The Righteousness of God through Faith in Christ

10 Brothers, the desire of my heart and my prayer to God on behalf of them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For ignoring the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own,[a] they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: “The person who does this[b] will live by it.”[c][d] But the righteousness from faith speaks like this: “Do not say in your heart,[e] ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[f] (that is, to bring Christ down), or “Who will descend into the abyss?”[g] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart”[h] (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), that[i] if you confess with your mouth “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 one confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”[j] 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who is rich to all who call upon him. 13 For “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”[k]

14 How then will they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him about whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about him without one who preaches to them? 15 And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How timely are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.”[l] 16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”[m] 17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word about Christ.

18 But I say, they have not heard, have they?[n] On the contrary,

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
    and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”[o]

19 But I say, Israel did not know, did they?[p] First, Moses says,

“I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation;
    by a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.”[q]

20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,

“I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I became known to those who did not ask for me.”[r]

21 But about Israel he says,

“The whole day long I held out my hands
    to a disobedient and resistant people.”[s]

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:3 Some manuscripts have “their own righteousness”
  2. Romans 10:5 Some manuscripts explicitly state “these things
  3. Romans 10:5 A quotation from Lev 18:5
  4. Romans 10:5 Some manuscripts have “them”
  5. Romans 10:6 A quotation from Deut 9:4
  6. Romans 10:6 A quotation from Deut 30:12
  7. Romans 10:7 A quotation from Deut 30:13
  8. Romans 10:8 A quotation from Deut 30:14
  9. Romans 10:9 Or “because”
  10. Romans 10:11 A quotation from Isa 28:16
  11. Romans 10:13 A quotation from Joel 2:32
  12. Romans 10:15 A quotation from Isa 52:7; Nah 1:15
  13. Romans 10:16 A quotation from Isa 53:1
  14. Romans 10:18 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
  15. Romans 10:18 A quotation from Ps 19:4
  16. Romans 10:19 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
  17. Romans 10:19 A quotation from Deut 32:21
  18. Romans 10:20 A quotation from Isa 65:1
  19. Romans 10:21 A quotation from Isa 65:2

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.

Israel Needs the Gospel

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for [a]Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness (A)that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of (B)God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own (C)righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For (D)Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, (E)“The man who does those things shall live by them.” But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, (F)“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, (G)“ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? (H)“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that (I)if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, (J)“Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For (K)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for (L)the same Lord over all (M)is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For (N)“whoever calls (O)on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Israel Rejects the Gospel

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 (P)without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

(Q)“How beautiful are the feet of those who [b]preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, (R)Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

(S)“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”

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

(T)“I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a (U)foolish nation.”

20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:

(V)“I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

21 But to Israel he says:

(W)“All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:1 NU them
  2. Romans 10:15 NU omits preach the gospel of peace, Who