迦拉达书 Galatians Chapter 4
Galatians
Chapter 4
1 1 2 I mean that as long as the heir is not of age, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything,
再说：承继人几时还是孩童，虽然他是一切家业的主人，却与奴隶没有分别，
2 but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father.
仍属于监护人和代理人的权下，直到父亲预定的期限。
3 In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world. 3
同样，当我们以前还作孩童的时候，我们是隶属于今世的蒙学权下；
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
但时期一满，天主就派遣了自己的儿子来，生于女人，生于法律之下，
5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.
为把在法律之下的人赎出来，使我们获得义子的地位。
6 As proof that you are children, 4 God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, ＂Abba, Father!＂
为证实你们确实是天主的子女，天主派遣了自己儿子的圣神，到我们心内喊说：＂阿爸，父啊！＂
7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
所以你已不再是奴隶，而是儿子了；如果是儿子，赖天主的恩宠，也成了承继人。
8 5 6 At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods;
当你们还不认识天主的时候，服事了一些本来不是神的神；
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 destitute elemental powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again?
但如今你们认识了天主，更好说为天主所认识；那么，你们怎么又再回到那无能无用的蒙学里去，情愿再作他们的奴隶呢？
10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. 7
你们竟又谨守某日、某月、某时、某年！
11 I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain. 8
我真为你们担心，怕我白白地为你们辛苦了。
12 9 10 I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I have also become as you are. You did me no wrong;
弟兄们！我恳求你们要象我一样，因为我曾一度也象你们一样。你们一点也没有亏负过我。
13 you know that it was because of a physical illness 11 that I originally preached the gospel to you,
你们知道：当我初次给你们宣讲福音时，正当我身患重病，
14 and you did not show disdain or contempt because of the trial caused you by my physical condition, but rather you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
虽然我的病势为你们是个试探，你们却没有轻看我，也没有厌弃我，反接待我有如一位天主的天使，有如基督耶稣。
15 Where now is that blessedness of yours? 12 Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
那么，你们当日所庆幸的在那里呢？我敢为你们作证：如若可能，你们那时也会把你们的眼睛挖出来给我。
16 So now have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
那么，只因我给你们说实话，就成了你们的仇人吗？
17 They show interest in you, but not in a good way; they want to isolate you, 13 so that you may show interest in them.
那些人对你们表示关心，并不怀好意；他们只是愿意使你们与我隔绝，好叫你们也关心他们。
18 Now it is good to be shown interest for good reason at all times, and not only when I am with you.
受人关心固然是好的，但应怀好意，且该常常如此，并不单是我在你们中间的时候。
19 My children, for whom I am again in labor until Christ be formed in you!
我的孩子们！我愿为你们再受产痛，直到基督在你们内形成为止。
20 I would like to be with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed because of you.
恨不得我现今就在你们跟前，改变我的声调，因为我对你们实在放心不下。
21 14 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
你们愿意属于法律的，请告诉我：你们没有听见法律说什么吗？
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
法律曾记载说：亚巴郎有两个儿子：一个生于婢女，一个生于自由的妇人。
23 The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise.
那生于婢女的，是按常例而生的；但那生于自由妇人的，却是因恩许而生的。
24 Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
这都含有寓意：那两个妇人是代表两个盟约：一是出于西乃山，生子为奴，那即是哈加尔──
25 Hagar represents Sinai, 15 a mountain in Arabia; it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children.
西乃山是在阿剌伯──这哈加尔相当于现在的耶路撒冷，因为耶路撒冷与她的子女同为奴隶。
26 But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
然而那属于天上的耶路撒冷却是自由的，她就是我们的母亲：
27 For it is written: ＂Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children; break forth and shout, you who were not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the deserted one than of her who has a husband.＂ 16
诚如经上记载说：‘不生育的石女，喜乐罢！未经产痛的女人，欢呼高唱罢！因为被弃者的子女比有夫者的子女还多。’
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
弟兄们！你们象依撒格一样，是恩许的子女。
29 But just as then the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the spirit, it is the same now.
但是，先前那按常例而生的怎样迫害了那按神恩而生的，如今还是这样。
30 But what does the scripture say? ＂Drive out the slave woman and her son! For the son of the slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son＂ of the freeborn.
