Chapter 10
Author’s comment. These verse-by-verse notes are taken from Andrew Womack’s commentary (sometimes edited), John Wesley’s commentary (unedited), The Passion Translation notes, Seemuth Commentary notes, and personal thoughts. Translations are taken from biblegateway.com.
Verse 1.
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” See Ro. 9:3
“Brethren, with all my heart’s desire and goodwill for Israel, I long and pray to God that they may be saved.”
Wesley. He would not have prayed for this; had they been absolutely reprobated.
Seemuth. Paul must have felt it ironic that he, former greatest of the Pharisees, was sent to the non-Jews. He was deeply aware of the blindness that effected his soul before coming to Christ.
Zeal plus ignorance is a disaster. The Jews were ignorant of God’s righteousness but were zealous.
The Gentiles situation is captured in Ro. 1:18-32 where they spurned the knowledge of the law as seen in Creation and their conscience and behaved in abhorrent ways that demanded the wrath of God.
God is just in condemning Sinners, whether Jews or Gentiles, and providing salvation through the faithfulness of Jesus to all who believe. The just working of God that brings salvation through Christ’s perfect work in the Good News of salvation by faith.
Verse 2.
“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”
AMP. I bear them witness that they have a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to correct and vital knowledge.
Seemuth. Some believe it’s not necessary to believe the right thing–if people believe something. However, Paul says the Jews were without knowledge and were not saved. The Jews were zealous about their religion, but that wasn’t enough. It’s not enough to believe in something; we must believe the truth. Even the sincere can be sincerely wrong. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Wesley. They had zeal without knowledge; we have knowledge without zeal.
Verse 3.
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
AMP. “For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes, that makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed, and seeking to establish a righteousness or a means of salvation, of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God’s righteousness.
Womack. Most people are unaware that there are two kinds of righteousness. Only one is acceptable to God. Paul describes one form of righteousness (by works) (Philippians 3:9). Our acts of “holiness” are attempts to fulfill the commands of the Old Testament Law or any law. It’s an imperfect righteousness because our nature is imperfect and incapable of fulfilling the Law. Therefore, our righteousness, according to the Law, is inadequate. Isaiah said it this way in Isaiah 64:6, “All our righteousness is as filthy rags.” In contrast, God’s righteousness is perfect. Also, God’s righteousness is something we receive as a gift through faith in Christ. We can’t trust in our own righteousness and in God’s righteousness too. If we must earn God’s acceptance by our holy actions, we cannot be believing in God’s righteousness - a gift. We cannot mix the two. Righteousness is not what Jesus did for us plus anything. (Romans 11:6).
Wesley. For they being ignorant of the righteousness of God — Of the method God has established for the justification of a sinner. And seeking to establish their own righteousness — Their own method of acceptance with God. Have not submitted to the righteousness of God — The way of justification which he hath fixed.
Verse 4.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
AMP. “For Christ is the end of the Law - the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him - as the means of righteousness, right relationship to God, for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.
Wesley. For Christ is the end of the law — The scope and aim of it. It is the very design of the law, to bring men to believe in Christ for justification and salvation. And he alone gives that pardon and life which the law shows the want of but cannot give. To everyone — Whether Jew or gentile, treated of, Romans 10:11, etc. That believes — Treated of, Romans 10:5.
Seemuth. “End” implies 1) it implies fulfillment; 2) it implies termination; 3) it implies the goal of the law – or any combination of the three.
Jesus perfectly maintains the standard of the law. Therefore, He fulfilled it. Jesus terminates the relationship of the believer with the law. This is seen in Ro. 7: 1-6; 6:14. Lastly, the goal of the law is the perfection that is found only in Jesus Christ. Christ maintained the law with perfect obedience and received glory, honor, and immortality.
