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10 Brothers and sisters,[a] my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites[b] is for their salvation. For I can testify that they are zealous for God,[c] but their zeal is not in line with the truth.[d] For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”[e] But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart,[f]Who will ascend into heaven?’”[g] (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?[h] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart[i] (that is, the word of faith that we preach), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord[j] and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness[k] and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.[l] 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”[m] 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[n]

14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?[o] 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely[p] is the arrival[q] of those who proclaim the good news.”[r] 16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”[s] 17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word[t] of Christ.[u]

18 But I ask, have they[v] not heard?[w] Yes, they have:[x] Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.[y] 19 But again I ask, didn’t Israel understand?[z] First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.”[aa] 20 And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me.”[ab] 21 But about Israel he says, “All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people![ac]

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:13.
  2. Romans 10:1 tn Grk “on behalf of them”; the referent (Paul’s fellow Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. Romans 10:2 tn Grk “they have a zeal for God.”
  4. Romans 10:2 tn Grk “in accord with knowledge.” sn Their zeal is not in line with the truth means that the Jews’ passion for God was strong, but it ignored the true righteousness of God (v. 3; cf. also 3:21).
  5. Romans 10:5 sn A quotation from Lev 18:5.
  6. Romans 10:6 sn A quotation from Deut 9:4.
  7. Romans 10:6 sn A quotation from Deut 30:12.
  8. Romans 10:7 sn A quotation from Deut 30:13.
  9. Romans 10:8 sn A quotation from Deut 30:14.
  10. Romans 10:9 tn Or “the Lord.” The Greek construction, along with the quotation from Joel 2:32 in v. 13 (in which the same “Lord” seems to be in view) suggests that κύριον (kurion) is to be taken as “the Lord,” that is, Yahweh. Cf. D. B. Wallace, “The Semantics and Exegetical Significance of the Object-Complement Construction in the New Testament,” GTJ 6 (1985): 91-112.
  11. Romans 10:10 tn Grk “believes to righteousness.”
  12. Romans 10:10 tn Grk “confesses to salvation.”
  13. Romans 10:11 sn A quotation from Isa 28:16.
  14. Romans 10:13 sn A quotation from Joel 2:32.
  15. Romans 10:14 tn Grk “preaching”; the words “to them” are supplied for clarification.
  16. Romans 10:15 tn The word in this context seems to mean “coming at the right or opportune time” (see BDAG 1103 s.v. ὡραῖος 1); it may also mean “beautiful, attractive, welcome.”
  17. Romans 10:15 tn Grk “the feet.” The metaphorical nuance of “beautiful feet” is that such represent timely news.
  18. Romans 10:15 sn A quotation from Isa 52:7; Nah 1:15.
  19. Romans 10:16 sn A quotation from Isa 53:1.
  20. Romans 10:17 tn The Greek term here is ῥῆμα (rhēma), which often (but not exclusively) focuses on the spoken word.
  21. Romans 10:17 tc Most mss (א1 A D1 Ψ 33 1175 1241 1505 1881 2464 M sy) have θεοῦ (theou) here rather than Χριστοῦ (Christou; found in א* B C D* 6 81 629 1506 1739 lat co). Although the Nestle-Aland apparatus includes P46vid for this reading, more recent photographs by CSNTM reveal it to be κυρίου (“Lord”), a singular reading. External evidence strongly favors the reading “Christ” here. Internal evidence is also on its side, for the expression ῥῆμα Χριστοῦ (rhēma Christou) occurs nowhere else in the NT; thus scribes would be prone to change it to a known expression.tn The genitive could be understood as either subjective (“Christ does the speaking”) or objective (“Christ is spoken about”), but the latter is more likely here.
  22. Romans 10:18 tn That is, Israel (see the following verse).
  23. Romans 10:18 tn Grk “they have not ‘not heard,’ have they?” This question is difficult to render in English. The basic question is a negative sentence (“Have they not heard?”), but it is preceded by the particle μή () which expects a negative response. The end result in English is a double negative (“They have not ‘not heard,’ have they?”). This has been changed to a positive question in the translation for clarity. See BDAG 646 s.v. μή 3.a.; D. Moo, Romans (NICNT), 666, fn. 32; and C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans (ICC), 537, for discussion.
  24. Romans 10:18 tn Here the particle μενοῦνγε (menounge) is correcting the negative response expected by the particle μή () in the preceding question. Since the question has been translated positively, the translation was changed here to reflect that rendering.
  25. Romans 10:18 sn A quotation from Ps 19:4.
  26. Romans 10:19 tn Grk “Israel did not ‘not know,’ did he?” The double negative in Greek has been translated as a positive affirmation for clarity (see v. 18 above for a similar situation).
  27. Romans 10:19 sn A quotation from Deut 32:21.
  28. Romans 10:20 sn A quotation from Isa 65:1.
  29. Romans 10:21 sn A quotation from Isa 65:2.

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

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire(A) and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous(B) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(C) Christ is the culmination of the law(D) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.(E)

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[a](F) But the righteousness that is by faith(G) says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[b](H) (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[c](I) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).(J) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d](K) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare(L) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(M) and believe(N) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,(O) you will be saved.(P) 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e](Q) 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile(R)—the same Lord is Lord of all(S) and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord(T) will be saved.”[f](U)

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[g](V)

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.(W) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[h](X) 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,(Y) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.(Z) 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.”[i](AA)

19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious(AB) by those who are not a nation;
    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[j](AC)

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”[k](AD)

21 But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”[l](AE)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:5 Lev. 18:5
  2. Romans 10:6 Deut. 30:12
  3. Romans 10:7 Deut. 30:13
  4. Romans 10:8 Deut. 30:14
  5. Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16 (see Septuagint)
  6. Romans 10:13 Joel 2:32
  7. Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7
  8. Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1
  9. Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:4
  10. Romans 10:19 Deut. 32:21
  11. Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1
  12. Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.(A) Not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.(B) For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.(C)

Salvation Is for All

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”(D) But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?

“The word is near you,
    in your mouth and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),(E) because[a] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe[b] in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(F) 10 For one believes[c] with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes[d] in him will be put to shame.”(G) 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.(H) 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”(I)

14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?[e] And how are they to believe[f] in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”(J) 16 But not all have obeyed the good news,[g] for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed[h] our message?”(K) 17 So faith[i] comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.[j]

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have:

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth
    and their words to the ends of the world.”(L)

19 Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will use those who are not a nation to make you jealous;
    with a foolish nation I will provoke you.”(M)

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
    I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”(N)

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”(O)

Footnotes

  1. 10.9 Or namely, that
  2. 10.9 Or trust
  3. 10.10 Or trusts
  4. 10.11 Or trusts
  5. 10.14 Or trusted
  6. 10.14 Or trust
  7. 10.16 Or gospel
  8. 10.16 Or trusted
  9. 10.17 Or trust
  10. 10.17 Or about Christ; other ancient authorities read of God

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

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

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.

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

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

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:)

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

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;

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

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

12 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 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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

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

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