38. The Abrahamic Covenant (Promise of a Chosen Nation)

Introduction: The Abrahamic Covenant is a foundational doctrine in both Jewish and Christian theology. It refers to the promises God made to Abraham in the book of Genesis, specifically the establishment of a chosen nation, a land inheritance, and blessings to all nations through his seed. This covenant is often interpreted as both literal and spiritual in Christian theology, with debate over whether it pertains only to ethnic Israel or to the Church (spiritual Israel) as the fulfillment.

A. SCRIPTURES FOR the Abrahamic Covenant (Promise of a Chosen Nation)

1. Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV) – “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country… and I will make of thee a great nation…”

Interpretation: God initiates a covenant with Abraham that includes land, nationhood, and blessings.
Theological View: This is the unconditional foundation of the Abrahamic Covenant. Many theologians believe this was the initial call and promise to make a physical nation (Israel) from Abraham’s seed.

2. Genesis 15:5-6 (KJV) – “And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven… So shall thy seed be.”

Interpretation: God’s promise of numerous descendants is affirmed.
Theological View: This reinforces the literal fulfillment of a chosen physical nation through Abraham’s lineage, especially through Isaac.

3. Genesis 17:7-8 (KJV) – “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee… for an everlasting covenant…”

Interpretation: The covenant is described as everlasting, involving Abraham’s descendants and land inheritance.
Theological View: Some interpret this to mean the promise is permanently tied to ethnic Israel.

4. Genesis 22:17-18 (KJV) – “That in blessing I will bless thee… and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…”

Interpretation: The covenant includes both national and global blessings.
Theological View: Many Christians see this as messianic prophecy, fulfilled in Christ, making the chosen nation a means for worldwide redemption.

5. Exodus 2:24 (KJV) – “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”

Interpretation: God’s faithfulness to the covenant led to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
Theological View: The physical nation of Israel is seen as the direct recipient of Abraham’s covenant blessings.

6. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (KJV) – “For thou art an holy people… The Lord did not set his love upon you… but because the Lord loved you…”

Interpretation: God chose Israel not for their merit but due to His covenantal love.
Theological View: Supports divine election of a literal nation, undergirded by covenant.

7. Psalm 105:8-10 (KJV) – “He hath remembered his covenant for ever… Which covenant he made with Abraham…”

Interpretation: A reiteration of the perpetual nature of God’s promise to Abraham.
Theological View: Reinforces a belief in a lasting physical and spiritual promise.

8. Romans 11:1-2 (KJV) – “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid… God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.”

Interpretation: Paul asserts God’s continuing purpose for Israel.
Theological View: Defends the view that the Abrahamic covenant still has application for ethnic Israel in God’s redemptive plan.

B. SCRIPTURES AGAINST (or interpreted to suggest spiritual fulfillment or reinterpretation of the promise)

1. Matthew 3:9 (KJV) – “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father…”

Interpretation: John the Baptist warns that descent from Abraham doesn’t guarantee favor.
Theological View: The covenant is not merely physical but depends on spiritual faithfulness.

2. John 8:39-40 (KJV) – “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”

Interpretation: Jesus redefines true children of Abraham as those who act in faith.
Theological View: This shifts the covenantal identity from physical to spiritual lineage.

3. Romans 2:28-29 (KJV) – “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly… but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly…”

Interpretation: Paul emphasizes spiritual identity over ethnic descent.
Theological View: The covenant is reinterpreted to apply to those with inward faith, not just physical lineage.

4. Galatians 3:7 (KJV) – “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

Interpretation: Faith, not bloodline, determines participation in the covenant.
Theological View: Abrahamic promises are fulfilled in the Church—spiritual Israel.

5. Galatians 3:28-29 (KJV) – “There is neither Jew nor Greek… And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed…”

Interpretation: All believers, regardless of ethnicity, are Abraham’s heirs.
Theological View: Points to a spiritual rather than nationalistic fulfillment.

6. Hebrews 8:6-8 (KJV) – “He is the mediator of a better covenant… finding fault with them…”

Interpretation: The New Covenant supersedes the Old.
Theological View: Some see the Abrahamic Covenant as absorbed and transformed under Christ’s New Covenant.

