Romans 1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

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

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

What does Romans 1:3 mean?

Explanation

[Romans 1:3] speaks about Jesus Christ's humanity and His royal lineage.

The verse identifies Jesus as the Son of God and then focuses on His human nature, explicitly stating that He descends from King David "according to the flesh." This phrase emphasizes the incarnation, the Christian belief that God took on human flesh.

The apostle Paul, who wrote Romans, includes this to affirm both the divine origin and the genuine humanity of Jesus.

It also establishes Jesus' messianic credentials, as the Hebrew Scriptures prophesied that the Messiah would come from David's line.

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Paul's Epistle to the Romans was written around AD 57.

It was addressed to the Christians in Rome, who were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles.

For Jewish Christians, the Messiah as a descendant of David was a crucial tenet.

This historical context is important because it situates Jesus within the long-awaited expectations of a savior in Jewish tradition, one who would be a rightful king in the line of David.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the significance of Jesus being from David's lineage is multifaceted.

For one, it fulfills Old Testament prophecies such as those found in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Isaiah 11:1, affirming God's faithfulness to His promises.

It also bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments, providing continuity in God's salvation plan.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize the verse differently; for example, Protestant theology might use this verse to stress Sola Scriptura and the fulfillment of the biblical prophecies, while Catholic theology might emphasize the tradition and lineage in relation to the Church's teachings about Christ.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Romans 1:3 can encourage believers to trust in the promises of God, as they are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

It also calls for unity among Christians, regardless of their background, as this verse indicates that Jesus came for all humanity.

Believers might also find inspiration to explore their own spiritual heritage and reflect on how their faith has been influenced by generations before them.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 7:12-16 (KJV)
Isaiah 11:1 (KJV)
Matthew 1:1 (KJV) - "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
Revelation 22:16 (KJV) - "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the phrase "according to the flesh" (κατὰ σάρκα, kata sarka) carries significant weight.

"Sarka" refers to flesh or human nature, underscoring Jesus' humanity. The implication is not merely physical descent but also participation in the human condition.

The word for "seed" or "descendant" in this context is not directly present in the Greek but is implied through the discussion of lineage.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this to other ancient cultural contexts, royal lineage was often paramount for establishing a ruler's legitimacy.

In religious interpretations outside of Christianity, figures are sometimes linked to deities or royal lines to establish their significance.

The claim that Jesus is of the seed of David situates Him within the Jewish expectation of a divinely anointed king.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, there is an interest in understanding historical lineages through genetics.

Although science cannot confirm the specific lineage of Jesus, genealogies in ancient texts like the Bible are a matter of historical record, not scientific evidence.

The focus of Romans 1:3 is not on physical genetics but on theological significance.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have various viewpoints on Romans 1:3.

For example, John Stott in his commentary on Romans looks at the phrase "according to the flesh" to highlight the reality of Jesus' human nature.

F.F.

Bruce focuses on the fulfillment of scripture and God's plan of redemption through the lineage of David.

Douglas Moo comments on the legal aspect of Jesus being in David's line and the importance of this for Jewish understanding of messianic prophecies.

Each expert may interpret the nuances of the verse within the broader theological context of Paul's writings and Christian doctrine.

Romans 1

Romans 1

What does Romans 1:3 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Romans 1:3 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?