The protoevangelium refers to the first announcement of the gospel or “good news” of salvation in the Bible. The term comes from the Greek words proto meaning “first” and euangelion meaning “good news or gospel”. Though not stated explicitly, many theologians believe the protoevangelium is found in Genesis 3:15 which reads:
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This verse comes after the fall of Adam and Eve into sin in the Garden of Eden. God is pronouncing judgement on the serpent who deceived Eve. This verse is understood to point forward to Jesus Christ, the offspring of woman, who will defeat Satan, represented by the serpent. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus crushes the head of Satan delivering the death blow, while Satan only bruises the heel of Jesus referring to the crucifixion. So the protoevangelium sets up the cosmic battle between good and evil, between the offspring of woman and the devil, pointing ahead to Christ’s decisive victory.
There are several key reasons this verse is considered the first proclamation of the gospel:
- It speaks of the ongoing struggle between Satan and humanity due to sin.
- It implies a future human offspring of the woman who will defeat Satan.
- It foreshadows Satan striking the heel of this future offspring as he defeats him.
- It points to the cosmic significance of this future hero who will remedy the fall.
Theology often divides biblical history into the epochs before Christ (BC) and after his coming (AD). The protoevangelium sets up this divide by announcing that someone is coming in the future to make right what went wrong in Eden. So this verse sets up the anticipation of a deliverer, which is then developed throughout the Old Testament.
There are many other messianic prophecies and typologies that point ahead to Christ, but this is understood as the original promise. Later prophecies build on and flesh out what is announced in seed form here. A few key examples of prophecies expanding on the protoevangelium promise:
- The promise to Abraham of a descendant who will bless all nations (Genesis 12:3)
- The prophecies of a coming king in the line of David (Isaiah 9:6-7)
- The prediction of the suffering servant who will be crushed for others (Isaiah 53:5)
- The prophecy of a son to be born called “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14)
So without using the term “Jesus Christ”, this verse foreshadows many key events in Christ’s life and ministry including:
- His identity as the offspring of a woman (Galatians 4:4)
- His defeat of Satan through the crucifixion (Hebrews 2:14)
- Satan bruising his heel at the cross (Colossians 2:15)
- His cosmic victory over evil by overcoming death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
The protoevangelium sets up the storyline for the rest of Scripture by announcing hope and a future hero to come. Understanding this first gospel proclamation helps unlock the Christ-centered message of the entire Bible. As other prophecies build on this foundation, we see God’s redemptive plan unfolding through many centuries to send his Son Jesus to redeem fallen humanity. So in summary, the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 is the initial foretelling of Christ’s coming victory over sin and death on behalf of humanity, which ushers in the age of salvation.
Beyond Genesis 3:15, there are other early Messianic prophecies in the book of Genesis that also expand on the protoevangelium promise:
Other Key Early Messianic Prophecies in Genesis
Genesis 9:26-27 – Promise to Shem
After the flood, Noah prophesies over his sons including a blessing for his son Shem:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.”
This indicates Shem’s line will be blessed and envelop the line of Japheth. As an ancestor of Abraham and the Jewish people, this points to Israel being a source of blessing for the nations.
Genesis 12:1-3 – Covenant with Abraham
God calls Abraham and makes this promise:
I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This repeats the motif of universal blessing through Abraham’s family line, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Genesis 49 – Jacob’s Blessing Over His Sons
On his deathbed, Jacob pronounces prophetic blessings over his 12 sons, including these two key messianic prophecies:
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
This predicts rulership will remain with the tribe of Judah pointing ahead to King David and his greater son Jesus Christ.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
This predicts a ruler from Judah who will gather the nations to himself, seen ultimately in Christ gathering people from all tribes and nations.
So in summary, the book of Genesis sets the trajectory of God’s plan of redemption through the Messiah who will come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah. The protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 lays the groundwork that is then expanded through these early prophecies that point ahead to Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment.
Old Testament References and Types Pointing to the Protoevangelium
Beyond direct messianic prophecies, there are many references and typologies in the Old Testament that tie back to the protoevangelium promise and point ahead to Jesus Christ. Here are some key examples:
Adam as a Type of Christ
The Bible calls Jesus the “last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45) because he came to fulfill God’s purposes where Adam failed and fell short. Important parallels and contrasts between Adam and Christ include:
- Adam was created sinless but became sinful, Christ was sinless and “became sin” to redeem sinners (2 Cor 5:21)
- Adam’s act of eating the fruit brought death, Christ’s sacrifice brought life (Romans 5:12-17)
- Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus triumphed over temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)
- Through Adam all die, through Christ all can live (1 Cor 15:22)
So Adam functions as a type of Christ – someone whose place in redemptive history foreshadows the coming Savior.
