论文摘要：《圣经义，从各个方面都对西方社会产生了深刻影响，西方社会的各方面，都包含《圣经》的影子。本文旨在从亚当这一人物形象对美国文学创作产生的影响方面，来论述圣经对西方文学发展的影响。主要包括三个部分：圣经的经典人物场景、亚当在文学作品中的印记、为什么作家热衷于圣经中的人物形象。
论文关键词：圣经亚当 新亚当
圣经是西方 文化 的精神代表，对西方的文学产生了深刻的影响。了解圣经，认识圣经，从整体上把握圣经的脉络，这对我们认识西方文学有着重大的作用。
西方世界经历了两次世界大战，人们的整体价值观受到了很大的冲击，但从整体上看，其文化核心与信仰根本还是圣经。在西方，各种文学创作都与圣经有着不可分割的关系。但由于读者不了解圣经的 故事 ，体会不到作家在作品当中的良苦用心，造成文化隔膜。
1《圣经》中的伊甸园，亚当和夏娃
《旧约·创世纪》中记载了伊甸园、亚当和夏娃的故事。按《圣经》的说法，人类是这个世界的管理者和支配者。亚当的含义是“人”，夏娃的含义是“生命之母”。上帝在东方的伊甸，为亚当和夏娃造了一个乐园。后来，撒旦引诱他们吃了善恶树上的果实，上帝把他们赶出了伊甸园。
而被文学家所青睐的正是这些意蕴深远的人物。在文学作品中，出现频率最高的就是亚当、夏娃、耶稣、撒旦、亚伯拉罕等人。他们的故事往往能激发作家的丰富 想象力 ，从而塑造出一个又一个独特而新颖的主人公形象。其中，较为突出的就是十九世纪美国文学作品中所创造的“新亚当”形象。
2亚当在十九世纪美国文学作品中的印记
在美利坚民族形成和美国建国的过程中，圣经深刻影响了来自英国的清教徒对美洲大陆的设想和规划。他们用圣经中的词语，把海外移民的行为神圣化。十九世纪美国的飞速发展，激起了人们建立伊甸园的构想，于是，这给美国文学引入了～个全新形象——新亚当。
2．1开创亚当形象先河的库柏
库柏创作了著名的“皮袜子五部曲”，主要描写了森林中的猎手“皮袜子”——纳蒂·班波的一生。在《圣经》当中，上帝命亚当守护伊甸园。而“皮袜子”俨然是一个守护伊甸园的亚当。库柏曾说“皮袜子”是“具有两种生活条件的最好品质而又不走极端”。就是说，它除了具有淳朴的品质以外，还具有__文明的特征。库柏的“新亚当”虽然也有一定的局限性，但是，可以说他是库柏自己心目中美国人的形象。
2．2瓦尔登湖上的亚当
梭罗是美国超验主义运动的重要领袖。他的一个重要思想就是认为人要回到大自然中寻找生活的意义。他在 散文 《瓦尔登湖》中将自己描写成生活在伊甸园中的亚当。他号召人们要像圣经中的亚当那样，成为“大自然的一员”。这让我们看到了一个与大自然完美融合的新亚当形象。
2．3作为亚当的女性——海丝特
对于《红字》与圣经关系的论述有很多，其中不乏专门论述的专著。在这里，我谨把《红字》中的主人公海丝特·白兰作为众多“亚当”形象中的一个来简要加以说明。
霍桑在对人物进行塑造方面，受《圣经》的影响极为深刻。他用隐晦曲折的手法向大家展示出一个诚实、善良的“新亚当”形象。海丝特和牧师犯了通奸罪，海丝特鼓励牧师逃走，她说：“你还可以得到幸福。”这暗示着人类虽然因为犯罪而失去了伊甸园，但是只要勇于赎罪，就能有光明的前途，重新找到失去的乐园。
《红字》这部书提出了作者所处时代的问题。而海丝特这一形象成功表现了要勇于开创新生活的意识。另外，《红字》中“A” 的记号也取材于《圣经》。《创世纪》记载，该隐杀掉兄弟亚伯，遭到流放。但是上帝在他额头上做了记号，使他免受杀害。这个记号表示此人既是罪人，又是圣人。海丝特最后变成了“能力”、“天使”的象征。海丝特是一个敢于冒犯社会道德冲破习俗的英雄，她作为“新亚当”的代表是当之无愧的。
2．4美国新形象
诗人惠特曼用诗歌呼唤着富有进取心、积极向上的亚当。读完惠特曼的诗歌，会让人有一种精神振奋的感觉，总是想着要迫不及待的做些有意义的事情。可能这就是惠特曼所要到达的目的，让每个人都有激情，充满对新事物的憧憬和渴望，去开创一个新天地。
从他的作品中可以看出，惠特曼所呼唤的“亚当”，就是一个逐渐成长起来的美国民族的形象，是对自我的积极肯定。他的“新亚当”形象比其他作品中的“亚当”更加鲜明、富有特点。
