保羅在鑰節所說的乃是「無人不以為然」，或是「毫無疑問」的(NIV)。他所引用的這段話，大多數聖經註譯者視為早期基督教聖詩，或是禮拜信經的一部份。我們不知道這聖詩的所有部份，所以不能推想它的內容。我們所知道的是，這六句宣告，就像原文一樣地精確，而且具有詩意，表明了正統神學的堅實基礎。

        「上帝在肉身顯現」。道成肉身是基督教神學的基礎：上帝在肉身中，在人性中，以及在人的形式中。基督在肉身中誕生與在肉身中復活，是完全的神，也是完全的人。

        「被聖靈稱義（證明無罪"Vindicated"NIV）」──耶穌被聖靈帶領，進入曠野，接受試探，以及祂「在聖靈的大能裡」勝過撒但（路4：1~4）。然後，用保羅的話來說，「按聖善的靈說，耶穌因從死裡復活，以大能顯明是上帝的兒子……」（羅1：4 NIV）。聖靈給耶穌全備的證明：「祂是神子，也是人子」。

        「被天使看見」。天使不僅見證耶穌的復活和升天，他們也見證，祂被高舉（腓2：9~10）。甚至邪惡的黑暗勢力也為這做見證（西2：15）。祂升天，在尊榮中顯現，比天使都大，照著麥基洗德的等次，成為永遠的祭司（希15：10）。

        「被傳於外邦」。耶穌是猶太人；使徒們也是。祂應驗了猶太的律法，而且使徒們也撰寫了福音，以「律法與先知」為基礎。保羅是第一位向外邦人傳福音的宣教士，他做得非常成功，以致後來的對外邦宣教工作，反而比對猶太本地的事工來得熱烈。

        「被世人信服」──人數越來越多，所以外邦人信徒的人數已超過了猶太人信徒。不論從那個角度來看，猶太教中最重要的信息──「彌賽亞」──已經「照亮了」萬國。

        「被接在榮耀裡」。為什麼最後一句才提到耶穌的升天，顯然不合事件發生的順序。不過，我的直覺乃是：當時及現在基督教最感榮耀的主題之一，就是上帝的羔羊以得勝的姿態坐在父上帝的右邊。至終，我們的神學皆要俯伏在天國最高奧秘及事實的面前：基督是王，永無盡期。

        主啊，您的完美智慧使我們驚奇；我們在所站立的恩典中歡欣。我們感謝您向我們保證，耶穌──我們的主──將要統治所有的一切。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        What Paul is about to say is "without controversy" or "beyond all question" (NIV). He is about to quote part of what the majority of Bible commentators see as an early Christian hymn or liturgical creed. We don't know the full text of the hymn, so we cannot speculate as to context. What we do know is that these six statements, precisely and poetically written as they are, present solid, orthodox theology.

        (1) "God was manifested in the flesh". Foundational to Christian theology is the incarnation: God in the flesh, in human nature, in human form. Jesus Christ was born in the flesh and resurrected in the flesh, fully God and fully man.

        (2) "justified ['vindicated', NIV] in the Spirit" — Jesus was "led by the Spirit" into the wilderness to be tested, and He triumphed over Satan "in the power of the Spirit" (Lk.4:1-4). Then, in Paul's words, Jesus, "through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead..." (Rom.l:4 NIV). The Holy Spirit fully established Jesus' credentials as Son of God and Son of Man.

        (3) "seen by angels". Not only did angels witness Jesus' resurrection and ascension, but they also witnessed His exaltation (Phil.2:9-10). Even the evil powers of darkness bore witness to this (Col.2:15). He ascended into Heaven and there was revealed in His full splendor, superior to the angelic host, "a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek" (Heb.l-5:10).

        (4) "preached among the Gentiles". Jesus was Jewish; so were the apostles. He fulfilled Jewish Law and the apostles wrote a Gospel founded on "the Law and the Prophets". Paul was the first full-time missionary to the Gentiles, and so effective was his, and subsequent, missionary efforts that Jesus became,

        (5) "believed on in the world" — so much so that Gentile believers far outweigh Jewish believers numerically. In every sense of the word, the central message of Judaism — "Messiah" — has become a "light" to the nations.

        (6) "received up in glory". It's only speculation to presume to know why reference to Christ's ascension is made at this point, apparently out of chronological order. However, my instinct is this: one of the most glorious themes of Christianity, both then and now, is that of the Lamb of God triumphantly and majestically taking His place at the right hand of God the Father. Ultimately, our theology bows its knee to the heavenly mystery — the ultimate reality: Christ the king, forever, world without end.

        Lord, we marvel at Your flawless wisdom and rejoice in the grace by which we stand. We thank You for the overwhelming assurance that Jesus, our Lord and King, reigns supreme over all.