WH8.教会的教义必须取自圣言（3464，5402，5432，10763，10765节）。没有教义，圣言是无法理解的（9025，9409，9424，9430，10324，10431，10582节）。真正的教义对那些阅读圣言的人来说，是一盏灯（10400节）。纯正的教义必须来自那些被主光照的人（2510，2516，2519，9424，10105节）。圣言能通过被光照的人所构建的教义而被理解（10324节）。处于光照状态的人从圣言为自己构建教义（9382，10659节）。那些根据教会的教义教导和学习的人和那些根据圣言的字义教导和学习的人，两者之间有什么样的区别（9025节）。那些没有教义，只专注于圣言字义的人不会获得对神性真理的任何理解（9409，9410，10582节）。他们会犯很多错误（10431节）。当那些处于为了真理而对真理的情感之人到了成年，能以自己的理解力来明白事物时，他们就不会简单地停留在他们教会的教义中，而是根据圣言来查看它们是不是真的（5402，5432，6047节）。否则，每个人相信真理的依据，仅仅是因为别人就是这么说的，或在他出生的本土就是这样，无论这个人生来是犹太人还是希腊人（6047节）。尽管如此，已经成为信仰问题的原则，在未经深思熟虑之前，不可轻易抹除（9039节）。
教会的真正教义是仁与信的教义（2417，4766，10763，10764节）。信之教义并不构成教会，构成教会的乃是信之生活，也就是仁爱（809，1798，1799，1834，4468，4672，4766，5826，6637节）。除非人照教义生活，否则教义什么都不是；谁都能看出，教义是为生活而存在的，而不仅仅是为了记忆和由此而来的思维（1515，2049，2116节）。当今教会有信之教义，没有仁之教义；仁之教义已经退化为一种学问，被称为“道德神学”（2417节）。如果人们是基于他们的生活，因而基于他们的仁爱而被视为教会成员，那么教会将合而为一（1285，1316，2982，3267，3445，3451，3452节）。仁之教义远远胜过与仁分离的信之教义（4844节）。对仁爱一无所知，对天堂就一无所知（4783节）。只持守信之教义，不持守仁之教义，就会陷入错误；关于这些错误，可参看（2383，2417，3146，3325，3412，3413，3416，3773，4672，4730，4783，4925，5351，7623–7627，7752–7762，7790，8094，8313，8530，8765，9186，9224，10555节）。那些只专注于信之教义，不专注于信之生活，也就是仁爱的人，在过去被称为未受割礼的或非利士人3412，3413，3463，8093，8313，9340节）。古人有爱主、爱邻的教义，信之教义附属于它（2417，3419，4844，4955节）。
被光照的人所构建的教义，以后能被理性和知识确证，因而更充分地被理解和强化（2553，2719，3052，3310，6047节）。关于这个主题的详情，可参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》一书（51节）。那些处于与仁分离之信的人只是相信教会的教义，没有任何理性思考（3394节）。
不盲目地确认信条，而是在确认之前先看看它是不是真的，这是智慧人的标志；那些享有光照的人就是这种情况（1017，4741，7012，7680，7950节）。确认之光是属世之光，不是属灵之光，这光甚至可能在恶人中间（8780节）。一切事物，哪怕虚假的东西，也能被确认，以至于看似真理（2477，5033，6865，8521节）。
8. The Word is understood only by means of a body of teaching drawn from the Word. The church’s body of teaching must be drawn from the Word: 3464, 5402, 5432, 10763, 10765. Without a body of teaching, the Word is not intelligible: 9025, 9409, 9424, 9430, 10324, 10431, 10582. A true body of teaching is a lamp for us when we read the Word: 10400. Any authentic body of teaching must come from people who are enlightened by the Lord: 2510, 2516, 2519, 9424, 10105. The Word is to be understood by means of a body of teaching constructed by someone who is enlightened: 10324. People in a state of enlightenment construct a body of teaching for themselves from the Word: 9382, 10659. The nature of the difference between people who teach and learn on the basis of the church’s body of teaching and those who do so solely on the basis of the literal meaning of the Word: 9025. People who are focused on the literal meaning of the Word without having a body of teaching do not arrive at any understanding of divine truths: 9409, 9410, 10582. They fall into many errors: 10431. When people who have a passionate interest in the truth for its own sake reach adulthood and can see things with their own understanding, they do not simply rest in the theological tenets of their church but check them carefully against the Word to see whether they are true: 5402, 5432, 6047. Otherwise, what everyone believes could be declared true merely because someone else said so or because it was the religion of the person’s native soil, whether that person was born Jewish or Greek: 16047. Nevertheless, principles that have become matters of faith on the basis of the Word’s literal meaning should not be eliminated unless they have been fully examined: 9039.
