝的恩典,我也感謝;他所說的讚美,我也同意。他所求的事情,我也求。他的禱告詞也代表了我的心意。”

因此可知,你聽別人禱告時,如果你同意他所說的,就說“阿門”。如果你不同意,或者如果你沒有注意到帶你禱告的那人所說的話,或沒有聽懂他的話,就不應該說“阿門”。

8)約翰福音10:7: “…耶穌又對他們說:“我實實在在地告訴你們:我就是羊的門。” 中文傳統的和合本《聖經》把耶穌常說的“阿門,阿門,我告訴你們”這句希臘語翻譯為“我實實在在的告訴你…”。現代中文譯本把同一句話翻譯為“我鄭重的地告訴你…”。希臘原文是“阿門,阿門”;意思是,“下面這句話很重要!很沉重!很慎重!很實在!所以你要注意的聽!”雖然中文翻譯為“我實實在在的告訴你…”或“我鄭重的地告訴你…”,希臘原文是“阿門,阿門”。

9)啟示錄3:14:“你要寫信給老底嘉教會的使者說:‘那為阿門的,為誠信真實見證的,在神創造萬物之上為元首的說…’ ” 在此經文里,“阿門”是指耶穌和神而言。這個經文告訴我們耶穌是那位真實的,說實話的主。他不撒謊,所以“阿門”是他的一個稱呼。因為我們是他的門徒,我們所說的話也必須是實話!我們說“阿門”時,要小心一點吧!

總結:“阿門”的意思包括:“願為如此”、“願神成全”、 “同意”、“鄭重、慎重”和“誠信真實”在內。基督徒向神禱告時要奉耶穌的名禱告。下次您禱告時,請注意到您怎麼樣用“阿門”一詞。

願神賜福給您!阿門!

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.


【問答】八:“阿門”是什麼意思?
FAQ’s About Christianity (08): What Does “Amen” Mean?
作者:謝德華 ©By Edward Short

 

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