Romans 1:3
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Romans 1:3
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse highlights Jesus’ humanity by emphasizing his descent from David, which was crucial for fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. It also subtly points toward his divinity by using "according to the flesh" as a deliberate contrast to something more profound, hinting at a nature beyond mere human lineage.
Paul begins his letter by introducing the central theme: the gospel of God, which is about His Son. This Son, Jesus Christ, is presented as having a dual nature: He was born of David's lineage, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, but He was also powerfully declared the Son of God through His resurrection. This divine declaration of His Sonship, established through His holy spirit and resurrection, is the very foundation upon which Paul’s apostolic ministry is built.
Paul immediately grounds the Gospel in history, connecting Jesus to King David. But what does this 'according to the flesh' really mean?
A Royal Lineage
Paul kicks off his letter by announcing the good news is 'concerning his Son.' But he doesn't stop there. He immediately grounds Jesus in a specific historical and human lineage: 'descended from David according to the flesh.'
This phrase 'according to the flesh' is crucial. It signifies Jesus' human nature, His earthly existence, His very humanity. He wasn't just a divine being appearing to look human; He genuinely became human, born into the line of King David.
Why David?
This isn't just a historical footnote; it's the first step in understanding how God's eternal Son entered our world to bring salvation.
If Jesus is 'according to the flesh,' does that mean He's only human? Paul's very next words hint at a much grander reality.
More Than Human: The Divine Declaration
While Paul grounds Jesus in His human lineage ('according to the flesh'), the context of Romans 1:3-4 immediately pivots to His divine identity. The verse itself, especially when read with the following phrase, points to a duality in Christ's nature.
Two Aspects of His Identity
Understand the original words
huios · Greek Noun
In a messianic context, it denotes the divine Person who shares the Father's nature and authority, serving as the mediator between God and humanity. He is the eternal heir and the unique object of the Father's love.
sarx · Greek Noun
Refers to the physical, human nature of Christ. It highlights the reality of His humanity and His genealogical link to the line of King David, fulfilling messianic prophecy.
Paul grounds the gospel in the historical reality of Jesus' human lineage from King David, a crucial point for his Jewish audience. This wasn't just a nice detail; it connected Jesus to the Messianic prophecies and God's ancient covenant promises.
c. 1000 BC
David reigns as King of Israel
King David establishes a powerful united monarchy in Israel, and a significant prophetic promise is made that his royal line will endure forever.
c. 600 BC - 400 BC
Prophetic writings and exile
The Hebrew prophets foretell the coming of a Messiah from David's line, and the subsequent Babylonian exile shapes the Jewish understanding of God's promises and covenant.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33
Jesus' earthly ministry
Jesus of Nazareth lives, teaches, heals, and performs miracles, presenting Himself as the promised Messiah, fulfilling prophecies regarding David's lineage.
c. AD 30/33— this verse
Jesus' resurrection and ascension
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected from the dead, a pivotal event powerfully demonstrating His divine Sonship and fulfilling His own claims.
This passage provides the genealogy of Jesus, directly tracing his lineage back to David, fulfilling the prophecy mentioned in Romans 1:3.
Luke 1:32-33These verses speak of Jesus inheriting David's throne, prophesying his kingly role and his descent from David, aligning with the 'according to the flesh' aspect of Romans 1:3.
John 7:42This verse highlights the expectation that the Messiah would come from the lineage of David, underscoring the significance of Jesus' Davidic descent as stated in Romans 1:3.
2 Samuel 7:12-13This prophecy to David about an everlasting king from his line is a foundational Old Testament text that Romans 1:3 implicitly references, connecting Jesus' humanity to God's covenant promises.
Acts 13:23This sermon by Paul explicitly states that God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, descended from David, directly echoing and confirming the statement in Romans 1:3.
ellicottRomans 1:3: "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"
(3, 4) Who, on the human side—as if to show that the prophecies were really fulfilled in Him—was born of the seed of David, the rightful lineage of the Messiah; who, on the divine side, by virtue of the divine attribute of holiness dwelling in His spirit, was declared to be the Son of God, by that mighty demonstration, the resurrection of the dead. According to the flesh.—The word…
meyerRomans 1:3: "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"
Romans 1:3-4 .[286] We must, with Lachmann and Tischendorf, set aside the view which treats τοῦ γενομένου .… νεκρῶν , and Romans 1:5-6 , as parentheses, because we have to deal with intervening clauses which accord with the construction, not with insertions which interrupt it. See Winer, p. 526 [E. T. 707]. περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ] “Hoc refertur ad illud quod praecessit εὐαγγέλιον ;…
This verse highlights Jesus’ humanity by emphasizing his descent from David, which was crucial for fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. It also subtly points toward his divinity by using "according to the flesh" as a deliberate contrast to something more profound, hinting at a nature beyond mere human lineage.
Paul begins his letter by introducing the central theme: the gospel of God, which is about His Son. This Son, Jesus Christ, is presented as having a dual nature: He was born of David's lineage, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, but He was also powerfully declared the Son of God through His resurrection. This divine declaration of His Sonship, established through His holy spirit and resurrection, is the very foundation upon which Paul’s apostolic ministry is built.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Romans 1:3 is available in the Sola app.
This distinction is vital. Jesus wasn't just a descendant of David; He was, and is, the eternal Son of God. His humanity allowed Him to fulfill Old Testament promises, but His divinity empowered Him to conquer sin and death and offer salvation.
The power that raised Him from the dead (mentioned in verse 4) is the ultimate demonstration of this divine identity.
c. AD 40s - 60s
Apostolic preaching
The apostles, including Paul, preach the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, emphasizing Jesus' Davidic descent and His divine power demonstrated by His resurrection.
Paul begins his letter by introducing the central theme: the gospel of God, which is about His Son. This Son, Jesus Christ, is presented as having a dual nature: He was born of David's lineage, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, but He was also powerfully declared the Son of God through His resurrection. This divine declaration of His Sonship, established through His holy spirit and resurrection, is the very foundation upon which Paul’s apostolic ministry is built.
"concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh" — This verse highlights Jesus’ humanity by emphasizing his descent from David, which was crucial for fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. It also subtly points toward his **divini…