This struggle of Paul for equality between gentile and Jewish Christians had important ramifications for Jewish and gentile Christian women alike. If it was no longer circumcision but baptism which was the primary rite of initiation, then women became full members of the people of God with the same rights and duties. This generated a fundamental change not only in their standing before God but also in their ecclesial-social status and function, because in Judaism, religious differences according to the law were also expressed in communal behaviour and social practice.