Tupbiknei Pathian’ Tatna (Limited Atonement)

 

Tupbiknei Pathian’ Tatna

(Limited Atonement)

 

Introduction

Tupbiknei Pathian’ Tatna tuh Jesu Khrist sisan in mi tengteng a uap kei a, teeltuamte kia a ding ahi chih thugin sinsakna ahi. Hiai thugin sinsakna tuh pom haksa a, Lai Siangthou mun bangzah hiam ah thumal “khovel,” “mi tengteng,” leh “kuapeuh” chih zat ahih ziakin ei mihing ngaihtuahna ah sinsakna diklou abang hi. Huan, Pathian in mi tengteng it lou, a hehpihna in tawpnei abat ziakin hiai thugin Lai Siangthou pansante a paubul apat hilhchetna (exegetical study) bawllouh in theihsiam ahaksa mahmah hi. Huaiziakin, Lai Siangthou paubulte (Greek & Hebrew), context leh background tungtawn in the effect of atonement leh intention of the atonement (for whom did Christ die? What did Christ’s death accomplish or What did Christ intend to accomplish by his death) chihte i sut ding uhi.

 

Topic details a i lutma in Jesu Khrist’ tatna thugin sinsakna kibang lou chi 3 te ka hon taklang masa ding;

(i)     Universalists: Pathian tup-le-ngim tuh Jesu Khrist sihna tungtawn a khovel a mi tengteng hotdam a om ding. * Mi tampi meidil pai ding (Matt 7:13) chih toh kikalh.

(ii)  Inconsistent Universalism/Unlimited atonement (Arminian): Jesu Khrist sihna tuh mi tengteng a ding, khentuam omlou, himahleh a gingtate kia hotdam a om ding, a gingta loute meidil pai ding chih ahi. Theihsiam nuam, pom haksa hetlou leh convincing mahmah ahi.

(iii)            Particular Atonement/Redemption (Reformed/Calvinist): Jesu Khrist sihna tuh Nam chih, pau chih leh gam chih a om teeltuamte tengteng (elect) kia a ding ahi.

 

Sinsakna lar deuh Unlimited leh Limited Atonement details zaw in i sut suk nawn ding;

1.      Inconsistent Universalism/Unlimited atonement (Arminian) sinsakna:

(i)        Jesu Khrist gingtate tengteng hotdam a om ding (John 3:16).

(ii)     Jesu Khrist kithoihna, “…. eimah khelhna kia hi lou in, khovel tengteng khelhna thupha tawina leng ahi (I John 2:2).” Khovel khelhna lamangpa (John 1:29).

(iii)   Khrist Jesu, mi tengteng tatna dia kipiapen (I Tim. 2:5-6).

(iv)    Lai Siangthou dang pansante: Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 12:32; Hebrews 2:9; John 3:14-18, 36; 5:24; 1 Tim 1:16.

 

Hiai sinsakna in Jesu Khrist sisan tuh mi tengteng a huamkhak man in mi tengteng hotdam a om ding chih sinsakna universalist toh a kibang hi. Himahleh, mi tengteng hotdam a omlou ding, a gingtate kia hotdam hiding a chi uhi. Huaiziakin, Jesu sisan tuh mi tengteng a ding himahleh mikhialte khenkhat tanzoulou suaksak a, Jesu hotdamna mission nasep ah khenkhat tungah lohching a mi khenkhat tungah lohsam a suaksak ding hi. Mihing apan bang hiam ginna neilou/ athoh apoimoh om chihna ahi. Bible in, “kuaman kei hon zuan theilou ka Pa’n hon sawl kei leh (John 6:44),” “kuamah mi hoih omlou, Pathian zong omlou (Rom 3:10-12)” kikalh suak hi.

 

