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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Romans 1:4 - 1:4
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Not made the Son of God, as he was said before to be made of the seed of David; but
declared, or demonstrated, to be the Son of God.
With power: this refers either to the word declared, and then the meaning is, he was powerfully or miraculously declared to be the Son of God; the Greek word ordinarily signifies a miracle in the New Testament: or else it refers to the last words, the Son of God; and then the sense is, he was declared to be the powerful and omnipotent Son of God, of the same power and majesty with the Father.
By the spirit of holiness, some would understand the Third Person in the blessed Trinity, which is often called the Holy Spirit, and here the Spirit of holiness; but others, and they more rightly, do understand the Deity and Divine nature of Christ; this is called the Spirit, 1Ti_3:16 1Pe_3:18; and the eternal Spirit, Heb_9:14 and here it is called the Spirit of holiness, or the most Holy Spirit, and that, probably, because of its effects; for thereby he sanctified his natural body, and still sanctifies his mystical body, the church. That this is the meaning is evident, by the opposition between the flesh and the Spirit: as according to the flesh, in the former verse, did signify his human nature; so according to the Spirit, in this verse, doth signify his Divine nature. See the like antithesis in 1Ti_3:16 1Pe_3:18.
By the resurrection from the dead: because it is said, the resurrection of the dead, not from the dead, some would understand the words of Lazarus, and others, who by the power of Christ were raised from the dead; and others would understand the words of those who were raised with Christ, when he himself arose: see Mat_27:52,53. But in Scripture the resurrection of the dead, is put for the resurrection from the dead; see 1Co_15:42 Heb_6:2; and hereby is meant the resurrection of Christ himself: he rose again from the dead, and thereby declared or manifested himself to be the Son of God with power: see Joh_2:19,21 5:26 10:18 1Co_15:4. And though it be said in Scripture, that the Father raised him from the dead, Act_2:24 13:30,33; yet that doth not hinder but by his own power he raised himself; seeing the Father and he were one, and the works of the Three Persons in one and the same Essence are undivided.