594# 人的重生在以西结书中由“枯骨”来描述：筋被加在这些枯骨上，随后有肉，又有皮覆盖其上，最后气息被吹入其中，它们便复活了（37:1–14）。这些事所代表的是重生，从那里明说的话可清楚看出：“这些骸骨就是以色列全家。”（结37:11）
在那里，重生也被比作坟墓；因为经上说，主要打开坟墓，使骸骨从其中上来，将灵赐在它们里面，并把他们安置在以色列地上（37:12–14）。这里以及别处所说的“以色列地”，指的是教会。
重生之所以由骸骨和坟墓来代表，是因为未重生的人被称为死人，重生的人被称为活人；因为在重生的人里面有属灵生命，而在未重生的人里面则有属灵死亡。
594# 在以西结书，人的重生被描述为“枯骨”加上筋，然后长上肉和皮，最后有灵或气息吹入里面，从而又活过来（以西结书37:1-14）。重生由这些事来代表，这一点从那里所说的话明显看出来：
这些骸骨就是以色列全家。（以西结书37:11）
那里还用坟墓来作对比，因为经上记着：
耶和华要打开他们的坟墓，使骸骨从坟墓中出来，将灵放在他们里面，领他们进入以色列地。（以西结书37:12-14）
“以色列地”在此处和别处都是指教会。此处重生由骸骨和坟墓来代表，因为未重生的人被称为死，重生的人被称为活；后者里面有属灵的生命，而前者里面有属灵的死亡。
594. Our regeneration is portrayed in Ezekiel as the dry bones on which sinews were placed; then flesh, and skin, and spirit was breathed into them, and they came to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). The following words in that story make it obvious that it represents regeneration: "These bones are the whole house of Israel" (Ezekiel 37:11). There is also a comparison there involving graves. We read that God will open graves and cause bones to rise up out of them, and he will put spirit in them and place them in the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:12-14). The land of Israel here and elsewhere means the church. Bones and graves were used to represent regeneration because people who have not been regenerated are called the dead, and people who have been regenerated are called the living. The former are spiritually dead, but the latter are spiritually alive.
594. A person's regeneration is described in Ezekiel by 'dry bones', on which sinews were fastened and then flesh and skin, and finally breath was breathed into them to bring them to life again (Ezekiel 37:1-14). It is plain that this is a representation of regeneration from it being said there:
These bones are the whole house of Israel (verse 11).
There is also a comparison there with graves, for it says that He would open the graves and cause the bones to rise from them, and put spirit in them, and settle them upon the land of Israel (verses 12-14). The land of Israel there and elsewhere means the church. The representation of regeneration was effected by means of bones and graves, because the person who has not been regenerated is called dead, and one who has is called alive. The one contains spiritual life, the other spiritual death.
594. Man's regeneration is described in Ezekiel by the "dry bones" which were clothed with sinews, then with flesh and skin, and at last had spirit breathed into them, whereby they lived again (37:1-14). That regeneration was represented by those things, is evident from what is there said:
These bones are the whole house of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11).
A comparison is also there made with graves, for it is written,
That Jehovah would open their graves, and cause the bones to come up out of their graves, and put spirit in them, and bring them together into the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:12-14).
"The land of Israel" there and elsewhere means the church. Regeneration was here represented by bones and graves, because the unregenerate man is called dead, and the regenerate alive; for in the latter there is spiritual life, but in the former spiritual death.
594. Man's regeneration is described in Ezekiel by the dry bones being first clothed with sinews, then with flesh and skin, and finally having spirit breathed into them, so that they revived, Chap Ezekiel 37:1-14. That regeneration was represented by these things is evident from the words,
"These bones are the whole house of Israel," verse 11.
A comparison is also made in the same chapter with sepulchres, for it is written,
That He would open their graves, and cause them to come up out of their graves, and bring them into the land of Israel, verses 12-14.
The land of Israel, here and elsewhere, means the Church. Regeneration was represented by means of bones and graves because the unregenerate man is called dead, and the regenerate alive; for spiritual life is in the latter, but in the former, spiritual death.
594. Regeneratio hominis describitur apud Ezechielem per Ossa arida, super quae inducebantur nervi, postea caro, et cutes, et demum inspiratus est spiritus, per quae revixerunt, 37:1-14, quod per illa repraesentata sit Regeneratio, patet clare ab his ibi, Ossa haec sunt tota domus Israelis, Vers. 11. Comparatur etiam ibi cum sepulchris, nam legitur, quod aperturus sit sepulchra, et ascendere facturus ossa inde, et daturus spiritum in illis, et collocaturus illos super terra Israelis, 1 Vers. 12-14; per terram Israelis intelligitur ibi et alibi Ecclesia. Quod repraesentatio regenerationis facta sit per ossa et sepulchra, est quia homo non regeneratus vocatur mortuus, et regeneratus vivus, in hoc enim est vita spiritualis, in illo autem mors spiritualis.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: Isr�elis.