Neither Male or Female in Christ - Galatians 3:28

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

Galatians 3:28 has been called the "Magna Carta" of Christianity. It supposedly sets everyone free to be whatever they believe the Lord wants them to be, and eliminates all gender-based distinctions and roles in the body of Christ. But as incredibly empowering and liberating as this verse is, the context indicates something different from what a lot of Christian pastors, authors and theologians are saying about it these days.

In the verses that immediately precede it, Paul says that we are "...all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (v. 26). Now as politically incorrect as it is today, Paul is saying that all of us who are trusting in Christ as the One who died in our place are "sons of God". The point is that all of us, men and women alike, have a high and privileged position in Christ, and in fact, God sees us not as sinners anymore, but as those who are "clothed...with Christ" (v. 27). He now sees Christ when He looks at us. We are clothed in His righteousness. Is that awesome or what?

Now in verse twenty-eight, Paul is saying as a result of this, there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female. We are all now "one in Christ Jesus". But the word "one" does not technically refer to equality. Rather it is a reference to unity. We are all "one" body of Christ, spiritually-speaking. We are all now Christians and members of the body of Christ without spiritual distinction.

Now there is implicit in this a note of equality. But it is not equality of roles in the home and church that is being proclaimed here. It is rather that men and women are equally important and valuable, spiritually-speaking, in Christ. God does not value the salvation of a man over a woman, and in Christ, a man is not more important or valuable than a woman. Now men and women are both "...heirs according to promise" (v. 29) (see also I Peter 3:7).

The spiritual reality now is that women are "coheirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). This does empower them to serve in ways that were denied them under the Law, and they now must be treated with same respect and dignity as men in the church and home. But this verse cannot be used as a proof text that women are free in Christ to do or be whatever they want. This is not an issue being addressed here. The issues are salvation, spiritual unity and our spiritual position in Christ. The practical implications of all this for women have to be worked out from other passages in the New Testament, and it is not within the scope of this post to discuss these. Suffice it to say that the New Testament passages regarding the roles of men and women have been seriously misinterpreted by both traditionalists and feminists, in my opinion. But as I said, that is another post (or posts).

My point here is that as wonderful and liberating as Galatians 3:28 truly is, it simply does not teach what many today says it does. But what is does say was revolutionary in Paul's day, and still is in ours. We as Christians are still struggling to live up to the incredible ideal that it proclaims. May God help us to make greater progress for His glory, and the benefit of Christian men and women everywhere!