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Unless the above passages are taken as contradictory, which they cannot be as part of
the "inspired" Word of God, then some distinction must be made, and that distinction has
regard to the different positions held by Jew and Gentile in the earthly purpose of God.
With respect to "sin" (Rom. 3: 9) and "faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3: 28, 29), both
Jew and Gentile, since they were both "under sin" and in need therefore of "faith in
Christ Jesus", stood on an equal footing.
With respect to position in God's economy however, the situation was very different.
The Jew here held a superior position, having been entrusted with "the oracles of God"
(Rom. 3: 1, 2). To them pertained "the sonship, and the Glory, and the covenants, and
the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises"; they were related to
"the fathers" and it was "of" (Greek ek, out of) them that Christ came (Rom. 9: 4, 5).
This was a position of privilege, authority and responsibility, and in this position
consisted any superiority they had. For this reason even "the gospel" was:
". . . . . to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1: 16).
"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (Jews)"
(Acts 13: 46).
Compare also Acts 3: 25, 26; Rom. 2: 9, 10; I Pet. 1: 1; 4: 17.
Hence an important distinction is observed which throws light on the situation existing
during the Acts period. This situation has since changed with the revelation, through
Paul, of the "dispensation of the secret" (Eph. 3: 1-9 R.V.). Under the terms of this
present economy the Jew and the Gentile are made into "one new man", and the
distinction between them (created by the privileged position of the Jew) has been done
away (Eph. 2: 11-22); in fact the situation under the present economy can be expressed
as, "There is neither Greek nor Jew" (Col. 3: 10, 11).
There is however, no reason to suppose that the introduction of this administration
through the Prison Ministry of Paul, has done away with the distinctive positions allotted
to man and woman, rather the reverse, for God expects the truth of this present calling to
be lived out giving due place to male and female:
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands . . . . . the husband is the head of
the wife . . . . .husbands love your wives . . . . ." (Eph. 5: 22-33; Col. 3: 18, 19).
To defy such a God-given order is to fail to "walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye
are called" (Eph. 4: 1).
An application to the Deity of Christ.
The Deity of Christ is often challenged from such a passage as John 14: 28:
"My Father is greater than 1:"