Indivisibility of Christ’s Church:
Cyprian of Carthage, in his work De Unitate, notes that the seamless tunic represents the indivisibility of Christ’s Church. Just as the coat is woven in one piece without seams, the Church is intended to be one, undivided body.
(Cyprian of Carthage, De Unitate, 7)
When someone would be clothed with Christ, he receives a perfect suit
of clothing, and an undamaged tunic. But what comes into his
possession is common property… Christ was wearing the unity that
proceeds ‘from the upper part’ (that means ‘proceeding from heaven and
from the Father’), which could never at all be torn apart by him who
receives and possesses it, but rather with it secures for himself
something that has a firm integrity. He who rends and splits Christ’s
Church cannot possess Christ’s robe …
So truly because Christ’s
people cannot be torn apart, his tunic, ‘woven without seam,’ and
holding fast together, has not become divided amongst its owners. The
description ‘unable to be split (united, linked together),’ reveals
the concord that holds together the unity of our people who have put
on Christ. By the sign and seal of the tunic Christ has declared the
unity of his Church.
Yet again we will see it compared to the unity and indivisibility of the Church mirroring the seamless nature of Jesus’ teachings, which has perfect harmony, without divisions or stitches.
The seamless coat is a looking glass into Jesus’ pure, his perfect, and his integrated character. The seamless garment may also be seen as a symbol of Jesus’ kingship. In ancient times, these types of garments were often associated with royalty or high-ranking officials.
Unity of the Church, Jesus' perfect teachings and character, Jesus’ kingship:
christianpure says it well:
...For many, it symbolizes the unity and indivisibility of the Church. As
the robe was woven in one piece without seams, so too is the Church
intended to be one, undivided body...
...It mirrors the unity of Jesus' teachings, seamless from top to bottom,
without divisions or stitches, just like the robe. This symbolizes the
interconnectedness of Christian doctrine, where each part works
together to create a harmonious whole.
You might also see it as a reflection of Jesus' pure, perfect, and
integrated character. In cultural interpretations, it's seen as a
symbol of Jesus Christ as the great High Priest, embodying his divine
authority and sanctity.
Additionally, the seamless robe can be seen as a symbol of Jesus's
kingship. In ancient times, a seamless garment was often associated
with royalty or high-ranking officials. By wearing such a garment,
Jesus could be seen as subtly asserting his divine authority.
Jesus’ role as the High Priest:
Some see the seamless coat as a symbol of Jesus’ role as the High Priest. In the Old Testament, the high priest wore a seamless garment. Jesus wore a similar garment. The idea is that Jesus is seen as fulfilling the role of the ultimate High Priest who offers Himself as a sacrifice for humanity.
It certainly was a unique garment, because the tunic worn daily by men
and women in Palestine was not seamless but made of two pieces of
fabric sown together. (stpaulcenter.com)
I think we can also see it symbolizing Jesus’ priesthood, the
transfiguration of the Levitical priesthood. Admittedly, this is not
without difficulties because of the word chitōn (χιτών), which John
uses in 19:23 to describe Jesus’ garment. The high priest wore two
full length garments, the tunic/ undergarment worn by all priests and,
additionally, his priestly robe (or the ephod). Chitōn is the word in
the Greek Old Testament for the tunic/undergarment worn by all
priests, while a different word, hypodytēs (ὑποδύτης), is usually the
word for the priestly robe. However, I believe there are possible ways
around this difficulty. (stpaulcenter.com)
Pulpit Commentary
Now the coat was without seam from the top - from the upper portions -
woven throughout (δι ὅλου, an adverbial form) - woven, possibly, by
the mother who loved him, and corresponding with the dress of the
priests. Keim and Thorns see here "a symbolizing of Jesus as the High
Priest" (see Holman Hunt's celebrated picture the "Light of the
World"). Certainly John saw the Lord in his glory with a garment of
the kind (woven of radiant light, and reaching to the feet, Revelation
1.). The unity of the Savior's seamless vesture has been variously treated in patristic literature: as symbolic of the unity of natures
in his Person, by the Monephysites; and by Cyprian ('De Unitate
Ecclesiae,' § 7) in his conflict with Novatianists, as symbolic of the
unity of the Church, and he actually builds on it his dictum, "He
cannot possess the garment of Christ who parts and divides the Church
of Christ." This garment could not be conveniently divided. John 19:23
Further insights: About the tunic and how it was made:
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
More exactly, the tunic, or under-garment. It reached from the neck to
the feet, while the outer “garment” was a square rug thrown round the
body. Ordinarily the tunic consisted of two pieces connected at the
shoulder by clasps; but that worn by Jesus was made in one piece. This
seems to have been the rule with the priestly tunics.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
without seam, woven from the top throughout—"perhaps denoting
considerable skill and labor as necessary to produce such a garment,
the work probably of one or more of the women who ministered in such
things unto Him