7. Hebrews 11:10-16 (KJV) – “For he looked for a city… a heavenly country…”

Interpretation: Abraham’s ultimate hope was not in earthly land but a heavenly kingdom.
Theological View: Suggests that the covenant pointed to spiritual realities rather than merely national.

8. Acts 3:25-26 (KJV) – “Ye are the children of the prophets… Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus…”

Interpretation: Peter interprets the Abrahamic blessing as fulfilled in Jesus.
Theological View: The promise to bless all nations is fulfilled through the gospel, not geopolitical Israel.

The Abrahamic Covenant (Promise of a Chosen Nation)
Translation Debates: Hebrew, Greek, English (KJV), and Christian Traditions

I. HEBREW TEXTUAL ANALYSIS AND TRANSLATION ISSUES

Key Word: “Covenant” (בְּרִית – berith)

Scripture: Genesis 17:7 (KJV) – “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee… for an everlasting covenant…”
Interpretation: The word berith implies a solemn, binding agreement. In Hebrew, this word often indicates divine promise with legal force and ongoing relationship.
Debate: Some scholars argue whether berith implies an unconditional promise or a bilateral agreement with expectations. The Abrahamic Covenant is largely seen as unconditional in Hebrew context, yet commands like circumcision (Gen. 17:10) indicate required human response.
Theological View: Jewish and conservative Christian traditions emphasize berith as eternal and literal—implying physical Israel remains God’s chosen nation.

Key Word: “Seed” (זֶרַע – zera)

Scripture: Genesis 22:18 (KJV) – “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…”
Interpretation: Zera is singular in form but can function collectively (i.e., descendants).
Debate: Jewish tradition reads zera as plural—referring to national Israel. Paul, however, in Galatians 3:16, interprets it as singular, referring to Christ.
Translation Challenge: The ambiguity of zera leads to major theological shifts: whether the covenant centers on the nation (plural) or Christ (singular).

II. GREEK TRANSLATION (SEPTUAGINT / NEW TESTAMENT QUOTATION)

Greek Word for Covenant: διαθήκη (diathēkē)

Septuagint Use: Berith is nearly always rendered diathēkē in LXX (Greek Old Testament).
Problem: Diathēkē typically means “will/testament” in Greek, which is less mutual and more unilateral than Hebrew berith.
Scripture Example: Hebrews 8:8 (KJV) – “…Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant…”
Interpretation: The NT uses diathēkē to stress God’s unilateral promises, especially regarding the New Covenant. This matches with Paul’s usage but may downplay the bilateral dimensions of obedience found in Genesis.
Theological View: Greek translators unintentionally shaped Christian theology by making the Abrahamic covenant sound more testamentary (like a legal will) than relational.

Greek Word for Seed: σπέρμα (sperma)

Scripture: Galatians 3:16 (KJV) – “He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Interpretation: Paul builds a theological argument on the singular form of sperma, aligning it with Christ.
Debate: Linguistically, sperma is a collective noun, like zera—grammatically singular, but often understood as plural in context. Paul’s theological point is valid spiritually, but may not align with Hebrew idiom.
Translation Accuracy: Paul’s midrashic (rabbinic-style) interpretation is theologically rich but controversial from a linguistic standpoint.

III. ENGLISH TRANSLATION: KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

General Translation Philosophy

The KJV translates berith as “covenant” and zera as “seed,” closely following the Hebrew.
Pros: Maintains fidelity to the original terms and their theological weight.
Cons: Ambiguities in terms like “seed” are not clarified for modern readers, leaving theological interpretation open.

Example: Genesis 17:7 (KJV) – “And I will establish my covenant…”

Issue: The KJV preserves the eternal scope and gravity of the covenant.
Debate: The use of “everlasting covenant” has led to strong dispensational readings that emphasize a permanent promise to ethnic Israel.

Example: Galatians 3:29 (KJV) – “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Issue: The KJV aligns with Paul’s theology but does not clarify the shift from ethnic to spiritual fulfillment.
Theological Impact: Readers can interpret either a replacement view (Church as Israel) or a dual fulfillment (both Israel and Church).

IV. CHRISTIAN TRANSLATION TRADITIONS AND THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONS

1. Jewish Tradition (Masoretic Hebrew)

Views zera as national and collective.
Abrahamic covenant is ethnic, territorial, and everlasting for Jews.

