Followers

Thursday, May 03, 2007

What About 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," (Gal. 3:28).


This verse is often used to support the idea that women can hold the offices of elder and pastor because there is neither male nor female in Christ. The argument states that if we are all equal, then women can be pastors.


Unfortunately, those who use this verse this way have failed to read the context. Verse 23 talks about being under the Law "before faith came" and how we are brought closer to Jesus and have become sons of God by faith. We are no longer under law, but grace and we are "Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise," (v. 29).(2)


The point of this passage is that we are all saved by God's grace according to the promise of God and that it doesn't matter
who you are, Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, or female.
All are saved the same way, by grace. In that,
there is neither male nor female.


This verse is not talking about church structure.
It is talking about salvation "in Christ."


It cannot be used to support women as pastors because that isn't what it is talking about. Instead, to find out about church structure and leadership, you need to go to those passages that talk about it: 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 1.

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