“concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born 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” (Romans 1:3-4).
To further support the fact that his gospel message originated in the prophetic books of the Old Testament Scriptures, Paul the Apostle continued with a reference to Jesus, “…who as to his human nature was a descendant of David” (NIV). This was an important point to establish with his Jewish audience, many of whom were familiar with the messianic prophecies that specified the Messiah’s descent through the lineage of Israel’s king David.
Nevertheless, this passage offers greater theological depth than its brevity might suggest. Several commentators can help us remain Biblically accurate when considering these important references to Christ. We can begin with this reference to “…Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (KJV)…
“‘Was made’ is Ginomai in a second aorist participle signifying entrance into a new condition. The verb means ‘to become.’ John uses it in his statement, ‘The Word became flesh’ (Joh 1:14), that is, entered into a new state or condition by assuming a human body and putting Himself under human limitations.” (1)
Next is a reference to the “Son of David,” a phrase that is repeatedly linked to Jesus in the New Testament Scriptures…
“This relates to the prophecy of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. The Messiah was of the royal line of David (cf. Isa. 9:7; 11:1,10; Jer. 23:5; 30:9; 33:15) from the tribe of Judah (cf. Gen. 49:4-12; Isa. 65:9). In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is acknowledged as David’s descendant several times (cf. Matt. 1:6; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30,31; 21:9,15; 22:42), which reflected the Jewish hope of a coming Davidic savior.” (2)
The phrase “according to the flesh” also speaks of Jesus’ genealogical descent from Israel’s king David…
“Matthew 1 gives the genealogical proof that Jesus, in His humanity, was a direct descendant of Abraham and David through Joseph, Jesus’ legal father. The genealogy in Luke 3 traces Jesus’ lineage through His mother, Mary. Jesus is a descendant of David by adoption through Joseph and by blood through Mary. ‘As to his earthly life [Christ Jesus] was a descendant of David’” (Romans 1:3).” (3)
Our final commentator ties these data points together…
“This Jesus had both a human origin (born of the seed of David according to the flesh), and an eternal existence (declared to be the Son of God). The evidence of Jesus’ humanity is His human birth; the evidence of His deity is His resurrection from the dead.” (4)
(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament (note on Romans 1:2-4) Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(2) Dr. Bob Utley. Free Bible Commentary, Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International. Romans 1. (n.d.). https://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL05/VOL05_01.html
(3) GotQuestions.org. (2025, May 5). GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-son-of-David.html
(4) Guzik, David. Enduring Word. (2025, April 3). Enduring Word Bible Commentary Romans Chapter 1. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-1/