1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[1] though he is the owner of everything,2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[2] of the world. (加2:4)4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (创3:15; 可1:15; 路2:21; 路2:27; 约1:14; 腓2:7; 提前2:6; 提前2:15)5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (羅8:15; 加3:13; 加3:26)6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (徒16:7; 羅5:5; 林后3:17)7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (加3:29)
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. (代下13:9; 赛37:19; 耶2:11; 耶5:7; 耶16:20; 林前1:21; 林前8:4; 弗2:11; 帖前1:9; 帖前4:5; 帖后1:8; 约一4:8)9But 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 worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (羅8:3; 林前8:3; 加3:3; 來7:18)10You observe days and months and seasons and years! (羅14:5; 西2:16)11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. (加2:2; 加5:2; 加5:4; 帖前3:5)12Brothers,[3] I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. (林后2:5; 林后6:13)13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, (林前2:3; 加1:6)14and 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. (撒上29:9; 玛2:7; 太10:40; 林后5:20)15What 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.16Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?[4] (加2:5)17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.18It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, (加4:13)19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! (羅8:10; 林前4:15; 门1:10; 雅1:18)20I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. (创16:5; 创21:2)23But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. (创17:16; 创18:10; 创18:14; 创21:1; 羅9:7; 加4:28; 加4:29; 來11:11)24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. (申33:2; 羅9:4)25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[5] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (來12:22; 启3:12; 启21:2; 启21:10)27For it is written, “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.” (赛54:1)28Now you,[6] brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. (羅9:8; 加3:29; 加4:23)29But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (创21:9; 加5:11)30But what does the Scripture say? “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.” (创21:10; 约8:35)31So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (彼前3:6)