Powerful Pedigree

Romans 1:4

In the structure of verse four, all is built on the subject of verse 3 - the Son. Paul is unpacking the pedigree of the Son here. “The One having been declared, Son of God”. The claim, having been declared is an interesting phrase.

The actual word horisthentos (“having been declared”) is an aorist passive participle. A participle is a verbal adjective. It expresses the action of the subject in the sentence. Since it acts as a verb is has tense (aorist) and voice (passive). Aorist voice means that the action was completed in the past, and passive means that the declaring was done to Him not by Him. It comes from the words horidzo, which means "to declare, to ordain, or to appoint"; and the word horio means, "a limit or border". This is where we get our word horizon. It is a clear and defined boundary; a line of demarcation. It has been marked out precisely by God. The implication is that God is the one declaring (before this point in time) "this is My Son!". This man Jesus Christ is the Son of God, The One. How's that for authority!!!


Again, Paul uses three prepositional phrases to give clarity and definition to The One.
First, ”in power, strength, and ability”. Dunamae is the word we get dynamite from.

Secondly, “according to the Spirit of holiness”. This is a carryover from the Jewish phrase Ruach Ha Kodesh, which means the spirit of The Holy, obviously, the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes the sanctifying work of the Spirit and carries an implied meaning, “to blow clean”. That’s cool!!

Thirdly, “out of resurrection of dead”. This part of the prepositional phrase (the resurrection) proves His claim to be God. See John 2:18-19 and John 10:18. “The dead” is plural. The literal translation is “out of the dead ones”. Paul says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. “…Him being the first fruits of those made alive…” To the Jewish mind, a dead Messiah is not a Messiah at all. Duh!

Deuteronomy 21:23 says that the one who is crucified is cursed by God. Jesus took in His body, our sins, causing Him to be cursed by God. In Acts 9:1-6; Paul is face to face with the resurrected Lord. Paul is eyewitness to the fact that the crucified Jesus conquered death and rose again. The resurrection PROVED the claims of His Messiahship!!

The next phrase “Jesus Christ, the Lord of us”, concerns the identity of the Son.
What Paul has told us so far is that Jesus Christ is:
(1) the one out of the seed of David,
(2) according to the flesh,
(3) declared the Son of God,
(4) in power,
(5) according to the Spirit.

So…the first out of the resurrection of the dead ones is………………………………… Jesus!!!
Jesus (Yeshua) is His name. This highlights his humanity. We are all given a name; this is a basic element of our humanity. As humans, we live in community, and we have nominal designations.
Christ is His title. He is the anointed One.
Lord. This delineates His exalted position. He is the Sovereign ruler.

In this one small phrase, Paul packs the powerful doctrine of Jesus Christ. He verifies both His humanity and His deity. Such a POWERFUL passage!!!