Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 1:3

περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ κ.τ.λ. ‘His Son’ is the subject of GOD’S Gospel promised beforehand—the words go with the whole preceding clause taken as one idea; their meaning is developed in the participial clauses following, which are strictly parallel and explain the twofold character or nature in which ‘His Son’ was revealed to men, on the human side (κατὰ σάρκα) as the son of David, on the divine side (κατὰ πν. ἁγ.) as Son of GOD. Both characters are a fulfilment of prophecy, and together form the fundamental content of the Gospel. The article marks the uniqueness of the relation, ct[53] Hebrews 1:2. The aorists of the participles point to two definite historic acts, the interpretation of which is the key to the mystery which makes ‘His Son’ the subject of GOD’S Gospel. The consequence of the implied argument is then summed up in the full title Ἰ. Χ. τ. κ. ἡ.

[53] ct. contrast

τοῦ γενομένου … κατὰ σάρκα. For γεν. cf. Philippians 2:7; Galatians 4:4; John 1:14. The entry into a new kind of existence is implied in all these passages: the special kind is marked here and Joh. l.c[54] as κατὰ σάρκα, that is, existence as a man, ἐν ὁμοιώματι� (Phil.), ἐκ γυναικός (Gal.), σάρξ here stands for human nature as such, including all that belongs to it (cf. 1 Timothy 3:16), and not ‘flesh’ as contrasted with ‘spirit’; cf. Westcott on John 1:14, Thayer, s.v[55] 3.

[54] l.c. locus citatus

[55] s.v. sub voce

ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυείδ. The Davidic descent is referred to as marking the fulfilment of prophecy: a commonplace in the primitive argument; cf. Acts 2:29 f., Acts 13:34 f.; 2 Timothy 2:8; Revelation 3:7 (v. Swete); Mark 12:35.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 1:3

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