Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 1:4

"who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; [even] Jesus Christ our Lord," — Romans 1:4 (ASV)

The Gospel centers in God’s Son, who had this status before he took on a “human nature” and who, in becoming human, became not only an Israelite (9:5) but a son of David (Matthew 1:1; Acts 13:22–23; 2 Timothy 2:8), a qualification he needed as Messiah (Isaiah 11:1). By beginning with the sonship, Paul guards against a heretical adoptionist Christology. The period of Christ’s earthly life and ministry was followed by another phase—that which resulted from his resurrection. “With power” most likely belongs not with “declared” but with “Son of God,” indicating the new quality of life Jesus had after his resurrection (Colossians 1:29).

“Spirit of holiness” is an expression that means “Holy Spirit.” There may be a suggestion here that Jesus, anointed and sustained by the Holy Spirit in the days of his flesh, was acknowledged by the fact of resurrection to have successfully endured the tests and trials of his earthly life. By resurrection he has become a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Appropriately, Jesus Christ is now described as “our Lord” (GK 3261).

Though this title was fitting during his earthly ministry, it attained more frequent use and greater meaning following the resurrection (Acts 2:36; Acts 10:36; Romans 10:9). It is notable that in this initial statement about the Gospel nothing is said concerning the redeeming work of Christ, which is reserved for later consideration (3:21–26; 4:25; 5:6–21). It was the infinite worth of the Son that made his saving work possible.