 |
英國倫敦於九月廿一日推出最新版英文聖經，可以在一百分鐘內讀完。
《一百分鐘聖經》（The 100 Minute Bible）是坎特伯理大教堂牧師米高欣頓（Michael Hinton）花了兩年時間，將聖經六十六卷撮要寫成。他說︰「本書以耶穌為主角，因為 是聖經的中心。」
出版商說︰「這本聖經適合鐵路及飛機乘客，以及那些想認識基督教，而無足夠時間讀完全本聖經的人，給他們以新方式來看聖經。」
宣傳說︰《一百分鐘聖經》「將耶穌基督生平和事工的重點撮要出來。首先是講猶太國家的興衰，從而勾勒出聖經裡的社會和神學面貌。然後記錄第一世紀基督教的成長，先在猶太人中，接著是以色列地的其他民族，跟著是地中海東邊一帶，遠至羅馬。」
出版商老闆蘭畢（Len Budd）說︰「此書是以成年人為對象，寫作風格是要鼓勵讀者一頁一頁翻下去。這本如筆記簿大小的《一百分鐘聖經》，正如聖經一樣，會是最暢銷的書。」初版印行超過一萬一千本。
以下是馬太福音5-7章「登山福訓」︰
25 The Sermon on the Mount
Much of Jesus』 teaching was brought together when, seated on a hillside, he spoke to his disciples about life in the kingdom of God. He taught that true happiness comes from having the right attitudes. Those who are humble, concerned about the world』s sinfulness, gentle, devoted to goodness, merciful, single-minded in God』s service, and peace-lovers will be blessed by God. Those of his followers who are persecuted in this world should rejoice, because they will have a rich reward in the next.
Jesus emphasised that he had not come to destroy the moral demands of the Jewish Law but to fulfil them. He taught that it is not enough not to commit murder; the anger which can lead to murder must be set aside too. It is not enough not to commit adultery; lustful thoughts must be set aside too. It is not enough to keep only our solemn promises; we should always mean what we say.
The Jewish Law taught that retaliation should be proportionate to the harm done – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth – but Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and that we should return good for evil, turning the other cheek when others attack us.
He went on to say that ostentatious piety and charitable giving are wrong; both piety and giving should be between ourselves and God. No-one can serve two masters; it is impossible to serve both God and money. God knows what people』s needs are and will supply them, in the same way as he provides food for birds and glorious clothing for flowers; we should not be anxious but should trust him. We should not judge others; for we shall be judged to the degree we judge. It is difficult to find the way to the kingdom of heaven and there will be those who will try to mislead us. We should assess others by the moral and spiritual quality of their lives.
He summarised the whole moral teaching of the Old Testament in the command to treat others as you would like them to treat you.
Jesus said that anyone who acts on his words is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. When storms came the house stood firm. But anyone who does not act on his words is like a man who built his house on sand. When storms came the house fell, and the ensuing devastation was great.
Matthew 5 – 7
