Romans · chapter 10 of 16
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Romans 10 explains why Israel did not attain righteousness: they had zeal for God but without knowledge, and sought to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God's. Paul announces that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, that whoever confesses Jesus as Lord and believes in the heart that God raised him will be saved, and that faith comes by hearing the message of Christ, so someone must preach it.
Romans 9 emphasized God's sovereignty in election. Chapter 10 completes the picture with human responsibility and the universal reach of the gospel. Paul again expresses his desire for the salvation of Israel and shows that God's righteousness is within reach of Jews and Gentiles who believe.
Paul declares that his heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they be saved. He bears witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge, for being ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Moses describes the righteousness of the law: the one who does these things will live by them. But the righteousness of faith says there is no need to ascend to heaven to bring Christ down or descend into the deep to bring him up, for the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart; that is the word of faith that is preached. 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. With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Scripture says that everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. 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; for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul then poses a chain of questions: how can they call on one they have not believed in, believe without hearing, hear without a preacher, or preach unless sent? He quotes Isaiah about the beautiful feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel, and faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Finally he asks whether Israel has not heard, and answers that they did hear. He quotes Moses and Isaiah: God will make Israel jealous by those who are not a nation and will be found by those who did not seek him. But of Israel he says: all day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Interpreters understand end as both goal and termination: Christ is the one to whom the law pointed and the one who ends the attempt to earn righteousness by works.
Whoever confesses with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in the heart that God raised him from the dead will be saved. Confession and faith go together: acknowledging Jesus' lordship and trusting in his resurrection.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Paul quotes the prophet Joel and applies the name of the Lord to Jesus, stressing that the promise is open to all, with no distinction of background.
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Faith is not manufactured by effort but is born when the message of Christ is heard, which is why it matters to proclaim it clearly.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: That they may be saved. — Romans 10:1
Answer: It was zeal without knowledge: they sought to establish their own righteousness and did not submit to God's. — Romans 10:2-3
Answer: The end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. — Romans 10:4
Answer: Confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead. — Romans 10:9-10
Answer: Everyone, with no distinction between Jew and Greek. — Romans 10:12-13
Answer: From hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. — Romans 10:17
Romans 10 reminds us that it is possible to be religious and mistaken: Israel had zeal but not knowledge. In a small group you can ask whether our faith rests on what Christ did or, without our noticing, on what we do to deserve God.
The chapter also speaks of mission. If faith comes by hearing, someone has to speak. Sunday school, a conversation with a neighbor or support for missionaries are part of that chain. The feet that carry good news are beautiful, and all of us can be part of that message.
Romans 10 shows that salvation is within reach of everyone who believes and that Israel has no excuse. But Paul must answer a logical question: has God rejected his people? In Romans 11 he answers no and explains God's plan for Israel and for the Gentiles.
The Greek word can mean termination or goal. Many understand it to mean both: Christ is the goal to which the law pointed and the end of the law as a way to earn righteousness. It does not mean the law is bad but that it is no longer the means to attain righteousness before God.
No. Paul joins confession with heart faith: it is not about repeating a phrase as a rite but about genuinely acknowledging Jesus as Lord and trusting that God raised him. Public confession is the natural expression of that inner faith.
Paul quotes Joel 2:32, where the Lord is God, and applies it to Jesus. This shows that the New Testament recognizes Jesus as the Lord on whom we call to be saved, with no distinction between Jews and Gentiles.