A omdan tuh Jesu’n hon hondam zoulou, himahleh a sihna in hotdamna lampi hon bawlsak lel, himahleh hon hondam lou (the blood of Christ is sufficient, but not effectual. Its makes sinner savable, but not save), hotdamna dia mihing lam apan kithuahpihna (synergistic) apoimoh hi. Gendan dangin, Jesu’n amah gingta utlou a, amah kithuapih (cooperate) utloute hon dam zoulou chihna ahi a, hotdamna tuh mihingte khut a kinga, Pathian in leng mihingte’n akithuahpih keileh bangmah hih theilou (helpless) chihna ahi. Hiai sinsakna dik hileh Pathian a mission ah lohsam/failed ahihman in i Pathian tuh hatlou leh bukim lou, mihingte hotdam zoulou a suak dinga, phetlou in hotdamna ah Pathian sanga mihingte thunei zaw, mihingte Pathian sanga lian zaw chihna ahi ding hi. Lai Siangthou in God never failed (Joshua 21:45), phetlou in hotdamna tuh Toupa ahi (Jonah 2:9) ana chi toh kilehbulh hilhel suak hi. Huan, khovel pianchil apat Pathian hotdamna thil tup mi tengteng hotdamna ding chih hileh, NT ah mi tengteng hotdam a omlou ding chih ahihman in Pathian tuh a mission a lohsam chihna ahi. Pathian lohsam chih omthei dingin ka gingta kei, phetlou in Pathian tuh kikheng theilou (immutable/unchangeable) ahihman in mihingte thupukna bawl in Amah lohching leh lohsamsak theilou ding hi. Khovel pianma a mihingte hotdamna di toh kisai, a tup-le-ngimte (sovereign plan and decree) khek lamdang ahithei kei ding hi.

 

Arminian sinsakna in mi tengteng uap leh agingta bikte dingin chih ahihziakin theihsiam nuam, lunglut huai, matsiam baih, ngaihtuah sau ngailou a pom theihpah leh mi lungsim zoupah thei ban ah khentuam omlou a mi tengteng huam or telkha vek sinsakna ahihziakin pom a baih sam mahmah hi. Huai kia hilou in Lai Siangthou simple leh plain tak a thukpi sut ngailou a pansan ding tampi om ziakin pom a baihsam tuan mahmah hi. Himahleh, hiai sinsakna lungsim zou leh pombaih lam tuh Lai Siangthou sinsakna toh kituak chihna ahikei hi. Dotna poimoh khat tuh Lai Siangthou sinsakna toh akituak hia? Jesu sihna tup-le-ngim tuh mi tengteng hotdamna dinga ahileh Matt. 1:21 a, “Aman amite a khelhna ua pan ahondam ding” 22:14, “Sapte tampi, telte tawm chik” (context comment), John 6:39, “Aman ahon piak peuhmah mangsak lou a ni tawpni chianga ka kaithou zaw ding,” John 10:14-16 a “Ka belamte a dia hinna ka pia” chihte kalh suak hi. Huaiziakin, Arminian sinsakna a “khovel” (world) leh “mi tengteng” (all/everyone) thumalte a context toh kituaka suut a, a text gen utpen gensak apoimoh hi. Ei ut dan a, mahni thugin toh kituaka plain or literal taka laktheihlouh Lai Siangthou ah mun tampi (Eg. metaphor, exaggeration, parable, allegory, prophecy, symbolic, wisdom, etc.) om hi. Hiaite ban ah background leh context i missed khakleh a khiakna diktak kiletkhia khalou ding ahi.

 

2.      Particular Atonement/Redemption (Reformed/Calvinists):

(i) Jesu’ tatna nasep tuh teeltuamte a ding kia ahi. Amite tan dinga hongpai ahi (Isai 53:8; Matt.1:21). Jesu’n amite hotdamna dingin apoimoh bangkim ahon sembuching hi. Amite chih in Israel or Jews te kia genna hileh nang leh ken tuni in hotdamna i tang kha kei ding hi. Himahleh, Judate leh Gentelte laka teeltuamte genna ahi, huai tuh Tanchinhoih John a kigen mun mahmah Pa hon piak teng, ka belamte (John 6:37, 39, 10:14-16) thumal kizangte’n agen chiang hi.

(ii) Lai Siangthou in chiangtakin Pathian in khovel kipatma in teeltuam a nei (Eph. 1:4-5) chih hon sinsak a, huai teeltuam mite hondam dinga Jesu khovel a hongpai ahi (Matt. 1:21; 22:14) chih i muthei uhi. John 6:37, 39, “Ka Pa’n hon piak teng ka kiang ah hongpai ding, ken amaute ka nohkhia kei ding hi.” Hiai in agen ut ahihleh Pathian in Jesu kianga piak nei ahihleh piak neilou chihna ahi.

(iii) Kei Belamchingpa hoih ka hi, ka belamte ka thei a, ka belamte’n kei hon thei uh… belamte sik leh tangin ka hinna ka pia hi (John 10:14-16).

(iv) “Khovel adinga thum ka hikei, kei nawn piakte a dia thum ka hizaw” (John 17:9).

