Sons, heirs and one in Christ

Says “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (dia tēs pisteōs en Christō Iēsou, “through the faith in Christ Jesus”)). As grammar, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ can be taken with the faith or with sons of God; the BSB takes it with faith. The two readings are set out in Clothed with Christ, and one in Christ (3:26–29), with no verdict here. Those who εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε (eis Christon ebaptisthēte, “were baptized into Christ”) Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε (Christon enedysasthe, “have put on Christ”). In 3:28 there is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, and the third pair is ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ (arsen kai thēly, “male and female”), the BSB’s “male nor female”; then πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (pantes gar hymeis heis este en Christō Iēsou, “you are all one in Christ Jesus”). If they belong to Christ, they are “Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise”.

Implies All who are in Christ through faith are sons of God and, with the singular seed of 3:16, Abraham’s seed and heirs.

Uncertain What baptism “into Christ” denotes is not defined by the verse itself. Burton, on 3:27, writes, “the apostle undoubtedly refers to Christian baptism, immersion in water.” Calvin, on 3:27, writes, “it is customary with Paul to treat of the sacraments in two points of view.” These are their readings; no verdict is given here.