Womack. The Greek word translated “end” is “TELOS,” and it means “the point aimed at as a limit; the conclusion of an act or termination.” This doesn’t say that Christ is the end of the Law but rather that Christ is the end of the Law for the purpose of righteousness. People no longer become righteous, or justified in the sight of God, by how well they perform the deeds of the Law or any law. However, the Law still has useful purposes for New Testament believers. The Old Testament Law still reveals to us God’s holiness, which we should seek to emulate. It must be understood, however, that our failure to comply does not bring the punishments pronounced in the Law since Jesus bore those for us (Galatians 3:13). Our compliance does not earn the blessings of God either; those only come by faith in Christ (Romans 4:8-13). We also need to know the Old Testament so that we better understand our New Covenant and God’s historical dealings with mankind. Also, Paul said to Timothy, “But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully” (1 Timothy 1:8). He then said that the Law was not made for a righteous person (i.e., a Christian, 2 Corinthians 5:21) but for an unbeliever (1 Timothy 1:9-10). So, a Christian can still use the Law when ministering to unbelievers to show them their sin and their need for a savior. As Christians, we should not discard the Old Testament Law. When understood in the light of the New Covenant, the Old Covenant provides us with invaluable revelation of God. Paul stressed that people seeking to be justified through the keeping the Old Testament Law is over. Now, people must put their faith in Christ, and Christ alone, for salvation. Someone might ask, “Was anyone ever justified by the keeping of the Law?” The answer is yes. One person did become righteous through His keeping of the Old Testament Law. That person was Jesus. One of the reasons the Old Testament Law was given was so that Jesus could legally earn man’s redemption. Now that the purchase has been completed, that function of the Law is over.
The phrase “to everyone who believes” limits this benefit to believers (Christians). To those who do not receive God’s gift of salvation, the Law is still in effect. Those who fail to believe on Jesus will answer to God for every one of their transgressions of the Law.
Verse 5.
“For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
AMP. “For Moses writes that the man who can practice the righteousness (perfect conformity to God’s will) which is based on the Law with all its intricate demands shall live by it.
Wesley. For Moses describes the only righteousness, which is attainable by the law, when he saith, the man who doeth these things shall live by them - that is, he that perfectly keeps all these precepts in every point, he alone may claim life and salvation by them. But this way of justification is impossible to any who have ever transgressed any one law in any point. Leviticus 18:5
Womack. In Romans 10:5-9, Paul contrasted seeking the righteousness of God through the Law and seeking the righteousness of God as a gift. Those who seek to earn righteousness through keeping the Law are consumed with “doing” (this verse), while those who receive righteousness by faith are simply confessing what has already been done (Romans 10:9). This is a simple yet profound difference. If we are still “doing” acts of holiness to get God to move in our lives, then we are still operating under a “Law” mentality - not faith (Galatians 3:12). When we believe and confess what has been provided through Christ, that’s grace. Those living under the Law and living under grace may do similar deeds, but their motivations are different. Legalists focus on what they do, while those living by faith focus on what Christ has done. For instance, we are to confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts and we will receive from God (Romans 10:9-10 and Mark 11:23-24). Legalists think that means they can get God to heal them by confessing that by His stripes, they are healed. However, those who understand God’s grace will not confess the Word to get healed. They will confess that by His stripes, they are healed, because they really believe it has already been done. If the motive for our actions is to be accepted by God, then that’s legalism. If we live holy out of faith and gratefulness for what God has already done, then that’s grace.
The Greek translated “live” is “ZAO,” and it means “to live.” However, that definition doesn’t convey Paul’s meaning in quoting Leviticus 18:5. Paul contrasted the effort to keep the Old Testament Law with the New Testament faith in Christ. The observance of the Old Testament Law for producing righteousness is inferior to the New Testament method of obtaining righteousness by putting faith in Jesus as our Savior. Moses illustrates the harshness of living by the Old Testament Law. Paul quoted this same Old Testament passage in Galatians 3:12, and so did Nehemiah in Nehemiah 9:29. In each case, the context reveals that this verse speaks of the negative effects of living by the Law. The word “live” means “to continue to be alive.” Leviticus 18:5 is therefore saying that once people try to fulfill the Law to earn righteousness, they will have to subsist, or continue to be alive, by their ongoing adherence to keeping that, Law. In other words, once they decide to “earn” right standing with God, then God is going to give them what they deserve.
We can’t earn righteousness. We don’t need justice. We need mercy! That’s what the Leviticus scripture is saying. Trying to achieve righteousness by keeping the Law doesn’t bring peace, because it puts the burden of salvation on our shoulder. In contrast, salvation by grace through faith places the burden on Jesus and allows us to walk freely.
