1:1-4 What does it mean that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead?
1:1-4 What does it mean that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead?
The word declared in V4 also means defined, or demonstrated.
Although Jesus was the Son of God before His resurrection, yet it was by His resurrection that openly declared, defined, demonstrated it. Many Christians believe that Jesus was begotten as God's Son by His resurrection, but that is not correct (CP Isa 9:6-7; Jn 1:1-2, 14; He 1:1-6).
Jesus was begotten as God's Son at His incarnation - when He took on human form (CP Ac 13:33).
When Paul quoted Psa 2:7 here, he was simply illustrating for the Jews that by Jesus' resurrection God was formally showing Jesus to be His Son, which is also what Ro 1:4 teaches (CP Psa 2:7).
Jesus was demonstrated to be the Son of God in the sphere of the resurrection power of God which raised Him from the dead (see also comments on Lu 1:35(B) and Ac 13:33).