Monday 6 April 2026

Psalm 2

Background
This reading is included in our Easter Week series because it includes what appears to be an early creed or statement of faith. Paul’s letter to the Romans was likely written around 53-55 AD in Corinth as he was completing his third missionary journey.

Paul was writing to a church he hadn’t founded which was a mix of Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. Other introductions to his letters mention co-workers who no doubt helped in the formulation of the letters. However, this letter is Paul’s own thoughts. In this passage he is setting out his agenda.

People living in the Roman world would have been used to the proclamation of gospels, which were used to announce the good news of royal births, marriages and military victories. In using such a term, Paul is demonstrating that Jesus comes as a competing lord to the Roman Emperor. For Jewish hearers this would also have taken them to Isaiah 52:7.

Paul wants to affirm the Jewishness of Jesus for the Jewish audience. This wasn’t something new out of nothing, but rather Jesus’ birth entered into the story of Scripture, into the line of King David, as foretold by prophets many centuries ago. Paul proclaims the humanness of Jesus.

However, this is also something new, for this same Jesus is also son of God. He hasn’t got to the point that future generations of Christian thinkers will get to of being able to articulate Jesus as fully human and fully God, but he does recognise that, in Jesus’ resurrection, he is clearly displayed as God’s son.

Paul also points to the other new thing that God is doing. No longer is belonging only restricted to Jewish people, but God’s grace is now open to all people regardless of ethnicity or background, based only on one’s obedience to Christ and this new expression of faith.

The word ‘servant’ or ‘slave’ in verse 1 was one that appeared in Jewish Scripture to describe the relationship of the people of God, or individuals to God. For the Jewish audience it would not have been shocking, but for non-Jewish hearers it would have been scandalous.

Paul's introduction closes with Greek and Hebrew terms of greeting: grace and peace. He underlines the point that this gospel now truly is for everyone.

To Ponder:

• Reflect on "He lives to quicken humankind; he lives that all his life may find." (Singing the Faith 294)
• In what ways are creeds or statements of faith useful to your own faith journey?
• Who are the people in your community that today need to hear from the Church that they too belong in the family of God?

Prayer
Loving God, the Father of all, enable us by your Spirit to proclaim with confidence the good news that all people may find a home and new life through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Will Fletcher
Will Fletcher is a presbyter in the Central Sussex United Area. Alongside his church duties, Will is the Ecumenical Officer for the Sussex part of the South-East District. He is married to Helen and they have one son. When not working, Will makes up part of the bass section of Patcham Silver Band.