Romans 10
Romans 10:1-4
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the people of Israel is that they may be saved. I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they do not know God’s righteousness and are trying to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who does what the law requires will live by that very rule.
Romans 10:5-13
But righteousness based on faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the word of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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 never 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 they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says: “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:14-21
How, then, will they call on the one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in the one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to 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 they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says: “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed, “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, has Israel not understood? First Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a people; I will provoke you to anger by a foolish nation.” Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek me; I made myself known to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says: “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and rebellious people.”
Romans 10:22-21
Therefore I ask, did God reject his people? By no means! For I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah? He pleads with God against Israel, saying: “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I am the only one left. And they are trying to kill me.” But what does the divine reply say to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand people who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is on the basis of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work would no longer be work. What then? Israel did not obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. As it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.” And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and make their backs bend forever.” I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? By no means! But because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. Now if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater will their fullness be! For if the casting away of them is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?