Galatians 3:28

Galatians 3:28 is a widely commented[1] biblical passage in the Epistle to the Galatians, in which Paul states: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"[2] It is particularly cited in Christian discussions about gender equality and racism.

Translation

The original Greek is:[1]

οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ
ouk eni Ioudaios oude Hellēn, ouk eni doulos oude eleutheros, ouk eni arsen kai thēly; pantes gar hymeis heis este en Christō Iēsou

This is literally translated "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus".[2] It is disputed to what extent the verse actually means to negate all differences between Jews and Greeks, women and men, and so forth. One interpretation is that conventional translations are misleading, because really the verse intends to say that all have the opportunity to become Christians, but not that social differences should be eradicated.[3][4] It is also debated if the word literally translated "Greek" refers to Greeks or to all non-Jews; it is sometimes translated "gentile".[5]

Connection with other biblical passages

The conventional interpretation is that the passage is part of a baptismal invocation. However, there are other minority views, one of which connects the verse to the circumcision controversy in early Christianity.[6][7] New Testament scholar Bernard C. Lategan argued that a pre-Pauline origin was unlikely due to the novel and unique character of the verse.[6] There is also a theory which links the verse to Genesis 1:27, which states that man was created in the image of God.[6] There is also an argument that Galatians 3:28 negates Genesis 2:24, which prescribes gender differences.[6]

Specific issues

Gender equality
See also: Women in Christianity § Theology

The verse, along with 1 Corinthians (New Testament household codes), is key to understanding debates about the role of women in Christianity.[8] Christian egalitarians argue that the verse supports equal role for men and women in Christianity and secular life, in contrast to the opposing views of biblical patriarchy and complementarianism. The verse has also been analyzed in queer theology.[9] At the time, the verse could be considered a seditious attack on the Roman institution of patriarchal marriage.[10]

Slavery

The verse is used to argue for Christian abolitionism, the idea that Christianity considers slavery an evil and wants an end to it. New Testament scholar Darius Jankiewicz considers the verse the "Magna Carta of the abolitionists' movement".[11] Abolitionists argued that the verse planted the seeds for future abolition of slavery, because accepting the spiritual equality of all believers made slavery inconceivable; black Christians also adopted this interpretation. Pro-slavery Christians disagreed, pointing to other passages in the Bible in which Paul commands slaves to obey their masters (Ephesians 6:5–9).[12]

The passage was omitted from the slave bible because of fear that it could incite rebellion.[13]

Racism

In 1957, Martin Luther King Jr. cited the passage in a pamphlet oppositing racial segregation in the United States. He wrote, "Racial segregation is a blatant denial of the unity which we all have in Christ."[14] He also alluded to the verse at the end of his "I have a dream" speech.[15]

As a whole

Considered in its entirety, the verse is cited to support an egalitarian interpretation of Christianity.[16]

According to Jakobus M. Vorster, the central question debated by theologians "is whether the statement in Galatians 3:28 about ecclesiastical relationships can be translated into a Christian-ethical norm for all human relationships".[17] Vorster argues that it can, and that the verse provides a Christian foundation for the promotion of human rights and equality, in contrast to "patriarchy, racism and exploitation" which in his opinion are caused by human sinfulness.[17]

According to Karin Neutel, "Contemporary interpreters have updated Paul’s statement and added pairs to the three original ones: 'neither gay nor straight,' 'neither healthy nor disabled,' and 'neither black nor white.'... [The original] three pairs must have been as relevant in the first century, as the additional categories are today." She argues that the verse points to a utopian, cosmopolitan community.[15]

References
  1. Tolmie 2014, p. 105.
  2. "Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus". biblehub.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  3. Tolmie 2014, p. 106.
  4. Miller 2002, pp. 10–11.
  5. Stanley 1997, p. 101.
  6. Tolmie 2014, p. 107.
  7. Martin 2003.
  8. Tolmie 2014, pp. 112–113.
  9. Tolmie 2014, pp. 111–112.
  10. Punt 2010, p. 149.
  11. Jankiewicz 2016, p. 61.
  12. Jankiewicz 2016, pp. 61–62.
  13. Martin, Michel (9 December 2018). "Slave Bible From The 1800s Omitted Key Passages That Could Incite Rebellion". NPR.org. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  14. ""For All . . . A Non-Segregated Society," A Message for Race Relations Sunday". The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. Stanford University. 10 February 1957. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  15. Neutel, Karin (19 May 2020). "Galatians 3:28 – Neither Jew nor Greek, Slave nor Free, Male and Female". Biblical Archaeology Society. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  16. Buell & Hodge 2004, p. 235.
  17. Vorster 2019, p. 8.

General sources
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