But It is really long.

它是由跨越數世紀的眾多書信集結而成的作品，

Yeah, it is a collection of many books written over a long period of time.

用來描述一個完整的故事。

But, all together, they tell one unified story.

那麼，聖經到底在說什麼故事呢？

So, what is the story of the Bible?

一開始，它介紹了一個至美的意識，世界的創作者， 被稱之為「上帝」的存有。

Well, it begins by introducing us to a beautiful mind, the author of all reality, a being called God.

祂大有能力，能將黑暗渾沌創造成 充滿秩序的美麗世界，和一個生機盎然的花園。

He has the power to take the dark chaos of the uncreated world and bring about order and beauty

上帝創作的高峰， 當屬創造人類─希伯來語稱之為「亞當」。

and a garden full of life.

人是以上帝的形象所創造的，

To crown this accomplishment, God appoints these creatures called humanity or in Hebrew, "Adam".

這也意味著他們被賦予依照上帝的旨意治理管理世界的責任，

They are made as God's image.

藉著激發受造物的潛力， 讓這個世界更有秩序，更美好。

This means they are commissioned to rule this beautiful world on God's behalf

所以是一個人類運用被賦予的能力， 給予生命，活出存在意義的故事。

by harnessing all of its potential and creating even more beauty and order.

問題是，人類該怎麼做呢？

This is a story about humans using their power to do meaningful life-giving work.

沒錯，人類面臨的選擇， 在故事中就用一棵善惡樹來代表。

But the question is, how?

人類可以做上帝的同伴， 藉由信任上帝的善惡標準來獲得自由。

Yeah, humanity now faces a choice that is represented by a fruit tree.

或者，人類也能把這權柄搶過來，自己訂一套標準。

Humans could partner with God and find freedom by trusting in his knowledge of good and evil.

但這將帶來上帝所警告的：如此，你們必定會死。

Or, they could seize power and define good and evil on their own

但有一個神祕的黑暗勢力告訴他們: 「這還需要選嗎？

which, God warns, will kill them.

只要你吃下了這個果子， 你就能按你的想法統制這個世界！」

They hear the voice of a dark mysterious creature that tells them, the choice is simple.

所以，他們選擇吃下禁果。 結果，他們變得多疑、自我保護起來。

Take the fruit.

這導致了關係的破壞、暴力相向，

It will give you power and freedom to rule the world on your own terms.

最後，一個認為「邪惡」才叫做「好」的巴比倫文明誕生了。

So, they seize this knowledge.

然而，上帝對這個走向滅亡的團體有了新的計畫。

As a result they become suspicious and self-protective.

聖經的故事在這裡有一個重要的轉折，

It leads to fractured relationships, violent power grabs and, ultimately,

從人類團體轉到一對來自巴比倫的夫妻， 亞伯拉罕與撒拉

a whole civilization, Babylon, that has redefined evil as good.

上帝應許，將從他們的血脈生出新人類，

So, God scatters this corrupted human project.

組成一個新國度，能有機會做出正確的選擇。

Here the story of the Bible takes an important turn.

如果他們成功了， 將會為世人開啟一條全新的道路。

We zoom into the story of a man and a woman who come out of Babylon, Abraham and Sarah.

這也是為什麼，接下來的故事都跟這個家族有關了。

Yeah, God promises that from them will come a new people,

不過，情況並沒有好轉。

a nation that has another chance to make the right choice.

即使上帝親自帶領， 亞伯拉罕的子孫依舊陷入同樣的試探中，

If they succeed, it will open up this new way forward for the rest of humanity.

不照上帝的標準，而自己定義何為善惡。

This is why the rest of the Bible story is about this family.

即使是他們中間最虔敬服從祂， 擁有上帝所賜智慧的領抽也屈服了。

It does not go well.

許多先知警告，向罪屈服的後果， 將使他們被異族征服、俘虜，流放到「巴比倫」。

Despite God's personal guidance, Abraham's family gives in to that same temptation

事情果然按照先知的警告發生了。

to redefine good and evil on their own terms, apart from God.

即使上帝親自引導，以色列人還是失敗了。

Even when their best people were in charge, rulers who loved God's guidance and had divine wisdom, even they gave in.

那，誰還能成功呢？

Israel was warned by their own prophets that these choices would lead them back to Babylon,

先知說，這故事還沒完。

this time as conquered captives living in exile.

