The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

然而，那使女所生的是按着血气生的；那自主之妇人所生的，是凭着应许生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉体生的；那自由的妇人所生的是凭着应许生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉体生的；那自由的妇人所生的是凭着应许生的。

婢女的儿子是按着人的意愿生的，主母的儿子是按着上帝的应许生的。

但那出于婢女的，是按着肉体生的；那出于自由的妇人的，是凭着应许生的。

那出于女仆的是由肉体生的，那出于自由女人的是藉着应许生的。

然而，那使女所生的是按着血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉體生的；那自由的婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉體生的；那自由的婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

婢女的兒子是按著人的意願生的，主母的兒子是按著上帝的應許生的。

但那出於婢女的，是按著肉體生的；那出於自由的婦人的，是憑著應許生的。

那出於使女的、是只按普通程序生的、而那出於自主婦人的、卻是憑着應許生的。

那出於女僕的是由肉體生的，那出於自由女人的是藉著應許生的。

婢出者、依形軀而生、自由出者、乃由應許焉、

婢出者、循人道、婦出者、因應許、

其由婢生者、循血氣而生、其由自主之婦生者、因應許而生、

然婢女之子、乃因肉情而生；而主婦之子、則憑恩諾而生。

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.

Abraham’s son by the slave woman was born in the usual way. But his son by the free woman was born because of God’s promise.

But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise.

But the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.

But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

But he[ who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman[ was] by promise.

But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.

However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say,“ Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.

The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.

Then one of them said,“ I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent.Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.So she laughed silently to herself and said,“ How could a worn out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master— my husband— is also so old?”Then the Lord said to Abraham,“ Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say,‘ Can an old woman like me have a baby?’Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping— believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him,“ That’s how many descendants you will have!”And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead— and so was Sarah’s womb.Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Then God said to Abraham,“ Regarding Sarai, your wife— her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah.And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief.“ How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought.“ And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”So Abraham said to God,“ May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”But God replied,“ No— Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

In fact, it says,“ The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: