Sunday, July 18, 2010

CHAPTER FIVE








HOW MANY TIMES IS ‘THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE’ REFERENCED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?


























-‘neither Jew nor Gentile’ is referred to five times.

-‘Slave nor free’ three times.

-‘Circumcised or uncircumcised’ one time.

’Neither male nor female’ is mentioned in only one of five similar passages about being one in Christ!

Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

1 Cor. 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

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.

Ephes. 2:15-16 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in this one body to reconcile both of them (Jew and Gentile) to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Col. 3:9-11 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [11] Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

If that statement means removing gender authority, it was not very important in the scope of the other relationships mentioned. Yet, if it really was the message, it would have had revolutionary implications for it’s time. To have that idea flung out with one mention and no further explanation makes it ridiculous to accept as a valid interpretation! However, we do exactly that with ignorant arrogance!

Just as serious, why only the distinction of gender authority? Why not other gender distinctions? Who even says that was the specific distinction to be changed? Further more, that interpretation would require comparable changes in the other subjects stated in the passages.

Do you also realize that by saying that statement changes gender authority you are acknowledging that it existed prior to the change?


GENDER IN CHRIST

The context of all the references noted above is essential in correctly interpreting the meaning. They all clearly and consistently emphasis the availability of salvation to all persons! Not one of them have anything to do with changing any part of the relationship between the comparisons!

Galatians 3:19-29 (NASB-U) Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. [20] Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. [21] Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. [22] But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. [24] Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. [26] For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [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. [29] And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

OVERVIEW OF THE PASSAGE

1. Galatians contains two dominate themes;
A. The justification of the believer in Christ apart of works.
B. The ministry of the Holy Spirit as the indwelling energizer of the our life
in Christ.

2. The letter falls into three sections;
1. Defense of Paul’s gospel and apostleship. (1&2)
2. Argument for justification by faith alone, apart from legal works. (3&4)
3. Exhortation to practice the principles and responsibilities of the
Christian life through the power of the Holy Spirit. (5&6)

3. Immediate Context of chapters 3 & 4;
-Negates any claim by Judaizers that the Old Covenant is a better life.
-The Law is to be a guardian on the path toward maturity and free
enjoyment of sonship.
-Membership in God’s family comes to any and all believers with freedom,
family membership and heirship.

The context of the immediate verses;

3:26 Faith in Christ makes us children of God.

3:27 We are ‘clothed’ with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6:3-5, I Cor. 12:13).

3:28 That clothing with Christ is not restricted by culture, social rank and sex.

QUESTIONS

1. Where is gender authority specified in this passage?

2. Why not another gender distinction? For instance, why would the distinction of masculinity and femininity not be eliminated too?

3. How can you just pick gender out of the context, and change one aspect of it (authority) while ignoring the other subjects of the passage? How does that distinction apply to “neither Jew nor Greek“? Is the authority structure also removed from the work place (“slave nor free“)?

4. Are all authority structures then eliminated? Why not?

Choosing gender authority as the subject of this passage minimizes the truth that all humans have God’s salvation available. That is a sad exchange to say the least!

It must be noted here that ‘man and woman’ is always used in any other passages relating to gender roles, not ‘male and female’. If this passage were referring to gender roles, why the exception?

The term ‘Male & female’ in verse 28 draws us back to Genesis 1:27, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Galatians 3:28 tells us that our broken image of God is restored to the image of God (male & female) through Christ! We were restored to the original design! This is part of the critical context of the Galatians passage.

Can the context of Galatians 3:28 refer to the role of authority?

What does that do to the principle and concept of authority? Is it plausible that God would remove the framework of authority between men and women in Christ, and not in government, church and family?

If you believe a woman can be in authority in government and church, but not in the home, how would you practically exercise the transitional shifts of authority?

Is the role change in all three areas (marriage, church and government) supported by scripture? Is there instruction on the ‘new’ structure and how it operates?

If equality of position is the point, then why is there not only no instruction on how that radical change is to be walked out, but instead, confusing, if not conflicting passages to the contrary?

If mutual submission is a new order in the home, how does that harmonize with the principle in Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (See also Luke 16:13)

Even more significant, how is mutual submission in marriage a reflection of Christ and the Church? Doesn’t that view require Christ to submit to the Church too?

What other passages validate the interpretation of Galatians 3:28 as neutralizing authority? How can such a radical change hang on one passage?


CONCLUSION

1. Salvation in Christ is being spoken of, rather than roles with each other. (vs 22,24,26,27)

2. Oneness in Christ does not obliterate the functional differences between slaves and masters (I Cor 7:20-24), parents and children (Eph. 6:1-4), Christian citizens and rulers (Rom. 13:1-7). Why then should we assert that it does so between male and female?

3. Doesn’t the interpretation that it removes authority roles in marriage conflict with I Cor. 11:3, Eph. 5:22, Col. 3:18 and I Pet. 3:1-6? And in the church with I Tim 2:8-3:15?

4. The interpretation of Galatians 3:28 removing gender authority puts the emphasis on the person, the classical view puts the emphasis on Christ. A accurate example of Galatians 3:28 would be the picture of Baptism found in Romans 6. Anyone who is buried with Christ, rises in Christ. This same interpretation is affirmed in the very context of gender authority in I Peter 3:7 (NIV) “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them wit respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life…”

5. Salvation in Christ transcends ethnic, social and sexual distinctions, it does not eradicate them.

6. I find the interpretation and practice of the early post-NT Church to be in agreement.
That includes Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, Augustine. Martin Luther devotes three chapters to 3:28 and makes no such claim. John Calvin taught that freedom in Christ truly exists within limits and restrictions of a different order. None of the major teachers in the history of the church thought Galatians 3:28 abolished the male-female authority distinction in marriage or the church.

When someone proclaims they have uncovered ‘new truth’ such as this, it is a tribute to self-esteem rather than anything else. Christ promised the Church the permanent, indwelling Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:12-15). Rejection of widespread agreement over time and among believers about issues such as this should not be picked up carelessly.

In marriage, equal gender value coexists with divinely mandated leadership and submission, just as it does in the government and church. Gender authority is a platform for protection and serving. This authority is never to allow abuse, offence, or exploitation. Nor does gender authority change our value as Paul points out in I Cor. 12:12-30.

CONTEXT OF THE OTHER FOUR PASSAGES LISTED

Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: [9] That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. [11] As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

1 Cor. 12:12-20 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. [13] For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
[14] Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Ephes. 2:14-19 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
[19] Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,

Col. 3:1-11 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. [3] For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
[5] Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. [7] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. [8] But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. [9] Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [11] Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

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