(v) Jesu kam pau mahmah in teeltuamte a dia hongpai ahihdan agen chiang mahmah hi. Jesu’n a kiang uah, ka hon hilhta hi, na gingta tuan kei uh; ka Pa min a thil ka hih, hiaite’n ka tanchin a theisak uhi. Himahleh, na gingta ngal kei uh, ka belam laka mi na hihlouh jiak un. Ka belamte’n ka aw a ja uh, ken leng amau ka thei a, amau a hon jui jel uhi; a kiang uah khantawna hinna ka pia; khantawn in a mangthang kei ding ua, kuamah in ka khut a kipan hon sutsam kei ding. Amau hon pepa, ka Pa, mi tengteng sanga thupijaw ahi; kuamah in Pa khuta kipan a sut theikei ding hi (John 10:25-29).

(vi) Nasepte 13:48, “Huan, Gentelte’n hiai thu a zak un, a kipak ua, Pathian thu a pahtawi ua, khantawn hinna tang dinga seh zahzah in a gingta uhi.” Pathian sehkholhna leh tupbiknei tatna thugin a kigen chiang mahmah hi. [Arminian apologists khenkhat in, “seh” (appointed) tuh Calvinists te lehkhiak dan chi a dem in amau theology toh kituak theithei dinga bulhtuah in “kisakhol” (arranged) chiin a khek uhi. Ariminians te kia hilou Provisionists te’n Bible interpretation mun tampi amau theology toh kituak dia kheksawm in interpretation natawm attacked abawl uhi].

 

Nial vuallouh thugin sinsakna Lai Siangthou apan tamlou i taklang a, mun dang tampi i gen seng kei ding hi.

 

Reformed sinsakna Tupbiknei tatna (limited atonement) in Lai Siangthou sinsakna Jesu Khrist sisan tuh i hotdamna dingin a kiching hi (the blood of Christ is sufficient for all, but effective for the elect) chih a sinsak hi. Jesu’n amite a hondam taktak, hotdam sawm kia ahikei (not savable, but completely save/monergistic) hi. Jesu leitunga hongpai nasan tup-le-ngim, a mission tuh failed lou in a sembuching hi [The Jesus of Arminian failed to save, while the Jesus of Reformed is never failed, but fulfilled his mission without failed. For Arminians, Jesus is their co-redeemer, but for the Reformed he is Almighty God. This is the difference between Arminian and Reformed].

 

Arminian te sinsakna; “Jesu hongpai na ziak tuh mi tengteng a gingtate hondamna ding” chih leh thumal poimoh tak “khovel” leh “mi tengteng” bang chihna ahia? Bang ziaka agingtate tengteng hotdam hiding chi a, khenkhat in gingta, khenkhat in gingta lou uh ahia? Tupbiknei tatna Lai Siangthou sinsakna toh kimil/kituak mah hia?

1.      Lai Siangthou in kisik unla, Jesu gingta un, Jesu Khrist gingtate tengteng hotdam a om ding chih hon sinsaka a diklouhna a om kei hi. Biblical sinsakna mah ahi. Himahleh, a thukzaw a suut in Kha Siangthou nasep tungtawn a hon hihhing lou in Khrist naihtheihna, gintak theihna hon pia lou in, Khrist kigingta theilou ahi. Kha in hon hihhing chiangin Khrist kigingta theita a, huai agingtate tuh teelte ahi uhi (Nas 13:48; Titus 2:14; Kil 13:8; 17:8).

 

2.      Lai Siangthou in “khovel” leh “mi tengteng” a zat chiangin Tanchinhoih (Gospel) tungtawn a Jesu Khrist gingta dinga tangpi sapna ahi (universal calling). A ziak ahihleh mi tengteng mikhial ahi.

 

3.      Lai Siangthou in thumal “Khovel” leh “mi tengteng” (all) a zat chiangin akhiakna (meaning) kibang veka “khovel pumpi a mi tengteng” genna in a kizang gige kei hi. Etsakna in, Luke 2:1-3, “Kaisar Augusta in khovel tengteng min khum ding thu a pia a…” hiai in agen khovel a mi tengteng Brazilians, Chinese, Korean, Americans te genna ahikei a, Roman kumpi vaihawmna lalgam (Roman world) genna ahi zaw ahi.

 

Huan, abikin, Zebedee tapa John laigelhte Gospel of John, John laikhakte leh Kilakna laibute ah “khovel” chih a zat chiangin a context dungzui in chi 3 vel in a zang hi:

(i) Khovel thilte, khelhna nasep leh mial nasepte a selam genna in a kizang tangpi hi.

