Romans 10:14

Commentary on Romans 10:14

Romans 10:14 (King James Version): “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?”

1. Concise Takeaway

Romans 10:14 teaches that God ordinarily brings people to saving faith through the proclamation of the gospel, and therefore the Church must be committed to faithful preaching, hearing, and sending. This verse exposes the essential link between the message of Christ and the salvation of sinners.

2. Exegetical Commentary

📖 The Flow of Paul’s Argument in Romans 10

Romans 10[i] is Paul’s sustained reflection on the righteousness that comes by faith. He contrasts human attempts at righteousness with the righteousness God freely gives in Jesus Christ. The chapter culminates in the universal offer of salvation:

Romans 10:13 (KJV): “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Verse 14 follows immediately, showing the necessary chain of events that leads to such calling.

🔍 Phrase-by-Phrase Exegesis

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”

Calling on the Lord (verse 13) presupposes faith. Paul assumes that saving faith is trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. One cannot call upon Christ for salvation without first believing that He is able and willing to save.

“And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”

Belief requires knowledge. The gospel is not intuitive; it must be heard. The wording in Greek suggests not merely hearing about Christ but hearing Christ Himself speaking through the proclamation of the gospel. This aligns with Paul’s teaching elsewhere:

Romans 10:17 (KJV): “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

“And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

The preacher is not merely a public speaker but a herald, one who announces a royal message. The emphasis is not on the preacher’s personality but on the necessity of proclamation. God has chosen to use human voices to carry His divine message.

This does not diminish God’s sovereignty; rather, it reveals His ordained means. The Christian tradition rightly insists that the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means by which God brings people to faith.

---

3. Theological Teaching

✝️ 1. The Necessity of the Gospel

Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. People cannot believe in a Christ they have never heard. This underscores the exclusivity of Christ and the necessity of gospel proclamation.

📣 2. The Centrality of Preaching

Preaching is not an optional ministry of the Church; it is essential. God uses preaching to awaken faith, convict of sin, and reveal Christ.

🌏 3. The Mission of the Church

Romans 10:14 implies a sending church (expanded in verse 15). The Church is called to be outward-looking, prayerfully and practically committed to mission.

🕊️ 4. The Sovereignty and Grace of God

Although God is sovereign in salvation, He uses means. The Spirit works through the Word, not apart from it. This guards against fatalism and energises evangelism.

---

4. Meditation Guide for Modern Christian Living

🧠 Reflect

• Do I truly appreciate that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ?
• Have I grown dull to the privilege of hearing the gospel preached?
• Do I see preaching as God’s appointed means of grace?

🙏 Pray

• Ask God to deepen your hunger for His Word.
• Pray for faithful preachers who proclaim Christ clearly and courageously.
• Pray for those who have never heard the gospel, that God would send workers into the harvest.

🏡 Live

• Prioritise sitting under faithful preaching each week.
• Support gospel ministry through prayer, encouragement, and generosity.
• Be ready to speak the gospel yourself; while not all are preachers, all are witnesses.

🌱 Apply

• Consider how you might help others hear the gospel: inviting someone to church, sharing Scripture, supporting missionaries, or teaching children.
• Examine whether your life reflects the urgency Paul expresses.
• Let the logic of Romans 10:14 shape your commitments: if people cannot believe without hearing, then Christians must speak.

---

[i] Romans 10

King James Version

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 But 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:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 But 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;

9 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.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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?

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!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19 But 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.

20 But 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.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.