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Romans 10:9-10: Edit history

Revision #11151

Romans 10:9-10

Localized for English-speaking readers

Status: approved

Changes from the previous English revision

= ## Context
- In chapter 10, Paul says that Israel, being ignorant of God's righteousness, sought to establish its own. In verses 6–8 he quotes Deuteronomy 30:12-14 to show that righteousness is not obtained by ascending into heaven or descending into the deep; rather, it is the word of faith that is "nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart." Verses 9–10 then explain this "mouth" and "heart." Verses 11–13 declare that there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, citing Joel 2:32.
+ In chapter 10, Paul says that Israel, being ignorant of God's righteousness, sought to establish its own. In verses 6–8 he quotes Deuteronomy 30:12-14 to show that righteousness is not obtained by ascending into heaven or descending into the deep. Rather, it is the word of faith that is "nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart." Verses 9–10 then explain this "mouth" and "heart," and verses 11–13 declare that there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, citing Joel 2:32.
=
= ## Interpretation
- - **Faith and confession as a pair**: Because "mouth" and "heart" are a pair drawn from the quotation of Deuteronomy, they are read not as two separate conditions but as the inward and outward aspects of a single faith. Most denominations understand the passage this way.
+ - **Faith and confession as a pair**: Because "mouth" and "heart" form a pair drawn from the quotation of Deuteronomy, they are read not as two separate conditions but as the inward and outward aspects of a single faith. Most denominations understand the passage this way.
= - **The weight of "Jesus is Lord"**: "Lord" (Greek *kyrios*) is the word used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to render the name of God, and in the Roman Empire it was a title applied to the emperor. The confession is therefore read both as an acknowledgment of Jesus' deity and as a rejection of any other master.
= - **Public confession**: Baptists and many evangelical churches understand "confess" as a public confession made before others and connect it with the profession of faith made at baptism.
=
= ## Debates and Issues
- Some critics argue that it is an oversimplification to teach that salvation is secured simply by repeating a "sinner's prayer" based on this passage. They stress that confessing Jesus as "Lord" means a change in who is master of one's life. Others counter that speaking as though salvation depends on the degree of one's obedience obscures grace. In the English-speaking world, this question was the subject of the so-called "lordship salvation" controversy.
+ Some critics argue that teaching that salvation is secured simply by repeating a "sinner's prayer" based on this passage is an oversimplification. They stress that confessing Jesus as "Lord" means a change in who is master of one's life. Others counter that speaking as though salvation depends on the degree of one's obedience obscures grace. In the English-speaking world, this question was the subject of the so-called "lordship salvation" controversy.
=
- ## In the Korean Church
- This is one of the passages most frequently cited as the basis for the sinner's prayer in gospel tracts, in evangelism training programs such as Evangelism Explosion, and in new-member classes.
+ ## In Korean Churches
+ In Korean Protestant churches, this is one of the passages most frequently cited as the basis for the sinner's prayer in gospel tracts, in evangelism training programs such as Evangelism Explosion, and in new-member classes.
=
= ## Related Passages
…

A passage teaching that "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." It preserves one of the oldest confessions of faith of the early church and is widely used in evangelism and in the sinner's prayer.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches that "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." The passage preserves one of the oldest confessions of faith of the early church and is widely used in evangelism and in the sinner's prayer.

Full revision

Romans 10:9–10 teaches that "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." The passage preserves one of the oldest confessions of faith of the early church and is widely used in evangelism and in the sinner's prayer.

Context

In chapter 10, Paul says that Israel, being ignorant of God's righteousness, sought to establish its own. In verses 6–8 he quotes Deuteronomy 30:12-14 to show that righteousness is not obtained by ascending into heaven or descending into the deep. Rather, it is the word of faith that is "nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart." Verses 9–10 then explain this "mouth" and "heart," and verses 11–13 declare that there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, citing Joel 2:32.

Interpretation

  • Faith and confession as a pair: Because "mouth" and "heart" form a pair drawn from the quotation of Deuteronomy, they are read not as two separate conditions but as the inward and outward aspects of a single faith. Most denominations understand the passage this way.
  • The weight of "Jesus is Lord": "Lord" (Greek kyrios) is the word used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to render the name of God, and in the Roman Empire it was a title applied to the emperor. The confession is therefore read both as an acknowledgment of Jesus' deity and as a rejection of any other master.
  • Public confession: Baptists and many evangelical churches understand "confess" as a public confession made before others and connect it with the profession of faith made at baptism.

Debates and Issues

Some critics argue that teaching that salvation is secured simply by repeating a "sinner's prayer" based on this passage is an oversimplification. They stress that confessing Jesus as "Lord" means a change in who is master of one's life. Others counter that speaking as though salvation depends on the degree of one's obedience obscures grace. In the English-speaking world, this question was the subject of the so-called "lordship salvation" controversy.

In Korean Churches

In Korean Protestant churches, this is one of the passages most frequently cited as the basis for the sinner's prayer in gospel tracts, in evangelism training programs such as Evangelism Explosion, and in new-member classes.

Related Passages

  • Deuteronomy 30:11-14
  • Joel 2:32
  • 1 Corinthians 12:3
  • Philippians 2:11
RevisionTime (UTC)ContributorSummaryStatus
#111512026-11-05 01:48:32AI localizationLocalized for English-speaking readersapproved
#111502026-11-05 01:48:32AI localizationEnglish baseline before localizationapproved