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Text: Galatians 4: 1-2

MSITN VITAL DOCTRINES – SALVATION

“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.”

Galatians 4:1-2

AN IMPORTANT ILLUSTRATION

1. Paul wisely used an important illustration to teach a vital truth.

2. A well-to-do family.

a. This was a fairly common practice among rich Roman families.

b. The heir is to be well-groomed for the day when he will receive his full inheritance.

3. The scion, that is, the heir:

a. When he is a child, he is not pampered at all.

b. The father will not personally be involved in instructing the son.

i. The father may be too soft or lenient.

ii. He may spoil the son by pampering him.

iii. He would run the danger of becoming an unworthy heir.

c. The son is “the master”.

i. But he will be placed under tutors.

ii. The tutors will teach him as though he was a slave and not a son.

iii. The tutors may discipline the errant or stubborn child.

iv. The father has given the tutors the authority to chastise his son, if need be.

4. Guardians and stewards

a. The father would hire suitable teachers.

b. The child would learn a number of things the father had planned.

c. The child would have guardians and teachers to teach the following:

i. Physical training to strengthen the child.

ii. Education to make him wise.

iii. Social etiquette so that he is able to socialise well.

iv. Martial arts if the family has a military background.

v. Finances

vi. Leadership

vii. Character building

d. The training:

i. It begins in childhood.

ii. It continues to adulthood.

iii. The length of instruction depends on the father.

iv. He would, of course, be in close touch with the guardians and stewards.

v. The son would be declared “heir” at the appointed time.

我夜间的歌曲：重要教义 – 救恩
经文：加拉太书 4

“我说，那承受产业的，虽然是全业的主人，但为孩童的时候却与奴仆毫无分别， 乃在师傅和管家的手下，直等他父亲预定的时候来到。”

《加拉太书4：1-2》

一个重要的例证

1. 保罗运用一个重要的例证来教导关键的真理

2. 一个富裕的家庭

a. 许多富有的罗马家庭都有着这份习俗

b. 继承者必须为继承所有产业的那一日而做准备

3. 继承者：

a. 他自年幼就没被宠惯

b. 他的父亲不会亲自教导他的儿子

i. 因为亲生父亲有可能会纵容儿子

ii. 他也可能会使儿子娇生惯养

iii. 这会使儿子成为不适当的继承者

c. 儿子是“全业的主人”

i. 他会被交托给师傅

ii. 师傅会视他为奴仆一般地教导

iii. 师傅可能会训斥顽固或品行恶劣的孩子

iv. 他的父亲给予师傅权力来管教他的儿子

4. 师傅和管家

a. 父亲会聘用合适的教师

b. 孩子会依照父亲的安排学习不同的的教训

c. 孩子的师傅和管家会教导以下的教训：

i. 体力训练使孩子变得强壮

ii. 教育使他得到智慧

iii. 社交礼仪使他与他人交流

iv. 若他的家庭有军事背景，他就会得到习武的训练

v. 理财

vi. 领导

vii. 培养他的人格

d. 训练

i. 他的训练从小开始

ii. 这会持续到成年

iii. 父亲会指定训练的时期

iv. 他会时常与师傅和管家联系

v. 他的儿子会在预定的时候成为继承人