上帝將差派新的領導者，消除人們的罪，

That is exactly what happened.

並且轉換他們的心靈， 使他們可以做出正確的決定。

Even with God's personal guidance, Israel fails.

所以，聖經前半部「舊約」結束了。 上帝的許諾還沒實現。

Who can succeed?

接著就來到了新約時代，

Well, the prophet said that the story was not over.

一開始，一位出自以色列王室血脈的人 ，拿撒勒人耶穌出場。

God is going to send a new leader to Israel to cover for their failures

祂說，祂來是要完成上帝的應許。

and to transform the people's hearts and minds so that they can make the right choice.

祂直接面對使全人類屈服的黑暗神祕邪惡勢力， 並拒絕牠的誘惑。

So, the part of the Bible called the "Old Testament" ends.

接著祂宣布，上帝透過祂掌管這個世界。

These promises are left hanging.

耶穌教導有關上帝的善惡標準。 並說：真正的力量是為了服事他人。

Then the biblical story continues into the New Testament.

根據耶穌的說法，那些看顧窮人， 甚至愛仇敵的人們，才是要掌管世界的人。

We are introduced to a man who comes from the line of Israel's kings, Jesus of Nazareth.

這宣講令人困惑，但卻很美。

He said that he was bringing all these promises to their completion.

這宣講也顯示了耶穌的身份: 祂是降生為人的上帝，

He confronted that dark mysterious evil that all humanity has given into and resisted its power.

為了做到以色列與世人無法為自己做的事情。

Then he announced that God had arrived to rule the world through himself.

那就是承擔世人因選擇邪惡所造成的所有後果。

Jesus taught about God's definition of good and evil.

祂犧牲的愛超越了邪惡的力量，甚至死亡本身。

He said that real power is serving others.

人們透過十字架所代表的新善惡樹， 有了新的選擇：

According to Jesus, it is people who love the poor and even love their enemies

是要重蹈覆轍走回老路，或者選一條全新的道路。

who are the kinds of people who will actually rule the world.

聖經說，這些選擇新路的人 他們的生命將被上帝的力量充滿。

That is confusing but also really beautiful.

這些體驗到被上帝所愛與寬恕的人， 將能以愛人與寬恕人來回報祂。

So is the claim that the story goes on to make about Jesus,

這個「耶穌運動」迅速席捲了世界，

that he is God become human,

並產生追隨耶穌基督的新團體。

to be for Israel and for all humanity what we could never be for ourselves.

但他們面對一堆挑戰： 外有掌權者的逼迫，內有教義上的衝突與妥協。

He came to take the consequences of our evil into himself.

因為跟隨耶穌實在太困難了。

His sacrificial love proved more powerful than evil, than even death itself.

所以基督信仰的領導人─「使徒」 寫信來安慰、挑戰這些團體。

Now, humanity is presented with a new choice,

鼓勵他們在苦難中仍能保有信心。

represented by a new tree.

期盼耶穌再來、更新世界的那一天。

Stick with the old way of being human or venture into this new way.

聖經最後指出，將來有一天，公義會取代不義。

In the story, those who choose the way of Jesus find themselves energized by God's own power.

當邪惡將被消滅、天國降臨人間，

People who know that they are loved and forgiven by God can become people who love and forgive others in return.

世人將在神的愛與力量中，重新掌管這世界。

The Jesus Movement quickly spread throughout the world,

所以，這就是聖經的故事主軸， 將聖經各卷書緊密串連。

forming these new communities, people who follow the way of Jesus.

但有趣的是，每本書都有自己的文學特色，

But they face problems.

為這故事增添獨特的色彩。

There was persecution from the outside by people in power.

這也是下部影片將探討的。

Inside there was confusion, even compromise.

Yeah, because following Jesus is really hard.

So the movement's leaders, called apostles, wrote letters to comfort and to challenge these communities

to stay faithful to the difficult way of Jesus.

They are called to hope for the day when Jesus will come and change everything.

The Bible ends by pointing to the future day when all wrongs are made right,

when evil is eradicated, heaven and earth are united, and humanity can rule the world,

together in the love and power of God.

Okay.

So, that is the story of the Bible.

It brings all of these books together.

What is interesting is that each book contains a different kind of literature

that contributes to the story in a unique way.

That is what the next video will begin to explore.