“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;”
Regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David. Jesus is presented through the lens of Jewish messianic expectation—the Son of David, the rightful king of Israel according to the flesh (kata sarka). This phrase honors the historical reality of the incarnation while preparing for the next verse's assertion of divine power and resurrection. Paul does not diminish Jesus' humanity but situates it within the context of Israel's covenantal hopes.
Church Fathers on Romans 1:3
“Concerning His Son which was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh.” What dost, you, O Paul, that after lifting up our souls so, and elevating them, and causing great and unutterable things to pass in show before them, and speaking of the Gospel, and that too the Gospel of God, and bringing in the chorus of the Prophets, and showing the whole of them heralding forth many years before those things which were to come: why do you again bring us down to David? Are…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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