September 16, 2024 — Galatians 3:23–29 

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:23–29 

Paul writes: “before faith came, we were held in custody, or imprisoned, and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our guardian or disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith”. The word translated “disciplinarian” in the NRSV is “paidagōgos” in Greek. In wealthy Greek and Roman families, a “paidagōgos” was a slave entrusted with the care and discipline of a child when the child was not in school, until the child reached the age of adulthood. The metaphor suggests that the authority of the law is transitory, lasting only until something is attained, reached – here it is understood to be until Christ came, so that then, once the law is abolished, we might be justified by faith. 

“But now that faith has come,” Paul continues, “we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith”. The word translated “children” in the NRSV is “sons” (in Greek “huioi”). Sons would enjoy full rights of inheritance from their fathers. Yet it is clear that Paul intends the meaning to be gender-inclusive because, now that Christ has come, the rite of entry into G-d’s people is no longer circumcision (available only to “sons” or males) but the rite of entry is through baptism, available to everyone. And then Paul says that when we are baptized into Christ we have clothed ourselves with Christ. Here Paul uses language from early baptismal liturgy, in which the newly baptized were clothed in a white garment, symbolic of the righteousness of Christ. All who have been baptized into Christ are clothed with him, wrapped up in him, and incorporated into him so that Christ becomes our primary identity marker: not our status, not our wealth, and not our gender.

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”. Here is where I wish more people could find their initial identity — as children of G-d. If we were to start there, would there be so many people who struggle to seek their identity — and choose paths that lead down difficult roads? I know identity is wrapped up in so many different thoughts and ideas today — and it is too simplistic to think this would solve all of societies woes. But, perhaps, it might relieve some minds and a lot of unnecessary angst. Our primary identity is found in Jesus Christ, who makes us all children of G-d.

Pastor Dave