American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Romans 10
1
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Reference
Salvation
John 5:34
2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 21:20
Philippians 1:9
Proverbs 19:2
Philippians 3:6
Galatians 1:14
References God
Romans 10:3
2 Corinthians 4:4
3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.
Reference
4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
Reference
Faith
Galatians 3:24
Romans 3:22
Parallel theme
Hebrews 10:14
Colossians 2:10
References Christ
Colossians 2:17
Righteousness
Isaiah 53:11
1 Corinthians 1:30
Matthew 3:15
Word
John 1:17
5
For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 18:5
Ezekiel 20:13
Ezekiel 20:21
Ezekiel 20:11
Word
Nehemiah 9:29
Galatians 3:12
Romans 7:10
6
But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Reference
Faith
Hebrews 11:7
Romans 3:25
Romans 4:13
Romans 3:22
Philippians 3:9
Parallel theme
Proverbs 30:4
John 6:58
John 6:38
John 6:33
Hebrews 1:3
7
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:20
8
But what said it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Reference
Faith
1 Timothy 4:6
Romans 10:17
Galatians 3:2
Acts 10:43
Galatians 3:5
Acts 16:31
Parallel theme
Isaiah 57:19
Word
Deuteronomy 30:14
1 Peter 1:25
1 Peter 1:23
9
That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
Reference
Faith
1 Peter 1:21
Parallel theme
John 9:22
Acts 8:36
References God
Luke 12:8
Romans 14:11
References Jesus
Philippians 2:11
1 Corinthians 12:3
2 John 1:7
Resurrection
Romans 8:34
Salvation
Acts 16:31
10
For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
Reference
Faith
Galatians 2:16
Hebrews 10:22
Revelation 2:13
Philippians 3:9
Parallel theme
1 John 4:15
Luke 8:15
Hebrews 3:12
Salvation
Romans 10:9
12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich to all that call on him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Philippians 4:19
Romans 3:22
Galatians 3:28
Colossians 3:11
1 Timothy 2:5
Ephesians 3:6
References Lord
Revelation 17:14
Psalm 86:5
Psalm 145:18
Philippians 2:11
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?
Reference
Faith
Hebrews 11:6
John 20:31
James 5:15
Parallel theme
Titus 1:3
2 Timothy 4:17
Ephesians 4:21
Acts 8:31
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!
Reference
Good
Isaiah 61:1
Isaiah 40:9
Parallel theme
Ephesians 3:8
Jeremiah 23:32
1 Peter 1:12
Peace
Isaiah 52:7
Nahum 1:15
Ephesians 2:17
Ephesians 6:15
Isaiah 57:19
16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias said, Lord, who has believed our report?
Reference
Faith
Isaiah 53:1
Romans 3:3
Hebrews 4:2
Hebrews 11:8
Parallel theme
Hebrews 5:9
Romans 2:8
Romans 6:17
Galatians 5:7
1 Peter 2:8
References Lord
2 Thessalonians 1:8
17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Reference
Faith
Galatians 3:2
Galatians 3:5
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Romans 1:16
Romans 10:14
Parallel theme
Mark 4:24
Word
Colossians 3:16
Luke 11:28
Luke 8:21
Luke 8:11
18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes truly, their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Reference
19
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses said, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 32:21
Romans 11:11
Romans 11:14
Titus 3:3
1 Peter 2:10
1 Corinthians 1:12
20
But Esaias is very bold, and said, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest to them that asked not after me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 9:30
Isaiah 49:6
Luke 14:23
Isaiah 58:1
Isaiah 52:15
Proverbs 28:1
Matthew 20:16
Summary of Romans 10
Romans 10 explains that Paul deeply desires Israel to be saved, but he says that many Israelites have a strong desire to serve God without fully understanding the righteousness God provides through faith, causing them to seek their own righteousness instead of accepting God's way through Christ.
Paul explains that Christ is the fulfillment and goal of the Law, meaning that people do not need to accomplish some impossible task to bring salvation to themselves because God has already acted through Jesus' death and resurrection.
The message of salvation is therefore close and understandable: people are called to believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and openly confess Him as Lord, showing that genuine faith involves both trusting Christ inwardly and identifying with Him openly.
Paul then makes one of the chapter's most important points by saying that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile when it comes to salvation, because the same Lord is Lord over everyone and generously responds to everyone who calls on Him.
Because people cannot believe in someone they have never heard about, Paul explains why preaching and sharing the Gospel are so important, since faith normally begins when people hear the message about Christ and respond to it.
The chapter ends with a painful contrast: Israel heard God's message but did not respond to it as a whole, while people from other nations who were not originally seeking God began finding Him through faith, showing both God's generosity toward outsiders and Israel's continuing resistance.
Historical Context
Romans 10 was written around AD 56–58, during a period when the Christian movement was spreading rapidly through the Roman Empire.
