John Calvin Commentary Romans 1:3

"concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh," — Romans 1:3 (ASV)

Concerning his own Son, etc. — This is a remarkable passage, by which we are taught that the whole gospel is included in Christ, so that if anyone moves one step from Christ, he withdraws himself from the gospel. For since he is the living and express image of the Father, it is no wonder that he alone is set before us as one to whom our whole faith is to be directed and in whom it is to center.

It is then a definition of the gospel, by which Paul expresses what is summarily comprehended in it. I have rendered the words which follow, Jesus Christ our Lord, in the same case, which seems to me to be most agreeable with the context. We therefore learn that he who has made a due proficiency in the knowledge of Christ has acquired everything which can be learned from the gospel; and, on the other hand, that those who seek to be wise without Christ are not only foolish, but even completely insane.

Who was made, etc. — Two things must be found in Christ so that we may obtain salvation in him: namely, divinity and humanity. His divinity possesses power, righteousness, life, which by his humanity are conveyed to us. Therefore, the Apostle has expressly mentioned both in the summary he gives of the gospel: that Christ was manifested in the flesh, and that in it he declared himself to be the Son of God. So John says: after declaring that the Word was made flesh, he adds that in that flesh there was a glory as of the only-begotten Son of God (John 1:14).

That he specifically notes the descent and lineage of Christ from his ancestor David is not superfluous, for by this he calls our attention back to the promise, so that we may not doubt that he is the very person who had been previously promised. So well known was the promise made to David that it appears to have been a common practice among the Jews to call the Messiah the Son of David. This then—that Christ sprang from David—was said for the purpose of confirming our faith.

He adds, according to the flesh; and he adds this so that we may understand that he had something more excellent than flesh, which he brought from heaven and did not take from David—namely, that which he later mentions, the glory of the divine nature. Furthermore, by these words, Paul not only declares that Christ had real flesh but also clearly distinguishes his human from his divine nature, and thus refutes the impious raving of Servetus, who assigned flesh to Christ composed of three untreated elements.