Overview
In Romans 10:14–21, the Apostle Paul continues his profound discourse on salvation, faith, and Israel’s response to the gospel. He begins by posing a series of rhetorical questions that logically trace the process of coming to faith: How can people call on the one they have not believed in? How can they believe in someone they haven’t heard about? How can they hear without someone preaching? And how can someone preach unless they are sent? (vv. 14–15). These questions emphasize the essential role of proclamation in the spread of the gospel. Paul underscores the necessity of evangelism, quoting Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” This poetic praise highlights the honor of those who carry the message of salvation.
However, Paul quickly acknowledges that not all who hear the message respond positively. He cites Isaiah 53:1 to show that even in the prophet’s time, the message of God’s servant was not universally accepted: “Lord, who has believed our message?” (v. 16). This leads to Paul’s affirmation that faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (v. 17), summarizing the means by which belief is birthed in the heart. Nevertheless, Israel’s unbelief remains a burden in Paul’s argument. He asks whether Israel failed to hear the message and answers by quoting Psalm 19:4, indicating that the voice of God’s messengers has gone out “to all the earth,” suggesting that the message was indeed made widely available.
Paul further anticipates objections, questioning whether Israel did not understand the message. He counters this by quoting Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21, where God declares He will provoke Israel to jealousy by a “non-nation,” referring to the inclusion of Gentiles. Then, quoting Isaiah again (Isaiah 65:1–2), Paul shows that God has made Himself known to those who were not seeking Him (Gentiles), while Israel, described as a disobedient and obstinate people, has rejected His outstretched hands (v. 21). The passage ends on a sorrowful note, reflecting God’s continuous and patient offer of salvation to Israel despite their resistance. Through these verses, Paul both defends the justice of Gentile inclusion and mourns Israel’s persistent unbelief, all while reinforcing that the gospel is for all who will hear and believe.
In-Depth
In Romans 10:14–21, Paul develops a theological sequence that unpacks the divine method for bringing people into saving faith through the proclamation of the gospel. He starts with a compelling set of rhetorical questions that expose the logical order of salvation from a human perspective: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?” Paul is building on the prior verse (Romans 10:13), where he has just quoted Joel 2:32, emphasizing that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But in order to call upon the Lord, one must believe; to believe, one must hear; to hear, there must be a preacher; and for preaching to occur, someone must be sent (vv. 14–15). This creates a cascading chain that starts with divine sending and ends in personal salvation, clearly demonstrating that faith is not a mystical or innate occurrence—it arises through intentional proclamation of the gospel.
Paul reinforces the dignity and importance of gospel messengers by quoting Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” In context, Isaiah is speaking of the heralds announcing the end of exile and the reign of God in Zion. Paul recontextualizes it to refer to those who carry the good news of Christ, presenting them as agents of spiritual liberation. The “beauty” of their feet isn’t literal, but symbolic of the great value and honor of their mission.
Despite the beauty of the message and the necessity of preaching, Paul laments that not all have obeyed the gospel. He quotes Isaiah 53:1—“Lord, who has believed our report?”—highlighting the prophetic precedent for the rejection of God’s message. In Isaiah, the suffering servant is largely dismissed and unrecognized, foreshadowing the Jewish rejection of Jesus. Paul then summarizes this principle in verse 17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith is not self-generated; it comes from exposure to the specific message of Christ crucified and risen—the gospel.
Paul then turns to a piercing question: “But I say, have they not heard?” Here, “they” refers to Israel. Using Psalm 19:4, Paul declares, “Their voice has gone out into all the earth…” Though Psalm 19 originally celebrates the universal witness of creation, Paul applies it typologically to the broad proclamation of the gospel. This suggests that the message of Christ, carried by the apostles and early church, has been widely spread—not hidden.
Still, Paul anticipates another possible objection: Did Israel simply not understand? Again, he responds with Scripture—Deuteronomy 32:21. God, speaking through Moses, foretells that Israel’s idolatry and rejection would result in being provoked by a “foolish nation.” Paul interprets this “foolish nation” as the Gentiles, whom God would use to provoke Israel to jealousy. This is not punitive only, but redemptive: God’s intention is to awaken Israel through the inclusion of the Gentiles.
Paul then concludes with Isaiah 65:1–2, where God says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” This verse describes the Gentiles, who were not originally pursuing God, yet responded to His self-revelation in Christ. In contrast, verse 21 brings a sober conclusion: “But of Israel he says: ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.’” This portrays God as patiently offering salvation to Israel—continually reaching out—but being met with persistent rebellion.
In this passage, Paul is not only explaining why Israel has largely failed to receive the gospel, but he is also affirming the justice and inclusivity of God’s redemptive plan. The Gentiles’ inclusion is not an afterthought but was foretold. Meanwhile, Israel’s unbelief is not due to a lack of access to the message or clarity but stems from a hardened heart and resistance to God’s righteousness. Yet, God remains merciful, still extending His hands—a gesture of grace that reflects His longing for His people’s return. This section sets up the tension that will be further explored in Romans 11, where Paul will explore whether Israel’s rejection is final or part of a greater divine mystery.
