Righteousness by Faith Alone

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them[a] is for their salvation. I can testify about them that they have zeal for God,(A) but not according to knowledge. Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God(B) and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end[b] of the law for righteousness(C) to everyone who believes,(D) since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.[c](E) But the righteousness that comes from faith(F) speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?”[d](G) that is, to bring Christ down or, “Who will go down into the abyss?”[e](H) that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.(I) On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.[f](J) This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(K) and believe in your heart(L) that God raised him from the dead,(M) you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,[g](N) 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,(O) because the same Lord(P) of all(Q) richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[h](R)

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him?(S) And how can they hear without a preacher?(T) 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful[i] are the feet of those who bring good news.[j](U) 16 But not all obeyed the gospel.(V) For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?[k](W) 17 So faith comes from what is heard,(X) and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.[l](Y) 18 But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did:

Their voice has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.[m](Z)

19 But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said,

I will make you jealous
of those who are not a nation;(AA)
I will make you angry by a nation
that lacks understanding.[n](AB)

20 And Isaiah says boldly,

I was found
by those who were not looking for me;
I revealed myself
to those who were not asking for me.[o](AC)

21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.[p](AD)

Footnotes

  1. 10:1 Other mss read God for Israel
  2. 10:4 Or goal
  3. 10:5 Lv 18:5
  4. 10:6 Dt 9:4; 30:12
  5. 10:7 Dt 30:13
  6. 10:8 Dt 30:14
  7. 10:11 Is 28:16
  8. 10:13 Jl 2:32
  9. 10:15 Or welcome, or timely
  10. 10:15 Is 52:7; Nah 1:15
  11. 10:16 Is 53:1
  12. 10:17 Other mss read God
  13. 10:18 Ps 19:4
  14. 10:19 Dt 32:21
  15. 10:20 Is 65:1
  16. 10:21 Is 65:2

The Person who Believes will be Saved

10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God about the Jews[a] is that they would be saved. For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge. For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to God’s means to attain[b] righteousness. For the Messiah[c] is the culmination[d] of the Law as far as righteousness is concerned for everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law as follows: “The person who obeys these things will find life by them.”[e] But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (that is, to bring the Messiah[f] down), or ‘Who will go down into the depths?’ (that is, to bring the Messiah[g] back from the dead).”

But what does it say? “The message is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart.”[h] This is the message about faith that we are proclaiming: If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with his heart and is justified, and declares with his mouth and is saved. 11 The Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will never be ashamed.”[i] 12 There is no difference between Jew and Greek, because they all have the same Lord, who gives richly to all who call on him. 13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord[j] will be saved.”[k]

14 How, then, can people[l] call on someone they have not believed? And how can they believe in someone they have not heard about? And how can they hear without someone preaching? 15 And how can people[m] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are[n] those who bring the good news!”[o] 16 But not everyone has obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[p] 17 Consequently, faith results from listening, and listening results through the word of the Messiah.[q]

18 But I ask, “Didn’t they hear?” Certainly they did! In fact,

“Their voice has gone out into the whole world,
    and their words to the ends of the earth.”[r]

19 Again I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” Moses was the first to say,

“I will make you jealous
    by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry
    by a nation that doesn’t understand.”[s]

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who were not looking for me;
    I was revealed to those who were not asking for me.”[t]

21 But about Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and rebellious people.”[u]

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:1 Lit. on behalf of them
  2. Romans 10:3 The Gk. lacks means to attain
  3. Romans 10:4 Or Christ
  4. Romans 10:4 Or end
  5. Romans 10:5 Lev 18:5
  6. Romans 10:6 Or Christ
  7. Romans 10:7 Or Christ
  8. Romans 10:8 Cf. Deut 9:4; 30:12-14
  9. Romans 10:11 Isa 28:16
  10. Romans 10:13 MT source citation reads Lord
  11. Romans 10:13 Cf. Joel 2:32
  12. Romans 10:14 Lit. they
  13. Romans 10:15 Lit. they
  14. Romans 10:15 Lit. are the feet of
  15. Romans 10:15 Isa 52:7
  16. Romans 10:16 Isa 53:1
  17. Romans 10:17 Or Christ; other mss. read of God
  18. Romans 10:18 Cf. Ps 19:4
  19. Romans 10:19 Cf. Deut 32:21
  20. Romans 10:20 Cf. Isa 65:1
  21. Romans 10:21 Cf. Isa 65:2 (LXX)