Romans 10

Chapter Overview

What happens in Romans 10

Paul expresses his heartfelt desire for Israel's salvation and explains why they have missed the righteousness of God. Christ is the goal of the law, and salvation is available to all who confess and believe. Paul emphasizes that faith comes through hearing the word of God, and that the message has indeed gone out to the world.

Scripture

Israel's Misguided Zeal

Study note

Paul's deep love for Israel is evident in his prayer for their salvation. He acknowledges their sincere zeal for God, but it is zeal without knowledge. They sought to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting to God's righteousness revealed in Christ. Christ is the goal and fulfillment of the law, bringing righteousness to everyone who believes.

1 My friends, what I want more than anything -- what I pray to God for -- is that the people of Israel would be saved. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 I can honestly say they are passionate about God. But their passion is not guided by real understanding. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 They did not understand how God makes people right with him. So they tried to create their own way of being right. They refused to accept God's way. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 But Christ is where the law was always pointing. He brings right standing with God to everyone who trusts in him. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The Accessibility of Salvation by Faith

Study note

Paul contrasts the righteousness from the law, which demands perfect performance, with the righteousness from faith, which is near and accessible. Drawing on Deuteronomy, he shows that the word of faith is in your mouth and heart. The path to salvation is clear: confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is generous to all who call on him.

5 Moses wrote about trying to be right with God by following the law: 'The person who does all these things will find life through them.' For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 But the kind of right standing that comes through faith talks differently. It says, 'Do not ask yourself, Who will go up to heaven?' as if you need to bring Christ down. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 "And do not ask, 'Who will go down into the world of the dead?'" as if you need to bring Christ back from the grave. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 Instead, it says, 'God's message is right next to you -- it is in your mouth and in your heart.' That is the message of faith we are telling people about. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 The scriptures promise, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.' For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 This applies to everyone equally. There is no difference between Jewish and non-Jewish people. The same Lord is Lord over all, and he is exceedingly generous to everyone who calls out to him. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Necessity of Preaching

Study note

Paul traces the chain of salvation backward: calling requires believing, believing requires hearing, hearing requires preaching, and preaching requires being sent. He quotes Isaiah's celebration of beautiful feet that bring good news. Yet not all have obeyed the gospel, as Isaiah also foretold. Faith comes through hearing the word of God, and the message has indeed gone out to the ends of the earth. Israel's problem was not lack of opportunity but refusal to respond, as God stretched out his hands all day to a disobedient people.

14 But how can people call on someone they have not put their trust in? And how can they trust someone they have never heard of? And how can they hear unless someone goes and tells them? How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how can anyone go tell them unless they are sent? The scriptures say, 'What a beautiful sight -- the feet of people who arrive with good news!' And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But not everybody welcomed the good news. Isaiah said, 'Lord, did anyone believe what we told them?' But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But let me ask: did they not hear the message? Of course they did! The scriptures say, 'Their voice reached every part of the earth, and their words went to the farthest corners of the world.' But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19 Let me ask another question: did Israel not understand? Moses himself said, 'I will use a nation you look down on to make you jealous. I will use a nation you think is foolish to make you angry.' But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20 Then Isaiah went even further and said, 'People who were not even looking for me found me. I showed myself to people who never asked about me.' But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21 But about Israel, God says, "All day long I held out my hands to them. But these people disobey me and push back against me." But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Key Themes

Themes in Romans 10

Christ as the goal of the lawSalvation by confession and faithNo distinction between Jew and GentileThe necessity of preaching the gospelFaith comes by hearingIsrael's rejection despite hearing

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Romans 10:5 Leviticus 18:5

Paul quotes Moses' description of law-based righteousness, showing that the law demanded perfect obedience as the condition for life -- a standard no one could fully meet.

Romans 10:6-8 Deuteronomy 30:12-14

Paul interprets Moses' words about the word being near, in your mouth and heart, as pointing forward to the accessible righteousness of faith in Christ that does not require impossible feats.

Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16

Paul again cites Isaiah's promise that whoever believes in the cornerstone will not be put to shame, emphasizing the universal availability of salvation through faith.

Romans 10:13 Joel 2:32

The prophet Joel's declaration that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved is applied by Paul to show that salvation through Christ is offered to all without distinction.

Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7

Paul quotes Isaiah's vision of beautiful feet on the mountains bringing good news of peace, applying it to the messengers who carry the gospel to the world.

Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1

Isaiah's lament, 'Lord, who has believed our message?' is cited to explain that Israel's rejection of the gospel was anticipated in prophetic Scripture.

Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:4

Paul uses the psalmist's language about creation's voice going out to all the earth to show that the gospel message has reached everywhere, leaving no excuse for not hearing.

Romans 10:19 Deuteronomy 32:21

Moses predicted that God would provoke Israel to jealousy by blessing a people who were not a nation, foreshadowing the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1

Isaiah boldly declared that God would be found by those who did not seek him and revealed to those who did not ask, prophesying the Gentiles' reception of the gospel.

Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2

God's lament over stretching out his hands all day to a disobedient and stubborn people captures the heartbreak of Israel's persistent rejection despite God's patient invitation.

Apply This Today

Living Romans 10

Salvation is not a distant or complicated thing. It is as close as our own mouth and heart -- confessing Jesus as Lord and believing God raised him from the dead. This passage also reminds us that others need to hear the message before they can believe. We all have a part to play in making the gospel accessible to those around us. Zeal for God is admirable, but it must be grounded in the truth of who Christ is and what he has accomplished.

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