I read something a while back about Paul that makes me read these passages a little differently. Recall that just before this, Paul is talking about there being no male and female in the church -- so Paul is addressing a congregation of men and women. Then we turn to this, and it feels like Paul is being exclusive towards sons... but there's a way to understand this that is actually subversive and radically inclusive. Given that Jesus is also subversive and radically inclusive, that may be the better way to read it.
So in those days, the sons received the inheritance. Being a son is a big deal -- and here, Paul is telling the entire church, men and women, that they are sons. Everyone in the church is a son, receiving the inheritance that we have in Jesus Christ. In that day and age, that would've been a huge deal for women to receive the same inheritance as men. The church is the levelling field, reminding us that we're all equal in the eyes of God!
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