Verse 6.
“But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ - that is, to bring Christ down from above.”
AMP. “But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, do not say in your heart, who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down.”
Wesley, But the righteousness which is by faith — The method of becoming righteous by believing. Speak a very different language, and may be considered as expressing itself thus: (to accommodate to our present subject the words which Moses spoke, touching the plainness of his law:) Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven, as if it were to bring Christ down: or, Who shall descend into the grave, as if it were to bring him again from the dead - Do not imagine that these things are to be done now, in order to procure thy pardon and salvation. Deuteronomy 30:14.
Womack. Failure to understand justification by grace denies Christ’s substitutionary work for us. Christ is in heaven, making intercession for man (Romans 8:34).
Likewise, a belief that we must bear the punishment for our sins is like denying that Christ’s death was sufficient by itself. If we are to be punished for our sins, then Christ might as well not have died for us. All of this is continuing what Paul began in Romans 10:5, contrasting doing the Old Testament Law and the believing of the New Testament grace. The Law mentality puts us under an unbearable load of performance to obtain righteousness; faith just receives the righteousness that has already been provided through Christ.
Seemuth. Paul quotes from Dt. 30:12-14. The original context of the quotation shows that the commandment and the law are near to us. Yet, here in Romans, Christ is the answer to the questions: He is near us and is the perfection of the law. So, it’s not necessary to strive to keep the law since fulfilment of the law is so close to you. The incarnate, resurrected Christ is the answer to the question on who to pursue God.
Verse 7. “Or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
AMP. “Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead, as if we could be saved by our own efforts.
TPT. Romans 10: 6-7. “But we receive the faith-righteousness that speaks an entirely different message: ‘don’t for a moment think you need to climb into the heavens to find the Messiah and bring him down, or to descend into the underworld to bring him up from the dead.”
Womack. Jesus went to hell for us (Ephesians 4:9) so that we don’t have to. But in effect, those who believe they still must suffer punishment from God for their sins–even after they are born again–are denying that Jesus has already suffered for them. In a sense, they are descending into hell and suffering for their sins, and that negates what Jesus did. Jesus paid it all so that we don’t have to pay any at all.
Verse 8-10.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”- that is, the word of faith which we preach. That 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. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
AMP. But what does it say? The Word - God’s message in Christ - is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word, the message, the basis and object, of faith which we preach. Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and, in your heart, believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms his salvation.
Seemuth. The Lord Jesus came down from heaven, so we need not strive to bring Him down. He was raised from the dead, so we do not need to bring Him up out of the abyss. He fulfills every requirement of God.
Wesley. But what saith he — Moses. Even these words, so remarkably applicable to the subject before us. All is done ready to thy hand. The word is nigh thee — Within thy reach; easy to be understood, remembered, practiced. This is eminently true of the word of faith - The gospel. Which we preach — The sum of which is, if thy heart believes in Christ, and thy life confess him, thou shalt be saved. If thou confess with thy mouth — Even in time of persecution, when such a confession may send thee to the lions. For with the heart — Not the understanding only. Man, believeth to righteousness — So as to obtain justification. And with the mouth confession is made — So as to obtain final salvation. Confession here implies the whole of outward, as believing does the root of all inward, religion.
Womack. This applies to more than our initial salvation; everything we receive from the Lord comes this same way (Colossians 2:6). We don’t have to ascend into heaven (Romans 10:6) or go down to the depths (Romans 10:7) to get our needs met. It’s not by our effort. Jesus purchased for us everything we will ever need. All we do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths (Romans 10:9). It’s that simple and easy.
But sadly, we may look at what we don’t have and think that it is too hard to get to where we need to go. It’s a done deal. The Lord has provided everything we need to do our work. We don’t have to do it. We rest in what He has already done.
In Romans 10:6-8, Paul quoted Moses in Deuteronomy 30:11-14. Paul added, “that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” That provides us with a commentary on Moses’s statements.
