Romans 10:14
What does Romans 10:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 10:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 10:14 means
Paul reasons backward from calling to the prior steps God uses. People cannot call on the One they do not believe; they cannot believe in the One they have not heard; they cannot hear without someone preaching. This shows that faith is not self-generated; it comes in response to the proclaimed gospel. Preaching is God’s appointed means of making Christ known. The chain dignifies the preacher’s task, not as human invention, but as essential in God’s saving plan. Evangelism is not optional add-on but the path by which “whosoever” learns whom to call upon and how to be saved.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000How 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?
KJV
King James Version · 1611How 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?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901How 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?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862How then shall they call upon <FI>him<Fi> in whom they did not believe? and how shall they believe <FI>on him<Fi> of whom they did not hear? and how shall they hear apart from one preaching?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without one who preaches?
Context
Following the universal promise of verse 13, verse 14 explains the necessary sequence that leads to saving faith and calling. Verse 15 will complete the logic by asking how preachers can preach unless they are sent and by celebrating the beauty of gospel messengers. Then verses 16–17 will acknowledge that not all who hear will believe, yet hearing remains the God-ordained avenue of faith. Thus, verse 14 introduces the missionary logic that sustains the church’s proclamation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
- Romans 1:5
through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
- Acts 19:2
and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given.
- James 5:15
and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.
- Hebrews 11:6
and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
- John 20:31
but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.
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