Paul's concern for Israel needs to be understood in this setting because Christianity began within Judaism, Jesus was Jewish, the apostles were Jewish, and the first Christian believers were largely Jewish, yet Gentiles were increasingly joining the church.
This created an important question for early Christians: If salvation comes through Christ, what is the role of the Jewish Law and Israel's special place in God's promises?
Paul's answer is that the Law points toward Christ, while righteousness comes through faith rather than through trying to establish one's own righteousness by perfect obedience.
The statement about confessing Jesus as Lord also had special meaning in the Roman world, where the Roman emperor held enormous political and religious authority, so openly identifying Jesus as Lord could mark a person's loyalty to Christ above every other authority.
Paul's emphasis on hearing and preaching reflects how Christianity spread during the first century, when traveling missionaries, teachers, apostles, and local believers carried the message from one city to another.
The Roman Empire provided roads, sea routes, and connected cities that helped communication and travel, allowing the Christian message to move relatively quickly across large parts of the Mediterranean world.
Paul's quotations from Moses, Isaiah, and Joel also show that he believed the inclusion of Gentiles and the response of Israel were already connected to themes found in Israel's own Scriptures.
The central message of Romans 10 is that salvation is available to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of whether someone is Jewish or Gentile.
Paul does not criticize Israel for lacking religious interest, because he acknowledges that many had great zeal for God, but he explains that zeal must be guided by truth, because sincere devotion without understanding can still lead people away from God's plan.
Righteousness is therefore not something people build for themselves through religious achievement; it is something God provides through Christ and is received through faith.
The chapter also emphasizes the importance of sharing the Gospel, because people need to hear the message before they can believe it, and believers therefore have an important responsibility to carry that message to others.
Romans 10 ultimately presents a simple path: hear the message, believe in Christ, confess Him as Lord, and receive salvation, while also showing the tragedy of people who hear God's invitation but continue to reject it.
Paul explains that Christ is the fulfillment and goal of the Law, meaning that people do not need to accomplish some impossible task to bring salvation to themselves because God has already acted through Jesus' death and resurrection.
The message of salvation is therefore close and understandable: people are called to believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and openly confess Him as Lord, showing that genuine faith involves both trusting Christ inwardly and identifying with Him openly.
Paul then makes one of the chapter's most important points by saying that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile when it comes to salvation, because the same Lord is Lord over everyone and generously responds to everyone who calls on Him.
Because people cannot believe in someone they have never heard about, Paul explains why preaching and sharing the Gospel are so important, since faith normally begins when people hear the message about Christ and respond to it.
The chapter ends with a painful contrast: Israel heard God's message but did not respond to it as a whole, while people from other nations who were not originally seeking God began finding Him through faith, showing both God's generosity toward outsiders and Israel's continuing resistance.
Historical Context
Romans 10 was written around AD 56–58, during a period when the Christian movement was spreading rapidly through the Roman Empire.
Paul's concern for Israel needs to be understood in this setting because Christianity began within Judaism, Jesus was Jewish, the apostles were Jewish, and the first Christian believers were largely Jewish, yet Gentiles were increasingly joining the church.
This created an important question for early Christians: If salvation comes through Christ, what is the role of the Jewish Law and Israel's special place in God's promises?
Paul's answer is that the Law points toward Christ, while righteousness comes through faith rather than through trying to establish one's own righteousness by perfect obedience.
The statement about confessing Jesus as Lord also had special meaning in the Roman world, where the Roman emperor held enormous political and religious authority, so openly identifying Jesus as Lord could mark a person's loyalty to Christ above every other authority.
Paul's emphasis on hearing and preaching reflects how Christianity spread during the first century, when traveling missionaries, teachers, apostles, and local believers carried the message from one city to another.
The Roman Empire provided roads, sea routes, and connected cities that helped communication and travel, allowing the Christian message to move relatively quickly across large parts of the Mediterranean world.
Paul's quotations from Moses, Isaiah, and Joel also show that he believed the inclusion of Gentiles and the response of Israel were already connected to themes found in Israel's own Scriptures.
The central message of Romans 10 is that salvation is available to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of whether someone is Jewish or Gentile.
Paul does not criticize Israel for lacking religious interest, because he acknowledges that many had great zeal for God, but he explains that zeal must be guided by truth, because sincere devotion without understanding can still lead people away from God's plan.
Righteousness is therefore not something people build for themselves through religious achievement; it is something God provides through Christ and is received through faith.
The chapter also emphasizes the importance of sharing the Gospel, because people need to hear the message before they can believe it, and believers therefore have an important responsibility to carry that message to others.
Romans 10 ultimately presents a simple path: hear the message, believe in Christ, confess Him as Lord, and receive salvation, while also showing the tragedy of people who hear God's invitation but continue to reject it.