3作家为什么热衷于使用《圣经》中的人物形象
《圣经》中的人物形象，越来越多的被推陈出新。究竟是什么原因，让《圣经》经久不衰，并根深蒂固的影响着美国的文学创作呢?
首先，从《圣经》的地位来看，它是__的经典教义，而美国又是一个信奉上帝的国家，几乎每个人都熟知圣经的故事。所以，对经典教义的引用，第一，可以增加文学作品的亲和性，第二，更有说服性，使大众广为接受。
其次，美国的作品中，有一些是对《圣经》中人物形象的颠覆。如马克吐温的《亚当 日记 》与《伊甸园的一天》等作品。这些带有一定讽刺与幽默效果的对传统的颠覆，使文学作品很有震撼力。
第三，__在美国传播广泛，其思想深入人心。十九世纪的美国作家基本上都是从小受到《圣经》文化的熏陶，这个自然会影响到他们后来的文学创作。由于根深蒂固的__思想，使得作家的创作中总能体现出《圣经》的方方面面。
最后，从社会历史条件来看。十九世纪的美国正值发展时期。民族文学经历了长时期的酝酿，终于在十九世纪繁荣起来。
文学创作上，反映独立战争、谋求发展的题材增多。自然而然就会想到《圣经》中的经典，其中的人物形象也就这样登上了十九世纪美国文学创作的舞台。正是由于上述四个原因，让十九世纪的美国文学中大量涌现了“新亚当”的形象。我们也由这些人物中，汲取了积极健康的品质，看到了自身光明的未来。
总之，《圣经》与文学的关系可以说是贯穿在西方文学史的整个过程当中。《圣经》为西方作家提供了大量的素材、人物形象、语言风格和艺术技巧。《圣经》塑造了西方文学家的 思维方式 和情感内涵，在他们的文学创作中产生了不可低估的影响和作用。
圣经与西方文化、中西文化交流、中世纪经院哲学对后世的影响
12~13世纪西欧“新春天”与文艺复兴的对比
文艺复兴中的“异端”成分
宗教改革与反宗教改革
西欧宗教地域划分的历史由来
三十年战争对欧洲的影响
RECOGNIZING FALSE PROPHETS
Prove All Things
1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.''
To recognize false prophets we must heed the above verse and "prove all things." One does not arrive at being an overcomer until he first learns the all important lesson of testing or "proving" the issues of this life. In the hour that we live there are so many things that are false and evil. We must be constantly on guard and "prove" or test things, lest we become ensnared by something that is wicked. Cults are spreading. Eastern idolatrous religions are creeping into our country in very subtle forms, and many Christians are being deceived and have accepted their practices without even being aware of their evil. Some religious groups have existed for years under the guise of Christianity, and yet are far from the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Lord warns us of these false teachers and tells us to beware of them.