(ii) Khovel pumpi huap a Juda leh Gentel namte apan Pathian mi teelte (Amite) genna in a zang hi.

(iii) Hotdam hidinga Jesu Khrist gingta ding, kisikna dinga tangpi sapna (general calling) in a zang hi. Himahleh, khovel pumpi a mi tengteng hotdamna (universal salvation) hiding leh mikhialte’n khalam hotdamna dinga Jesu gintak theihna ability/capability na nei uh chih genna in a zang kei hi.

 

Jesu’ tatkhiakna nasep tuh a gingta tengteng (unlimited atonement) a ding ahi chih thugin Arminians te leh Provisionists te sinsakna Lai Siangthou mun bangzah hiam a lehkhiak dan/interpretation diklou khenkhat i suut suk nawn ding:

(i)     I John 2:2, “Khovel pumpi khelhna ngaihdam” chih thumal a zatna uh tuh a theology uh toh kituak ding ngimna in mi tengteng genna ahi, mimal leh pawl tamlou chik genna hilou a chi uhi. Jesu Khrist kithoihna (propitiation) nasep tuh Khristians te a ding kia ahilou a khovel a mi tengteng gingtu hiloute leng huam kha ahihleh mi tengteng hotdam a om ding chihna ahi, Pathian a mission fail chih omthei lou ahihman in. Gingloute nangawn leng Jesu kithoihna sisan in huam ahih a, amaute leng bangzah hiam Jesu Khrist in kithoihsak khinta (partial sacrifice) chihna ahi. Himahleh, Lai Siangthou sinsakna ah tuabang muh ding a omkei hi. Lai Siangthou mun tampi ah mi tengteng hotdam a omlou ding chih a hon sinsak hi (I John 2:4, 23; 3:10; 5:12; John 3:18, 5:24).

 

A chihleh banga genna hiding? Hiai lehkhiakna toh kisai John laikhakte gelhtu mahmah in Kilakna ana gelhna ah, Kilakna 5:9-10 a, “nam chih, pau chih leh gam chih a mite” (every tribe and tongue and people and nation) ana chih, hiai vv. 2 in agen toh I John 2:2 a kimil (parallel) hi. Jesu Khrist sihna leh a sisan tuh Jesu’n Pathian mi hidinga a leite, Jesu sisan tanga, a lei mite- pau chih, nam leh gam chih apan mihingte a genna ahi chih hon sinsak hi. Hiai tang 2 tuh I John 2:2 lehkhiakna dingin apoimoh mahmah hi. Huaiziakin, hiai Kilakna tangin khovel a mi tengteng Jesu sisan in a leisa ahi chikei a, khovel a pau chih, nam chih apan mi a leite a chi zaw hi. Jesu i sik-le-tanga hong sihna John in hichiin ana gen hi, John 11:49-52, “… Pathian ta khovel a kithehdalhte tengteng pawl khat a pikhawmna dingin” a chi hi. Huaiziakin, “mi tengteng” in a gen ut ahihleh khovel kilh chih a Pathian teeltuamte tengteng genna, huaite sik-le-tanga Jesu hong si, amaute samkhawm ding, amaute tan ding leh khat lel leng lohsam lou a, mangthang lou a hondam dinga hongpai chih ahizaw hi.

 

Huaiziakin, Arminian te Jesu Khrist’ tatna khovel pumpi huap a mi tengteng (every individual) dan a zatna uh adik kei hi. Mi tengteng tan dinga honpai ahihleh lohsap lou in khat lel leng mangthang lou in atan ding hi. Himahleh, mi tengteng hotdam ahikei ding hi. Mi tengteng hondam dinga hongpai ahikei a, khovel kil chih a ami teelte hondam dinga hongpai ahi zaw hi.

 

