加拉太書 4

1 我說那承受產業的，雖然是全業的主人，但為孩童的時候卻與奴僕毫無分別， 2 乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親預定的時候來到。 3 我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。 4 及至時候滿足，上帝就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下， 5 要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得著兒子的名分。 6 你們既為兒子，上帝就差他兒子的靈進入你們t的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」 7 可見，從此以後，你不是奴僕，乃是兒子了；既是兒子，就靠著上帝為後嗣。

保羅關懷加拉太人

8 但從前你們不認識上帝的時候，是給那些本來不是神的作奴僕； 9 現在你們既然認識上帝，更可說是被上帝所認識的，怎麼還要歸回那懦弱無用的小學，情願再給他作奴僕呢？ 10 你們謹守日子、月份、節期、年份， 11 我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。

12 弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們一點沒有虧負我。 13 你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。 14 你們為我身體的緣故受試煉，沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反倒接待我，如同上帝的使者，如同基督耶穌。 15 你們當日所誇的福氣在哪裏呢？那時你們若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出來給我，也都情願。這是我可以給你們作見證的。 16 如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？ 17 那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間你們t，叫你們熱心待他們。 18 在善事上，常用熱心待人原是好的，卻不單我與你們同在的時候才這樣。 19 我小子啊，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裏。 20 我巴不得現今在你們那裏，改換口氣，因我為你們心裏作難。

夏甲和撒拉的例子

21 你們這願意在律法以下的人，請告訴我，你們豈沒有聽見律法嗎？ 22 因為律法上記著，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。 23 然而，那使女所生的是按著血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑著應許生的。 24 這都是比方：那兩個婦人就是兩約。一約是出於西奈山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。 25 這夏甲二字是指著阿拉伯的西奈山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。 26 但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。 27 因為經上記著： 不懷孕、不生養的，你要歡樂； 未曾經過產難的，你要高聲歡呼； 因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。

28 弟兄們，我們是憑著應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。 29 當時，那按著血氣生的逼迫了那按著聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。 30 然而經上是怎麼說的呢？是說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去！因為使女的兒子不可與自主婦人的兒子一同承受產業。」 31 弟兄們，這樣看來，我們不是使女的兒女，乃是自主婦人的兒女了。

Galatians 4

1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor,t is no different from a slave, though he is the ownert of everything.2 But he is under guardianst and managers until the date set by hist father.3 So also we, when we were minors,t were enslaved under the basic forcest of the world.4 But when the appropriate timet had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.t6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who callst “Abba!t Father!”

7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you aret a son, then you are also an heir through God.s

Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law

8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.t9 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 worthlesst basic forces?t Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?t10 You are observing religioust days and months and seasons and years.11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain.

12 I beg you, brothers and sisters,t become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Personal Appeal of Paul

13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me.t Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God,t as though I were Christ Jesus himself!t15 Where then is your sense of happinesst now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!

16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?t
17 They court you eagerly,t but for no good purpose;t they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.t18 However, it is goodt to be sought eagerlyt for a good purposet at all times, and not only when I am present with you.19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!ts

20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice,t because I am perplexed about you.

An Appeal from Allegory

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?t22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by thet slave woman and the other by the free woman.23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent,t while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.24 These things may be treated as an allegory,t for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26 But the Jerusalem above is free,s and she is our mother.

27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children;t
break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains,
because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than those of the woman who has a husband,"ts
28 But you,s brothers and sisters,t are children of the promise like Isaac.29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descentt persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,t so it is now.30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son"s of the free woman.

31 Therefore, brothers and sisters,t we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.