[2] The church’s true body of teaching is made up of teachings focused on caring and faith: 2417, 4766, 10763, 10764. What makes a church is not a body of teaching about faith but living according to faith, which means caring: 809, 1798, 1799, 1834, 4468, 4672, 4766, 5826, 6637. A body of teaching is nothing unless its teachings are lived; anyone can see that they exist to be lived by, not just to be committed to memory and then given some thought: 1515, 2049, 2116. In today’s churches there is a body of teaching focused on faith and not on caring, and the body of teaching focused on caring has been consigned to the discipline known as moral theology: 22417. The church would be united if individuals were recognized as members of the church on the basis of their lives and therefore of their caring: 1285, 1316, 2982, 3267, 3445, 3451, 3452. How much more valid a body of teaching focused on caring is than a body of teaching focused on faith separated from caring: 4844. If we know nothing about caring, then we know nothing about heaven: 4783. If we have a body of teaching focused only on faith and not on caring at the same time, we lapse into errors: 2383, 2417, 3146, 3325, 3412, 3413, 3416, 3773, 4672, 4730, 4783, 4925, 5351, 7623–7627, 7752–7762, 7790, 8094, 8313, 8530, 8765, 9186, 9224, 10555 (which include some discussion of the errors in question). [In the ancient church,] people who were devoted teachings on faith but not living according faith, which means caring, were called “the uncircumcised” or “Philistines”: 3412, 3413, 3463, 8313, 8093, 9340. The early people had a body of teaching focused on love for the Lord and caring about their neighbor, and their teachings about faith were subsidiary to it: 2417, 3419, 4844, 4955.
[3] Once a body of teaching has been constructed by someone who is enlightened, it can then be supported by rational and factual means; in this way it is more fully understood, and this strengthens it: 2553, 2719, 3052, 3310, 6047. (There is more on this subject in The New Jerusalem and Its Teachings 51.) People who are committed to faith separated from caring want the church’s body of teaching simply to be believed without any rational inquiry: 3394.
[4] The practice of wisdom is not to support a dogma blindly but to see whether or not the dogma is true before convincing ourselves of its truth; this is what people do when they enjoy enlightenment: 1017, 4741, 7012, 7680, 7950. The light that is shed by convincing ourselves 3is an earthly light, not a spiritual one, and it is accessible even to evil people: 8780. We can convince ourselves of anything, even something false, in such a way that it seems to be true: 2477, 5033, 6865, 8521.
Footnotes:
1. On the meaning and biblical background of the phrase “whether . . . born Jewish or Greek,” see note 1 in New Jerusalem 257. [Editors]
2. On moral theology, see note 2 in New Jerusalem 257. [Editors]
3. The Latin here translated “the light that is shed by convincing ourselves” is lux confirmationis, traditionally rendered “the light of confirmation.” As Swedenborg uses the term, it refers to a deceptive light that comes from rationalizing as true what we wish to be true based on ulterior motives. For more on the various genuine and false forms of enlightenment, see Divine Providence 168, 318. [LSW]