2. Greek Christian Tradition (Eastern Orthodox)

Leans on the Septuagint.
Emphasizes spiritual inheritance and Church as the new Israel.
Sees diathēkē as supporting divine initiative in salvation.

3. Latin Christian Tradition (Vulgate Influence on Catholicism)

Testamentum = “testament,” shaping the concept of Old vs. New Testament.
Covenant becomes a framework for sacramental and ecclesial theology.
Fulfillment of Abraham’s promise is in the Catholic Church.

4. Reformation and Protestant Traditions (KJV, Geneva Bible)

KJV’s faithfulness to Hebrew created a rich soil for dispensational and covenantal theologies.
Calvinists stress continuity (one covenant of grace through time), while dispensationalists see distinct programs for Israel and the Church.

5. Dispensational View (Popular among Evangelicals, Baptists, some Pentecostals)

Abrahamic Covenant is literal, unconditional, and still awaiting full fulfillment in ethnic/national Israel.
The KJV’s translation supports this with “everlasting covenant” and “seed.”

6. Covenant Theology (Reformed, Presbyterian, Lutheran)

Covenant fulfilled in Christ and extended to all believers.
“Seed” is spiritual—those of faith, whether Jew or Gentile.
Greek and English support this when read through Pauline epistles.

V. ACCURACY OF THE GREEK TRANSLATIONS

Strengths:
- Faithfully represent much of the Hebrew meaning.
- Emphasize divine initiation and grace (via diathēkē).
- Provide theological depth, especially in NT fulfillment themes.
Weaknesses:
- Sometimes flatten Hebrew covenantal nuance (e.g., relational/bilateral terms).
- Paul’s argument in Galatians hinges on interpretive choices not strictly supported by Hebrew grammar.
- Collective singular terms like zera/sperma are open to misuse or over-interpretation.

Summary:

The Abrahamic Covenant, as preserved in the Hebrew Bible, centers around berith (covenant) and zera (seed)—terms that are theologically rich and grammatically complex. In Greek translations (especially the Septuagint and the New Testament), these terms shift slightly in emphasis: diathēkē reflects divine promise as a testament, and sperma is interpreted both collectively and individually.

The King James Version adheres closely to the Hebrew, preserving ambiguity that fuels theological debates. Christian traditions have interpreted these terms through different lenses: ethnic Israel vs. spiritual Church, literal vs. figurative, conditional vs. unconditional.

Translation choices deeply influence theology: whether one sees the covenant as still applying to national Israel, fulfilled in Christ and the Church, or both depends significantly on how one reads zera and berith across languages.

Denominational Views

1. Roman Catholic Church

Summary:
The Roman Catholic Church sees the Abrahamic Covenant as foundational but ultimately fulfilled in Christ and the universal Church. The promise to Abraham is spiritualized, not limited to ethnic Israel. The Church inherits the promise through Christ, the true “Seed” of Abraham.

View For – Spiritual Fulfillment in Christ
Galatians 3:16 (KJV) – “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made… which is Christ.”

Greek word: σπέρμα (sperma) – singular form used here emphasizes Christ.
Interpretation: Paul reinterprets zera (Hebrew: זֶרַע) as singular, pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment.

View Against – Physical Nation of Israel as Fulfillment
Genesis 17:8 (KJV) – “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee… all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.”

Hebrew word: olam (עוֹלָם) – can mean “eternal” or “for a long duration.”
Catholic Theological Response: “Everlasting” is interpreted theologically, not geographically or ethnically. The “land” becomes typological of the eternal kingdom.

2. Eastern Orthodox Church

Summary:
Eastern Orthodoxy affirms the Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled in Christ and the Church, understood as the “New Israel.” The Septuagint shapes its theology, emphasizing diathēkē (διαθήκη) as a divine, gracious covenant rather than a bilateral contract.

View For – New Covenant as Fulfillment
Hebrews 8:8 (KJV) – “Behold, the days come… when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”

Greek word: diathēkē kainē (διαθήκην καινήν) – “new covenant.”
Interpretation: The new covenant redefines the Abrahamic promise, fulfilled in Christ’s Church.

View Against – Physical Lineage and Land
Genesis 15:18 (KJV) – “Unto thy seed have I given this land…”

Orthodox Response: Land is seen as a type of spiritual inheritance in Christ; not a permanent geo-political promise.

