Romans Chapter 10 Breakdown

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

Paul prays for and desires Israel will be saved. This coming from a Jew is a major deal considering Jews referred to gentiles as dogs and unclean.

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

These gentiles, absolutely do have a zeal for YHWH, but not according to the knowledge of the Law, like the Jews had. The Jews grew up learning YHWH’s law and were able to use it to focus their passion for YHWH.

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

The gentiles are ignorant of YHWH’s Law, His righteousness, but have sought to find their own type of righteousness and never submitted to the ways of YHWH, His Law.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Christ being the end of the law does not mean He put an end to the law. It means He is the goal or the point of the law. Christ is the goal or purpose of the law. The Greek word used here is Telos. One of the definitions for this word according to Strongs is “the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose”. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to assume Paul is saying Yeshua is the purpose of the law. Especially considering the following, Yeshua Himself says He did not come to abolish or end the law, and second, Paul follows this particular statement with a bunch of quotes from the law.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

Leviticus 18:5

You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

Paul is saying, because the man does these things, he will live because of them. Meaning, keeping the law, after having faith in YHWH’s promises will cause you to live.  

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) or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Deuteronomy 30:11-13

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

The first thing we must understand about the Greek language concerning this particular verse is the word translated as “But” does have to mean however or on the other hand. The word could be translated as, also or and. The Greek word used is Strong's G1161 – de and it is translated as “and” 934 times and “also” 18 more times. Therefore we can conclude Paul could very well be saying, “and the righteousness of faith speaks in this way”. Considering Paul is quoting from Torah in the specific section where YHWH is telling the people His commands are not too difficult for them to keep, the traditional teaching of this passage seems counterproductive to Paul’s point. Paul is saying, by having faith, as we should, keeping the law of YHWH, as we should, is not too difficult a task, because those who have faith and keep His word are those who are justified and saved.

8 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.

Deuteronomy 30:14

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

We confess with our mouth and believe in our heart, and follow His law to the best of our ability, and we will be saved. We cannot throw out the entire previous section Paul talked about and only focus on this verse and then teach we no longer should keep the law.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We believe with our heart, and we confess the sin, which is our breaking of the Law, with our mouth. We know the Law still plays an important role because without it we would not know what sin is.

Romans 7:7

[Sin’s Advantage in the Law] What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

Paul has already addressed the idea about not knowing sin without the law, so by knowing the law, we can confess our sin, and realize how much we need a savior. If there is no law, there would be no sin, the law defines sin. If there is no sin, we would not need to confess our sin and therefore would need no savior. We can only conclude the law is still an important part of what Paul is teaching and it is vital to know for our salvation. Not as a means to it, but as a means to avoid sin.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Isaiah 28:16

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Paul has just quoted this verse in chapter nine, and now is reiterating it due to its importance. Yeshua is the corner stone and we are saved from eternal death through Him.

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Paul says outright that all of us are the same, both the Jews and the Greeks. There is no reason to think YHWH has changed His plan, the very plan He had from the beginning, which included keeping His Law.

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Joel 2:32

And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Paul continues to quote from the Old Testament to give support to his argument.

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?

Paul asks a few rhetorical questions which he answers by again quoting from the Prophets.

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!”

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Nahum 1:15

Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.

Paul answers his questions with scripture which says the preachers will proclaim peace, and bring “good news”, which is the gospel. The people who do not know the way need a teacher to show them the way.

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

Isaiah 53:1

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Paul continues to pull from the Old Testament. He is showing how even those from Israel did not believe, and have faith in the good news YHWH had sent them.

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

Our faith comes from hearing the word of YHWH. At the time Paul wrote this, the only word of YHWH was the Old Testament, laws, prophets, and writings.

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.”

Psalm 19:4

Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

YHWH’s word has gone out and people have heard throughout the world.

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.”

Deuteronomy 32:21

They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.

Quoting again from Torah, Israel did know and hear the word. They chose not to keep it, which caused them to be scattered. The Jews remained but did not keep the faith that was to accompany the Law. Therefore, YHWH sought to make them jealous.

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.”

Isaiah 65:1

“I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ To a nation that was not called by My name.

It was the gentiles, the lost sheep of Israel who found YHWH. They knew there was something missing, but did not know what. They knew there was a way to live, but did not know how. They found Yeshua, but did not seek Him out.

21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Isaiah 65:2

I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts;

Remember the Greek usage of the word “de” should be translated as determined by the previous sentence. “And to Israel He says…” These lost sheep found YHWH because He stretched out His hand to them. They were not seeking Him, but He sought them.