8. The Word is not understood except through doctrine from the Word.
The doctrine of the Church must be from the Word: 3464, 5402, 5432, 10763, 10764. Doctrine without the Word is not understood: 9025, 9409, 9424, 9430, 10324, 10431, 10584. True doctrine is a lantern to those who read the Word: 10400. True doctrine must be derived from those 1who have received enlightenment from the Lord: 2510, 2516, 2519, 9424, 10105. The Word is understood through doctrine formed by one who is enlightened: 10324. Those who have received enlightenment form doctrine for themselves from the Word: 9382, 10659. There is a difference between those who teach and learn from the doctrine of the Church, and those who do this from the literal sense of the Word alone; and what that difference is: 9025. Those who rely on the literal sense of the Word and are without doctrine reach no understanding about divine truths: 9409-9410, 10582. They fall into many errors: 10431. When those who have affection for the truth because it is the truth become adult and can see with their own understanding, they do not simply remain in the doctrinal ideas of their own Church but find out for themselves from the Word whether they are true: 5402, 5432, 6047. Otherwise anyone's idea of the truth would be derived from someone else and from the land of their birth, whether Jew or Greek: 6047. Still, things that have become items of faith from the literal sense of the Word must not be extinguished except after full examination: 9039.
The true doctrine of the Church is the doctrine of love, in the sense of affectionate regard for your fellow man, 2and faith: 2417, 4766, 10763-10764. The doctrine of faith does not make the Church, but a life of faith does, which is love: 809, 1798-1799, 1834, 4468, 4672, 4766, 5826, 6637. Doctrinal ideas are nothing unless life is lived according to them; and everyone can see that they exist for the sake of life, and not for the sake of memory, and then for a degree of thought: 1515, 2049, 2116. In the various national churches today there is a doctrine of faith and not of love, and the doctrine of love has been driven backwards into a branch of learning, called Moral Theology: 2417. The Church would be a united whole if people were recognized as being people of the Church by the life they lead and the love they show: 1285, 1316, 2982, 3267, 3445, 3451-3452. How much a doctrine of love is worth compared with a doctrine of faith divorced from love: 4844. Those who know nothing of love are in ignorance of heavenly things: 2435. Those who have only a doctrine of faith and not of love slide into lost ways, on which subject see 2383, 2417, 3146, 3325, 3412-3413, 3416, 3773, 4672, 4730, 4783, 4925, 5351, 7623-7627, 7752-7762, 7790, 8094, 8313, 8530, 8765, 9186, 9224, 10555. Those who exist only in the doctrine of faith, and not in the life of faith, which is love, were in other times called the Uncircumcised, or Philistines: 3412-3413, 3463, 8093, 8313, 9340. Among the ancients there was a doctrine of love towards the Lord, and love in the sense of affectionate regard towards your neighbour, and the doctrine of faith was subordinate to this: 2417, 3419, 4844, 4955.
Doctrine formed by one who is enlightened can later be substantiated by rational proofs and proofs founded on sound knowledge, and in this way it can be more fully understood, and corroborated: 2553, 2719, 2720, 3052, 3310, 6047. More on this topic may be seen in The New Jerusalem and Its [Heavenly] Doctrine 51. Those who live in faith divorced from love would wish the doctrinal ideas of the Church to be believed simply, without any rational consideration: 3394.
A man who is wise does not just uphold a dogma but sees whether it is true before he upholds it, and this does happen among those who are in a state of enlightenment: 1017, 4741, 7012, 7680, 7950. This enlightenment is natural, not spiritual, and achievable even among the wicked: 8780. Everything, even falsehoods, can be upheld, even to the extent that they appear to be truths: 2482, 2490, 5033, 6865, 8521.
Footnotes:
1. At first I translated this as 'True doctrine is for those who ...,' assuming illis to be dative; but the first edition of De Equo Albo has ab illis. Presumably the omission of ab from the 1934 Latin text is a slip on someone's part.
