加拉太书 4
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
4 我說，那承受產業的，雖然是全部產業的主人，但在孩童的時期，卻和奴僕沒有分別。 2 他是在監護人和管家之下，直到父親預先指定的時候。 3 我們也是這樣，作孩童的時候，被世俗的言論所奴役； 4 但到了時機成熟， 神就差遣他的兒子，由女人所生，而且生在律法之下， 5 要把律法之下的人救贖出來，好讓我們得著嗣子的名分。 6 你們既然是兒子， 神就差遣他兒子的靈進入我們心裡，呼叫“阿爸、父！” 7 這樣，你不再是奴僕，而是兒子；既然是兒子，就靠著 神承受產業了。
保羅為加拉太信徒擔憂
8 從前你們不認識 神的時候，是給那些本來不是 神的作奴僕； 9 現在你們既然認識 神，更可以說是 神所認識的，怎麼還回到那些軟弱貧乏的言論，情願再作它們的奴僕呢？ 10 你們嚴守日子、月份、節期、年份； 11 我為你們擔心，恐怕我在你們身上的勞苦是白費了。
12 弟兄們，我請求你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們並沒有虧負過我。 13 你們知道，我第一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有病。 14 雖然我的身體對你們是個試煉，你們卻沒有輕看，也沒有厭棄，反而接納我，好像 神的天使，也好像基督耶穌。 15 現在，你們的歡樂在哪裡呢？我可以為你們作證，那時如果可能，你們甚至願意把你們的眼睛剜出來給我哩！ 16 現在我把真理告訴你們，反而成了你們的仇敵嗎？ 17 那些人熱心待你們，並不是出於好意，而是想你們和我疏遠，好使你們熱心待他們。 18 常常在善事上熱心，總是好的；只是不要我在你們那裡的時候才是這樣。 19 我的孩子們，為了你們我再受生產的痛苦，直到基督在你們裡面成形。 20 我恨不得現今就在你們那裡，改變我的語氣，因為我為你們十分困擾。
兩個婦人的寓意
21 你們這願意在律法之下的人哪！請告訴我，你們沒有聽過律法嗎？ 22 經上記著說，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個出於婢女，一個出於自由的婦人。 23 但那出於婢女的，是按著肉體生的；那出於自由的婦人的，是憑著應許生的。 24 這都是寓意的說法：那兩個婦人就是兩個約，一個是出於西奈山，生子作奴僕，這是夏甲。 25 這夏甲是指著阿拉伯的西奈山，相當於現在的耶路撒冷，她和她的兒女都是作奴僕的。 26 那在上面的耶路撒冷是自由的，她是我們的母親， 27 因為經上記著說：
“不能生育、沒有生養的啊，你要歡欣！
沒有受過生產痛苦的啊，你要呼喊，大聲呼叫！
因為棄婦比有夫之婦有更多兒子。”
28 可是，弟兄們，你們是按著應許作兒女的，好像以撒一樣。 29 不過，當時那按著肉體生的，迫害那按著聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。 30 然而經上怎樣說呢？“把婢女和她的兒子趕出去，因為婢女的兒子，絕對不可以和自由的婦人的兒子一同承受產業。” 31 所以，弟兄們，我們不是婢女的兒女，而是自由的婦人的兒女了。
Galatians 4
New King James Version
Sons and Heirs Through Christ
4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, (A)were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But (B)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, (C)born[a] (D)of a woman, (E)born under the law, 5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, (G)that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth (H)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [b]“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, (I)and if a son, then an heir [c]of God [d]through Christ.
Fears for the Church
8 But then, indeed, (J)when you did not know God, (K)you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now (L)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, (M)how is it that you turn again to (N)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 (O)You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, (P)lest I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. (Q)You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that (R)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me (S)as an [e]angel of God, (T)even as Christ Jesus. 15 [f]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 They (U)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 (V)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Two Covenants(W)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: (X)the one by a bondwoman, (Y)the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman (Z)was born according to the flesh, (AA)and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are [g]the two covenants: the one from Mount (AB)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the (AC)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:
(AD)“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”
28 Now (AE)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are (AF)children of promise. 29 But, as (AG)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (AH)even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does (AI)the Scripture say? (AJ)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for (AK)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:4 Or made
- Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
- Galatians 4:7 NU through God
- Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ
- Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
- Galatians 4:15 NU Where
- Galatians 4:24 NU, M omit the
Galatians 4
English Standard Version
Sons and Heirs
4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[a] though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, (A)were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. 4 But (B)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, (C)born (D)of woman, born (E)under the law, 5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive (G)adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent (H)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then (I)an heir through God.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you (J)did not know God, you (K)were enslaved to those that by nature (L)are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather (M)to be known by God, (N)how can you turn back again to (O)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 (P)You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid (Q)I may have labored over you in vain.
12 Brothers,[c] (R)I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. (S)You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was (T)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you (U)at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me (V)as an angel of God, (W)as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by (X)telling you the truth?[d] 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and (Y)not only when I am present with you, 19 (Z)my little children, (AA)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ (AB)is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (AC)one by a slave woman and (AD)one by a free woman. 23 But (AE)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while (AF)the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two (AG)covenants. (AH)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[e] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But (AI)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
(AJ)“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you,[f] brothers, (AK)like Isaac, (AL)are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh (AM)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (AN)so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? (AO)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but (AP)of the free woman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7
- Galatians 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9
- Galatians 4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31
- Galatians 4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you
- Galatians 4:25 Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia
- Galatians 4:28 Some manuscripts we
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
