Romans 1:3

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Concerning {G4012} his {G846} Son {G5207} Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547} our {G2257} Lord {G2962}, which {G3588} was made {G1096} of {G1537} the seed {G4690} of David {G1138} according {G2596} to the flesh {G4561};

It concerns his Son — he is descended from David physically;

regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,

concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

Romans 1:3 (KJV)

"Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"

This verse introduces the central figure of the gospel message that the Apostle Paul is eager to share with the believers in Rome. It serves as a foundational statement about the identity of Jesus Christ, emphasizing both his divine relationship and his human ancestry.

Context

Romans 1:3 is part of Paul's opening address (Romans 1:1-7) where he introduces himself, his apostolic calling, and the theme of his letter: the gospel of God. After identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle, Paul immediately defines the gospel he preaches. Verse 3, along with verse 4, provides a concise summary of who Jesus is, presenting the core subject of the good news before Paul delves into its implications for salvation and righteousness.

Key Themes

  • The Person of Jesus Christ: The verse clearly states that the gospel is "concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." This highlights Jesus' unique relationship with God as His Son and his supreme authority as Lord.
  • Jesus' Humanity and Lineage: The phrase "made of the seed of David according to the flesh" affirms Jesus' genuine humanity and his direct descent from King David. This is crucial because Old Testament prophecies foretold that the Messiah would come from David's royal line.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: By stating Jesus' Davidic ancestry, Paul connects Jesus directly to the promises God made to David regarding an eternal kingdom and a descendant who would reign forever.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "made of the seed of David" uses the Greek word sperma, which means 'seed' or 'descendant'. This term is commonly used in the Old Testament (Septuagint) and New Testament to denote physical lineage and the continuation of a family line, particularly in the context of covenant promises, such as those made to Abraham and David. The phrase "according to the flesh" (Greek: kata sarka) emphasizes Jesus' human nature and physical descent, contrasting it with his divine nature mentioned in the subsequent verse (Romans 1:4).

Related Scriptures

The affirmation of Jesus' Davidic lineage is found throughout Scripture. For example, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that her son would be given the throne of his father David. Peter also preached that God had raised up a Savior from David's seed in Acts 13:23. The gospel of Matthew begins by tracing Jesus' genealogy back through David to Abraham (Matthew 1:1). Paul's description of Jesus as the Son of God is a foundational truth found in many places, such as John 3:16 and Hebrews 1:2.

Reflection and Application

Romans 1:3 is a powerful summary statement that grounds the gospel in historical fact and divine truth. It reminds us that Jesus was fully human, a descendant of David, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This confirms his legitimacy as the promised Messiah of Israel. Understanding his authentic humanity ("according to the flesh") is essential, as it paves the way for understanding his divine power and nature ("according to the spirit of holiness" in verse 4). For believers today, this verse reinforces the reliability of God's promises and the historical reality of Jesus, who is both the prophesied King and the divine Son, our Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 1:1

    ¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

  • Galatians 4:4

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

  • Jeremiah 23:5

    Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

  • Jeremiah 23:6

    In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

  • John 1:14

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • Luke 1:31

    And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

  • Luke 1:33

    And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

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