2. Swedenborg's word here is charitas: I have pondered long before deciding on 'love in the sense of affectionate regard,' a shade of meaning borne out by the final sentence of paragraph 2 of this section, I think. For fluency I have usually translated this as simply love." Charity' is a non-starter these days, and dearness' is to me more a synonym for 'expensiveness."
8. THE WORD IS NOT UNDERSTOOD EXCEPT BY MEANS OF DOCTRINE FROM THE WORD.
The doctrine of the Church must be from the Word, (3464, 5402, 6832, 10763, 10765). The Word is not understood without doctrine, (9025, 9409, 9430, 10324, 10431, 10582). True doctrine is a lamp to those who read the Word, (10400). Genuine doctrine must be from those who are in enlightenment from the Lord, (2510, 2516, 2519, 9424, 10105). The Word can be understood by means of doctrine formed by one who is enlightened, (10324). They who are in enlightenment form doctrine from the Word for themselves, (9382, 10659). There is a distinction between those who teach and learn from the doctrine of the Church, and those who do so from the sense of the letter of the Word alone; its quality shown, (9025). Those who are in the sense of the letter of the Word without doctrine do not arrive at any understanding of divine truths, (9409, 9410, 10582). They fall into many errors, (10431). When they who are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth become adults, and are able to see from their own understanding, they do not simply remain in the doctrinals of their Church, but find out from the Word whether they are true, (5402, 5432, 6047). Otherwise, everyone's truth would be derived from another, and from the land of his birth, whether he were born a Jew or a Greek, (6047). Nevertheless the things which have become matters of faith from the literal sense of the Word are not to be blotted out except after full consideration, (9039).
The true doctrine of the Church is the doctrine of charity and faith, (2417, 4766, 10763, 10765), [10764]. The doctrine of faith does not constitute the Church, but the life of faith, which is charity, (809, 1798, 1799, 1834, 4468, 4672, 4766, 5826, 6637). Doctrinal things are nothing unless man lives in accordance with them: everyone can see that they are for the sake of life, and not for the sake of the memory and something of thought therefrom, (1515, 2049, 2116). In the Churches at the present time there is a doctrine of faith, but not of charity; the doctrine of charity has been degraded into a science, which is given the name of moral theology, (2417). The Church would be one if men were acknowledged to be of the Church on account of life, and so of charity, (1285, 1316, 2982, 3267, 3445, 3451, 3452). How much superior is the doctrine of charity to the doctrine of faith separate from charity, (4844). They who know nothing of charity are in ignorance concerning heavenly things, (2435). They who hold only the doctrine of faith, and not that of charity, fall into errors, concerning which see, (2383, 2417, 3146, 3325, 3412, 3413, 3416, 3773, 4672, 4730, 4783, 4925, 5351, 7623-7627, 7752-7762, 7790, 8094, 8313, 8530, 8765, 9186, 9224, 10555), [2385]. Those who are only in the doctrine of faith and not in the life of faith, which is charity, were formerly called the uncircumcised, or Philistines, (3412, 3413, 3463, 8093, 8313, 9340). With the ancients there was the doctrine of love to the Lord and of charity towards the neighbour, and the doctrine of faith was made of service to this, (2417, 3419, 4844, 4955).
Doctrine formed by one who is enlightened can afterwards be confirmed by rational things and by knowledges, (scientifica), and it is thus more fully understood and corroborated, (2553, 2719, 2720, 3052, 3310, 6047), [2557, 3057]. More concerning this subject may be seen in The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 51). Those who are in faith separate from charity would have the doctrinals of the Church simply believed without any rational consideration, (3394).
It is not the part of a wise man to confirm dogma, but to see whether it be true before it is confirmed, and this happens with those who are in enlightenment, (1017, 4741, 7012, 7680, 7950). The light of confirmation is natural light, and not spiritual, and is possible even with the evil, (8780). All things, even those that are false, can be so far confirmed as to appear as if they were truths, (2480, 2490, 5033, 6865, 8521).
