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what were the historical and cultural tensions between 'jew' and 'greek' in galatia at the time?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Galatians 3:28

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

Paul wrote this letter to the churches in the Roman province of Galatia, likely in the mid-1st century CE. He was addressing a critical situation where some teachers were insisting that Gentile (non-Jewish) believers needed to follow Jewish law, like circumcision, in addition to faith in Jesus.

Where do lines we draw between groups of people today prevent a deeper unity?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Colossians 3:11

    Echoes Galatians' theme of new identity in Christ transcending former social and ethnic distinctions.

  • Ephesians 2:14-16

    Explains how Christ breaks down the 'dividing wall' between Jew and Gentile, creating one new humanity.

  • Acts 15:1-21

    Describes the Jerusalem Council's debate over whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses.

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