A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 2 Chapter 1:4 – 6

 

  1. Romans 1:4 “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
    1. Last week we saw in verse 3 Jesus Christ, the Son of God was born of the seed of David “in the flesh as the Son of Man however this does not interfere with His pre-existence as the Son of God.

a.       Let us remember in Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” This Holy thing contained two natures The Son of God and the Son of Man.

b.      So according to the flesh He was of the seed of David but according to Deity He is the Son of God and of no seed. So the proper understanding here is Paul is speaking of the “like unto flesh nature of Jesus Christ or His human side. 

    1. “And declared to be the Son of God”

a.       The word “declared” here means – “to mark out or bound” but also means - to appoint, decree, specify, determine, limit, ordained.

b.      I believe here in this passage Paul is strictly speaking of the human nature of Jesus Christ if we take this in the context of the scriptures, however in verse 4 Paul changes to the deity side of Christ and declares this man Christ Jesus was indeed proven to be the Son of God by the powers He had.

c.       I believe both natures are spoken of here the man and God.    

    1.    “And declared to be the Son of God with power,”

a.       The word “with” comes from the Greek word “en” which means – in but also carries the meaning – by so I believe the word “with” would have been better served by inserting the word “by” instead because that is what I believe it means.

b.      This is the way I believe verses 3 and 4a should read and is properly read, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (4.)And proven to be the Son of God by His power,”  

    1. “according to the spirit of holiness”

a.       I believe this (taken in the context of this passage) goes back to the word “declared or as defined proves” who this man was and that is the Son of God and it is proven by His spirit of holiness which was unlike any other man, perfect!

b.      Also notice all of the words “spirit and holiness” are small cap words which also denote they are not deity being spoken of here.

    1. “by the resurrection from the dead” also another sign or proof of who He was, The Son of God in the flesh. Which also shows the power this man had, He had the power of God. 
  1. Romans 1:5, 6  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: (6.)  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:”
    1. Verses 5 and 6 should go together therefore we will take them together.
    2. “By whom we have received grace and apostleship”. Paul here returns to the subject of the salutation of the Roman Church, and states to them his authority to address them. That authority he had received from the Lord Jesus, and not from man.

a.       Remember Paul saw the Man Christ Jesus in His resurrected state.

b.      The words “grace and apostleship” simply means he (Paul) received his apostleship and authority by the grace or favor of Jesus Christ, this resurrected seed of David that appointed the other Apostles also by His grace. 

    1. “for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name”

a.       The word “obedience” means - attentive hearkening - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines it this way; of the fulfillment of God's claims or commands.

b.      We also find this word used in the same way in  Romans 16:26 “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”

c.       “among all nations” not just to the Jews but also to the Gentile nation which this church was made up of. Acts 9:15 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” As also the commission stated to the first church and all other churches since. Mark 16:15-16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16.) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

d.      “for his name” in which we, as well as they do all things, for His name sake. John Gill says “for the honour and glory of Christ, in whose name they went, and which they bore and carried among the Gentiles, out of whom he was pleased "to take a people for his name"

    1. Verse 6 “Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:”

a.       The words “Among whom” means Paul is grouping this Roman church with and that is with them (the Apostles).

b.      They were saved by the same Jesus, chosen and called by the same God, and assigned to their church in the same way.

c.       Whether the words “called of” means - called by or called belonging to; makes no difference. We were called by Him because in  John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”  and John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

d.      And those called by Him belong to Him by the everlasting covenant and the purchase of us on the cross.