8. The Word cannot be understood except by means of doctrine from the Word. The doctrine of the church must be from the Word (3464, 5402, 6832, 10763, 10765). The Word without doctrine is not understood (9025, 9409, 9424, 9430, 10324, 10431, 10582). True doctrine is a lamp to those who read the Word (10401). Genuine doctrine must be from those who are in enlightenment from the Lord (2510, 2516, 2519, 2524, 10105). The Word is understood by means of doctrine formed by one enlightened (10324). They who are in enlightenment form for themselves doctrine from the Word (9382, 10659). What is the difference between those who teach and learn from the doctrine of the church, and those who teach and learn from the sense of the letter of the Word alone (9025). They who are in the sense of the letter of the Word without doctrine, do not come into any understanding concerning Divine truths (9409, 9410, 10582). They may fall into many errors (10431). They who are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth, when they become adults, and can see from their own understanding, do not simply abide in the doctrinals of their churches, but examine from the Word whether they be true or not (5402, 5432, 6047). Otherwise everyone would have truth from another, and from his native soil, whether he were born a Jew or a Greek (6047). Nevertheless such things as are become matters of faith from the literal sense of the Word, are not to be extinguished till after a full view (9039).
The true doctrine of the church is the doctrine of charity and faith (2417, 4766, 10763, 10765). The doctrine of faith does not constitute the church, but the life of faith, which is charity (809, 1798, 1799, 1834, 4468, 4677, 4766, 5826, 6637). Doctrinals are of no account, unless one lives according to them; and everyone may see they are for the sake of life, and not merely for the memory and thought thence derived (1515, 2049, 2116). In the churches at this day the doctrine of faith is taught, and not the doctrine of charity, the latter being rejected to a science, which is called moral Theology 1(2417). The church would be one, if they should be acknowledged as men of the church from the life, thus from charity (1285, 1316, 2982, 3267, 3445, 3451, 3452). How much superior the doctrine of charity is to that of faith separate from charity (4844). They who know nothing concerning charity, are in ignorance with respect to heavenly things (2435). They who only hold the doctrine of faith, and not that of charity, fall into errors; which errors are also described (2383, 2417, 3146, 3325, 3412, 3413, 3416, 3773, 4672, 4730, 4783, 4925, 5351, 7623-7677, 7752-7762, 7790, 8094, 8313, 8530, 8765, 9186, 9224, 10555).
They who are only in the doctrine of faith, and not in the life of faith, which is charity, were formerly called the uncircumcised, or Philistines (3412, 3413, 3463, 8093, 8313, 9340). The ancients held the doctrine of love to the Lord and of charity towards the neighbor, and made the doctrine of faith subservient thereto (2417, 3419, 4844, 4955).
Doctrine formed by one enlightened may afterwards be confirmed by things rational and scientific; and that thus it is more fully understood, and is corroborated (2553, 2719, 2720, 3052, 3310, 6047). See more on this subject in The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine (51). They who are in faith separate from charity, would have the doctrinal of the church simply believed, without any rational intuition (3394).
It is not the mark of a wise man to confirm a dogma, but to see whether it be true before it is confirmed; and that this is the case with those who are in enlightenment (1017, 4741, 7012, 7680, 7950). The light of confirmation is a natural light, and not spiritual, and may exist even with the evil (8780). All things, even falsities, may be so far confirmed, as to appear like truths (2482, 2490, 5033, 6865, 8521).