然而经上说了什么？‘你将婢女和她的儿子赶走，因为婢女的儿子不能与自由妇人的儿子，一同承受家业。’
31 Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.
所以，弟兄们，我们不是婢女的子女，而是自由妇人的子女。
Footnotes(注解)
1 [1-7] What Paul has argued in Gal 3:26-29 is now elaborated in terms of the Christian as the heir (Gal 4:1, 7; cf Gal 3:18, 29) freed from control by others. Again, as in Gal 3:2-5, the proof that Christians are children of God is the gift of the Spirit of Christ relating them intimately to God.
2 [1,3] Not of age: an infant or minor.
3 [3] The elemental powers of the world: while the term can refer to the ＂elements＂ like earth, air, fire, and water or to elementary forms of religion, the sense here is more likely that of celestial beings that were thought in pagan circles to control the world; cf Gal 4:8; Col 2:8, 20.
4 [6] Children: see the note on Gal 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Gal 3:1, 3). Abba: cf Mark 14:36 and the note; Romans 8:15.
5 [8-11] On the basis of the arguments advanced from Gal 3:1 through Gal 4:7, Paul now launches his appeal to the Galatians with the question, how can you turn back to the slavery of the law (Gal 4:9)? The question is posed with reference to bondage to the elemental powers (see the note on Gal 4:3) because the Galatians had originally been converted to Christianity from paganism, not Judaism (Gal 4:8). The use of the direct question is like Gal 3, 3-5.
6 [8] Things that by nature are not gods: or ＂gods that by nature do not exist.＂
7 [10] This is likely a reference to ritual observances from the Old Testament, promoted by opponents: sabbaths or Yom Kippur, new moon, Passover or Pentecost, sabbatical years.
8 [11] Cf Gal 2:2. If the Galatians become slaves . . . all over again to the law (Gal 4:9), Paul will have worked in vain among them.
9 [12-20] A strongly personal section. Paul appeals to past ties between the Galatians and himself. He speaks sharply of the opponents (Gal 4:17-18) and pastorally to the Galatians (Gal 4:19-20).
10 [12] Because I have also become as you are: a terse phrase in Greek, meaning ＂Be as I, Paul, am,＂ i.e., living by faith, independent of the law, for, in spite of my background in Judaism (Gal 1:13), I have become as you Galatians are now, a brother in Christ.
11 [13] Physical illness: because its nature is not described, some assume an eye disease (Gal 4:15); others, epilepsy; some relate it to 2 Cor 12:7-9. Originally: this may also be translated ＂formerly＂ or ＂on the first (of two) visit(s)＂; cf Acts 16:6; 18:23.
12 [15] That blessedness of yours: possibly a reference to the Galatians' initial happy reception of Paul (Gal 4:14) and of his gospel (Gal 1:6; 3:1-4) and their felicitation at such blessedness, but the phrase could also refer ironically to earlier praise by Paul of the Galatians, no longer possible when they turn from the gospel to the claims of the opponents (Gal 4:17-18; 1:7). If the word is a more literal reference to a beatitude, Gal 3:26-28 may be in view.
13 [17] Isolate you: that is, from the blessings of the gospel and/or from Paul.
14 [21-31] Paul supports his appeal for the gospel (Gal 4:9; 1:6-9; 2:16; 3:2) by a further argument from scripture (cf Gal 3:6-18). It involves the relationship of Abraham (Gal 3:6-16) to his wife, Sarah, the freeborn woman, and to Hagar, the slave woman, and the contrast between the sons born to each, Isaac, child of promise, and Ishmael, son of Hagar (Genesis 16; 21). Only through Isaac is the promise of God preserved. This allegory (Gal 4:24), with its equation of the Sinai covenant and Mosaic law with slavery and of the promise of God with freedom, Paul uses only in light of previous arguments. His quotation of Genesis 21:10 at Gal 4:30 suggests on a scriptural basis that the Galatians should expel those who are troubling them (Gal 1:7).
15 [25] Hagar represents Sinai . . . : some manuscripts have what seems a geographical note, ＂For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.＂
16 [27] Isaiah 54:1 in the Septuagint translation is applied to Sarah as the barren one (in Genesis 15) who ultimately becomes the mother not only of Isaac but now of numerous children, i.e., of all those who believe, the children of the promise (Gal 4:28).