3. Evangelical

Summary:
Evangelicals vary. Many hold a dispensationalist view, seeing the Abrahamic Covenant as unconditional and still applying to national Israel. Others adopt a covenantal view, interpreting the covenant spiritually through the Church.

View For – Ongoing Literal Promise to Israel
Genesis 17:7 (KJV) – “And I will establish my covenant… for an everlasting covenant.”

Hebrew word: berith olam (בְּרִית עוֹלָם) – “everlasting covenant.”
Interpretation: Literalist Evangelicals argue olam implies unbroken, eternal relationship with ethnic Israel.

View Against – Church as the Fulfillment
Galatians 3:29 (KJV) – “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed…”

Greek word: sperma Abraam (σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ) – collective term applied to believers.
Theological View: Spiritual lineage supersedes physical lineage.

4. Protestant (General)

Summary:
Mainline Protestants, especially Reformed traditions, teach that the Abrahamic Covenant is typological, fulfilled spiritually in Christ and the universal Church. The promise is no longer centered on land or ethnicity.

View For – Spiritual Heirs in Christ
Romans 9:6-8 (KJV) – “…they which are the children of the flesh… are not the children of God: but the children of the promise…”

Interpretation: True heirs are defined by faith, not genealogy.
Greek word: tekna tēs epangelias (τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας) – “children of the promise.”

View Against – Land and Ethnic Nation
Genesis 12:7 (KJV) – “Unto thy seed will I give this land…”

Response: Land promise is seen as symbolic of heavenly inheritance (Hebrews 11:10).

5. Baptist (Southern, Independent, etc.)

Summary:
Baptists vary by group. Some, especially Independent Baptists, lean toward dispensationalism with a strong distinction between Israel and the Church. Others are covenantal or progressive dispensationalists.

View For – Permanent Promise to Israel
Genesis 17:13 (KJV) – “…my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.”

Interpretation: Baptists may argue for literal continuation of the Jewish nation’s role.

View Against – Church as the New Covenant People
Ephesians 2:12-13 (KJV) – “Ye were without Christ… strangers from the covenants of promise… but now in Christ Jesus…”

Greek phrase: covenants of the promise (διαθηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας).
Interpretation: Gentiles now participate in the Abrahamic promise spiritually.

6. Methodist (United Methodist, AME, etc.)

Summary:
Methodists, influenced by John Wesley, teach that the Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled in Christ. The emphasis is on inclusion, with the Church as the spiritual Israel.

View For – All Nations Blessed Through Christ
Genesis 12:3 (KJV) – “…in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Hebrew word: nivrechu (נִבְרְכוּ) – passive/reflexive, “shall be blessed.”
Interpretation: Points to universal outreach via Christ.

View Against – National Restoration Theology
Romans 10:12 (KJV) – “There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek…”

Greek word: diastolē (διαστολή) – “distinction.”
Methodist View: Covenant is no longer ethnic or territorial.

7. Lutheran (Missouri Synod, ELCA, etc.)

Summary:
Lutherans generally hold a covenantal view: the Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled in Christ and received by faith. Ethnic Israel no longer holds a special salvific role.

View For – Faith Equals Covenant Participation
Galatians 3:7 (KJV) – “They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

Interpretation: Faith, not ancestry, connects one to Abraham.
Greek word: ek pisteōs (ἐκ πίστεως) – “of faith.”

View Against – Ethnic Focus on Israel
Genesis 22:17 (KJV) – “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.”

Interpretation: Lutherans read this as fulfilled in Christ’s victory over sin and death, not a political or ethnic promise.

8. Pentecostal (Assemblies of God, UPCI, etc.)

Summary:
Pentecostals emphasize the spiritual inheritance of the Abrahamic Covenant through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. While some support a future for Israel, emphasis is often on spiritual empowerment.

View For – Spirit as Sign of the Promise
Galatians 3:14 (KJV) – “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles… that we might receive the promise of the Spirit…”

Greek word: epangelia tou pneumatos (ἐπαγγελία τοῦ πνεύματος).
Interpretation: Promise = Holy Spirit, not land.

View Against – Land-Centered Fulfillment
Genesis 13:15 (KJV) – “All the land which thou seest… to thy seed forever.”

