What are the three distinct seeds Paul refers to?
Paul refers to three distinct seeds: the seed of the woman, who crushes Satan; the seed of David, through whom Christ came in the flesh and holds the rightful claim to David's throne; and the seed of Abraham, which includes Gentile believers by faith because Christ is the seed.
Les teaches that Paul identifies three distinct seeds. The first goes back to Genesis chapter 3: the seed of the woman would crush the arch enemy, Satan. The second is the seed of David, mentioned in Romans 1: because out of David's seed would come Mary and Joseph, with Joseph as the legal father, Christ came on the scene to become flesh, go the way of the cross, and be the rightful heir to David's throne. The third is the seed of Abraham, which brings Gentile believers into the picture; in the realm of faith plus nothing, Paul refers to them as Abraham's seed because Christ is the seed. Les ties this to Romans 1:3, where Jesus Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.
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.
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
More Questions
What does Paul mean in Galatians 3:16 when he says 'seed' instead of 'seeds'?
In Galatians 3:16, Paul reads God's promises as made to Abraham and to his one seed, not to many seeds, and identifies that singular seed as Christ.
Who is the singular seed of Abraham in Galatians 3:16?
In Galatians 3:16 Paul says the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed, singular, and that seed is Christ.
What does 'made of the seed of David according to the flesh' mean in Romans 1:3?
'Made of the seed of David according to the flesh' in Romans 1:3 means through the line of David.
Why does Paul say 'seed' rather than 'seeds' in Galatians 3:16?
Paul interprets the singular 'seed' in Galatians 3:16 as referring to Christ, not to many seeds.