聖經365恩典之旅

加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。

加4:2乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親豫定的時候來到。

加4:3我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。

加4:4及至時候滿足，神就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下，

加4:5要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得著兒子的名分。

加4:6你們既為兒子，神就差他兒子的靈，進入你們〔原文作我們〕的心，呼叫阿爸，父。

加4:7可見，從此以後，你不是奴僕，乃是兒子了，既是兒子，就靠著神為後嗣。

加4:8但從前你們不認識神的時候，是給那些本來不是神的作奴僕。

加4:9現在你們既然認識神，更可說是被神所認識的，怎麼還要歸回那懦弱無用的小學，情願再給他作奴僕呢。

加4:10你們謹守日子，月分，節期，年分。

加4:11我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。

加4:12弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因我也像你們一樣，你們一點沒有虧負我。

加4:13你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。

加4:14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，如同神的使者，如同基督耶穌。

加4:15你們當日所誇的福氣在那裡呢，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。

加4:16如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵麼。

加4:17那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間〔原文作把你們關在外面〕你們，叫你們熱心待他們。

加4:18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。

加4:19我小子阿，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裡。

加4:20我巴不得現今在你們那裡，改換口氣，因我為你們心裡作難。

加4:21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麼。

加4:22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。

加4:23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。

加4:24這都是比方，那兩個婦人，就是兩約，一約是出於西乃山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。

加4:25這夏甲二字是指著亞拉伯的西乃山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和他的兒女都是為奴的。

加4:26但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，他是我們的母。

加4:27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。』

加4:28弟兄們，我們是憑著應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。

加4:29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。

加4:30然而經上是怎麼說的呢，是說：『把使女和他兒子趕出去，因為使女的兒子，不可與自主婦人的兒子一同承受產業。』

加4:31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。

 

加5:1基督釋放了我們，叫我們得以自由，所以要站立得穩，不要再被奴僕的軛挾制。

加5:2我保羅告訴你們，若受割禮，基督就與你們無益了。

加5:3我再指著凡受割禮的人確實的說：他是欠著行全律法的債。

加5:4你們這要靠律法稱義的，是與基督隔絕，從恩典中墜落了。

加5:5我們靠著聖靈，憑著信心，等候所盼望的義。

加5:6原來在基督耶穌裡，受割禮不受割禮，全無功效，惟獨使人生發仁愛的信心，才有功效。

加5:7你們向來跑得好，有誰攔阻你們，叫你們不順從真理呢。

加5:8這樣的勸導，不是出於那召你們的。

加5:9一點麵酵能使全團都發起來。

加5:10我在主裡很信你們必不懷別樣的心，但攪擾你們的，無論是誰，必擔當他的罪名。

加5:11弟兄們，我若仍舊傳割禮，為甚麼還受逼迫呢，若是這樣，那十字架討厭的地方就沒有了。

加5:12恨不得那攪亂你們的人，把自己割絕了。

加5:13弟兄們，你們蒙召，是要得自由，只是不可將你們的自由當作放縱情慾的機會，總要用愛心互相服事。

加5:14因為全律法都包在愛人如己這一句話之內了。

加5:15你們要謹慎，若相咬相吞，只怕要彼此消滅了。

加5:16我說：你們當順著聖靈而行，就不放縱肉體的情慾了。

加5:17因為情慾和聖靈相爭，聖靈和情慾相爭，這兩個是彼此相敵，使你們不能作所願意作的。

加5:18但你們若被聖靈引導，就不在律法以下。

加5:19情慾的事，都是顯而易見的，就如姦淫，污穢，邪蕩，

加5:20拜偶像，邪術，仇恨，爭競，忌恨，惱怒，結黨，紛爭，異端，

加5:21嫉妒，〔有古卷在此有兇殺二字〕醉酒，荒宴等類，我從前告訴你們，現在又告訴你們，行這樣事的人，必不能承受神的國

加5:22聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛，喜樂，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信實，

加5:23溫柔，節制，這樣的事，沒有律法禁止。

加5:24凡屬基督耶穌的人，是已經把肉體，連肉體的邪情私慾，同釘在十字架上了。

加5:25我們若是靠聖靈得生，就當靠聖靈行事。

加5:26不要貪圖虛名，彼此惹氣，互相嫉妒。

 

加6:1弟兄們，若有人偶然被過犯所勝，你們屬靈的人，就當用溫柔的心，把他挽回過來，又當自己小心，恐怕也被引誘。

加6:2你們各人的重擔要互相擔當，如此，就完全了基督的律法。

加6:3人若無有，自己還以為有，就是自欺了。

加6:4各人應當察驗自己的行為，這樣，他所誇的就專在自己，不在別人了。

加6:5因為各人必擔當自己的擔子。

加6:6在道理上受教的，當把一切需用的供給施教的人。

加6:7不要自欺，神是輕慢不得的，人種的是甚麼，收的也是甚麼。

加6:8順著情慾撒種的，必從情慾收敗壞，順著聖靈撒種的，必從聖靈收永生。

加6:9我們行善，不可喪志，若不灰心，到了時候，就要收成。

加6:10所以有了機會，就當向眾人行善，向信徒一家的人更當這樣。

加6:11請看我親手寫給你們的字，是何等的大呢。

加6:12凡希圖外貌體面的人，都勉強你們受割禮，無非是怕自己為基督的十字架受逼迫。

加6:13他們那些受割禮的，連自己也不守律法，他們願意你們受割禮，不過要藉著你們的肉體誇口。

加6:14但我斷不以別的誇口，只誇我們主耶穌基督的十字架，因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上，就世界而論，我已經釘在十字上架上。

加6:15受割禮不受割禮，都無關緊要，要緊的就是作新造的人。

加6:16凡照此理而行的，願平安憐憫加給他們，和神的以色列民。

加6:17從今以後，人都不要攪擾我，因為我身上帶著耶穌的印記。

 

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

 

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

 

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

 

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

 

Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

 

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

 

“Be glad, barren woman,

    you who never bore a child;

shout for joy and cry aloud,

    you who were never in labor;

because more are the children of the desolate woman

    than of her who has a husband.”[e]

 

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 

2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

 

7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

 

Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

 

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

 

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

 

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

 

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

 

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.

 

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.