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Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promise made. The covenant with
its promises was made with Abraham and his seed. There were promises
spoken on several occasion. See Genesis 12:3 13:16 15:5 17:7. The
promises of the covenant were to the seed, as well as to Abraham, and
hence did not terminate with his death.
He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but . . . to thy seed. This
passage has excited much criticism. Many have thought that Paul made a
grammatical mistake. Even Luther says:
``My dear brother Paul, this argument won't stick.'
The criticism is that "sperma", the Greek word rendered "seed", is a
collective noun and may include all Abraham's descendants. Paul
elsewhere (Romans 4:18 9:7) shows that he knew just the meaning of
"sperma", but the question here is not one of grammar, but of spiritual
meaning. Paul does not mean that "sperma" ("seed") excludes plurality,
but that it implies unity. Not the word "children" or "descendants" is
used. This would embrace the children of Ishmael, of Esau, and of
Keturah. But there is a seed to whom the promise is given; a seed that
embraces many, but is one. That seed is Christ the head, and all in
Christ. See 1 Corinthians 12:12 The whole spiritual seed of Abraham concentrates
in Christ. The promise is to Christ and all in Christ. Paul understood
Greek as well as his critics, and also knew what he meant.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Acts 7:6
Galatians 3:16
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