Romans 10 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Romans 10

10:1 Brothers,¹ my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.²

The Message of Salvation to All

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 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); 9 because, if you 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 and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?³ And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

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

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

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

“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

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.”

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

Footnotes

[1] 10:1 Or Brothers and sisters
[2] 10:4 Or end of the law, that everyone who believes may be justified
[3] 10:14 Or him whom they have never heard

Commentary

v1: Paul's desire and prayer; not inconsistent with belief in God's election; and follows his heart cry of 9.1-3. This chapter teaches that the doctrines of election and predestination are not to be an excuse for inaction.

v2-4: The Jewish problem was reflected in Paul's own experience. Their wrong knowledge of God led to their working to establish their own righteousness, and working zealously to that end, 9.30-33. The alternative is to find the righteousness of God by faith in Christ. These two alternatives are exclusive, Gal 5.2-4.

The only way of salvation is Paul's day; through faith in Christ; and that has not changed. The Jew has to lay aside his dependence on works, and on animal sacrifices, and on his genealogical link to Abraham; and to simply trust in Christ. For Christ fulfils the law for all who believe.

To establish one's own righteousness is to do with works and pride; hence there is a need to submit to God's righteousness.

v5-13: The truth of faith in Christ; there in the OT for the Jew to find.

v5: Obedience to the law, according to "Moses" was rewarded by life on earth, not eternal life. Whilst it is good to obey the law, it cannot be the way of eternal salvation; Matt 19.17; Luke 10.28.

v6-8: The word bringing faith, not hidden, but near; God is ready and willing to save; Acts 17.27. This is the day of opportunity to be saved.

v9: The promises of God to Jew and Gentile, for "there is no difference" (3.22), as in v12 also. Faith is therefore the only fair way, for that favours all equally. The responsibility is also upon all; for unbelief, being rejection, brings judgment.

The crux of the matter; "Jesus is Lord;" see Acts 16.31. To accept that Jesus Christ is Lord, implying His deity, and accepting His resurrection is, here, sufficient for salvation. These key truths are proclaimed in the book of Acts. On the one hand, we cannot water them down, and on the other we cannot add extra doctrines as essential.

v10: Belief in heart and confession with mouth. Through confession, we declare the reality of the heart.

v11: We believe in Him; we give total dependence, and we are not disappointed.

v12: In the 'Church Age,' Jew and Gentile are treated alike.

v13: The offer to anyone. This verse, central to chapters 9-11, puts the difficult issues into the right context. The truth is clear that only through faith in Jesus Christ is there salvation.

v14-17: The preaching of the word, the means by which the gospel is proclaimed.

v14: How then can people hear the good news? The conclusion is "preaching." Notice also that we call on the One in whom we have believed; our future prayers are also directed to our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

v15: The 'beautiful feet' of the evangelist.

v16: We note that not all Jews believed, or "accepted (obeyed) the good news." The message demands repentance and faith.

v17: Faith comes through the word of Christ, the message that is about Him.

v18: The testimony of God throughout the earth. Thus Gentiles may also receive the blessings of God. This issue was important in the early church, as Gentiles came to believe in the message as well as Jews.

v19-20: Indeed, God uses the conversion of Gentiles to stir up the Jews. This theme is developed in chapter 11.

v21: Israel is described as a "disobedient and obstinate people;" see Matt 23.35, where the Lord's desire is to gather such to Himself.

His hands are stretched out, in spite of Israel being undeserving. Israel remains a special people inasmuch as there remain promises to be fulfilled.