加拉太书 4
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
4 我说，那承受产业的，虽然是全部产业的主人，但在孩童的时期，却和奴仆没有分别。 2 他是在监护人和管家之下，直到父亲预先指定的时候。 3 我们也是这样，作孩童的时候，被世俗的言论所奴役； 4 但到了时机成熟， 神就差遣他的儿子，由女人所生，而且生在律法之下， 5 要把律法之下的人救赎出来，好让我们得着嗣子的名分。 6 你们既然是儿子， 神就差遣他儿子的灵进入我们心里，呼叫“阿爸、父！” 7 这样，你不再是奴仆，而是儿子；既然是儿子，就靠着 神承受产业了。
保罗为加拉太信徒担忧
8 从前你们不认识 神的时候，是给那些本来不是 神的作奴仆； 9 现在你们既然认识 神，更可以说是 神所认识的，怎么还回到那些软弱贫乏的言论，情愿再作它们的奴仆呢？ 10 你们严守日子、月份、节期、年份； 11 我为你们担心，恐怕我在你们身上的劳苦是白费了。
12 弟兄们，我请求你们要像我一样，因为我也像你们一样。你们并没有亏负过我。 13 你们知道，我第一次传福音给你们，是因为身体有病。 14 虽然我的身体对你们是个试炼，你们却没有轻看，也没有厌弃，反而接纳我，好象 神的天使，也好象基督耶稣。 15 现在，你们的欢乐在哪里呢？我可以为你们作证，那时如果可能，你们甚至愿意把你们的眼睛剜出来给我哩！ 16 现在我把真理告诉你们，反而成了你们的仇敌吗？ 17 那些人热心待你们，并不是出于好意，而是想你们和我疏远，好使你们热心待他们。 18 常常在善事上热心，总是好的；只是不要我在你们那里的时候才是这样。 19 我的孩子们，为了你们我再受生产的痛苦，直到基督在你们里面成形。 20 我恨不得现今就在你们那里，改变我的语气，因为我为你们十分困扰。
两个妇人的寓意
21 你们这愿意在律法之下的人哪！请告诉我，你们没有听过律法吗？ 22 经上记着说，亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个出于婢女，一个出于自由的妇人。 23 但那出于婢女的，是按着肉体生的；那出于自由的妇人的，是凭着应许生的。 24 这都是寓意的说法：那两个妇人就是两个约，一个是出于西奈山，生子作奴仆，这是夏甲。 25 这夏甲是指着阿拉伯的西奈山，相当于现在的耶路撒冷，她和她的儿女都是作奴仆的。 26 那在上面的耶路撒冷是自由的，她是我们的母亲， 27 因为经上记着说：
“不能生育、没有生养的啊，你要欢欣！
没有受过生产痛苦的啊，你要呼喊，大声呼叫！
因为弃妇比有夫之妇有更多儿子。”
28 可是，弟兄们，你们是按着应许作儿女的，好象以撒一样。 29 不过，当时那按着肉体生的，迫害那按着圣灵生的，现在也是这样。 30 然而经上怎样说呢？“把婢女和她的儿子赶出去，因为婢女的儿子，绝对不可以和自由的妇人的儿子一同承受产业。” 31 所以，弟兄们，我们不是婢女的儿女，而是自由的妇人的儿女了。
Galatians 4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 1 Now I say that as long as the heir(A) is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner(B) of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces[a] of the world.(C) 4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.(F) 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son(G) into our[b] hearts, crying, “Abba,(H) Father!”(I) 7 So you are no longer a slave(J) but a son,(K) and if a son, then an heir(L) through God.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 But in the past, when you didn’t know God,(M) you were enslaved to things[c] that by nature are not gods. 9 But now, since you know God,(N) or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt(O) elemental forces?(P) Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10 You observe special days, months, seasons, and years.(Q) 11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
12 I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; 13 you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. 14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.[d] On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
15 What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(R) 17 They[e] are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. 18 Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children,(S) I am again suffering labor pains(T) for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants
21 Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham(U) had two sons, one by a slave(V) and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things are illustrations,[f] for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai(W) and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.(X) 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia(Y) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,(Z) for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above(AA) is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:(AB)
Rejoice, childless woman,(AC)
who does not give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate are many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.(AD)[g]
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac,(AE) are children of promise.(AF) 29 But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,(AG) so also now.(AH) 30 But what does the Scripture say?
Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.(AI)[h]
31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:3 Or spirits, or principles
- Galatians 4:6 Other mss read your
- Galatians 4:8 Or beings
- Galatians 4:14 Other mss read me
- Galatians 4:17 The false teachers
- Galatians 4:24 Typology or allegory
- Galatians 4:27 Is 54:1
- Galatians 4:30 Gn 21:10
Galatians 4
King James Version
4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for 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.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.