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 Fraţilor, dorinţa inimii mele, rugăciunea mea către Dumnezeu pentru israeliţi, este ca ei să fie mântuiţi. Căci pot mărturisi despre ei că au râvnă pentru Dumnezeu, însă fără a fi întemeiată pe cunoaştere. Căci, întrucât n-au cunoscut dreptatea pe care o oferă Dumnezeu, au căutat să-şi stabilească o dreptate a lor înşişi şi nu s-au supus astfel dreptăţii pe care o oferă Dumnezeu. Căci Cristos este sfârşitul[a] Legii, pentru ca să existe o dreptate pentru oricine crede.

Mântuirea este pentru toţi cei care cred

Moise scrie despre dreptatea pe care o dă Legea, astfel: „Omul care împlineşte aceste lucruri va trăi prin ele.“[b] Însă dreptatea care vine prin credinţă spune aşa: „Să nu zici în inima ta: «Cine se va înălţa la cer?»“[c] – adică pentru a-L coborî pe Cristos – „sau: «Cine va coborî în Adânc[d]?»“[e] – adică pentru a-L ridica pe Cristos dintre cei morţi! Şi atunci, ce spune ea?

„Cuvântul este aproape de tine;
    este în gura ta şi în inima ta.“[f]

Acesta este cuvântul credinţei, cel pe care-l propovăduim. Dacă deci Îl mărturiseşti cu gura ta pe Isus ca Domn[g] şi crezi în inima ta că Dumnezeu L-a înviat din morţi, vei fi mântuit. 10 Căci prin credinţa din inimă se primeşte dreptatea şi prin mărturisirea cu gura se primeşte mântuirea; 11 întrucât Scriptura spune: „Oricine crede în El nu va fi făcut de ruşine.“[h] 12 Nu este nici o deosebire între iudeu şi grec, deoarece Acelaşi Domn este Domnul tuturor şi dă cu generozitate tuturor celor ce-L cheamă, 13 fiindcă „oricine va chema Numele Domnului va fi mântuit!“[i]

14 Aşadar, cum Îl vor chema pe Cel în Care n-au crezut? Şi cum vor crede în Cel despre Care n-au auzit? Şi cum vor auzi, fără ca cineva să le predice? 15 Şi cum să predice, dacă nu sunt trimişi? Aşa cum este scris: „Cât de frumoase sunt picioarele celor ce aduc veşti bune!“[j] 16 Însă nu toţi au acceptat veştile bune[k], pentru că Isaia spune: „Doamne, cine a crezut mesajul nostru?“[l] 17 Astfel, credinţa vine prin auzire, iar auzirea vine prin Cuvântul lui Cristos. 18 Însă eu întreb: n-au auzit ei? Ba da! Căci:

„Glasul lor a străbătut întreg pământul
    şi cuvintele lor au ajuns până la marginile lumii.“[m]

19 Însă eu întreb: oare n-a înţeles Israel? Mai întâi, Moise spune:

„Eu vă voi provoca la gelozie prin ceea ce nu este un neam;
    vă voi mânia printr-un neam fără pricepere.“[n]

20 Iar Isaia este atât de îndrăzneţ, încât spune:

„Am fost găsit de cei ce nu Mă căutau;
    M-am făcut cunoscut celor ce nu întrebau de Mine.“[o]

21 Însă, despre Israel, spune:

„Toată ziua Mi-am întins mâinile
    către un popor neascultător şi împotrivitor.“[p]

Footnotes

  1. Romani 10:4 Gr.: telos, care se traduce şi cu: scopul, împlinirea
  2. Romani 10:5 Vezi Lev. 18:5
  3. Romani 10:6 Vezi Deut. 30:12
  4. Romani 10:7 Lit.: Abis, loc de detenţie pentru duhurile rele şi pentru Satan; în LXX însă, termenul grecesc abyssos traduce ebraicul tehom (adânc, vezi Gen. 1:2; 7:11)
  5. Romani 10:7 Vezi Deut. 30:13
  6. Romani 10:8 Vezi Deut. 30:14
  7. Romani 10:9 Sau: ca Domnul; vezi v. 13; termenul grecesc pentru Domn (kurios) apare de peste 6000 de ori în LXX, traducându-l pe ebraicul YHWH (Domnul – vezi nota de la Ex. 3:14)
  8. Romani 10:11 Vezi Is. 28:16
  9. Romani 10:13 Vezi Ioel 2:32
  10. Romani 10:15 Vezi Is. 52:7; Naum 1:15
  11. Romani 10:16 Sau: Evanghelia
  12. Romani 10:16 Vezi Is. 53:2
  13. Romani 10:18 Vezi Ps. 19:4
  14. Romani 10:19 Vezi Deut. 32:21
  15. Romani 10:20 Vezi Is. 65:1
  16. Romani 10:21 Vezi 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