The Passover Lamb
At the Passover, the blood of an unblemished lamb saved the Israelite firstborns from death (Exodus 12:1-13). The New Testament identifies Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb whose blood redeems from sin and death (1 Cor 5:7, John 1:29). His crucifixion happened at the time of the Passover feast pointing to the typological significance of this event.
The Bronze Serpent
When Israel rebelled in the wilderness, God sent venomous serpents and then instructed Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole so that anyone who looked upon it would live (Numbers 21:4-9). Jesus referenced this event as a type pointing to his crucifixion, saying “so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14). Those who look to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross find salvation just like those who looked at the bronze serpent.
Prophecies of the Suffering Servant
Isaiah’s prophecies about the suffering servant have clear connections to the protoevangelium promise of one who would be crushed for others. The portrait of this servant who “was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5) points ahead to Jesus and the cross. The suffering servant takes the blow of punishment we deserve so that through his wounds we are healed.
These are just a few examples among many in how the Old Testament expands on the gospel promise first hinted at in the protoevangelium. Subsequent messianic prophecies, references to the seed, types pointing to Christ such as Davidic kingship and the Passover lamb, all ground back to this first annunciation that someone would come in the future to crush the enemy. The New Testament then conclusively identifies Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of what was promised and foreshadowed for centuries.
New Testament Affirmation of the Protoevangelium
When we come to the New Testament, we see clear statements identifying Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the ancient protoevangelium promise. Here are a few examples:
Galatians 4:4 – Born of a Woman
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman…”
Paul consciously echoes the language of the offspring of woman from Genesis 3:15 to underscore that Jesus came as the promised seed. The broader context of Galatians 3-4 is arguing that Jesus came at the right time in history to fulfill what the law foreshadowed.
Romans 16:20 – The God of Peace Will Crush Satan
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Paul alludes to Genesis 3:15 and the promise of crushing the serpent to indicate God’s plans to decisively deal with Satan. The Protoevangelium foretold this cosmic struggle resolved in Christ.
Hebrews 2:14 – Jesus Destroyed the Devil
“That through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”
The book of Hebrews affirms that Jesus definitively destroying Satan was part of God’s redemptive plan in fulfillment of the first gospel promise. The death blow to the serpent pronounced in Genesis finds its fulfillment at the cross.
1 John 3:8 – The Son of God Appeared to Destroy the Devil’s Work
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
John alludes to Genesis 3 by stating that a prime purpose of Jesus’ incarnation was to undo the works of the devil in fulfillment of what was foreshadowed. This reiterates Jesus as victor over Satan.
These are just some samplings of the many New Testament references tying Christ’s work back to the protoevangelium as the fulfillment of the first gospel prophecy. The entire storyline of Scripture finds its resolution in Jesus decisively dealing with sin and defeating death in fulfillment of the promise to crush the serpent’s head.
Theological Implications of the Protoevangelium
Understanding the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 has important theological implications. Here are some key considerations:
1. It Reveals the Purpose Behind Christ’s Incarnation
The protoevangelium shows why Christ came – to decisively deal with Satan and redeem humanity from the fall. This highlights the cosmic scale of Christ’s mission to resolve evil, sin and death.
2. It Illuminates the Meaning of Christ’s Death and Resurrection
Jesus’ victory over death is the fulfillment of bruising the serpent’s head. The cross and resurrection accomplish Satan’s decisive defeat and overturn evil.
3. It Unifies Scripture Around God’s Central Work in Christ
The Bible comes together around the unified story of redemption and victory promised from the very beginning. All threads point to Christ.
4. It Reveals an Intentional, Masterful Storyline to All of History
The advance gospel promise displays God’s wise, intentional orchestration of redemptive history across centuries to culminate in Christ.
5. It Provides Hope of Ultimate Victory Over Suffering Due to Sin
Though humans and Satan bruise the heel of Christ, the head of Satan is crushed guaranteeing that God’s purposes in Christ ultimately triumph.
These key implications help unpack the great significance of this short but potent passage in Genesis 3:15 that sets the trajectory for all of redemptive history.
Conclusion
In summary, the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 is the first prophecy pointing to Christ’s victory over Satan and his work of redemption. Though brief, this foundational verse foreshadows God’s unfolding plan to send Jesus Christ as the offspring of woman to decisively deal with sin and restore humanity. The rest of Scripture fills out the details of God’s redemptive mission identified in seed form in this first gospel announcement. The protoevangelium displays God’s amazing planning and insights in laying out his purposes to redeem mankind through Christ. Grasping this inaugural messianic prophecy helps illuminate the unified message of the whole Bible.