Galatians 3 28

Galatians 3:28 kjv

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 nkjv

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.

Galatians 3:28 niv

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 esv

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 nlt

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3 verses

Galatians 3 28 Meaning

In Christ Jesus, there is a radical spiritual equality where distinctions of social status and gender are dissolved. All believers, regardless of their former divisions, are united in one spiritual identity through their faith in Christ. This unity is not merely superficial but foundational to the new humanity established by God.

Galatians 3 28 Context

Galatians 3:28 is part of Paul's argument in his letter to the churches in Galatia. He is confronting Judaizers who insisted that Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law to be true children of God. Paul argues that justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through adherence to the Law. This freedom and new identity in Christ transcends all previous social, ethnic, and gender divisions. This chapter is heavily polemical against the works-based righteousness being promoted by the Judaizers, asserting that all believers are unified as children of God through faith.

Galatians 3 28 Word Analysis

• "For" (Gk. gar): Indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding statement, reinforcing the concept of being "children of God, all of you, through faith."
• "you are" (Gk. este): Present tense, indicative mood, second person plural. Asserts a present reality and continuous state of being for believers.
• "all" (Gk. pantes): Encompasses the entirety of believers without exception, emphasizing the universality of this spiritual state.
• "one" (Gk. eis): Denotes unity and oneness, signifying the dissolution of previous separations and the formation of a single, unified entity.
• "in Christ Jesus": This is the crucial locative prepositional phrase. It signifies that this unity is achieved and exists within the sphere of Christ's redemptive work and identity. It is in Christ that these distinctions cease to have spiritual or salvific significance.
  • "Christ Jesus": Refers to Jesus the Messiah, highlighting both his Messianic identity and his humanity.
• "neither" (Gk. ou): A strong negative particle negating the following categories.
• "Jew" (Gk. Ioudaios): Refers to ethnic and religious identity associated with Abraham, the Law, and the covenant people of Israel.
• "nor" (Gk. oude): Another negating particle, linking the distinct categories being annulled.
• "Greek" (Gk. Hellēn): Refers to Gentiles, specifically those culturally Hellenized, often implying those outside the Jewish religious and ethnic fold. This is a primary ethnic and cultural division of Paul's day.
• "nor" (Gk. oude): Continuing the negation of former divisions.
• "slave" (Gk. doulos): Denotes a person in bondage, indicating a stark social and economic division in the ancient world.
• "nor" (Gk. oude): Further negates significant social strata.
• "master" (Gk. eleutheros): The opposite of slave, representing freedom and societal authority. This highlights the radical flattening of social hierarchy.
• "nor" (Gk. oude): Continuing the negation of significant divisions.
• "male" (Gk. arsen): Refers to the biological distinction of sex.
• "and" (Gk. kai): Connects the final pair of distinct categories.
• "female" (Gk. thēly): The complementary biological distinction of sex.

Group Analysis:

• "Jew nor Greek": This pairing addresses the most significant ethnic and cultural divide of the ancient world, spanning religious and national identity.
• "slave nor free": This pairing confronts the starkest social and economic division, where one person was owned by another.
• "male and female": This pairing encompasses the fundamental biological distinction between the sexes, impacting social roles and relationships.
• "in Christ Jesus" serves as the encompassing sphere where these divisions are rendered spiritually irrelevant. It’s the new reality that redefines identity.
• "For you are all one": This is the resulting statement of unity made possible by the preceding clauses.

Galatians 3 28 Bonus Section

This verse reflects an eschatological vision, anticipating the new creation where former distinctions are ultimately reconciled and rendered subordinate to the unity found in God's redeemed people. It serves as a blueprint for the Church's social ethics, calling believers to dismantle internal divisions and embrace each other in love. The radical nature of this statement is particularly striking given the rigid social hierarchies and patriarchal norms of the Greco-Roman world and even Jewish society. The inclusion of "male and female" signifies a profound reorientation of relationships and mutual respect between the sexes within the redeemed community.

Galatians 3 28 Commentary

Galatians 3:28 powerfully declares a transformative equality in Christ. The gospel redefines our primary identity, placing it in union with Jesus. All previous markers of identity and social stratification—whether ethnic (Jew/Gentile), social (slave/free), or biological (male/female)—lose their ultimate significance when viewed from the perspective of our new life in Christ. This is not to say these distinctions disappear or are inherently sinful, but rather that they no longer serve as barriers to spiritual relationship with God or with fellow believers. They do not determine one's standing before God, nor do they create inherent superiority or inferiority within the covenant community. The focus shifts from what outwardly divides to what inwardly unites: faith in Christ and the indwelling Spirit.