Remember that Paul has contrasted two types of righteousness. The righteousness of the Law binds a person up in “doing,” while the righteousness of faith receives what Christ has already done. This verse stresses the simplicity of receiving righteousness by faith, as opposed to the bondage of trying to produce our own righteousness that is by the Law (Philippians 3:9). Considering other scriptures, some explanation needs to be given. Paul is not saying that anyone who says the words, “Jesus is Lord,” and believes that He rose from the dead is born again. The Greek word “HOMOLOGEO,” translated “confess,” means more than saying words. It literally means “to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge” (Strong’s Concordance). By looking at Jesus’ statement in Luke 6:46, a true confession of Jesus as Lord is heartfelt enough to involve a person’s actions. This confession of Jesus as Lord is a declaration of faith in Jesus as God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). A Jesus who is less than God could not provide salvation for the whole human race. Therefore, this verse promises those who believe in Jesus (to the extent that they have changed lives) and who confess Him as Lord (God) with their mouths, salvation.
For salvation to transpire, there must be confession with the mouth and belief from the heart. People tend to major on one or the other of these requirements, but that fails to obtain the desired results. Confession is scriptural, but it is a result of faith in the heart. Only when people have already believed with their hearts will confession release the power of God. Confession without sincere belief in the heart is dead works (Hebrews 9:14). Likewise, faith without works is dead (James 2:17). When people believe in their hearts, they will speak what they believe (Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45). Failure to properly combine these two truths has caused some people to fail in their attempts to receive from God and reject “faith teaching” or “confession teaching.” However, if one of these truths was presented without the proper emphasis on the other, then it wasn’t scriptural teaching.
Verse 11.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
TPT. “For the scriptures encourage us with these words: everyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.” Is. 28:16
Womack. Is. 28:16 was quoted in Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:6.
The Isaiah passage says those who believe on the Lord “shall not make haste,” while Peter said, “shall not be confounded.”
The emphasis here, as well as in Romans 10:13, is on the word “whosoever.” In the first chapter of Romans, Paul made the point that Gentiles did not have to become Jews to be saved (Romans 1:16). He developed that truth throughout this epistle and declared it once again.
Seemuth. In Paul’s version of 28:16, he equates “not be put to shame.” With righteousness by faith, one believes with the heart, thus, righteousness ensures when the heart believes in Christ. The statement “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” is drawn from Joel 2:32. This shows the place of confession of the mouth. The apostle is not providing a formula. Complete righteousness is guaranteed by true belief and confession That satisfies the righteous demands of God.
Verse 12.
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.”
Wesley. The same Lord of all is rich — So that his blessings are never to be exhausted, nor is he ever constrained to hold his hand. The great truth proposed in Romans 10:11 is so repeated here, and in Romans 10:13, and farther confirmed, Romans 10:14-15, as not only to imply, that "whosoever calleth upon him shall be saved;" but also that the will of God is, that all should savingly call upon him.
Womack. The differences between Jew and Gentile don’t mean much to Christians today. Many church people may agree with this verse. However, Paul spoke of more than racial differences. He is saying that there is no difference between moral and immoral people, different ethnic groups, etc. There is no difference in God’s sight between religious and nonreligious people. All are sinners and all need the Savior. This point aggravates religious people today as much as it did in Paul’s day.
Verse 13.
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
“Whoever” calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. “Whosoever” means anyone can be saved. All they must do is believe (Romans 5:2).
Paul quoted from Joel 2:32. Paul interchanged the word “saved” for the word “delivered” that Joel used. There is no contradiction. Salvation includes deliverance.
Verse 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?
Womack.
Paul proved that salvation was according to people’s acceptance of God’s grace by faith in Christ Jesus and not according to their performance to keep the Law or law. The Gospel must be heard to release its power (Romans 1:16).
Romans 10:14-15 shows several things that must happen for people to be born again. Individuals must believe in Jesus. Therefore, ministers must share the Gospel with them. But for that to happen, others must send ministers to the uttermost parts of the earth. So, there are three areas of responsibility for salvation: individuals must believe in Jesus, ministers must preach Jesus, and others must send ministers to preach Jesus.
