“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” (Gal. 3:28).
If there are neither male nor female in Christ Jesus, then why do we segregate women from the ministry?
Apostle to the Apostles
Mary Magdalene was the Apostle to the Apostles. For Jesus appeared to her first, and sent her to give the news of the resurrection to the Apostles (Matt. 28:10). So she was the first Apostle of the resurrection.
Prominent Among the Apostles
“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was” (Rom. 16:7).
Junia, a woman, is here called an apostle. Since a woman can be an apostle, a woman can be a bishop. Patriarchy is not happy with this verse, because it makes women equal with men.
Woman Teaching a Man
We also read about a man named Apollos, who had an imperfect understanding of Christianity. So yge Bible says that “Priscilla and Aquila,” a husband and wife, “took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Here a woman taught a man.
What Should Be Done?
I believe that it is a universal principle that “there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Which means it serves to guide interpretations that are circumstantial.
As Paul said, “What should be done then, my brothers and sisters? When you [men and women] come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up” (1 Cor. 14:26).
