Devine Scripture

Romans 10:17

What does Romans 10:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 10:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 10:17 means

Paul draws a conclusion: faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Saving faith is not conjured by willpower; it arises as God’s word about Christ is proclaimed and received. This both humbles and emboldens. It humbles, because we depend on God’s revealed word; it emboldens, because we have confidence in the ordained means. The phrase “word of Christ” keeps the message centered: Christ’s person, work, and lordship. When that word is heard, God grants faith. Therefore, the church must prioritize clear proclamation, trusting that God uses His word to awaken believing hearts.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

so then the faith <FI>is<Fi> by a report, and the report through a saying of God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

So faith then [is] by a report, but the report byGod's word.

Context

This verse answers the discouragement of verse 16 by reaffirming God’s method for producing faith. It flows from the missionary chain of verses 14–15 and sets up the questions of verses 18–19: if faith comes by hearing, did Israel fail because they did not hear or did not know? Paul will answer that they did hear (v. 18) and were warned (vv. 19–20), yet remained disobedient (v. 21). Verse 17 thus keeps confidence in the preached word while preparing for Israel’s accountability.

v.16But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

v.17This passage

v.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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

  • Jeremiah 23:28

    The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah.

  • Galatians 3:2

    This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

  • Luke 8:21

    But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it.

  • James 1:18

    Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

  • 1 Peter 1:23

    having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

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