This paper examines the proto-Trinitarian assumptions embedded within Paul’s argument in Galatians 3:15-4:8. In this passage, Paul identifies Christ’s followers as the rightful heirs of the Abrahamic promises. By employing a creative interpretation of the designation σπερμα Αβραάμ, alongside a oneness motif and parallel structures, he establishes the basis for inheritance through affiliation with Christ. These textual features not only support Paul’s explicit thesis but also reveal a triune conception of God underlying his theological framework.
The implications of this argument have been suggested by several scholars striving to illuminate the apostle’s logic. DeRouchie and Meyer argue that the oneness of Christ as the singular seed of Abraham (3:16) corresponds to the oneness of God and the unity of the family of faith (3:19, 3:28). N.T. Wright emphasizes Paul’s consistent use of σπερμα Αβραάμ to identify the unified family of faith throughout the argument. Others have analyzed distinct elements of the text to uncover Paul’s Trinitarian impulses. Charles Giblin regards 3:19-20 as pivotal to understanding Paul’s monotheism, while Steven Baugh connects this passage to the singular seed (3:16) to underscore the unity between the Father and the Son. Richard Hays highlights the parallel structures of 3:23-29 and 4:1-7, noting how they mutually inform the individual and corporate experience of inheritance through the Spirit of Christ.
This study seeks to elucidate these connections through a comprehensive analysis of the broader argument in Galatians 3:15-4:7. By examining the parallel structures, Paul’s use of the σπερμα Αβραάμ title, and the oneness motif, this paper aims to uncover the proto-Trinitarian suppositions that underpin the apostle’s theological vision.