New Testament · Letter

Romans 10

The Word Is Near

Salvation is not far away or hard to reach. It's as close as your mouth and your heart. But how can they believe unless someone is sent?

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1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6But 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:)

7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8But 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;

9That 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.

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

11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

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

14How 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?

15And 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!

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

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

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19But 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.

20But 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.

21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Understand This

Romans 10, explained

What Romans 10 is saying

Paul expresses his heart's desire for Israel's salvation and diagnoses their failure: they pursued righteousness through law-keeping rather than receiving the righteousness that comes by faith. He quotes Deuteronomy 30:12–14 to argue that the 'word of faith' is near and accessible, crystallizing the gospel in the confession 'Jesus is Lord' and the belief that God raised him from the dead. The chapter develops the logic of mission: calling requires hearing, hearing requires preaching, and preaching requires sending.

The background behind it

Paul's use of Deuteronomy 30 employs a midrashic technique of creative reapplication—Moses spoke of Torah's accessibility, and Paul applies the same language to Christ. The confession 'Jesus is Lord' (kyrios Iēsous) was likely the earliest Christian creed, carrying profound implications in a Roman context where 'Caesar is Lord' (kyrios Kaisar) was a political loyalty oath.

Themes running underneath

Chapter 10 balances chapter 9's emphasis on divine sovereignty with human responsibility: Israel's failure is not merely divine hardening but their own pursuit of works-righteousness. The sending-preaching-hearing-believing-calling chain (10:14–15) provides the theological basis for Christian mission. Paul's citation of Isaiah 52:7 ('How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news') connects the gospel to Isaiah's vision of Israel's redemption, now universalized.

Why it still matters

The simplicity of Paul's gospel formula—confess with your mouth, believe in your heart—has shaped Christian soteriology for millennia. The missionary logic of 10:14–15 continues to motivate cross-cultural evangelism and raises questions about the church's responsibility to those who have not heard.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.