Galatians & Gender Roles

It has become increasingly common for people to use Galatians 3:28 as proof text that we've done away with gender and traditional roles. The verse reads, "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." As we look at the context of the verse, it is clear that Galatians 3:28 does not justify doing away with gender as just some social construct and a proof text supporting the idea of women pastors or women elders.

The doctrine being put on display is the glory of the atonement. When God saves us through the work of Jesus Christ, we are fully united to Him, raised to a new life, and have hope that one day we will appear with Him again. The normal divisions in our world don't change the doctrine of salvation. Jesus saves the Jew and the Gentile, the slave and the free, and both men and women. That's an amazing point that we should reflect on. This glorious true religion found only in Jesus Christ restores every individual completely, fully, and wonderfully.

What is dangerous is when we impose something upon the text. When somebody comes to that verse and imposes an egalitarian view that says there are now no gender distinctions, that is clearly wrong because Scripture interprets Scripture. When you go to the next book of the Bible, Ephesians, there are clear distinctions in the home for men and women. Also, interestingly, for slaves and the free as well. There are distinctions about how the slave is meant to relate to his master and how the master is meant to treat his slaves. God cares and has standards about those things, and He speaks into them, but He doesn't remove those distinctions. The man and the woman are still there. You can't pick out a verse in Scripture to impose an agenda. Since Scripture harmonizes, it needs to be your filter to make sure you're not imposing your agenda, but rather you're actually hearing what's being said by God.