Yet exists in reality, even in scripture. It is impossible to read Genesis without noting the obvious difference in social status between Leah/Rachel and Bilhah/Zilpah, it permeates every passage they are mentioned. As long as scripture has this in it, people will ask the question. And as long as you deny them an answer that accounts for this, they'll be unsatisfied and keep asking, and you'll keep getting frustrated by the fact the topic keeps coming up...The idea of lower social status is almost antithetical to scripture.
The answer to me is simple. Social status differences are a social reality. We have commanders & underlings, masters & slaves, bosses and employees, elected officials and the general public, judges and the accused... Wives and concubines. Social status differences are undeniably real.
But in God's eyes, all are equal. We are not to treat people differently, we are not to be a "respector of persons". In God's eyes, all men are equal. The private soldier is equal to the general, the politician to the checkout lady. The wife and the concubine. All have the same spiritual status.
We do not need to pretend social status differences don't exist. They're real, only a fool would deny a general and private are different. We should however act as though they do not exist when it comes to interpersonal relationships.
So we can understand what scripture is talking about when concubines are mentioned - they were quite truly wives of lower social status.
While we can simultaneously decide that following Jesus correctly means treating all our women alike, and not make such status distinctions.
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