Pentecostal View: Read typologically—“land” = spiritual dominion and inheritance.

9. Jehovah’s Witnesses

Summary:
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled in two classes: 144,000 spiritual Israelites (heavenly hope) and “great crowd” (earthly paradise). They deny a literal future for national Israel.

View For – Spiritual Israel
Romans 2:28-29 (KJV) – “…he is a Jew, which is one inwardly…”

Greek word: kruptos Ioudaios (κρυπτὸς Ἰουδαῖος) – “hidden Jew.”
Interpretation: True Jews are spiritual, not ethnic.

View Against – Ethnic Covenant Fulfillment
Genesis 15:18 (KJV) – “Unto thy seed have I given this land…”

JW View: Land is symbolic of God’s future earthly paradise for obedient humans.

10. Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – LDS)

Summary:
LDS theology holds the Abrahamic Covenant is literal and ongoing, including land, posterity, and priesthood. Believers are adopted into Abraham’s lineage spiritually through baptism.

View For – Literal and Spiritual Fulfillment
Abraham 2:11 (Pearl of Great Price) – expands on Genesis.
KJV Parallel: Galatians 3:29 – “…ye are Abraham’s seed…”

LDS View: All faithful become heirs, with some believing literal lineage is restored.

View Against – Replacement Theology
Romans 11:1 (KJV) – “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.”

Greek word: apōsato (ἀπώσατο) – “rejected.”
LDS View: God has not rejected Israel, but expanded the covenant through gathering Israel spiritually.

11. Seventh-day Adventist

Summary:
Adventists teach that the Abrahamic Covenant is spiritual and fulfilled in the remnant Church. Emphasis is on obedience and faith, with the Church as spiritual Israel.

View For – Remnant as True Israel
Revelation 12:17 (KJV) – “…the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God…”

Greek word: loipos (λοιπός) – “remaining/remnant.”
Interpretation: Abraham’s seed = obedient remnant.

View Against – Ethnic Restoration Theology
Genesis 17:8 (KJV) – “for an everlasting possession.”

Adventist View: “Everlasting” is fulfilled through Christ and obedience—not tied to geography.

🔹 Summary of Denominational Translation & Theological Debates

Hebrew word berith is key across all traditions, but interpreted variably as bilateral (Judaism, Reformed) or unilateral (Greek, Catholic).
Greek sperma and diathēkē shape NT theology, especially Paul’s arguments.
The KJV preserves the literal reading, favoring both spiritual and ethnic interpretations depending on the context.
Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist: Emphasize spiritual fulfillment in Christ and the Church.
Evangelicals, Baptists, Pentecostals (some): Embrace ongoing promises to Israel alongside Church fulfillment.
JW, SDA, LDS: Each has a unique interpretation: JW = spiritual Israel only; SDA = remnant obedience; LDS = literal restoration with priesthood inheritance.

Conclusion

The Abrahamic Covenant, with its promises of land, descendants, and blessings, has been interpreted in a variety of ways across Christian denominations. While the core of the covenant remains unchanged — God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants — the interpretation of how and when this promise is fulfilled differs significantly across theological perspectives. Some denominations, such as Evangelicals and Baptists, hold a more literal view of the promises to Israel, maintaining that the covenant applies to the Jewish people both in a physical and spiritual sense. In contrast, denominations like the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and many branches of Protestantism see the covenant as fulfilled in Christ and transferred to the Church, spiritualizing the promises.

Debates surrounding the translations of key Hebrew and Greek terms, such as berith (covenant) and sperma (seed), have also played a significant role in shaping these interpretations. Whether one views the promises as ethnic, territorial, or spiritual depends largely on their theological stance, but the central theme of God’s faithfulness to His promises remains a consistent foundation across all interpretations.

Below is a table summarizing the views, interpretations, and scripture references for the denominations on the Abrahamic Covenant.