Satan works in all three areas to stop people from receiving God’s gift of salvation. He hardens people’s hearts through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13) to the point that the Gospel will not penetrate their hearts. If people are faithful to the two other responsibilities, salvation still will not occur if the individuals reject the good news. Yet many times, people are hungry and ripe for salvation, and still there is no one to share the good news with them. If Satan can stop people from preaching the Gospel through a lack of preachers or a lack of people who will send them, then he can stop people from being saved. As Christians, we cannot take responsibility for people’s reactions to the Gospel, but we must take the responsibility of preaching the Gospel and giving so that others can preach the Gospel.
Seemuth. 10: 14-21 parallels 1:18-32. Here, Israel knew through the prophets that Jesus would come. They knew of God’s plan to save sinners through Messiah but rejected that plan.
Verse 15.
“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Wesley. But how shall they preach, unless they be sent — Thus by a chain of reasoning, from God’s will that the gentiles also should "call upon him," St. Paul infers that the apostles were sent by God to preach to the gentiles also. The feet — Their very footsteps; their coming. Isaiah 52:7.
Womack. Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7.
Two hundred of David’s men who were too weak to go to battle stayed with the supplies, but David shared the spoils of victory between them and the fighters equally (1 Samuel 30:21-25). Likewise, those who preach of the Gospel through giving will share equally with those who delivered the message.
When people understand that preaching the Gospel is as important a part of salvation as the hearer accepting the message, they will rejoice with Isaiah about the beauty of those who share good news.
Verse 16.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” See Is. 53:1
AMP. “But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?
Womack. An anointed messenger with an anointed message is not always well received. This quotation from Isaiah shows that not everyone received his message about the coming Messiah. The same thing was true of other prophets the Lord sent to Israel, including Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and even Jesus.
Verse 17.
“So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
AMP. “So, faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah.
Womack. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word because God’s Word is His faith. People cannot be born again through human faith. They must have God’s supernatural faith to receive God’s supernatural gift of salvation. The only place to obtain God’s kind of faith is from God’s Word. Therefore, we cannot compromise God’s Word. It must be proclaimed boldly to make God’s faith available to those who choose to believe.
This verse says faith comes by “hearing,” not by “having heard.” People cannot rest on revelation they received from God years ago, unless they still hear the Lord speak those truths to them now. The Lord doesn’t fail to speak; we fail to hear. We keep our faith in the present tense if we open our spiritual ears to hear what God’s Word says (Proverbs 4:20-22).
Verse 18.
“But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”
AMP. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed, they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.
Womack. Romans 10:16: Not everyone receives the Gospel. Then, Romans 10:17 shows that people can’t believe without hearing God’s Word. This verse shows that everyone has heard. How can that be?
Not everyone has heard a man or woman preach the Gospel, but everyone has heard the witness of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Regardless of what someone might claim, they know in their heart that there is only one God.
Wesley. But their unbelief was not owing to the want of hearing for they have heard. Yes verily - So many nations have already heard the preachers of the gospel, that I may in some sense say of them as David did of the lights of heaven. Psalms 29:4
Verse 19.
“But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
Womack. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21. What did Israel know? Israel knew the Gospel of salvation by faith, which Paul expounded on in this epistle. This truth was revealed in the Old Testament through the prophecies predicting the Gentiles becoming God’s people. If God was to embrace nationalities that didn’t adhere to the rites and ceremonies that were delivered to the Jewish people, then these things were not prerequisites to salvation.
Paul quoted a prophecy from Moses and two additional passages from Isaiah to verify that this truth was revealed in the Old Testament. The truth was there, but the Jewish hearts had become so hardened through legalism that they couldn’t perceive this truth.
Verse 20.
But Isaiah is very bold and says: I was found by those who did not seek Me.
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
This is a quotation from Isaiah 65:1. The Isaiah passage adds “I said, behold me, behold me unto a nation that was not called by my name.”
Wesley. But Isaiah is very bold — And speaks plainly what Moses but intimated. Isaiah 65:1-2.
Verse 21.
But to Israel he says: All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
This is a quotation from Isaiah 65:2. The Isaiah passage used the term “rebellious,” translated “disobedient and gainsaying” here. The Houghton Mifflin American Heritage Electronic Dictionary defines “gainsaying” as “to contradict, deny.”
Wesley. An unbelieving and gainsaying people — Just opposite to those who believed with their hearts and made confession with their mouths.