(ii)  Gospel of John 3:16, Arminians te’n Jesu khovel a hongpai nasan “kuapeuh” or “mi tengteng” uap “a gingtate” genna in azang uhi. Hiai text in bang gen ahia? Arminians te lehkhiak dan mah hia? V. 16 in hon sinsak ahihleh “khovel” tuh khovel pumpi a thilsiamte abiktakin mihing/mikhialte Israel & Gentelte (general sense) Pathian in it mahmah (so loved- emphasis the intensity of love) a, a tapa tang neihsun (his one and only Son- stress the greatness of the gift) siitlou hial in a pia hi. A main focus Pathian itna ahi. Mikhialte it lua mahmah in huchia a tapa tang neihsun leng sit/it ngamlou hial a pia khia chih ahi. Nicodemus leh Jesu kihouna sutzopna ahi a, Judate’n Pathian in Israelte kia it ahi chih mindset a neih ziak un, Jesu’n Israelte kia a it kei a, himahleh Gentelte leng it ahi khovel a Judate leh Gentelte khentuam omlou amaute, tankhia dinga hongpai ka hi a chihna ahi. John in a zat tangpi bangin “khovel” tuh a selam a zat ahi a, khovel a mihingte khelhna ziakin sia mahleh, a it chih a taklang hi. Jesu sisan tuh mi tengteng a ding chihna a om kei hi. Arminian te’n “kuapeuh” (whoever) a gingtate a mangthang kei ding kichi tuh mi tengteng hotdamna hiding (universal salvation) in a sinsak ua, mi tengteng hotdam hiding universalist na hi uh chih a ut tuan kei uhi. Himahleh, kuapeuh kichi in mi tengteng tatkhiakna nasep a sinsak kei a, mi tengteng leng hotdam in a om kei ding uhi (John 3:17-20). Mi tengteng in Jesu a hotdamna ginna neithei uh ahi chih a sinsak kei hi. Himahleh, a gingtate (teeltuamte) tengteng a mangthang kei ding ua, Jesu gingtate Pathian Tapa tungtawn in hotdam in a om teitei ding uh chih guarantee a pe zaw hi. Ban ah, hiai tang in Pathian in mi tengteng kikim or kirual in a it chih a sinsak kei a, it tuam nei chiin leng a sinsak kei hi. [Pathian itna toh kisai a detail “Tabletalk on Biblical and Theological Issues Episode 2” ah muhtheih ding].

 

(iii)            Gospel of John 1:29 ah “khovel khelhna lamangpa” Arminian te’n mi tengteng khelhna lamang ahi chiin a sinsak uhi. A lehkhiak dan uh dik hihleh mi tengteng khelhna ngaihdam a lakmang a omta ahihman in hotdam in a om dinga, khelhna khovel ah a beita ding hi, himahleh mi tengteng hotdam ahikei dinga, khelhna leng abei nai kei hi. Huaiziakin, a gen ut pen tuam chihna ahi.

 

(iv) Gospel of John 17:9 ah “khovel” thumal kizang tuh ginglou mite genna ahi a, mi tengteng genna ahikei hi. “Khovel a dia ngetsak ka hi kei,” “Pa in nawn piakte a ding ahi zaw” chi a thum ahihdan agen hi.

 

(v)   I John 2:15 ah “khovel it kei un, a sunga thil omte leng it sam kei un” chih i mu hi. Arminians te khovel lehkhiak dan a sinsak hilehang, John in khovel pumpi a mi tengteng it lou dinga hon hasuan chihna suak ding hi. Thupiak thupipen laka nihna “Nang na ki-it bangin na inn vengte it in” chih a kalh kha hi (Mark 12:31). Huaiziakin, John in Jesu sihna khovel a mi tengteng a ding genna (universal population of mankind/every single individual on planet earth) in a zang kei hi.

 

 

Conclusion

Jesu’ tatkhiakna nasep Reformed sinsak dan in khovel pumpi a Juda leh Gentelte apan miteelte/gingtute kia a ding chiin a sinsak hi. Ginglou mite a huap kei hi. Pathian a mission ah lohsam or failed ngeilouh ziakin, mi tengteng huap hileh mi tengteng hotdam in a om ding uhi. Himahleh, Bible in mi tengteng hotdam a om ding chih hon sinsak kei hi. Selfish huai leh narrow bang mahleh Lai Siangthou sinsakna ahihman in hiai thugin nialvual ahikei hi.

 

Ban ah, Tanchinhoih (Gospel) tuh mi tengteng (both Jews and Gentiles) kianga gen ding ahi, himahleh hotdamna nasep tuh Pathian thilhih theihna/mohpuak ahi. Tanchinhoih genna tuh Pathian thupiak ahihman in gen ding ahi, huchia i thugen tungtawn a Pathian in hotdam hiding a teel mite a hondam mai ding hi (Rom. 10:14-17). Pathian mi teeltuam kua chih kitheilou ahihman in hiai tupbiknei tatna in tanchinhoih gending ahon hasuan hi, aziak tuh Pathian in mi kua hiam teeltuam nei a hotdam ngeingei ding ahi chih Lai Siangthou sinsakna thei a, i gintak ziakin.

 

By Kapsuanmung