舊約聖經把眾人都圈在罪裏 - 加拉太書讀經隨筆 第3章

加拉太書第三章第16-25節，根據舊約聖經的記述，保羅說神與亞伯拉罕立因信稱義的約在先，而律法的出現則是在四百三十年後。律法出現的原因是因為人的罪，以律法為鏡可以把人的罪顯明出來，這樣舊約聖經就把眾人都圈在罪裏直到耶穌基督的到來。可見，律法起到了引導與啟蒙的作用，引導我們到基督那裏利用基督的血把罪洗淨，從而使我們因信稱義。這是對神與亞伯拉罕所立因信稱義的約的一個呼應，或者說神的本意自始至終都是叫人因信稱義，而不是行律法稱義。現在耶穌基督已經來了，律法就對我們失去了啟蒙和教導的作用，或者說我們從此就不在律法手下了，而是在耶穌基督裏了。

 

加3:16 所應許的原是向亞伯拉罕和他子孫說的．　神並不是說眾子孫、指著許多人、乃是說你那一個子孫、指著一個人、就是基督。

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn't say, "To seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed," which is Christ.

加3:17 我是這麽說、　神預先所立的約、不能被那四百三十年以後的律法廢掉、叫應許歸於虛空。

Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

加3:18 因為承受產業、若本乎律法、就不本乎應許．但　神是憑著應許、把產業賜給亞伯拉罕。

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

加3:19 這樣說來、律法是為甚麽有的呢．原是為過犯添上的、等候那蒙應許的子孫來到．並且是藉天使經中保之手設立的。

What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

加3:20 但中保本不是為一麵作的．　神卻是一位。

Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

加3:21 這樣、律法是與　神的應許反對麽．斷乎不是．若曾傳一個能叫人得生的律法、義就誠然本乎律法了。

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

加3:22 但聖經把眾人都圈在罪裏、使所應許的福因信耶穌基督、歸給那信的人。

But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

加3:23 但這因信得救的理、還未來以先、我們被看守在律法之下、直圈到那將來的真道顯明出來。

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

加3:24 這樣、律法是我們訓蒙的師傅、引我們到基督那裏、使我們因信稱義。

So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

加3:25 但這因信得救的理、既然來到、我們從此就不在師傅的手下了。

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.