早期基督教作家对圣经文体的辩护

The Defense of Biblical Style in Latin Patristic Writers

圣经古拉丁文译本因为种种原因,语言粗鄙,经常遭人诟病。早期基督教作家对此并不讳言,但却认为此种鄙俗的文体远胜过古典作家华丽的词藻,并由此发展出一套辩护的策略,将修辞学的问题上升为宗教思想的论争。在奥古斯丁等人看来,古典作家思想贫乏,不过以华美的辞章掩盖空洞的内容,而基督教不仅带来思想革命,也带来修辞学方面的改进。圣经这种平易、简朴、鄙俚的语言符合"道成肉身"的教义,使得寻常百姓、贩夫走卒也能体悟基督教的道理。对圣经文体的辩护相当于对古典修辞学传统进行了一次"价值重估"。

The lowly style of the Old Latin versions of the Bible is frequently mocked and criticized by pagan authors. Faced with the accusation of lack of stylistic embellishment, Latin Fathers from Tertullian to Augustine attempted to defend the sermo humulis of the Latin Bible in different ways. This paper, inspired by the seminal essay by Erich Auerbach, presents a sweeping survey of the apologetic strategies developed and employed by the Latin Christian writers. It is also expected to shed some light on the theological implication involved in this battle of rhetoric.