Galatians 3:28 and the Question of Meaning

Galatians 3:28 proclaims unity in Christ—not the erasure of God’s design. Equal in salvation, united in grace, called to live in truth.

Few verses are quoted more often in modern conversations about gender, identity, and sexuality than Galatians 3:28. It’s a familiar line, often shared confidently and sometimes conclusively:

“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.”

For many LGBTQ advocates and affirming theologians, this verse has become a banner of radical inclusivity—proof that Christianity ultimately dissolves distinctions related to gender and sexuality. But before we rush to conclusions, it’s worth slowing down and asking a more careful question: What did Paul actually mean? And does this verse truly support modern understandings of sexual and gender identity?

How Galatians 3:28 Is Often Used Today

Those who argue for an affirming interpretation of the passage tend to follow a similar line of reasoning. They point out that Paul names some of the most significant divisions of his world—Jew and Gentile, slave and free—and declares them irrelevant “in Christ.” From there, the argument is extended: if those distinctions no longer function as barriers, then gender and sexual orientation should not function as barriers either.

Much attention is given to the phrase “no male and female.” Because it echoes the language of Genesis 1:27, some argue that Paul is intentionally moving beyond the gender binary altogether. From that perspective, Galatians 3:28 is read as theological space for transgender or non-binary identities.

Others frame the verse as a story of inclusion. Just as Gentiles were once excluded from God’s covenant people and later welcomed in through Christ, LGBTQ individuals, they argue, are now facing a similar moment in history. To exclude them, they say, is to repeat the same mistake the early church nearly made with Gentiles.

Still others emphasize the surrounding verses about baptism. Because Paul says believers have been “baptized into Christ” and have “put on Christ,” they conclude that baptism—not gender or sexuality—is what defines belonging. Any remaining distinctions, therefore, are seen as incompatible with gospel unity.

Viewed through a justice lens, Galatians 3:28 becomes a manifesto of liberation. To maintain boundaries around gender or sexuality is portrayed as rebuilding walls Christ already tore down.

At first glance, the argument can sound persuasive. But does it hold up under closer examination?

The Historic Christian Understanding

Christians who hold to the historic teaching of Scripture read Galatians 3:28 within its immediate context—and that context matters. Paul is not addressing sexual ethics or social roles. He is addressing justification by faith. His concern is simple but revolutionary: no ethnic background, social status, or gender grants someone privileged access to salvation.

In Christ, all stand on equal footing.

When Paul says there is “neither male nor female,” he is not denying the existence of sex or gender. He is denying that those distinctions confer spiritual advantage. Equality of worth does not require the erasure of created difference.

This becomes even clearer when Galatians is read alongside Paul’s other writings. The same apostle who celebrates unity in Christ also affirms male and female distinctions in passages like Ephesians 5 and 1 Timothy 2. Likewise, Paul consistently treats sexual morality not as a cultural construct but as part of God’s created design.

Baptism unites believers to Christ, but it also calls them into a life of holiness. Equal access to salvation does not mean God’s moral commands become optional. Unity in Christ never functions as permission to redefine obedience.

In short, Galatians 3:28 is about equality in salvation and unity in the Church—not license to redefine sexuality or gender.

What the Early Church Believed

One of the most revealing aspects of this discussion is historical. The affirming interpretation of Galatians 3:28 is a very recent development. For nearly two millennia, Christian teachers read the verse quite differently.

• John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) taught that men and women share equal worth and dignity in salvation, but he did not believe the verse erased the distinctions built into creation.

• Ambrosiaster (active c. 366–384) understood Paul to be speaking about inheritance in Christ, not moral freedom.

• Augustine (354–430) emphasized unity in the body of Christ while still affirming God’s created order of male and female.

• Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) explained that Galatians 3:28 speaks to equal grace, not the removal of natural distinctions.

Not one of these figures used the verse to justify same-sex relationships or to dissolve gender categories. Across centuries and cultures, the Church consistently understood Galatians 3:28 to mean that all believers stand equal before God in salvation while still living within the order God created.

A Word of Clarity—and Kindness

It is true—and deeply good—that the gospel tears down walls of hostility. No culture, class, or gender stands closer to God than another. All are invited. All may come. All are welcomed by grace through faith.

But equality in salvation is not the same thing as redefining morality. The same Paul who wrote Galatians 3:28 also warned clearly against sexual sin in passages like 1 Corinthians 6 and Romans 1. Scripture does not contradict itself. Unity in Christ never cancels obedience to Christ.

So while Galatians 3:28 is often used today as a slogan for LGBTQ affirmation, the verse simply does not mean what modern advocates claim. Instead, it stands as a powerful declaration that every person—male or female, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor—has the same open door to salvation in Christ.

When we handle Scripture, we must allow God’s Word to speak on its own terms rather than bending it to fit our cultural debates. Galatians 3:28 should fill us with joy because it proclaims the radical equality of the gospel. At the same time, it should humble us—calling us to submit to God’s good design for how we live.

We are all one in Christ Jesus.

That truth is already deep enough, beautiful enough, and life-changing enough—without needing to make it say what it doesn’t.