道成肉身是什么意思？为什么上帝必须成为人？
What does the incarnation mean? Why did God have to become human?
简答 Short Answer
道成肉身是指永恒的圣子取了人性，成为人耶稣基督。上帝成为人是为了在人性中代替我们遵行律法、承受刑罚，并使我们与上帝和好。
The incarnation means the eternal Son took on human nature, becoming the man Jesus Christ. God became human to obey the law and bear the penalty in our place, reconciling us to God.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
约翰福音1:14宣告：「道成了肉身，住在我们中间。」这是宇宙历史中最惊天动地的事件——永恒、无限的上帝进入了有限的人类存在。创造万物的那一位，成为了被造物中的一员。
为什么上帝必须成为人？首先，罪的工价是死（罗6:23），而天使或动物的死不能替代人类。只有一个人的死才能为人类赎罪。但普通人自己也是罪人，无法替别人赎罪。因此需要一个无罪的完美人——而这只有上帝亲自成为人才能实现。
其次，道成肉身使上帝能够真正与我们的苦难认同。希伯来书4:15说，我们的大祭司「并非不能体恤我们的软弱，祂也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是祂没有犯罪。」上帝不是在远处命令我们受苦，而是亲自经历了人类的一切苦难。这使我们在苦难中可以确信：上帝理解我们。
John 1:14 declares: 'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.' This is the most staggering event in cosmic history — the eternal, infinite God entered finite human existence. The One who created all things became one of His creatures.
Why did God have to become human? First, the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), and the death of angels or animals cannot substitute for humans. Only a human death can atone for human sin. But ordinary humans are themselves sinners, unable to atone for others. Therefore a sinless, perfect human was needed — and only God becoming human could achieve this.
Second, the incarnation enables God to truly identify with our suffering. Hebrews 4:15 says our High Priest 'is not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.' God didn't command us to suffer from a distance but personally experienced every human suffering. This assures us in our trials: God understands.
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •Knowing Christ (Mark Jones)
- •The Person of Christ (Donald Macleod)