Kristen

Thanks, Craig. And I do appreciate that from Jeremy as well. Looking back over the posts, I see that I neglected to address this:

“As far as Galatians 3:28, Paul nowhere removes social structure that are in place. In Ephesians he does not release slaves from their duty; they are to obey their masters. So when Paul gives slaves the freedom of Galatians 3:28, he must not be talking about social roles. They are fellow heirs in salvation, but they are still slaves. Women are fellow heirs in salvation, but they are still women.”

Slaves were not barred from having authority in the church because of their condition as slaves. So how can this passage be read to bar women from having authority in the church because of their condition as women?
Also, does the fact that Paul does not remove social structures, mean he is giving an endorsement to those structures or stating that they are God’s divine plan for all time? That is an argument that pro-slavery Christians used to make. But the fact is that the young Christian church was in no position to try to overturn the social structures of the time. This does not mean slavery is God’s will– or male authority either.