separated from the words "Jesus Christ our Lord" by the whole of verses 3 and 4, thereby

enclosing all the testimony of those verses in this one great title. It is important enough

to display in English.

This fact reveals how full that statement is which says, "The gospel of God is

concerning His Son".

We have yet to discover the fullness of that great parenthesis of verses 3 and 4 where

the title "Son" is explained. We will not waste valuable time and space in repeating the

great variety of interpretations that have been put forward by both ancient and modern

commentators as to the meaning of almost every clause of this passage, but with a

consciousness both of our own fallibility and also of the utter trustworthiness of the

Scriptures we seek afresh its meaning and its purpose. And surely this last thought is a

good start along the road. If we do not believe that the apostle had any particular purpose

in view or that he chose his words with precision like Koheleth of old ("words of truth")

we rob ourselves of a great incentive to search and see. If we believe that the words used

are the most fitting to express his meaning, and if we believe that the passage is most

relevant to the theme of the section and of the epistle, we are the more prepared to receive

its message. Let us begin to read and note any feature that looks important.

"Which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh."--Why the seed of

David? David's testimony in the Psalms is most emphatic concerning the resurrection of

Christ (Acts 2: 25, 29-34; 4: 25). To David were promises made that could only be

fulfilled in Christ (Acts 13: 22, 34, 36). The prophecy of the rebuilding of the tabernacle

of David was intimately connected with the salvation of the Gentiles (Acts 15: 16).

David unites with Abraham in bearing witness to the essence of the gospel (Rom. 4: 6),

and prophesies the failure of Israel (Rom. 11: 9).

If we examine the testimonies of Peter and Paul in the Acts with reference to David

we shall perceive a fundamental difference between the good news appertaining to each.

Peter sees Christ as the seed of David raised from the dead to sit upon the throne of his

father David (Acts 2: 30). Paul sees the same Christ raised from the dead as Saviour both

for Israel and the Gentiles, and bringing to light the doctrine of justification by faith

(Acts 13:). Both Peter and Paul were divinely inspired and both give in their opening

utterances (Pentecost and Antioch) the key to their respective messages. Peter had

preached "Jesus Christ of the seed of David raised from the dead" according to his

gospel, which had the circumcision always in mind, whereas Paul in writing to Timothy