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.
加拉太书 4
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
被赎的人得儿子的名分
4 我说，那承受产业的，虽然是全业的主人，但为孩童的时候却与奴仆毫无分别， 2 乃在师傅和管家的手下，直等他父亲预定的时候来到。 3 我们为孩童的时候受管于世俗小学之下，也是如此。 4 及至时候满足，神就差遣他的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下， 5 要把律法以下的人赎出来，叫我们得着儿子的名分。 6 你们既为儿子，神就差他儿子的灵进入你们[a]的心，呼叫：“阿爸！父！” 7 可见，从此以后你不是奴仆，乃是儿子了；既是儿子，就靠着神为后嗣。
8 但从前你们不认识神的时候，是给那些本来不是神的做奴仆。 9 现在你们既然认识神，更可说是被神所认识的，怎么还要归回那懦弱无用的小学，情愿再给他做奴仆呢？ 10 你们谨守日子、月份、节期、年份！ 11 我为你们害怕，唯恐我在你们身上是枉费了工夫。
激励门徒
12 弟兄们，我劝你们要像我一样，因为我也像你们一样。你们一点没有亏负我。 13 你们知道我头一次传福音给你们，是因为身体有疾病。 14 你们为我身体的缘故受试炼，没有轻看我，也没有厌弃我，反倒接待我如同神的使者，如同基督耶稣。 15 你们当日所夸的福气在哪里呢？那时，你们若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出来给我也都情愿，这是我可以给你们作见证的。 16 如今我将真理告诉你们，就成了你们的仇敌吗？ 17 那些人热心待你们，却不是好意，是要离间你们[b]，叫你们热心待他们。 18 在善事上常用热心待人原是好的，却不单我与你们同在的时候才这样。 19 我小子啊，我为你们再受生产之苦，直等到基督成形在你们心里。 20 我巴不得现今在你们那里，改换口气，因我为你们心里作难。
两个妇人预表两约
21 你们这愿意在律法以下的人，请告诉我，你们岂没有听见律法吗？ 22 因为律法上记着，亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个是使女生的，一个是自主之妇人生的。 23 然而那使女所生的是按着血气生的，那自主之妇人所生的是凭着应许生的。 24 这都是比方：那两个妇人就是两约。一约是出于西奈山，生子为奴，乃是夏甲。 25 这夏甲二字是指着阿拉伯的西奈山，与现在的耶路撒冷同类，因耶路撒冷和她的儿女都是为奴的。 26 但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我们的母。 27 因为经上记着：“不怀孕不生养的，你要欢乐！未曾经过产难的，你要高声欢呼！因为没有丈夫的，比有丈夫的儿女更多。” 28 弟兄们，我们是凭着应许做儿女，如同以撒一样。 29 当时那按着血气生的逼迫了那按着圣灵生的，现在也是这样。 30 然而经上是怎么说的呢？是说：“把使女和她儿子赶出去，因为使女的儿子不可与自主妇人的儿子一同承受产业。” 31 弟兄们，这样看来，我们不是使女的儿女，乃是自主妇人的儿女了。
Galatians 4
Revised Standard Version
4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; 2 but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
Paul Reproves the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods; 9 but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years! 11 I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong; 13 you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first; 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?[a] 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 For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you! 20 I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. 24 Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[b] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and shout, you who are not in travail;
for the children of the desolate one are many more
than the children of her that is married.”
28 Now we,[c] brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. 30 But what does the scripture say? “Cast out the slave and her son; for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:16 Or by dealing truly with you
- Galatians 4:25 Other ancient authorities read For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia
- Galatians 4:28 Other ancient authorities read you
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.