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10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the fulfillment[a] of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’Deuteronomy 30:12 (that is, to bring Christ down); or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’Deuteronomy 30:13 (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;”Deuteronomy 30:14 that is, the word of faith which we preach: that 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. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”Isaiah 28:16

12 For 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. 13 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Joel 2:32 14 How 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? 15 And 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!”Isaiah 52:7

16 But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”Isaiah 53:1 17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But 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.”Psalm 19:4

19 But 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.”Deuteronomy 32:21

20 Isaiah 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.”Isaiah 65:1

21 But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”Isaiah 65:2

Footnotes

  1. 10:4 or, completion, or end

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