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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Romans 1:1–7. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
In this paragraph we have,
I.The person who writes the epistle described (Rom 1:1):
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ; this is his title of honour, which he glories in, not as the Jewish teachers, Rabbi, Rabbi; but a servant, a more immediate attendant, a steward in the house. Called to be an apostle. Some think he alludes to his old name Saul, which signifies one called for, or enquired after: Christ sought him to make an apostle of him, Act 9:15. He here builds his authority upon his call; he did not run without sending, as the false apostles did; klētos apostolos - called an apostle, as if this were the name he would be called by, though he acknowledged himself not meet to be called so, Co1 15:9. Separated to the gospel of God. The Pharisees had their name from separation, because they separated themselves to the study of the law, and might be called aphōrismenoi eis ton nomon; such a one Paul had formerly been; but now he had changed his studies, was aphōrismenos eis to Euangelion, a gospel Pharisee, separated by the counsel of God (Gal 1:15), separated from his mother's womb, by an immediate direction of the Spirit, and a regular ordination according to that direction (Act 13:2, Act 13:3), by a dedication of himself to this work. He was an entire devotee to the gospel of God, the gospel which has God for its author, the origin and extraction of it divine and heavenly.
II.Having mentioned the gospel of God, he digresses, to give us an encomium of it.
1.The antiquity of it. It was promised before (Rom 1:2); it was no novel upstart doctrine, but of ancient standing in the promises and prophecies of the old Testament, which did all unanimously point at the gospel, the morning-beams that ushered in the sun of righteousness; this not by word of mouth only, but in the scriptures.
2.The subject-matter of it: it is concerning Christ, Rom 1:3, Rom 1:4. The prophets and apostles all bear witness to him; he is the true treasure hid in the field of the scriptures. Observe, When Paul mentions Christ, how he heaps up his names and titles, his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, as one that took a pleasure in speaking of him; and, having mentioned him, he cannot go on in his discourse without some expression of love and honour, as here, where in one person he shows us his two distinct natures.
(1.)His human nature: Made of the seed of David (Rom 1:3), that is, born of the virgin Mary, who was of the house of David (Luk 1:27), as was Joseph his supposed father, Luk 2:4. David is here mentioned, because of the special promises made to him concerning the Messiah, especially his kingly office; Sa2 7:12; Psa 132:11, compared with Luk 1:32, Luk 1:33.
(2.)His divine nature: Declared to be the Son of God (Rom 1:4), the Son of God by eternal generation, or, as it is here explained, according to the Spirit of holiness. According to the flesh, that is, his human nature, he was of the seed of David; but, according to the Spirit of holiness, that is, the divine nature (as he is said to be quickened by the Spirit, Pe1 3:18, compared with Co2 13:4), he is the Son of God. The great proof or demonstration of this is his resurrection from the dead, which proved it effectually and undeniably. The sign of the prophet Jonas, Christ's resurrection, was intended for the last conviction, Mat 12:39, Mat 12:40. Those that would not be convinced by that would be convinced by nothing. So that we have here a summary of the gospel doctrine concerning Christ's two natures in one person.
3.The fruit of it (Rom 1:5); By whom, that is, by Christ manifested and made known in the gospel, we (Paul and the rest of the ministers) have received grace and apostleship, that is, the favour to be made apostles, Eph 3:8. The apostles were made a spectacle to the world, led a life of toil, and trouble, and hazard, were killed all the day long, and yet Paul reckons the apostleship a favour: we may justly reckon it a great favour to be employed in any work or service for God, whatever difficulties or dangers we may meet with in it. This apostleship was received for obedience to the faith, that is, to bring people to that obedience; as Christ, so his ministers, received that they might give. Paul's was for this obedience among all nations, for he was the apostle of the Gentiles, Rom 11:13. Observe the description here given of the Christian profession: it is obedience to the faith. It does not consist in a notional knowledge or a naked assent, much less does it consist in perverse disputings, but in obedience. This obedience to the faith answers the law of faith, mentioned Rom 3:27. The act of faith is the obedience of the understanding to God revealing, and the product of that is the obedience of the will to God commanding. To anticipate the ill use which might be made of the doctrine of justification by faith without the works of the law, which he was to explain in the following epistle, he here speaks of Christianity as an obedience. Christ has a yoke. "Among whom are you, Rom 1:6. You Romans in this stand upon the same level with other Gentile nations of less fame and wealth; you are all one in Christ." The gospel salvation is a common salvation, Jde 1:3. No respect of persons with God. The called of Jesus Christ; all those, and those only, are brought to an obedience of the faith that are effectually called of Jesus Christ.
