Gal 3:16 | TNotes | STEP | 3:16 The promises to Abraham were primarily inherited by Abraham and his child (literally his seed )—the promised Messiah, the ultimate descendant of Abraham. “Seed” can refer to a single descendant or to many descendants (see Gen 12:7 ; 13:15 ). Although the promise has a plural sense (see Gal 3:29 ; Gen 13:15-16 ; 15:5-6 ; 17:7-8 ), this singular noun points to the one descendant, Christ, who completely fulfilled the promise. The heirs of the promise are not Jacob’s physical children, but the spiritual children of Christ by the Spirit through faith.

bGen 12:7►

dGal 3:29►

eGen 13:15-16►

f15:5-6►

g17:7-8►

‏ Galatians 3:16

3:16 ^a The promises to Abraham were primarily inherited by Abraham and his child (literally his seed)—the promised Messiah, the ultimate descendant of Abraham. “Seed” can refer to a single descendant or to many descendants (see Gen 12:7 ^b; 13:15 ^c). Although the promise has a plural sense (see Gal 3:29 ^d; Gen 13:15-16 ^e; 15:5-6 ^f; 17:7-8 ^g), this singular noun points to the one descendant, Christ, who completely fulfilled the promise. The heirs of the promise are not Jacob’s physical children, but the spiritual children of Christ by the Spirit through faith.