28. There is in this sonship by faith in Christ, no class privileged
above another, as the Jews under the law had been above the Gentiles
(Ro 10:12;
1Co 12:13;
Col 3:11).
bond nor free--Christ alike belongs to both by faith; whence he
puts "bond" before "free." Compare Note, see on
1Co 7:21, 22;
Eph 6:8.
neither male nor female--rather, as Greek, "there is
not male and female." There is no distinction into male
and female. Difference of sex makes no difference in Christian
privileges. But under the law the male sex had great privileges. Males
alone had in their body circumcision, the sign of the covenant
(contrast baptism applied to male and female alike); they alone
were capable of being kings and priests, whereas all of either sex are
now "kings and priests unto God"
(Re 1:6);
they had prior right to inheritances. In the resurrection the relation
of the sexes shall cease
(Lu 20:35).
one--Greek, "one man"; masculine, not neuter, namely "one new
man" in Christ
(Eph 2:15).
JFB.
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