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not true, for in I Sam. 8: 15 and Dan. 1: 12 we have instances of the word taking the
plural ending. It might be thought that the apostle is alluding here to an O.T. passage in
which the literal and numerous descendants of Abraham are not in view, but it would be
disastrous to base our belief on mere vague thought. Is there such a passage? And if not,
what is the answer to the difficulty raised by the apostle's deliberate statement?
The possible references are limited to those which contain the promise made to
Abraham, and consequently occur in Genesis, chapters 12: to 25::--
"Unto thy seed will I give this land" (Gen. 12: 7).
"The land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever" (Gen. 13: 15).
"Unto thy seed have I given this land" (Gen. 15: 18).
"I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land" (Gen. 17: 8).
Of the above references (Gen. 13: 15 and 17: 8), two contain the exact words of
the apostle, "And to thy seed". Upon examining the contexts of these passages, however,
we are faced with the fact that the literal and numerous seed of Abraham are in view.
Immediately after the verse considered in Gen. 13: we have:--
"And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the
dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered" (Gen. 13: 16).
Plurality is not only to be inferred here; it is most pointedly emphasized. Yet this
appears to be one of the passages which the apostle had in mind. We find the same
contextual significance in the other reference (Gen. 17: 8):--
"I will multiply thee exceedingly . . . . . thou shalt be a father of many nations . . . . .
thy seed after thee in their generations . . . . . I will be their God" (Gen. 17: 2-8).
Here we have plurality reiterated: "multiply", "many", "their generations", "their
God". We need not, however go as far back as the book of Genesis. In the chapter of
Galatians where our passage occurs, and as a continuation of the argument of which
verse 16 is a part, we have a recognition of the fact that the "seed" is plural:--
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise" (Gal. 3: 29).
Before examining this verse further, we would refer back to Rom. 4: to establish one
point. The apostle asks how righteousness was reckoned to Abraham. Was it in
circumcision or in uncircumcision? The answer is, In uncircumcision.
"That he might be the father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised
. . . . . it is of faith that it might be by grace: to the end the promise might be sure to ALL
THE SEED, not to that only which is of the law, but that also which is of the faith of
Abraham, who is the father of us all" (Rom. 4: 10-16).
It is abundantly clear from this passage that Gentile believers of the dispensation that
covers the period of the Acts, as well as Jewish believers, together constitute "the seed of