The term protoevangelium means “first gospel” and refers to Genesis 3:15, which is the earliest announcement of God’s plan of redemption:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
This verse was spoken by God to the serpent after Adam and Eve sinned. It contains both a curse on Satan and a promise of hope for humanity. The phrase “her Seed” refers to a future descendant of the woman who would ultimately defeat the serpent. This points directly to Jesus Christ, who came through the virgin birth and conquered Satan through His death and resurrection.
The prophecy declares two key truths. First, there will be continual conflict between the forces of evil and the people of God. Second, the ultimate victory would belong to the promised Seed. The serpent would “bruise His heel,” signifying the suffering Christ endured on the cross, but the Seed would “bruise” or crush the serpent’s head, indicating complete and final defeat of Satan.
This early promise is significant because it shows that God’s plan for salvation began immediately after the fall. Rather than leaving humanity in despair, He revealed that redemption would come through a Deliverer. The protoevangelium sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative, pointing forward to the coming of Christ and His triumph over sin and death.
