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Romans 10:17

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 10:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
16But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.
19But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.
20And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.
← Romans 10:16Romans 10:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So then faith comes by hearing, etc..] That is, by preaching; for the word hearing is used in the same sense as in the preceding verse; and designs the report of the Gospel, or the preaching of the word, which is the means God makes use of, to convey faith into the hearts of his people; for preachers are ministers, or instruments, by whom others believe: and hearing by the word of God; or “of Christ”, as some copies read, and so do the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; and intends either the holy Scriptures, which have God for their author, and Christ for the subject of them; and which furnish the men of God, or ministers of the Gospel, with proper materials to preach; and so hearing or…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God--"This is another confirmation of the truth that faith supposes the hearing of the Word, and this a commission to preach it."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So then faith cometh ... - This I take to be clearly the language of the objector. As if he had said, by the very quotation which you have made from Isaiah, it appears that a report was necessary. He did not condemn people for not believing what they had not heard; but he complains of those who did not believe a message actually delivered to them. Even by this passage, therefore, it seems that a message was necessary, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the divine message. It could not be right, therefore, to condemn those who had not obeyed the gospel because they had not heard it; and hence, not right to make salvation dependent on a condition which was, by the arrangement of God,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Faith, indeed, ordinarily cometh by hearing; even by hearing the word of God. Romans 10:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“faith: Rom 10:14, Rom 1:16; Luk 16:29-31; Co1 1:18-24; Col 1:4-6; Th1 2:13; Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14; Jam 1:18-21; Pe1 1:23-25, Pe1 2:1, Pe1 2:2 and hearing: Jer 23:28, Jer 23:29; Mar 4:24; Luk 8:11, Luk 8:21, Luk 11:28; Co2 2:17; Heb 4:12, Heb 4:13; Rev 1:9 Romans 10:18”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification