Translation Issue: Romans 1:3

regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, NIV

concerning his Son, who was born a descendant of David according to the flesh LEB

The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, NLT

concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh, NET

concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, NKJV

concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ESV

περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ γενομένου ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυὶδ κατὰ σάρκα, 

The problem here is translating this word γενομένου [genomenou comes from the the word γίνομαι (ginomai)]

This word γίνομαι [ginomai] means [to come into being, to happen, to become]

These are the definition according to Strong’s concordance however, the context of using this word are: [below 5 points are taken from Biblehub]

1. properly, to emerge, become, transitioning from one point (realm, condition) to another
2. fundamentally means “become” (becoming, became) so it is not an exact equivalent to the ordinary equative verb “to be” 
3. means “to become, and signifies a change of condition, state or place“
4. means to come into being/manifestation implying motion, movement, or growth” (at 2 Pet 1:4).
5. Thus it is used for God’s actions as emerging from eternity and becoming (showing themselves) in time (physical space).

Paul’s use of this word γενομένου [genomenou] suggests that he looks at Jesus’ birth not as a ordinary human birth but he looks at it as an incarnation a “change from preexistence to human existence is in view for God’s Son^“1.
For example, Paul selects ginomai when he says that Jesus “came into being by means of a woman” (Gal. 4:4 AT). Or when he affirms that Jesus was equal to God but “came into being in the likeness of humankind” (Phil. 2:7 AT).²

For when Paul talks about ordinary birth he uses the word γεννάω [gennaō] in Romans 9:11, Gal 4:23,24 and 29.³

So the English translations like “descendant” or “born” do not capture the true essence of the word γενομένου [genomenou] that Paul so consciously chose over the other word γεννάω [gennaō].

Plus when Paul uses the word γενομένου [genomenou] in Romans 1:3 he qualifies it by following up with the words

“according to the flesh” ESV

“according to the flesh” LEB

“according to the flesh” NKJV

“with reference to the flesh” NET

“who as to his earthly life” NIV

ESV, LEB, NKJV, NET and others who writes “according to the flesh” are more accurate than others in this case.

So Paul tells us that the nature of the birth was not normal by the selection of his word γενομένου [genomenou] and that this birth was not that Jesus himself was born or begetted by the Father here in time and from this point on Jesus began to exist.

No! First Paul says that this is not the normal birth that the word γενομένου [genomenou] means that he always preexisted and this birth was only relating to this flesh. As NET puts it “with reference to the flesh” and ESV and others put it “according to the flesh”. Which makes the point clear that this birth was only related his birth as a human. It doesn’t talk about Jesus coming into being as we humans come into being at the time of conception in our mother’s womb.⁴

So Paul leaves no room for speculations as to the kind of birth Jesus had. This directly contradicts the theory propagated by the Arians who consider that Jesus began to exist when he was born as a human and this concept is now taken over by Jehovah’s witnesses.⁵

So this is not exactly a translation issue. It’s the problem of translating one word from one language into another. We know what this Greek word means but the word choices of English translation do not do justice to the original meaning that the author wanted to convey.

Notes:

1. Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ by Matthew Bates Ch 1
2. Ibid ch 1
3. Ibid ch 1
4. Ibid ch 1
5. Ibid ch 1