307# 在天义中，“父”指我们的主耶稣基督；“母”指圣徒相通，由此意谓祂散布于普世的教会。主为父，可由以下经文明见：“因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们；政权必担在他的肩头上；他名称为奇妙、策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和平的君。”（赛9:6）又云：“亚伯拉罕虽然不认识我们，以色列也不承认我们，你却是我们的父。耶和华啊，你是我们的父；从万古以来，你名称为我们的救赎主。”（赛63:16）腓力对他说：“求主将父显给我们看，我们就知足了。”耶稣对他说：“人看见了我，就是看见了父；你怎么说：将父显给我们看呢？……我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？……你们当信我，我在父里面，父在我里面。”（约14:8—11；12:45）
在此意义中，“母”指主的教会，亦可由以下经文明见：“我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由上帝那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。”（启21:2）天使对约翰说：“你到这里来，我要将新妇，就是羔羊的妻，指给你看；……将那由上帝那里、从天而降的圣城耶路撒冷指示我。”（启21:9，10）又云：“羔羊婚娶的时候到了，新妇也自己预备好了；……凡被请赴羔羊之婚筵的有福了。”（启19:7，9；另见太9:15；可2:19，20；路5:34，35；约3:29；19:25—27）“新耶路撒冷”意指今日由主所建立的新教会，可参启示录解义880、881节；此教会，而非先前的教会，乃此意义中的妻与母。
由此婚姻所生的属灵子嗣，乃仁义之善与信仰之真；凡由主在这些善与真中者，皆称为“婚筵之子”“上帝之子”，并称为由祂“所生者”。
307# 在属天意义上，“父”是指我们的主耶稣基督，“母”是指圣徒的团契，或遍及全世界的主的教会。主就是父，这一点从以下经文明显看出来；以赛亚书：
有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们。祂名称为神、勇士、永在的父、和平的君。（以赛亚书9:6）
又：
你是我们的父；亚伯拉罕虽然不认识我们，以色列也不承认我们；你却是我们的父，从万古以来，我们的救赎主就是你的名。（以赛亚书63:16）
约翰福音：
腓力说，求主将父显给我们看。耶稣对他说，人看见了我，就是看见了父；你怎么说将父显给我们看呢？你们当信我，我在父里面，父在我里面。（约翰福音14:8-11; 12:45）
在属天意义上，“母”是指主的教会，这一点从以下经文明显看出来；启示录：
我看见圣城新耶路撒冷，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。（启示录21:2）
又：
天使对约翰说，你来，我要将新妇，就是羔羊的妻，指示你。天使将圣耶路撒冷城指示我。（启示录21:9，10）
又：
羔羊的婚期到了，祂的妻子也自己预备好了；凡被请赴羔羊之婚筵的有福了。（启示录19:7，9; 也可参看马太福音9:15; 马可福音2:19，20; 路加福音5:34，36; 约翰福音3:29; 19:25-27）
“新耶路撒冷”是指如今主正在建立的新教会（可参看《揭秘启示录》，880，881节）。“妻子”和“母亲”在属天意义上是指这个教会，而不是以前的教会。从这婚姻中出生的属灵后代，是仁之良善和信之真理；那些处于来自主的这些事物的人被称为“婚姻之子”、“神的儿子”和“从神生的”。
307. In the heavenly meaning, "father" stands for our Lord Jesus Christ and "mother" stands for the communion of saints, meaning his church that is scattered throughout the entire world. The following passages show that the Lord is the Father:
A Child is born to us; a Son is given to us. His name will be called God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
You are our Father. Abraham did not know us and Israel did not acknowledge us. You are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. (Isaiah 63:16)
Philip said, "Show us the Father. " Jesus says to him, "Those who see me see the Father. How then are you saying, Show us the Father? Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. " (John 14:7-11; 12:45)
The following passages show that in the heavenly meaning mother stands for the Lord's church:
I saw a city, the holy New Jerusalem, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
The angel said to John,
Come. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb,
and he showed him the holy city Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-10).
The time for the Lamb's wedding has come; his bride has prepared herself. Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:7, 9; see also Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; John 3:29; 19:25-27)
"The New Jerusalem" means the new church that the Lord is establishing today (see Revelation Unveiled 880-881). This church, not the one before it, is the "wife" and "mother" in this sense. The spiritual offspring that are born from this marriage are acts of goodwill and true insights related to faith. The people who have these things from the Lord are called "children of the wedding," "children of God," and "those who are born of him. "
307. In the celestial sense father means our Lord Jesus Christ, and mother means the communion of saints, that is, His church scattered throughout the world. It is clear from the following passages that the Lord is father:
A child is born for us, a son is given to us, whose name is God, Hero, the everlasting father, the Prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6.
You are our father. Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You are our father, our Redeemer from eternity is your name, Isaiah 63:16.
Philip said, Show us the Father; Jesus says to him, He who sees me sees the Father. Why then do you say, Show us the Father? Believe me, that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, John 14:8-11; 12:45.
It is clear from the following passages that mother in this sense means the Lord's church:
I saw the holy city the New Jerusalem arrayed like a bride adorned for her husband, Revelation 21:2.
The angel said to John, Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb; and he showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, Revelation 21:9-10.
The time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his wife has made ready; blessed are those who are invited to the wedding-feast of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7, 9. (See further Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; John 3:29; 19:25-27.)
