Galatians 3:16
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
King James Version
More of Galatians 3 on this siteGalatians 3:13
Paul's argument that the Abrahamic seed promise was singular, pointing to Christ as the one in whom all nations are blessed.
Fulfillment References
Genesis 22:18 Acts 3:25 Galatians 3:29
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalPaul reads the Abrahamic promise christologically: 'to thy seed, which is Christ.' The promises to Abraham (Gen. 22:18) converge on the one Seed, the Lord Jesus, in whom all nations are blessed; and those who are Christ's are Abraham's seed and heirs (Gal. 3:29). The whole covenant line was always aimed at Christ — God's single saving purpose in Jesus.
Jewish'Seed' (zera) in Genesis is a collective noun for Abraham's descendants; the Jewish reading takes the promise of land and posterity nationally, not of one individual.
CatholicChrist the singular Seed in whom Abraham's blessing reaches the nations; the Church the children of promise (cf. Gal. 3:29).
ProtestantPaul's christological reading of 'seed' (singular) makes Christ the heir of the Abrahamic promise, with believers incorporated into Him by faith.
AcademicPaul presses the grammatical number of 'seed' (singular) for a christological argument; scholars note the Hebrew collective sense and Paul's rabbinic-style exegesis.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.