^10:14How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them¹⁵? ^10:15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely¹⁶ is the arrival¹⁷ of those who proclaim the good news.”¹⁸^10:16But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”¹⁹^10:17Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word²⁰ of Christ.²¹

Read in Logos

Romans 10:14: How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Footnotes

15 Grk “preaching”; the words “to them” are supplied for clarification.
16 The word in this context seems to mean “coming at the right or opportune time” (see ὡραῖος 1); it may also mean “beautiful, attractive, welcome.”
17 Grk “the feet.” The metaphorical nuance of “beautiful feet” is that such represent timely news.
18 A quotation from Isa 52:7; Nah 1:15.
19 A quotation from Isa 53:1.
20 The Greek term here is ῥῆμα (rhēma), which often (but not exclusively) focuses on the spoken word.
21 Most (א1 A D1 Ψ 33 1881 𝔐 sy) have θεοῦ (theou) here rather than Χριστοῦ (Christou; found in 𝔓46vid א* B C D* 6 81 629 1506 1739 lat co). External evidence strongly favors the reading “Christ” here. Internal evidence is also on its side, for the expression ῥῆμα Χριστοῦ (rhēma Christou) occurs nowhere else in the NT; thus scribes would be prone to change it to a known expression. The genitive could be understood as either subjective (“Christ does the speaking”) or objective (“Christ is spoken about”), but the latter is more likely here.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

NLTNew Living Translation

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

How then will they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him about whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about him without one who preaches to them? And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How timely are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.” But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word about Christ.

KJV 1900King James Version

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? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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