论比德的神迹书写

On Bede’s Miracle Writing

比德是英国中世纪早期著名史家,他的历史著作在记载大量史实的同时,也讲述了不少被一些研究者视为荒诞不经的神迹故事。神迹作为在上帝的干预下发生的一种有违于自然规律的现象,与奇迹、神话有着本质上的不同。从整体层面看,比德的神迹书写与历史书写具有统一性,是历史书写的组成部分,其笔下的神迹是研究英国中世纪早期历史不可多得的史料。关于比德神迹书写的意图,传统的解释主要有皈依说和加持说两种观点。事实上,结合比德的整体著述目的而言,教诲说更能全面反映比德书写神迹的意图。皈依说和加持说应服从于教诲说,是教诲说在具体语境下的体现。

Bede(c.673-735)was a historian in early Medieval England.Throughout his historical works,miracle stories that some researchers regarded as absurd could be almost found everywhere.A miracle is a fantasy event produced by the specialintervention of God for a religious end,transcending the laws of nature.Miracles are essentially different from the myths and the artificial wonders.From a holistic scale,Bede’s miracle writing is unified with his historical writing and is an integral part of historical writing.Bede’s miracle stories are precious material for studying the history of Anglo-Saxons history.Why Bede wrote so much miracles in his historical works?There are two main points of view about the above problem in academic circles.One is to promote the conversion of England people,and the other is to strengthen the faith of Christian in England.However,it is not proper to discuss this problem without considering the total purpose of Bede’s history writing which could be thought as to teach others.The doctrine of conversion and strengthen the faith of Christian should be subordinate to the doctrine of teaching,which is the embodiment of the doctrine of teaching in specific contexts.