What does Genesis 3:15 Mean?

Study Notes

thou shalt bruise his heel
The chain of references which begins here includes the promises and prophecies concerning Christ which were fulfilled in His birth and works at His first advent. See, for line of unfulfilled promises and prophecies: "Christ (second advent)" Deuteronomy 30:3 . "Kingdom"; Genesis 1:26-28 ; Zechariah 12:8 "Kingdom (N.T.)"; Luke 1:31 ; 1 Corinthians 15:28 "Day of the Lord"; Isaiah 2:10 ; Revelation 19:11

come

The two Advents--Summary:

(1) The O.T. foreview of the coming Messiah is in two aspects--that of rejection and suffering (as e.g. in Is 53), and that of earthly glory and power (as e.g. In Is 11 Jeremiah 23 Ezekiel 37). Often these two aspects blend in one passage (e.g. Psalms 2). The prophets themselves were perplexed by this seeming contradiction 1 Peter 1:10 ; 1 Peter 1:11 . It was solved by partial fulfilment. In due time the Messiah, born of a virgin according to Isaiah, appeared among men and began His ministry by announcing the predicted kingdom as "at hand."

(See Scofield " Matthew 4:17 ") . The rejection of King and kingdom followed.

(2) Thereupon the rejected King announced His approaching crucifixion, resurrection, departure, and return (Matthew 24, 25). Matthew 12:38-40 ; Matthew 16:1-4 ; Matthew 16:21 ; Matthew 16:27 ; Luke 12:35-46 ; Luke 17:20-36 ; Luke 18:31-34 ; Luke 19:12-27 .

(3) He uttered predictions concerning the course of events between His departure and return Matthew 13:1-50 ; Zechariah 14:1-9 ; Matthew 24:4-26

(4) This promised return of Christ becomes a prominent theme in the Acts, Epistles, and Revelation.

Taken together, the N.T. teachings concerning the return of Jesus Christ may be summarized as follows:

(1) That return is an event, not a process, and is personal and corporeal Matthew 23:39 ; Matthew 24:30 ; Matthew 25:31 ; Mark 14:62 ; Luke 17:24 ; John 14:3 ; Acts 1:11 ; Philippians 3:20 ; Philippians 3:21 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 .

(2) His coming has a threefold relation: to the church, to Israel, to the nations.

(a) To the church the descent of the Lord into the air to raise the sleeping and change the living saints is set forth as a constant expectation and hope Matthew 24:36 ; Matthew 24:44 ; Matthew 24:48-51 ; Matthew 25:13 ; 1 Corinthians 15:51 ; 1 Corinthians 15:52 ; Philippians 3:20 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 ; 1 Timothy 6:14 ; Titus 2:13 ; Revelation 22:20 .

(b) To Israel, the return of the Lord is predicted to accomplish the yet unfulfilled prophecies of her national regathering, conversion, and establishment in peace and power under the Davidic Covenant Acts 15:14-17 with Matthew 16:18 .

See "Kingdom (O.T.)" 2 Samuel 7:8-17 .

(See Scofield " Zechariah 13:8 ")

Luke 1:31-33

(See Scofield " 1 Corinthians 15:24 ")

(c) To the Gentile nations the return of Christ is predicted to bring the destruction of the present political world-system Daniel 2:34 ; Daniel 2:35 . (See Scofield " Revelation 19:11 ") , the judgment of Matthew 25:31-46 followed by world-wide Gentile conversion and participation in the blessings of the kingdom; Isaiah 2:2-4 ; Isaiah 11:10 ; Isaiah 60:3 ; Zechariah 8:3 ; Zechariah 8:20 ; Zechariah 8:23 ; Zechariah 14:16-21 .

Context Summary

God does not wait for Adam to find his own way back, but hastens in search of him. "Where art thou" is rendered in one version, Alas for thee. Jesus met the Tempter not in a garden, but in the wilderness. He suffered being tempted, but has become to all who obey Him a Life-giving Spirit, and the Author of Eternal Salvation. Read 1 Corinthians 15:45, and Hebrews 5:9. The penalty is gone, borne by Him in His own body on the Cross. So Paul affirms in Romans 5:14, etc. Our bias toward evil is counteracted by His indwelling through the Holy Spirit; so we are taught in Romans 8:1-4. He bruises Satan beneath the feet of those who trust Him. Such is His own assurance in Luke 10:19, and Mark 16:17. He transforms the other results of sin. Through pain the mother's love is drawn out to her child. Hard work is educative and ennobling. Death is the gate of life. Where sin abounded, grace abounds much more. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 3

¹  The serpent deceives Eve
⁶  Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin
⁸  God arraigns them
¹⁴  The serpent is cursed
¹⁵  The promised seed
¹⁶  The punishment of mankind
²¹  Their first clothing
²²  Their expulsion from paradise