11-05-2007, 11:23 AM
On Saturday we are reading Galatians, and on Sunday we were discussing the nature of Jesus.
I am sure we all learn something from these meetings.
Unfortunately they are fast moving, (there are no uncomfortable silences) so although we all carry something away, we might not remember all that was covered.
I thought it would be good if we log anything we have learned even if they are only snippets.
So I will start off and hope others will join in.
In Galations 3:16 Paul says, "now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.
It says not, 'and to seeds' as in the case of many,
but as in the case of one.....'and to your seed', who is Christ".
Paul is quoting Genesis 22:17,18.
"I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and like the grains of sand on the seashore...
And your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies.
And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves...."
Now here in Genesis it looks like the seed represents many, multiplied;
as many as the stars and grains of sand.
So what was Paul talking about when he says it only applies to one?
The Hebrew word used is Zera. This word is the same in the singular as in the plural, like sheep or offspring: One 'zera', many 'zera'!
That is why the word seed is used so often in the Bible rather that the word son (ben) because the plural is different, sons (banim).
In the second part of the Genesis scripture, it says,
"And your seed will take possession of his enemies.
And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves...."
This second sentence has the pronoun HIS.
This is like me saying, "see my offspring, he is great!" In comparison to "see my offspring, they are great!"
The pronoun tells us whether there is one or many, since the word offspring is the same in the singular or plural.
Paul obviously realises from his knowledge of Hebrew that this was talking about one person in the second part of the scripture and this one person was Jesus.
So what about the first part of the Genesis scripture; all those stars; all those grains of sand?
Paul gives the answer in Galatians chapter 3, at the end, verse 29 says, "Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham's seed.
Heirs with reference to a promise".
So the primary seed (singular) is Christ, if we have faith in Christ and his resurrection, like the faith Abraham showed, then we become Christ's seed. In turn we become the seed of Abraham, through Christ. This includes any who hope to go to heaven (stars), or hope to live on the earth (grains of sand).
vicky
I am sure we all learn something from these meetings.
Unfortunately they are fast moving, (there are no uncomfortable silences) so although we all carry something away, we might not remember all that was covered.
I thought it would be good if we log anything we have learned even if they are only snippets.
So I will start off and hope others will join in.
---------------------------
In Galations 3:16 Paul says, "now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.
It says not, 'and to seeds' as in the case of many,
but as in the case of one.....'and to your seed', who is Christ".
Paul is quoting Genesis 22:17,18.
"I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and like the grains of sand on the seashore...
And your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies.
And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves...."
Now here in Genesis it looks like the seed represents many, multiplied;
as many as the stars and grains of sand.
So what was Paul talking about when he says it only applies to one?
The Hebrew word used is Zera. This word is the same in the singular as in the plural, like sheep or offspring: One 'zera', many 'zera'!
That is why the word seed is used so often in the Bible rather that the word son (ben) because the plural is different, sons (banim).
In the second part of the Genesis scripture, it says,
"And your seed will take possession of his enemies.
And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves...."
This second sentence has the pronoun HIS.
This is like me saying, "see my offspring, he is great!" In comparison to "see my offspring, they are great!"
The pronoun tells us whether there is one or many, since the word offspring is the same in the singular or plural.
Paul obviously realises from his knowledge of Hebrew that this was talking about one person in the second part of the scripture and this one person was Jesus.
So what about the first part of the Genesis scripture; all those stars; all those grains of sand?
Paul gives the answer in Galatians chapter 3, at the end, verse 29 says, "Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham's seed.
Heirs with reference to a promise".
So the primary seed (singular) is Christ, if we have faith in Christ and his resurrection, like the faith Abraham showed, then we become Christ's seed. In turn we become the seed of Abraham, through Christ. This includes any who hope to go to heaven (stars), or hope to live on the earth (grains of sand).
vicky
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so missed out on some beautiful gems no doubt ... 
