What is the protoevangelium?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The term protoevangelium originates from the Greek words protos , meaning first, and euangelion, meaning good news or gospel. Put together, protoevangelium means “first gospel.” The term is used in reference to Genesis 3:15. The protoevangelium signifies God's redemptive plan, illustrating how, despite humanity's failure, God seeks reconciliation. The declaration of enmity between the serpent and the woman points to a cosmic struggle that unfolds throughout Scripture, emphasizing the nature of God as loving and merciful. This early promise lays the groundwork for understanding sin's implications and the necessity for a Savior. It reveals God's intention to restore humanity through a future descendant who will triumph over evil, offering hope in a broken world. The prophecy of Genesis 3:15 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection provided the victory over sin and death that was foretold. Through His sacrificial act on the cross, the head of the serpent was crushed, bringing the defeat of evil and the restoration of hope for humanity.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• This first announcement of the gospel, or protoevangelium, is found in Genesis 3:15. It predicts the coming of a Savior who will ultimately defeat Satan and bring redemption to humanity, revealing God's plan for salvation.
• God created the universe and all that is in it. He declared it very good (Genesis 1:31).
• All of creation was made to display God’s glory (Psalm 19:1).
• The culmination of God’s creation came when He created humanity on the sixth day of creation (Genesis 1:26–27).
• God uniquely made humanity, creating Adam and Eve in His own image and with specific purposes: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:28). Unlike anything else He had made, God created humanity to resemble and reflect Him and to have relationship with Him. He gave humanity the role of stewarding and having dominion over the earth.
• Being made in God’s image, humanity was created for relationship with God and with others (Genesis 2:18) and was created to have rationality (Psalm 8:4–5). Human beings, unlike other creatures, are able to execute justice, steward and manage, think abstractly, reason morally, and reflect on complex concepts. This rationality also includes the ability to make decisions. God created us with this ability, knowing this meant the possibility of rebellion.
• God wanted us to freely choose to love Him and to reflect His love back, knowing it would bring Him glory (Joshua 24:15; see also Matthew 22:37–38).
• Unfortunately, Adam and Eve chose to sin, listening to the Devil’s deception and distrusting God’s character and plan (Genesis 3:6).
• In the aftermath of their disobedience, God expelled Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden and told them that toil and suffering would be a part of their lives. In Genesis 3:16–19, it states that Eve would experience pain in childbirth and seek to rule over her husband, while Adam would face hard labor to produce food from the ground. God placed a curse on mankind because of Adam’s sin, and He also placed a curse on the one who tempted them.
• God cursed the serpent, saying he would crawl on his belly and “eat dust” all his days (Genesis 3:14). Then addressing Satan, God profoundly declared: "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" (Genesis 3:15). This verse reveals an ongoing future conflict because of sin.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The protoevangelium signifies a pivotal moment in biblical history and reveals God’s character and plan, which He established before Adam and Eve were even created (Ephesians 1:4–5; 1 Peter 1:18–20; Revelation 13:8).
• Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden brought immediate consequences and a curse on humanity, but God also promised the reversal of the curse, revealing a Savior who would take the curse upon Himself and free us from the bondage and death that comes from sin (Hebrews 2:14–15).
• The prophecy that God would crush Satan's head, as referenced in Genesis 3:15, was ultimately fulfilled through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event occurred during the first century AD, specifically around AD 30—33, when Jesus triumphed over sin and death, defeating Satan and his power. This is highlighted in passages such as John 19:30, where Jesus says, “It is finished,” referring to His sacrificial death, and in Matthew 28:5–6, where the angel announces, “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”
• Although Satan still has dominion today (2 Corinthians 4:4), God provided the way for us to be freed from the bondage of sin through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:22). In John 8:36, Jesus assures us, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” emphasizing the transformative power of His grace.
• Ultimately, God will destroy Satan, sin, and death, as stated in Revelation 20:10, where it declares that the Devil will be thrown into the lake of fire, signifying the final victory over evil. Until then, God is being patient for people to turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The protoevangelium reveals God’s sovereignty and goodness as well as His love for humanity. It calls us to marvel at God’s intentionality in creating the world, knowing that we would sin. It calls us to praise Him for His great love by which He promised the Savior who would reverse the curse we brought upon ourselves. It causes us to wonder at the continuity of God's promises found throughout Scripture. It emphasizes the reality of spiritual conflict while providing assurance that ultimate victory is found through Christ. Overall, the protoevangelium calls us to respond to God’s provision of salvation through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, conquering sin and death. The Bible tells us that all who believe in Him will be saved (Acts 16:31; John 3:16–18). As we engage with the significance of the protoevangelium, we are encouraged to trust in God’s love, His unchanging plan for humanity, and the hope we have through Jesus Christ.

UNDERSTAND

• The protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 announces a Savior who will defeat Satan and redeem and restore humanity.
• The protoevangelium reveals God's redemptive plan despite sin's consequences.
• This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, offering freedom from sin and victory over evil for all who will believe in Him.

REFLECT

• How does understanding the protoevangelium deepen your appreciation for God's plan of redemption throughout Scripture?
• How do you see the struggle between good and evil in your own life? How can the promise of the protoevangelium encourage you?
• How does the truth of Jesus fulfilling the protoevangelium influence your daily choices and relationship with God and with others?

ENGAGE

• What implications does the protoevangelium have for understanding the nature of sin and its impact on humanity throughout the Bible?
• How does the reality of spiritual warfare, as revealed in Genesis 3:15 and in other places in Scripture, shape your perspective on the challenges you face in life?
• In light of the protoevangelium, how can we actively participate in God’s redemptive plan in our communities today?