Chapter 10
21 verses — switch translations with the toolbar below.
Scripture
KJV1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6But 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:)
7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8But 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;
9That 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.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14How 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?
15And 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!
16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19But 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.
20But 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.
21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
“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.”
Overview
Paul continues his burden for Israel, testifying that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge, seeking to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting to the righteousness of God. He declares that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes, and that salvation is near — in the mouth and in the heart — for whoever confesses Jesus as Lord and believes God raised Him from the dead shall be saved. He then traces the chain of proclamation: faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Key Themes
Christ, the End of the Law
Christ is the goal and fulfillment of the law for righteousness, so that anyone who believes is declared righteous apart from the law's demands.
The Simplicity of Saving Faith
Salvation is not a distant achievement — if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved.
The Necessity of Preaching the Gospel
Faith comes by hearing the word of God, and hearing requires a preacher who is sent — establishing the chain of missions: sending, preaching, hearing, believing.
Study Questions
How is it possible to have 'a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge' (v. 2), and do you see this tendency today?
What does it mean that 'Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth' (v. 4)?
How does the simplicity of confessing and believing (vv. 9-10) challenge those who make salvation about human effort or achievement?
What is the significance of Paul's chain — sending, preaching, hearing, believing, calling (vv. 14-15) — for the mission of the church?
How does the statement 'faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (v. 17) shape your approach to personal Bible study and evangelism?
Connection to Christ
Christ is declared to be the end — the goal, the fulfillment — of the law for all who believe. The word of faith that saves is the confession that Jesus is Lord and the belief that God raised Him from the dead. Every act of gospel preaching carries the name and person of Jesus Christ to those who need to hear.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Romans 10. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?