Footnotes:
1. The translator has "philosophy," which is clearly a mistake.
8. Quod Verbum non intelligatur nisi per Doctrinam ex Verbo. Quod Doctrina Ecclesiae erit ex Verbo, 3464, 5402, 6832, 10763, 10765. Quod Verbum absque Doctrina non intelligatur, 9025, 9499, 9424, 9430, 10324, 10431, 10582. Quod vera Doctrina sit Lucerna illis qui legunt Verbum, 10402. Quod genuina Doctrina erit illis qui in illustratione sunt a Domino, 2510, 2516, 2519, 2424, 10105. Quod Verbum per Doctrinam ab illustrato factam intelligatur, 10324. Quod qui in illustratione sunt, ex Verbo sibi faciant doctrinam, 9382, 10659. Discrimen inter illos qui docent et discunt ex Doctrina Ecclesiae, et inter illos qui ex solo sensu literae Verbi, quale, 9025. Quod illi, qui in sensu literae Verbi absque doctrina sunt, in nullum intellectum veniant de veris divinis, 9409, 9410, 10582. Quod in plures errores cadant, 10431. Quod qui in affectione veri propter verum sunt, cum adulti fiunt, et ex suo intellectu videre possunt, non simpliciter maneant in Doctrinalibus suae Ecclesiae, sed quod ex Verbo scrutentur num vera sint, 5402, 5432, 6047. Quod alioquin foret cuivis verum ex alio, et ex natali solo sive natus Judaeus sive Graecus, 6047. Quod usque quae fidei facta sunt ex sensu literali Verbi non exstinguenda sint, nisi post plenam intuitionem, 9039.
Quod vera Doctrina Ecclesiae sit Doctrina charitatis et fidei, 2417, 4766, 10763, 10765. Quod Doctrina fidei non faciat Ecclesiam, sed vita fidei, quae est charitas, 809, 1798, 1799, 1834, 4468, 4677, 4766, 5826, 6637. Quod Doctrinalia nihil sint nisi vivatur secundum illa, et quod quisque videre possit quod sint propter vitam, et non propter memoriam et inde aliquid cogitationis, 1515, 2049, 2116. Quod hodie in Ecclesiis Doctrina fidei sit, et non charitatis, et quod Doctrina charitatis rejecta sit in Scientiam, quae vocatur Theologia moralis, 2417. Quod Ecclesia esset una, si agnoscerentur pro hominibus Ecclesiae ex vita, ita ex charitate, 1285, 1316, 2982, 3267, 3445, 3451, 3452. Quantum valet Doctrina charitatis prae Doctrina fidei separatae a charitate, 4844. Quod in ignorantia de caelestibus sint, qui non sciunt aliquid de charitate, 2435. Qui modo habent Doctrinam fidei et non charitatis, quod in errores labantur, de quibus etiam, 2417, 2383, 3146, 3325, 3412, 3413, 3416, 3773, 4672, 4730, 4783, 4925, 5351, 7623-7627, 7752-7762, 7790, 8094, 8313, 8530, 8765, 9186, 9224, 10555. Quod illi, qui solum in Doctrina fidei sunt, et non in vita fidei quae charitas, olim dicti fuerint Praeputiati seu Philisthaei, 3412, 3413, 3463, 8313, 8093, 9340. Quod apud Antiquos fuerit Doctrina amoris in Dominum et Charitatis erga proximum, et quod Doctrina fidei inserviverit ei, 2417, 3419, 4844, 4955.
Quod Doctrina per illustratum facta postea per rationalia et scientifica confirmari possit, et quod sic plenius intelligatur, et quod corroboretur, 2553, 2719, 2720, 3052, 3310, 6047. Plura de hac re videantur in Nova Hierosolyma et ejus Doctrina 51. Quod illi, qui in fide separata a charitate sunt, velint ut doctrinalia Ecclesiae simpliciter credantur absque aliqua intuitione rationali, 3394.
Quod confirmare dogma non sapientis sit, sed videre num verum sit antequam confirmatur, et quod hoc fiat apud illos qui in illustratione sunt, 1017, 4741, 7012, 7680, 7950. Quod lux confirmationis sit lux naturalis, non spiritualis, dabilis etiam apud malos, 8780. Quod omnia, etiam falsa, confirmari possint usque ut appareant sicut vera, 2482, 2490, 5033, 6865, 8321.