Romans 10:14–15

Context

Chapters 9–11 of Romans, the letter the apostle Paul sent to the church in Rome, address why Israel did not believe the gospel. In the immediately preceding verse 13, Paul quotes Joel 2:32: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." In this passage he then poses a series of questions: to call, one must believe; to believe, one must hear; to hear, there must be someone who preaches; and the one who preaches must be sent. The end of verse 15 quotes Isaiah 52:7, a passage that originally celebrated the messenger bringing the good news of release from the Babylonian exile. In verse 16 Paul quotes Isaiah 53:1, and in verse 17 he concludes: "So then faith cometh by hearing." In verses 18–21 he continues the argument, contending that Israel had already heard but had not obeyed.

Interpretation

• Missional reading: Evangelical churches and mission organizations read these questions as grounds for sending evangelists and missionaries to those who have not heard the gospel. This reading regards those who send (the church and supporters) and those who go (missionaries) as partners in a single ministry.
• Reformed reading: The Reformed tradition holds that the ordinary means God uses to create faith is the proclaimed word, that is, preaching, and cites this passage in support. "Being sent" is often read in connection with the calling of preachers publicly appointed by the church.
• Contextual reading: A number of commentators hold that verses 14–15 are not primarily a missionary command. Rather, they see the verses as one step in an argument intended to show that Israel's unbelief was not due to a failure to hear. They point to the flow of the passage, in which verse 18 asks again, "Have they not heard?"

Debates and Issues

• The scope of "sending": Traditions differ in their emphasis on what "being sent" refers to. Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others center it on the public preaching ministry of ministers ordained by the church and hold that public preaching requires a legitimate call. By contrast, those who emphasize the priesthood of all believers, as well as lay evangelism movements, regard all believers as sent.
• The question of those who have not heard: This passage is also cited in discussions of the salvation of those who have had no opportunity to hear the gospel. One reading holds that because no one can believe without hearing, missions are urgent. Others note that the passage does not itself address that question.
• Translation and manuscripts: The quotation in verse 15 omits the phrase "upon the mountains" found in the text of Isaiah. Some later manuscripts (the text followed by the King James Version) include the additional phrase "that preach the gospel of peace," but modern critical texts omit it. The Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version follow the shorter text.

In the Korean Church

The passage is frequently read at missionary commissioning services, on Mission Sunday, and at mission conferences. Together with the term "sending missionary," it is also cited as grounds for urging support for missions. The phrase "beautiful feet" is sometimes used to refer to those who go out in evangelism and missions.

Related Passages

• Isaiah 52:7
• Isaiah 53:1
• Romans 10:17
• Joel 2:32
• Matthew 28:19–20