III.The persons to whom it is written (Rom 1:7):
To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints; that is, to all the professing Christians that were in Rome, whether Jews or Gentiles originally, whether high or low, bond or free, learned or unlearned. Rich and poor meet together in Christ Jesus. Here is,
1.The privilege of Christians: They are beloved of God, they are members of that body which is beloved, which is God's Hephzibah, in which his delight is. We speak of God's love by his bounty and beneficence, and so he hath a common love to all mankind and a peculiar love for true believers; and between these there is a love he hath for all the body of visible Christians.
2.The duty of Christians; and that is to be holy, for hereunto are they called, called to be saints, called to salvation through sanctification. Saints, and only saints, are beloved of God with a special and peculiar love. Klētois hagiois - called saints, saints in profession; it were well if all that are called saints were saints indeed. Those that are called saints should labour to answer to the name; otherwise, though it is an honour and a privilege, yet it will be of little avail at the great day to have been called saints, if we be not really so.
IV.The apostolical benediction (Rom 1:7):
Grace to you and peace. This is one of the tokens in every epistle; and it hath not only the affection of a good wish, but the authority of a blessing. The priests under the law were to bless the people, and so are gospel ministers, in the name of the Lord. In this usual benediction observe,
1.The favours desired: Grace and peace. The Old Testament salutation was, Peace be to you; but now grace is prefixed - grace, that is, the favour of God towards us or the work of God in us; both are previously requisite to true peace. All gospel blessings are included in these two: grace and peace. Peace, that is all good; peace with God, peace in your own consciences, peace with all that are about you; all these founded in grace.
2.The fountain of those favours, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. All good comes,
(1.)From God as a Father; he hath put himself into that relation to engage and encourage our desires and expectations; we are taught, when we come for grace and peace, to call him our Father.
(2.)From the Lord Jesus Christ, as Mediator, and the great feoffee in trust for the conveying and securing of these benefits. We have them from his fulness, peace from the fulness of his merit, grace from the fulness of his Spirit.
Historical interpretation
Three Centuries of Reception
10 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
I Glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by Him has given you such wisdom. For I have observed that ye are perfected in an immoveable faith, as if ye were nailed to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, both in the flesh and in the spirit, and are established in love through the blood of Christ, being fully persuaded, in very truth, with respect to our Lord Jesus Christ, that He was the Son of God, "the first-born of every creature," God the Word, the only-begotten Son, and was of the seed of David according to the flesh, by the Virgin Mary; was baptized by John, that all righteousness might be fulfilled by Him; that He lived a life of holiness without sin, and was truly, under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch, nailed [to the cross] for us in His flesh. From whom we also derive our being, from His divinely-blessed passion, that He might set up a standard for the ages, through His resurrection, to all His holy and faithful [followers], whether among Jews or Gentiles, in the one body of His Church.
I glorify God … that you are fully persuaded that our Lord was truly of the seed of David according to the flesh and the Son of God according to the will and power of God.
And again, in that to the Romans, he says, "Concerning His Son, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was predestinated as the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Well, I on my side will first explain the reason of his offence, that I may the more easily explode the scandal of our heretic. Now, that the very Lord Himself of all might, the Word and Spirit of the Father, was operating and preaching on earth, it was necessary that the portion of the Holy Spirit which, in the form of the prophetic gift, had been through John preparing the ways of the Lord, should now depart from John, and return back again of course to the Lord, as to its all-embracing original.
Thus does the apostle also teach respecting His two substances, saying, "who was made of the seed of David; " in which words He will be Man and Son of Man.
With a nature issuing from such fountal sources, and an order gradually descending to the birth of Christ, what else have we here described than the very flesh of Abraham and of David conveying itself down, step after step, to the very virgin, and at last introducing Christ,-nay, producing Christ Himself of the virgin? Then, again, there is Paul, who was at once both a disciple, and a master, and a witness of the selfsame Gospel; as an apostle of the same Christ, also, he affirms that Christ "was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh," -which, therefore, was His own likewise.
Without any doubt, he was made that which he had not previously been according to the flesh. But according to the Spirit he existed beforehand, and there was never a time when he did not exist.
