（申11）模仿造物主 (Deuteronomy 11) Imitating the Creator

(ChatGPT was applied for English translation from Chinese. 中文在后面）

Artificial intelligence is made by human beings according to their own characteristics. Now there are already people who have begun to use artificial intelligence to assist in doing research—for example, asking ChatGPT to give one hundred explanations of keywords related to artificial intelligence, in order to study which kinds of human labor these technologies can replace. In order for ChatGPT to accurately understand human intention, a person can give such an instruction:

“You are ChatGPT. I now have you act as my research assistant. I will give you a set of keywords related to artificial intelligence. Please give each keyword a short explanation. I will first give you an example:

Keyword = {robot}, Explanation = {a kind of artificial intelligence that imitates human bodily actions to help humans do physical labor}.

Below are the other keywords that need you to give explanations for: …”

ChatGPT will then imitate the example given by the human and complete the task the human asked for.

According to the teaching of Genesis 1:27–28, human beings are made by the Creator according to His own image. He put us on the earth in order to accomplish the task He gave. The Bible records many of His instructions, and also records many examples He has given. Just as artificial intelligence must imitate the examples given by humans to complete the instructions humans give, so also humans must imitate the examples given by the Creator to complete the tasks He gives.

In this week’s reading portion, Eikev (Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25), at least two places mention “walking in His way,” which in direct translation are respectively “to walk in His way” and “to walk in all His ways.” The Jewish explanation says that this has the meaning of imitating the Creator.

The first is in Deuteronomy 8:6:

“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”

The second is in Deuteronomy 11:22:

“For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;”

Here the Jewish commentator Rashi records this explanation:

“To walk in all His ways: Just as He is merciful, you also must be merciful; just as He gives kindness, you also must give kindness.”

https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Deuteronomy.11.22.2?lang=bi

Because the Bible teaches that humans are made by the Creator according to His own image, imitating the Creator is therefore an important principle based on the faith of the Bible. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imitation_of_God

In the Bible the Creator gave many specific examples for humans to imitate: He gave a bride to a man (brought Eve to Adam); He visited the sick (visited Abraham after his circumcision surgery); He buried the dead (after Moses died alone on Mount Nebo); He worked for six days (the work of creation) and rested on the seventh day. The Creator also let Jesus, the Word become flesh, do many examples for humanity: Jesus provided wine for a wedding feast; healed many sick people; provided supper for five thousand people; before His suffering, washed the disciples’ feet; on the cross forgave those who persecuted Him; after resurrection guided the disciples to fish; and prepared breakfast for the disciples. Jesus said (John 15:12):

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

When imitating the Creator, we must also take note that we ourselves are imperfect sinners, whereas the Creator is perfect. Therefore, we cannot simply imitate the Creator in being like a consuming fire, pursuing others’ sins. Matthew 6:15 teaches:

“But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 18 criticizes a person who was forgiven ten thousand talents of silver, yet demanded repayment of one hundred pence owed to him. We were made by the Creator in His own image. It is not that we should not imitate the Creator in pursuing others’ wrongdoing, but that because of the wrongs we ourselves have committed, we have lost the rightful position to pursue others’ wrongs [Note 1]. We should first focus on solving our own problems. Jesus said (Matthew 5:48):

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Imitating the Creator is an important lesson of life.

[Note 1] I do not want the reader to misunderstand here: although our own imperfection makes us lose the qualification to take revenge on others, we still have the responsibility to prevent and stop anyone from committing sin.

（申11）模仿造物主

人工智能是人类按自己的特性造的。现在已经有人开始用人工智能协助做研究，比如说叫ChatGPT给出一百个与人工智能有关的关键词的解释，以研究这些技术可以替代哪些种类的人类劳动。为了让ChatGPT准确地理解人的意图，人可以给出一个这样的指令： “你是ChatGPT，我现在让你做我的研究助理。给你一组与人工智能有关的关键词，请给每一个关键词配上一个简短的解释，我先给你一个例子：关键词={机器人}，解释={一种模仿人类身体动作帮助人类进行体力劳动的人工智能} 。下面是其它的关键词需要你配上解释：…” ChatGPT就会模仿人给出的例子，完成人所要求的任务。

根据创世记1:27-28教导，人是造物主按祂自己的形象造的，祂把我们放在地上是为了完成祂给的任务。圣经就记录了祂发的很多指令，也记录了祂给出的很多例子。就像人工智能要模仿人给出的例子完成人发出的指令，人也要模仿造物主给出的例子完成祂给出的任务。本周读经进度“果然”（Eikev，申命记7:12-11:25）里，至少有两处提到“行祂的道”，直接翻译分别是“在祂的路里行走”和“在祂所有的路里行走”，犹太人解释，这有模仿造物主的意思。

第一处在申命记8:6，“你要谨守耶和华你神的诫命，遵行他的道，敬畏他。”

第二处在申命记11:22， “你们若留意谨守遵行我所吩咐这一切的诫命，爱耶和华你们的神，行他的道，专靠他，” 这里犹太解经家Rashi记载了这样的解释，“行他的道（在祂所有的路里行走）”：祂怜悯，你也要怜悯；祂慈爱，你也要慈爱。https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Deuteronomy.11.22.2?lang=bi

因为圣经教导人是造物主按自己形象造的，所以模仿造物主，是基于圣经的信仰的一个重要原则，参见https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imitation_of_God

造物主在圣经里曾经给过很多具体的例子给人类模仿，祂为男人娶新娘（把夏娃带给亚当），祂探访过病人（在亚伯拉罕割礼手术后访问他），祂埋葬过死人（在摩西一个人死在尼波山以后），祂曾六日作工（创造的工），第七日安息。造物主又让道成肉身的耶稣为人类行了很多例子，耶稣为婚宴提供美酒，医治很多病人，为五千群众提供晚饭，受难前还为门徒们洗脚，在十字架上赦免迫害他的人，复活后还教门徒们捕鱼，为门徒们准备早餐。耶稣说，（约翰福音15:12）“你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。”

模仿造物主，也要注意自己是不完全的罪人，而造物主是完全的，所以我们不能简单地模仿造物主那样像烈火，追讨别人的罪。马太福音6:16教导，“你们不饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必不饶恕你们的过犯。”马太福音18章，则批评一个人自己被免了一千万两银子，却追讨别人欠他的十两银子。我们本是造物主按自己的形象造的，不是我们不应该模仿造物主追讨别人犯的错误，而是因为我们自己所犯的错，让我们失去了追讨他人错误的正当地位[注1]。我们应该先注重解决自己的问题。耶稣说，（马太福音5:48）“所以你们要完全，象你们的天父完全一样。”

模仿造物主，是人生的重要功课。

[注1] 这地方我不希望读者产生误解，虽然我们自己的不完全让我们失去了报复他人的资格，但仍有预防和制止任何人犯罪的责任。