Table 1: Denominational Views and Interpretations (For the Covenant)

Denomination	View	Interpretation	Scripture Basis (KJV)
Roman Catholic	Spiritual fulfillment in Christ and the Church	The covenant’s promises are fulfilled spiritually in the Church, not ethnically.	Galatians 3:16 – “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made…”
Eastern Orthodox	Church as New Israel	The promises are inherited by the Church, fulfilling Israel’s role spiritually.	Hebrews 8:8 – “Behold, the days come… when I will make a new covenant…”
Evangelical	Ongoing promise to Israel	Both Israel and the Church are heirs to Abraham’s promises.	Galatians 3:29 – “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed…”
Protestant (General)	Spiritual Israel in Christ	The promises are for the Church as the true Israel, spiritualized.	Romans 9:6-8 – “They which are the children of the flesh…”
Baptist	Literal promise to Israel	The promises of land and descendants still apply to ethnic Israel.	Genesis 17:8 – “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee…”
Methodist	Spiritual fulfillment through Christ	The blessing to all nations is fulfilled through Christ, the spiritual heir.	Genesis 12:3 – “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Lutheran	Faithful believers inherit the promises	All believers, through faith, are heirs to Abraham’s promise.	Galatians 3:7 – “They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
Pentecostal	The promise fulfilled spiritually in the Church	The Church receives the blessings of Abraham spiritually, via the Holy Spirit.	Galatians 3:14 – “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles…”
Jehovah’s Witnesses	Spiritual Israel only	The covenant is fulfilled in a heavenly class of 144,000; earthly hopes differ.	Romans 2:28-29 – “He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly…”
Mormonism	Literal and spiritual fulfillment	Faithful members inherit Abraham’s promises both physically and spiritually.	Abraham 2:11 (Pearl of Great Price) – “And I will make of thee a great nation…”
Seventh-day Adventist	The Church is spiritual Israel	The remnant Church, through obedience, inherits the promises.	Revelation 12:17 – “And the dragon was wroth with the woman…”

Table 2: Denominational Views and Arguments Against (The Covenant)

Denomination	Argument Against View	Interpretation	Scripture Basis (KJV)
Roman Catholic	Physical Israel still has a role	The land and ethnic promise is not for the Church, but for Israel.	Genesis 17:8 – “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee…”
Eastern Orthodox	Land promises are not physical	The land promise is symbolic, fulfilled in Christ, not in a geo-political Israel.	Genesis 15:18 – “Unto thy seed have I given this land…”
Evangelical	Church fulfills the promise through Christ	The promise is spiritual, not territorial, with the Church as the heir.	Galatians 3:29 – “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed…”
Protestant (General)	The physical fulfillment in Israel is not final	The promises are spiritualized in Christ and are no longer about geography.	Hebrews 11:10 – “For he looked for a city which hath foundations…”
Baptist	Israel’s land promises are eternal	The covenant promises are not figurative but literal and continue.	Genesis 12:7 – “Unto thy seed will I give this land…”
Methodist	The land is no longer relevant	The promises pertain to spiritual inheritance, not national geography.	Romans 10:12 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek…”
Lutheran	The land promise is fulfilled in Christ	The physical land promise is fulfilled spiritually in the heavenly kingdom.	Hebrews 11:16 – “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly…”
Pentecostal	The ethnic promise does not apply to Israel only	The promises are about spiritual inheritance and empowerment in the Spirit.	Romans 9:6-8 – “They which are the children of the flesh…”
Jehovah’s Witnesses	Land promise is fulfilled spiritually, not physically	The earthly promises apply only to obedient humanity, not to Israel.	Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Mormonism	Physical Israel is not the central focus	The covenant promises apply to spiritual inheritance through the priesthood.	Romans 11:1 – “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.”
Seventh-day Adventist	The physical land promise is not for the Church	The land promise is interpreted as spiritual, not geographical.	Revelation 21:1 – “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth…”

Summary

Throughout the various denominations, there is a common acknowledgment of the Abrahamic Covenant as a key biblical promise. However, there is significant divergence in its interpretation, primarily regarding whether the promise is physical or spiritual, ethnic or universal. Some denominations, like Baptists and Evangelicals, maintain a literal interpretation, focusing on Israel as the primary heir to the covenant. Others, like Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants, view the covenant as fulfilled spiritually in Christ and the Church, with land and ethnicity becoming symbolic.

The debates surrounding the translation of key words like berith (covenant), sperma (seed), and diathēkē (covenant) play an important role in shaping these theological positions. The KJV translation, by preserving both the literal and figurative aspects of these words, allows for these different theological interpretations. Each denomination’s unique stance reflects its broader theological framework, whether it is more covenantal, dispensational, or reformed.