“Concerning his Son.” It was fitting, since God promised his own Son to the world, that he should promise him through great men, so that from them it might be known how very powerful the one who was being preached was and so that he might include his future coming in the Holy Scriptures. And what is preached by the Holy Scriptures cannot be shown to be false.“Who was descended from the seed of David according to the flesh.” He who was the Son of God according to the Holy Spirit (that is, according to God, because God is Spirit and without any doubt he is holy), is said to have been made the Son of God according to the flesh by Mary, as it is written: “The Word became flesh.” Christ Jesus is both Son of God and Son of Man. As he is truly God, so also he is truly man. For he would not be truly man if he were not of flesh and soul. Otherwise he would be incomplete. For although he was the Son of God in eternity, he was not known by the creation until, when God wanted him to be revealed for the salvation of mankind, he made him visible and corporeal, because God wanted him to be known through his power to cleanse humans from their sins by overcoming death in the flesh. Therefore he was made of the seed of David. As he was born a king from God before the beginning of time, so also he would acquire birth from a king according to the flesh, being made from a virgin by the work of the Holy Spirit, i.e., born. Thus by the reverence reserved for him because of this fact, he who by his birth was distinguished from the law of nature would be recognized as being more than a man. This had been predicted by Isaiah the prophet: “Behold a virgin will conceive in her womb.” Hence when the newborn child appeared to be worthy of honor, a certain providence of God was discerned concerning a future visitation of the human race.
"Concerning His Son which was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh."
What dost thou, O Paul, that after lifting up our souls so, and elevating them, and causing great and unutterable things to pass show before them, and speaking of the Gospel, and that too the Gospel of God, and bringing in the chorus of the Prophets, and showing the whole of them heralding forth many years before those things which were to come: why dost thou again bring us down to David? Art thou conversing, oh tell me, of some man, and giving him Jesse's son for a father? And wherein are these things worthy of what thou hast just spoken of? Yea, they are fully worthy. For our discourse is not, saith he, of any bare man. Such was my reason for adding, "according to the flesh;" as hinting that there is also a Generation of the Same after the Spirit. And why did he begin from that and not from this the higher? It is because that was what Matthew, and Luke, and Mark, began from. For he who would lead men by the hand to Heaven, must needs lead them upwards from below. So too was the actual dispensation ordered. First, that is, they saw Him a man upon earth, and then they understood Him to be God. In the same direction then, as He Himself had framed His teaching, did His disciple also shape out the way which leadeth thither. Therefore the generation according to the flesh is in his language placed first in order, not because it was first, but because he was for leading the hearer from this up to that.
Many are sons by grace, but Christ is a son by nature.… By adding “according to the flesh” Paul has countered both Photinus and Arius. For if it is true that Christ was made according to the flesh, he most certainly was not made according to the substance of the Word.
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Summary
Romans 1:3 introduces the core subject of Paul's gospel: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This verse specifically highlights His authentic humanity and His historical lineage, affirming His direct descent from King David "according to the flesh," thereby establishing His credentials as the long-awaited Messiah promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. It sets the stage for a profound theological exposition of Christ's dual nature and the divine plan of salvation.
Context
Literary Context
Romans 1:3 is an integral part of Paul's opening salutation and introduction to his letter to the Roman believers, spanning Romans 1:1-7. After identifying himself as a "servant of Jesus Christ" and "called to be an apostle" in Romans 1:1, Paul immediately defines the gospel he preaches. Verses 3 and 4 serve as a Christological summary, presenting the person of Jesus Christ as the very heart of the "gospel of God" mentioned in Romans 1:1. This concise theological statement about Jesus' identity—His humanity and divinity—precedes Paul's elaborate discussion of sin, righteousness, and salvation that forms the bulk of the epistle.
Historical & Cultural Context
The concept of a Messiah from the lineage of David was deeply rooted in Jewish expectation, stemming from God's covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. This covenant promised an eternal dynasty and a descendant who would reign forever. For a Jewish audience, Jesus' Davidic lineage was a crucial validation of His messianic claims. For the Roman audience, which included both Jews and Gentiles, understanding Jesus' historical grounding and fulfillment of prophecy would have been vital for establishing the credibility and universality of the Christian message. The phrase "according to the flesh" also subtly prepares the reader for the contrast with Jesus' divine nature, which would have been a significant theological point in the Greco-Roman world, where divine beings often lacked true human embodiment.
Key Themes
This verse contributes to several foundational themes. First, it underscores The Person of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His unique identity as "His Son Jesus Christ our Lord," which points to both His divine sonship and His supreme authority. Second, it highlights Jesus' Authentic Humanity and Messianic Lineage, affirming His genuine physical descent from King David. This is critical for connecting Jesus to the Old Testament prophecies, particularly the Davidic Covenant, which promised a perpetual kingdom through David's offspring. Thus, the verse also speaks to the Fulfillment of Prophecy, demonstrating God's faithfulness in bringing His ancient promises to fruition in Jesus, the promised King of Israel, as seen in genealogies like Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb signifies "to come into being," "to become," or "to be born." In this context, it emphasizes Jesus' real, historical birth and His genuine entrance into human existence. It denotes a process of becoming, not a pre-existence that then merely appeared human, but a true assumption of human nature.
This term literally means "seed" but is used here metaphorically to denote "offspring" or "descendant." It directly refers to the physical lineage and progeny of David, establishing Jesus' biological connection to the royal house. This emphasizes the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises regarding the Messiah's ancestry.
