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 Word of Faith Brings Salvation

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have (A)a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about (B)God’s righteousness and (C)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For (D)Christ is the [a]end of the Law for righteousness to (E)everyone who believes.

For Moses writes of the righteousness that is [b]based on the Law, that the person who performs [c]them (F)will live by [d]them. But (G)the righteousness [e]based on faith speaks as follows: “(H)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the (I)abyss?’ (that is, to (J)bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “(K)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, [f]that (L)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (M)believe in your heart that (N)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [g]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [h]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “(O)Whoever believes in Him will not be [i]put to shame.” 12 For (P)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is (Q)Lord of (R)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “(S)Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him (T)whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without (U)a preacher? 15 But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “(V)How beautiful are the feet of those who [j](W)bring good news of good things!”

16 However, they (X)did not all heed the [k]good news; for Isaiah says, “(Y)Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from (Z)hearing, and hearing by (AA)the word [l]of Christ.

18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary:

(AB)Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the [m]world.”

19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,

(AC)I will (AD)make you jealous with those who are not a nation,
With a foolish nation I will anger you.”

20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,

(AE)I was found by those who did not seek Me,
I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”

21 But as for Israel, He says, “(AF)I have spread out My hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:4 Or goal
  2. Romans 10:5 Lit out of, from
  3. Romans 10:5 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  4. Romans 10:5 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  5. Romans 10:6 Lit out of, from
  6. Romans 10:9 Or because
  7. Romans 10:10 Lit to righteousness
  8. Romans 10:10 Lit to salvation
  9. Romans 10:11 Or disappointed
  10. Romans 10:15 Or preach the gospel
  11. Romans 10:16 Or gospel
  12. Romans 10:17 Or concerning Christ
  13. Romans 10:18 Or inhabited earth