Looking at Matthew 7:15-23, we find Jesus gives us the guideline for determining false prophets:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
God's Standard, The Bible
Certainly, we are admonished to be on guard. However, some go to such extremes as to become narrow-minded and closed to some beautiful truths in the name of being careful. What should our role as Christians be in regard to acceptance of a new thought, idea or doctrine? We are told to prove all things, not to reject them because they might be strange or new to us. However, we should not receive them either, until we first prove them. How do we prove things? All true Christians are in agreement that our standard is the Word of God, the Bible. God left us this Book as a reference, standard, or gauge so we could know whether something is good or evil, truth or error, right or wrong. (2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.'')
One of our major faults as Christians is that we tend to quote men on certain subjects instead of referring to the Book God gave us. We recognize that God gave us men to lead us into the truths of God, but our problem becomes who are the true men of God and who are the false ones that Christ warned us about? Sometimes we tend to evaluate men according to the size of their ministries, their popularity with men, or their endowment of certain gifts, etc.
Check the Fruit
The Lord said in verse 20 of Matthew 7 that we would know them by their fruits. What are these fruits? Galatians 5:22-24 defines them as being the fruit of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." We are told to look at their lives and see if these fruits are predominant in them and examine if they are living the crucified life. Of course, we must allow for imperfections that have not been overcome yet; but we should readily see the fruit of the Spirit in more abundance than the imperfections. One way we can check this is to notice the words that a man speaks. The Scripture says in Matthew 12:33-35, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.''
Pride and Lustful Lifestyles
Many people have been led astray when they could have recognized the wrong spirit simply by the braggadocios and prideful words of men who exalted themselves instead of Christ. Others would have been spared if they had examined the lifestyles of certain men who claim to be God's anointed. Their lifestyles are far from being temperate, reflecting the most expensive and extravagant clothes, diamonds, homes, cars, etc. This is not referring to well-dressed men and women, nice homes, and quality things but the extremes which reveal anything but the nature of Christ. Of course, neither is the other extreme of poverty the nature of Christ. Men of God should live temperate, moderate lives, overcoming poverty and avoiding extreme wealth. Jesus always went about giving to the poor. He never stored up His wealth even though He apparently handled a lot of money, thus the need for a treasurer, Judas (John 13:29). He gave away the things He could have used on Himself, yet He never lacked as He went about ministering. He should be our example today. The affection and lust for the things of this world do not portray the Spirit of Christ.
True Prophets Reflect Jesus
Examining the conversation of these leaders can quickly reveal the God they serve. Do they speak of God's kingdom, His righteousness, and His love; or does their conversation center on the things of this world and life? Are they peacemakers, sowing mercy and love? Are they gentle and patient, or do they lose their temper easily? Do they walk in faith, or are they continually looking to other men for their needs to be supplied? Are they always pressuring people for money, or do they simply receive those gifts of money as unto the Lord? Do they have the joy of the Lord, or do they minister out of duty? Are they truly joyous with that joy spilling over to others, or do they continually complain and gripe over all the things that are not pleasing to them? Is goodness evident in their lives instead of evil? Do they put people in bondage by always threatening them with the wrath of God, or is freedom of choice extended with the warning of the penalties of sin? Jesus came to set us free, not to bring us under the bondage of men.
Let us prove all leaders and see if their fruit is good fruit. Do they love and not hate, have joy instead of depression, and promote peace instead of strife? Are they longsuffering (patient) or impatient, gentle or harsh? Do they show love and tolerance for those that oppose them? Do they walk in faith, or doubt and unbelief? Are they meek, giving God the glory for their talents and gifts, or do they pridefully talk of all they are doing or their group is doing? Does temperance prevail not only in their lifestyle, but in their personal habits as well, or do extremes exist that do not glorify God? In essence they will not live for themselves, but for others as Jesus did. Do they reflect Jesus? They will live a crucified life that glorifies God! Proverbs 20:11 says, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.''
Examining lives by this standard we must be careful not to go to extremes ourselves and expect total perfection of all ministers. There are many godly men and women who are called of God, who have overcome in many areas, although they still have some weak areas. They are believing as they walk with the Lord that these too will be perfected. We are especially called to be patient and loving towards our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