Refers to the renowned Israelite king, David, from whose lineage the Messiah was prophesied to come. Paul's explicit mention of David grounds Jesus' identity firmly within the historical and prophetic framework of Israel, confirming His credentials as the legitimate heir to the Davidic throne and the promised King.
Verse Breakdown
"Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,"
This opening phrase immediately identifies the central figure of the gospel message. "His Son" points to Jesus' unique divine relationship with God the Father. "Jesus" is His earthly name, signifying "Yahweh saves." "Christ" is His title, meaning "Anointed One" or Messiah. "Our Lord" declares His supreme authority and sovereignty over believers, acknowledging Him as Master and God. This clause encapsulates His divine identity and sovereign status.
"which was made of the seed of David"
This clause asserts Jesus' authentic humanity and His specific genealogical heritage. The phrase "was made" (or "came into being") emphasizes His real birth as a human being. "Of the seed of David" unequivocally states His direct physical descent from King David, fulfilling the ancient prophecies that the Messiah would come from David's royal line. This establishes His legitimacy as the heir to the Davidic throne.
"according to the flesh;"
This qualifying phrase clarifies the nature of Jesus' Davidic descent. "According to the flesh" refers to His human nature, His physical, earthly lineage, and His genuine embodiment as a man. It distinguishes this aspect of His identity from His divine nature, which is implicitly contrasted and explicitly stated in the subsequent verse (Romans 1:4). It underscores His full participation in humanity, including its limitations and experiences, yet without sin.
Literary Devices
Paul employs several effective literary devices in this concise verse. There is clear Conciseness in how he packs profound theological truths about Jesus' identity into a single, compact statement, serving as a powerful summary of the gospel's subject. The phrase "according to the flesh" functions as a form of Distinction or Antithesis, setting up a contrast with "according to the spirit of holiness" in the following verse. This highlights the two natures of Christ—His true humanity and His true divinity—without diminishing either. Furthermore, the explicit mention of "David" serves as a powerful Allusion to the Old Testament prophecies and the Davidic Covenant, immediately connecting Jesus to the long-awaited Messianic hope of Israel. This alludes to the Fulfillment of Prophecy, underscoring God's faithfulness and the historical grounding of the Christian faith.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Romans 1:3 is a cornerstone of Christian Christology, establishing the essential truth of Jesus' full humanity and His historical connection to God's covenant promises. It affirms the incarnation, where the eternal Son of God genuinely entered human history and took on human flesh, making Him relatable to humanity while also fulfilling the specific lineage requirements for the Messiah. This verse anchors the gospel in historical reality, showing that Jesus is not a mythical figure but the actual descendant of David, thereby validating His claim to be the promised King and Savior. It underscores God's meticulous faithfulness in bringing His redemptive plan to fruition precisely as prophesied.
Reflection and Application
Romans 1:3 is far more than a genealogical detail; it is a foundational truth that grounds our faith in the historical reality of Jesus Christ. Understanding that Jesus was truly "made of the seed of David according to the flesh" means that He is fully human, capable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, having experienced life as we do. This truth assures us that God's promises are reliable and meticulously fulfilled, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness across generations. For believers, this verse reinforces the historical and theological integrity of the gospel, inviting us to trust in a Savior who is both truly God and truly man, uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between humanity and divinity. It calls us to marvel at the divine condescension and the precision of God's redemptive plan, reminding us that our salvation is rooted in a real person, a real history, and a real fulfillment of prophecy.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is Jesus' Davidic lineage so important to Paul's message?
Jesus' Davidic lineage is crucial because it directly fulfills Old Testament prophecies, particularly the Davidic Covenant, which promised that the Messiah would come from King David's descendants and establish an eternal kingdom. By stressing this, Paul validates Jesus' claim to be the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, not just a spiritual figure but a historical person who meets the specific qualifications foretold by God, thereby appealing to both Jewish and Gentile audiences about the authenticity and divine origin of the gospel.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Romans 1:3 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the intersection of divine promise and human history. As the one "made of the seed of David according to the flesh," Jesus is revealed as the true heir to the Davidic throne, the promised King whose kingdom would have no end, as foretold by the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:32-33. His genuine humanity, affirmed by His Davidic lineage, was essential for Him to become the atoning sacrifice for humanity's sins, as only a true human could represent fallen humanity and offer a perfect, sinless life. This truth underpins the entire New Testament narrative, from the genealogies in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 that trace His Davidic roots, to the apostolic preaching that consistently proclaims Him as the "Son of David" who was raised from the dead (Acts 2:30-31). Thus, Jesus' Davidic humanity is not merely a historical footnote but a theological necessity, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant and providing the perfect, incarnate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).