Read & explore together
The Word Brings Salvation
In Romans 10, Paul explains salvation by contrasting human effort with God’s righteousness, then showing how the message about Christ is heard, believed, confessed and announced.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage is part of Paul’s teaching about Israel, faith and God’s righteousness. He speaks with prayerful concern for Israel’s salvation, contrasts righteousness by law with righteousness by faith, quotes Moses, Isaiah and Scripture, and traces how preaching, hearing, belief and confession relate to salvation in Christ.
Romans 10:1–21Main takeaway
Romans 10 teaches that salvation is received through believing in Christ and calling on him, and that this message needs to be heard.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul’s concern and Israel’s problemPaul begins with desire and prayer for Israel’s salvation. He says they have zeal for God, yet their zeal lacks knowledge.
Explanation
Paul begins with desire and prayer for Israel’s salvation. He says they have zeal for God, yet their zeal lacks knowledge. Instead of submitting to God’s righteousness, they seek to establish their own. Then Paul states that Christ is the fulfilment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
02The word of faith is nearPaul contrasts righteousness based on law with righteousness of faith. He says faith does not require someone to bring Christ down from heaven or up from the dead.
Explanation
Paul contrasts righteousness based on law with righteousness of faith. He says faith does not require someone to bring Christ down from heaven or up from the dead. Instead, the word is near, in mouth and heart. Paul identifies this as the word of faith being preached.
03Believe, confess and call on the LordPaul says a person is saved by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead.
Explanation
Paul says a person is saved by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead. Belief results in righteousness, and confession results in salvation. Scripture says believers will not be disappointed. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord responds richly to all who call on him.
04Why preaching and hearing matterPaul asks a chain of questions. People call on the one they believe in, believe in the one they hear, and hear through a preacher.
Explanation
Paul asks a chain of questions. People call on the one they believe in, believe in the one they hear, and hear through a preacher. Preachers must be sent. Yet not all listen to the good news. Paul then states plainly that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
05Israel heard, yet remained resistantPaul asks whether they heard, and answers yes. He then asks whether Israel knew, and supports his point with Moses and Isaiah.
Explanation
Paul asks whether they heard, and answers yes. He then asks whether Israel knew, and supports his point with Moses and Isaiah. These quotations show God being found by those who did not seek him, while Israel is described as disobedient and contrary, even as God stretches out his hands all day long.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to Paul, what was wrong with Israel’s zeal for God?
Look closely at the contrast between zeal, knowledge, establishing their own righteousness and submitting to God’s righteousness.
02What two responses does Paul connect with salvation in verses 9 and 10?
Notice the roles of the heart and the mouth, and what each is said to result in.
03How does Paul explain the link between preaching, hearing and faith?
Follow the sequence of questions and then read Paul’s summary statement about where faith comes from.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 10:1–21
1Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
6But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down);
7or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach:
9that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.
13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
19But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation. I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.”
20Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”
21But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”