Romans 1:4 says that Jesus was shown to be the Son of God with power, and the proof was his resurrection from the dead. The verse is part of the opening greeting of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome, written by Paul himself to a church he had not yet visited. It helps establish who Jesus is before Paul goes on to explain the Good News in detail.
Who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…
Romans 1:4 (WEB)
What Romans 1:4 Means
The verse begins with the idea that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God.” The word “declared” can also be translated “appointed” or “marked out,” meaning that God made clear publicly who Jesus is. Paul is not saying Jesus became the Son of God at that moment. He is saying that the resurrection revealed and confirmed a relationship that was already true.
The phrase “with power” points to the authority and strength God displayed when he raised Jesus from death. Death is the one thing no human can overcome, so the resurrection stands as the clearest demonstration of divine power. The verse then names this power as working “according to the Spirit of holiness,” which links the resurrection to the Holy Spirit’s work in making God’s holiness known.
The verse does not promise that every believer will receive the same kind of visible proof in daily life, nor does it explain every detail of how the resurrection works. It focuses on one clear claim: the risen Jesus is shown to be who he said he was. Readers can rely on that claim without needing to answer every question about it.
The Context of Romans 1:4
Romans is a letter written around the middle of the first century, traditionally attributed to Paul. He addresses believers in Rome, a mixed community that included both Jewish and non-Jewish Christians. Paul wants to introduce himself, explain his mission, and lay out the core of the gospel before visiting them.
In the verses just before Romans 1:4, Paul describes the Good News as something God promised through the prophets in Scripture, concerning his Son who came from the line of David. Verse 4 then explains how this Son was shown to be divine. Read this way, the verse is the hinge between Jesus’s human origins and his divine identity, and it prepares the reader for the rest of the letter.
Key Phrases in Romans 1:4
Acts 2:24
Whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
(WEB)
Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost that God raised Jesus from the dead, which parallels Paul’s claim that the resurrection demonstrated Jesus’s identity. Reading the two passages together shows that the early church understood the resurrection as God’s decisive act in vindicating Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
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Paul writes that Christ has been raised as the firstfruits of those who have died. This verse extends the idea from Romans 1:4 by showing that the resurrection of Jesus is the pattern and guarantee for the future resurrection of all who belong to him.
A Short Prayer From Romans 1:4
Lord, thank you that you made the identity of your Son clear through the resurrection. When I feel uncertain about who Jesus is or what he has done, remind me that you have spoken publicly and powerfully. Let the same Spirit who raised him from the dead work in my life today, shaping me to reflect your holiness in my words and choices. Help me to trust your power when I am weak and to live in the confidence that the risen Jesus is Lord. Amen.
