Before faith in Christ came, we were guarded by the law. We were locked up until this faith was made known.

但这因信得救的理还未来以先，我们被看守在律法之下，直圈到那将来的真道显明出来。

但这“信”还未来以前，我们被看守在律法之下，像被圈住，直到那将来的“信”显明出来。

但这“信”还未来以前，我们被看守在律法之下，像被圈住，直到那将来的“信”显明出来。

信耶稣的时代还没有来临以前，律法暂时监管我们。等到信耶稣之道显明出来后，律法就不再监管我们。

但信的道理还没有来到以前，我们在律法下被囚禁、被围困，直到那要来的信的道理显明出来。

只是在这信仰临到之前，我们都被圈在律法之下受看守，直到这将要来临的信仰被启示出来。

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。

但這「信」還未來以前，我們被看守在律法之下，像被圈住，直到那將來的「信」顯明出來。

但這「信」還未來以前，我們被看守在律法之下，像被圈住，直到那將來的「信」顯明出來。

信耶穌的時代還沒有來臨以前，律法暫時監管我們。等到信耶穌之道顯明出來後，律法就不再監管我們。

但信的道理還沒有來到以前，我們在律法下被囚禁、被圍困，直到那要來的信的道理顯明出來。

但「信」還未來到之先，我們都被監護在律法以下、直被圈着、等那以後來到的「信」顯示出來。

只是在這信仰臨到之前，我們都被圈在律法之下受看守，直到這將要來臨的信仰被啟示出來。

然信未著、我儕拘守律下、且為所囿、以俟將顯之信、

夫以信稱義之道未著、我眾為法所拘幽、以俟信道之顯、

信之道尚未顯著、我眾為律法所守、而被拘以俟信之道顯著、

惟在信德未興之前、吾人則受律法之監護約束、以俟行見啟示之信德。

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.

Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed.

But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.

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

God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.

So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came. He came so that we might be made right with God by believing in Christ.But now faith in Christ has come. So the law is no longer in charge of us.

What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God.

Here is what I have been saying. As long as your own children are young, they are no different from slaves in your house. They are no different, even though they will own all the property.People are in charge of the property. And other people are in charge of the children. The children remain under their care until they become adults. At that time their fathers give them the property.It is the same with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the basic spiritual powers of the world.But then the chosen time came. God sent his Son. A woman gave birth to him. He was born under the authority of the law.He came to set free those who were under the authority of the law. He wanted us to be adopted as children with all the rights children have.

Sin will no longer control you like a master. That’s because the law does not rule you. God’s grace has set you free.What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by the law but by God’s grace? Not at all!

Then why was the law given at all? It was added because of human sin. And it was supposed to control us until the promised Seed had come. The law was given through angels, and a go- between was put in charge of it.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the authority of the law.

Then Jesus turned to his disciples. He said to them in private,“ Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see. But they didn’t see it. They wanted to hear what you hear. But they didn’t hear it.”

Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

They wanted to find out when and how this salvation would come. The Spirit of Christ in them was telling them about the sufferings of the Messiah. These were his sufferings that were going to come. The Spirit of Christ was also telling them about the glory that would follow.It was made known to the prophets that they were not serving themselves. Instead, they were serving you when they spoke about the things that you have now heard. Those who have preached the good news to you have told you these things. They have done it with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

All these people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised.That’s because God had planned something better for us. So they would only be made perfect together with us.

To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law. I did this even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law.To those who don’t have the law I became like one who doesn’t have the law. I did this even though I am not free from God’s law. I am under Christ’s law. Now I can win those who don’t have the law.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They didn’t receive the things God had promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a long way off. They openly said that they were outsiders and strangers on earth.

You who want to be under the authority of the law, tell me something. Don’t you know what the law says?