Galatians 3:28

Commentary on Galatians 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Introduction

Paul’s letter to the Galatians confronts a drift back into reliance on the Mosaic Law and Judaising practices. In Galatians 3[i] he unfolds the purpose of the Law as a “tutor” leading to Christ, and then proclaims the fullness of faith realised in union with Him. Verse 28 stands at the climax of that argument: it announces the radical unity and equality of all who belong to Christ by faith.

Exegetical Analysis

“There is neither Jew nor Greek”

• In the first century Mediterranean world, “Jew” and “Greek” (meaning Gentile) denoted deeply entrenched religious and ethnic identities.
• Paul asserts that these ancient divisions no longer determine one’s standing before God; every believer—Jew or Gentile—is equally embraced in the promises given to Abraham.
• The Abrahamic promise was always intended for all nations (Genesis 12:3[ii]; Romans 4:13[iii]). Through faith, Gentiles partake of the same covenant blessings as ethnic Israel.

“There is neither slave nor free”

• Slavery was a pervasive institution in Paul’s day. He does not condemn the practice here, but he proclaims that social status carries no weight in Christ.
• All believers, whether slave or free, share equal dignity and full access to God’s grace (Romans 6:22–23; Philemon verses 15–16).
• The universal lordship of Christ undergirds ethical calls for justice and compassion irrespective of human rank.

“There is neither male nor female”

• Gender distinctions shaped every aspect of ancient life, often confining women to subordinate roles.
• Paul’s declaration affirms that in salvation both men and women are equally heirs of grace (1 Peter 3:7). They stand on the same footing before God, though the New Testament also affirms distinct roles for husbands and wives in marriage and leadership in the local church (Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Timothy 2:12–14).
• Galatians 3:28 addresses status in redemption, not necessarily the distribution of ecclesiastical offices.

“For you are all one in Christ Jesus”

• This final clause names the ground of unity: union with Christ. Believers from every background are incorporated into His body (1 Corinthians 12:13), share in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–5), and become children of God through faith (Galatians 3:26).
• Union with Christ is central to Christian soteriology—justification, sanctification and glorification flow from our mystical but real participation in Him.

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Theological Significance

1. Union with Christ as Foundation
   Union with Christ secures every blessing of grace. In Him, believers receive the righteousness of faith (Philippians 3:9) and the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:9).
2. The Law as Tutor
   Galatians 3 portrays the Law as a pedagogical servant: it reveals sin (Galatians 3:19–22) and guides until its purpose is fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:24–25). Once faith in Christ has come, believers are no longer under the Law’s custodial oversight but under the law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2).
3. Covenantal Inclusion
   The promise to Abraham precedes the Law by four centuries (Galatians 3:16–18). The covenant promise has always been by faith, not by works, and extends to “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3).

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Application to Modern Christian Living

• Church Unity
  Local congregations must transcend racial, socio-economic and gender barriers. Every believer shares in the same gospel, bearing equal responsibility to love and serve one another (John 13:34–35).
• Social Justice
  The church’s witness in a fractured world requires affirming dignity and equality at every level—advocating for the poor, the marginalised and the voiceless as fellow heirs of grace.
• Gender Roles and Ministry
  While affirming equal status before God, churches may differ on role distinctions. All ministries must flow from a conviction that authority in Christ is not tied to ethnicity, class or gender.
• Evangelism and Mission
  The gospel breaks down barriers so that every nation, tribe and tongue is invited into Christ’s global family (Revelation 7:9–10).

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[i] Galatians 3

New King James Version

Justification by Faith

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you [a]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [b]among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so [c]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Law Brings a Curse

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is [d]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Changeless Promise

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God [e]in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, [f]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our [g]tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Footnotes

Galatians 3:1 NU omits that you should not obey the truth

Galatians 3:1 NU omits among you

Galatians 3:4 Or great

Galatians 3:11 declared righteous

Galatians 3:17 NU omits in Christ

Galatians 3:23 Lit. confined

Galatians 3:24 In a household, the guardian responsible for the care and discipline of the children

[ii] Genesis 12:3

New King James Version

3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

[iii] Romans 4:13

New King James Version

The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.