As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 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. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3: 27-29)

In these three verses - and often elsewhere - Paul's Greek uses the dative case, a form nearly extinct in English.

The dative is used to indicate when something is given to the noun. The dative often signals the indirect object of the verb.

Through baptism we are given to Christ. All are one by being given to Christ Jesus.

When we read Paul's reference to being "in Christ," the Greek encourages us to understand that we have been given to Christ.

Paul may even be using what Greek grammarians call the dative of possession, suggesting that Christ owns us.

Above is St. Paul by El Greco.