On the New Jerusalem meaning the new church now being established by the Lord, see Apocalypse Revealed (800, 881). It is this church, not the earlier one, which is wife and mother in this sense. The spiritual offspring born of this marriage are the various kinds of good which constitute charity, and the truths which constitute faith; and those whom the Lord puts in possession of these are called 'sons of the wedding,' 'sons of God,' and 'born of God.'
307. In the celestial sense, "father" means our Lord Jesus Christ, and "mother" the communion of saints, which means the Lord's church spread throughout the whole world. That the Lord is the Father, is evident from the following passages:
Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. His name is God, Mighty, Father of eternity, Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6).
Thou art our Father; Abraham knoweth us not and Israel doth not acknowledge us; Thou art our Father, our Redeemer from everlasting is Thy name (Isa.63:16).
Philip said, show us the Father; Jesus saith unto him, He that seeth Me seeth the Father; how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me (John 14:8-11; also 12:45).
That "mother" in this sense means the Lord's church, is evident from the following passages:
I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband (Apoc.21:2).
The angel said to John, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb; and he showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem (Apoc.21:9, 10).
The time of the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready: Blessed are they that have been called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Apoc.19:7, 9 (See also Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19, 20; Luke 5:34, 36; John 3:29; 19:25-27)
That "the New Jerusalem" means the New Church which the Lord is at this day establishing, may be seen in Apocalypse Revealed 880-881; this church, and not the preceding, is the wife and the mother in this sense. The spiritual offspring which are born from this marriage are the goods of charity and the truths of faith; and those who are in these from the Lord, are called "sons of the marriage," "sons of God," and "born of God."
307. In the celestial sense, by father is meant our Lord Jesus Christ, and by mother, the communion of saints, or His Church throughout the whole world. That the Lord is the Father is evident from these passages:
"Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and His name shall be called... The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6.
"Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou... art our Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting" Isaiah 63:18.
Philip said, "Show us the Father... Jesus saith unto him... He that seeth me seeth the Father (A.V., hath seen) and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?... Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me" John 14:8-11; John 12:46.
That the Church of the Lord is meant by mother in this sense is evident from these passages:
"I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem... prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" Revelation 21:2.
The angel said to John, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife... and he showed me that... city, the Holy Jerusalem" Revelation 21:9-10.
"The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready... Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb" Revelation 19:7, 9;
and see also Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; John 3:29; 19:25-27.
By the New Jerusalem is meant the New Church, which is at this day being established by the Lord, as may be seen in The Apocalypse Revealed 880-881. It is this Church, and not the former, which is the wife and mother in this sense. The spiritual offspring, which are the fruits of this marriage, are the goods of charity and the truths of faith; and those who are principled in these from the Lord are called the sons of the marriage, the sons of God, and born of God.
307. In SENSU COELESTI, per Patrem intelligitur Dominus noster Jesus Christus, et per Matrem Communio Sanctorum, per quam intelligitur Ecclesia Ipsius per universum orbem sparsa. Quod Dominus sit Pater, constat ex his, Puer natus est nobis, Filius datus est nobis, Cujus Nomen Deus, Heros, PATER AETERNITATIS, Princeps pacis, Esaias 9:5. 1 Tu PATER NOSTER, Abraham non cognoscit nos, et Israel non agnoscit nos, 2 TU PATER NOSTER, Redemptor noster a saeculo Nomen tuum, Esaias 63:16. Dixit Philippus, monstra nobis Patrem; dicit illi Jesus, QUI VIDET ME VIDET PATREM; quomodo ergo tu dicis, monstra nobis Patrem; credite Mihi, quod Ego in Patre, et Pater in Me sit, Johannes 14:7-11; 12:45. 3 Quod per Matrem in hoc sensu intelligatur Ecclesia Domini, constat ex his, Vidi Urbem, sanctam Hierosolymam 4 novam, paratam sicut SPONSAM ORNATAM MARITO, Apocalypsis 21:2. Angelus dixit ad Johannem, veni, ostendam tibi SPONSAM AGNI UXOREM, et ostendit Urbem Sanctam Hierosolymam, Apocalypsis 21:9-10. Venit tempus NUPTIARUM AGNI, et UXOR EJUS paravit se: beati, qui ad Coenam NUPTIARUM AGNI vocati sunt, Apocalypsis 19:7, 9; 5 et praeterea, Matthaeus 9:15; Marcus 2:19-20, Luca 5:34-35; Johannes 3:29: 6 quod per Novam Hierosolymam intelligatur Nova Ecclesia, quae a Domino hodie instauratur, videatur APOCALYPSIS REVELATA 880-881; haec Ecclesia, et non prior, est Uxor et Mater in hoc sensu. Proles spirituales, quae ex hoc Conjugio nascuntur, sunt bona charitatis et vera fidei; et illi qui in his a Domino sunt, vocantur filii nuptiarum, filii Dei, et nati ab Ipso.
Footnotes:
1. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica sed 9:6 apud Biblia Anglica. Prima editio: Esaias 9:15.
2. Prima editio: Abraham non cognoscit nos, et Israel non agnoscit nos (absque italicis).
3. Prima editio: 15.
4. Prima editio: Hierosolismam.
5. Prima editio: 9.
6. Prima editio: Johannes 3:29; 25, 26, 27.