Discovery Questions
Romans 10:14–21 is a powerful and challenging section of Paul’s letter, exploring the nature of faith, the necessity of preaching, the broad reach of the gospel, and Israel’s persistent unbelief. Paul lays out a divine sequence for how people come to saving faith and then addresses the tragic reality that many, particularly among Israel, have heard and yet rejected the message. Through this text, we are invited not only to understand the theology of gospel proclamation but also to reflect on our own response and participation in God’s redemptive work. The following discovery questions are designed to help you engage with the passage deeply by asking what the text says, what it means, and how it applies to your life today.
Observation Questions – (What does the passage say?)
- What sequence of steps does Paul outline in verses 14–15 for someone to come to saving faith?
- According to verse 15, how does Paul describe those who bring the good news?
- What Old Testament scriptures does Paul quote in this passage, and how many different ones are there?
- What does Paul say about faith and hearing in verse 17?
- In verse 18, what is the extent of the gospel’s proclamation according to the Psalm Paul quotes?
- How does Paul contrast Israel’s response to the gospel with that of the Gentiles in verses 19–21?
Interpretation Questions – (What does the passage mean?)
- Why is each step in the sequence (sending, preaching, hearing, believing, calling) important in the process of salvation?
- What does it mean that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”? How does this shape our understanding of evangelism?
- Why do you think Paul uses so many Old Testament quotations in this section? What is he trying to emphasize to his readers, particularly the Jewish audience?
- What is the significance of God making Himself known to those who did not seek Him (v. 20)? How does that reflect God’s character?
- How should we interpret God’s statement in verse 21 about “holding out His hands” to a disobedient people? What does this tell us about divine patience and human responsibility?
Reflection and Application Questions – (What does this mean for me/us today?)
- Have you personally responded to the message of Christ through hearing and believing? If not, what might be holding you back?
- In what ways are you participating in God’s mission of sending, preaching, or sharing the gospel? Is there a step in the process where you feel called to engage more?
- Are there people or groups in your life who seem to have “heard” but not believed? How can you pray for or reach out to them with patience and love?
- How do you respond emotionally and spiritually to the idea that God still “holds out His hands” to the disobedient? How does this affect your view of grace?
- What can the church today learn from Israel’s mistake of having access to the message but resisting it? Are there ways we, too, take God’s word for granted?
Cross-References
Romans 10:14–21 is rich with Old Testament cross-references, which Paul uses to support his argument about the necessity of gospel proclamation and the response (or lack thereof) of Israel. Below is a breakdown of cross-references made in the passage, including both those Paul explicitly quotes and those that align with the same themes elsewhere in Scripture.
Cross-References Within Romans 10:14–21
Romans 10:14–15
- Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…”. Paul quotes this directly to highlight the honor and necessity of those who preach the gospel.
- Nahum 1:15 (parallel theme) – “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news…”. Similar language emphasizing joyful proclamation.
Romans 10:16
- Isaiah 53:1 – “Who has believed our message?”. This verse is quoted to show that disbelief of the message is not new; even the prophetic word of the Suffering Servant was rejected.
Romans 10:17
- While there is no direct OT quote here, this verse summarizes Paul’s earlier point and alludes to a broader scriptural theme that faith is a response to hearing God’s word (see also John 5:24, Acts 8:30–31 for supporting NT concepts).
Romans 10:18
- Psalm 19:4 – “Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”. Originally about natural revelation (creation declaring God’s glory), Paul applies it typologically to gospel proclamation—its widespread reach.
Romans 10:19
- Deuteronomy 32:21 – “They made me jealous with what is no god… so I will make them envious by those who are not a people.”. Paul uses this to show that Israel’s jealousy of Gentile inclusion was predicted.
Romans 10:20–21
- Isaiah 65:1 – “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me…”. Paul uses this to show God’s initiative toward Gentiles who were not seeking Him.
- Isaiah 65:2 – “All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people…”. Paul applies this to Israel’s persistent disobedience despite God’s patient outreach.
Broader Thematic Cross-References (Not Quoted but Related)
- Matthew 28:18–20 – The Great Commission echoes the idea of being “sent” to proclaim the gospel.
- Isaiah 6:8–10 – Isaiah’s sending as a prophet mirrors the idea of preachers being commissioned.
- Acts 13:46–48 – Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles after Jewish rejection, fulfilling the pattern Paul discusses here.
- Romans 1:18–20 – Earlier in Romans, Paul describes the universal witness of creation (like Psalm 19), setting up the use of Psalm 19 in 10:18.
Paul intricately weaves at least six Old Testament quotations into Romans 10:14–21, each serving as a theological support for his argument about the universal offer of the gospel, the means by which it must be proclaimed, and the tragic yet foretold unbelief of Israel. These references also reinforce the continuity between the Old and New Covenants, showing that the inclusion of the Gentiles and Israel’s rejection were not unexpected but foretold in Scripture.
In Summary
In Romans 10:14–21, Paul emphasizes the essential role of gospel proclamation in the process of salvation. He presents a logical sequence: people must hear the message of Christ in order to believe, and for them to hear, someone must preach, and that preacher must be sent. He underscores the beauty and importance of those who bring the good news. Yet, despite the availability of the message, not all have believed—particularly Israel. Paul uses several Old Testament passages to show that Israel’s rejection of the gospel and the inclusion of the Gentiles were foretold. He explains that faith comes through hearing the word of Christ, but Israel, though having heard, did not respond with faith. Instead, God has revealed Himself to those who were not even seeking Him—the Gentiles—while still holding out His hands in patience and grace to Israel, who remains disobedient. This passage highlights both the universal offer of salvation and the ongoing tension between divine invitation and human response.
