How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed?This phrase emphasizes the necessity of faith as a prerequisite for calling upon God. In the biblical context, "calling on the Lord" is an expression of worship, prayer, and reliance on God (
Joel 2:32;
Acts 2:21). The rhetorical question underscores the logical sequence of salvation: belief must precede invocation. Historically, the Jewish audience of Paul's time would have understood the importance of faith in God, yet many struggled to accept Jesus as the Messiah. This reflects the broader biblical theme that faith is essential for a relationship with God (
Hebrews 11:6).
And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?
This phrase highlights the necessity of hearing the message of Christ for faith to develop. In the cultural context of the first century, oral communication was the primary means of spreading news and teachings. The importance of hearing is also seen inRomans 10:17, where faith is said to come from hearing the message of Christ. Theologically, this underscores the role of revelation and the proclamation of the Gospel as essential for belief. The connection to other scripture, such asIsaiah 52:7, emphasizes the beauty and necessity of those who bring good news.
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
This phrase points to the essential role of preaching in the dissemination of the Gospel. The term "preach" in the original Greek implies a public proclamation, akin to a herald announcing news. In the early church, apostles and evangelists traveled extensively to preach the Gospel, as seen in the missionary journeys of Paul (Acts 13-28). This reflects the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. The historical context of the Roman Empire, with its extensive road networks and common language (Koine Greek), facilitated the spread of Christianity through preaching.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of the Book of Romans, Paul is addressing the Roman Christians, emphasizing the necessity of preaching for faith to arise.
2.
Roman ChristiansThe recipients of the letter, living in a diverse and often challenging environment for early Christians.
3.
Preachers/MessengersThose who are called to proclaim the Gospel so that others may hear and believe.
4.
UnbelieversThe individuals who have not yet heard or believed in the Gospel, highlighting the need for evangelism.
5.
The GospelThe message of salvation through Jesus Christ, central to the passage and the mission of the Church.
Teaching Points
The Necessity of PreachingPreaching is essential for people to hear and believe the Gospel. Without it, the message of salvation cannot reach those who need it.
The Role of Faith in SalvationFaith comes from hearing the message of Christ. Believers are called to share their faith so others can come to believe.
The Responsibility of BelieversEvery Christian has a role in spreading the Gospel, whether through direct preaching or supporting those who do.
The Urgency of EvangelismThere is an urgent need for evangelism, as many have not yet heard the Gospel. Believers should be motivated by love and compassion to share the message.
Empowerment by the Holy SpiritBelievers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses, ensuring that the message of Christ is proclaimed with power and conviction.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Romans 10:14?
2.How can we ensure everyone hears the gospel message as Romans 10:14 suggests?
3.What role does preaching play in faith development according to Romans 10:14?
4.How does Romans 10:14 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
5.How can you personally contribute to spreading the gospel as Romans 10:14 implies?
6.What steps can churches take to send preachers, as Romans 10:14 indicates?
7.How can people believe in Jesus if they have never heard of Him?
8.What role does preaching play in spreading the Gospel according to Romans 10:14?
9.Why is hearing the message of Christ essential for faith, as stated in Romans 10:14?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Romans 10?
11.Am I being called to be a missionary?
12.Can they hear without a preacher?
13.Romans 10:14–15: How can those who never hear the gospel be expected to believe and be saved?
14.How can you preach the gospel without using words?What Does Romans 10:14 Mean
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed?“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Calling is an act of wholehearted trust, a verbal outcry that presumes the Lord hears and rescues. Yet Paul points out the logical starting point:
• People do not cry out to someone they doubt. Genuine belief precedes the cry (Hebrews 11:6;Psalm 34:17).
• The Scripture pattern is clear: faith, then appeal. Elijah believed before calling for fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-37). Peter believed before crying, “Lord, save me!” on the waves (Matthew 14:30-31).
• Therefore, the promise ofJoel 2:32—quoted inRomans 10:13—stands open to all, but only realized by those who first trust that the Lord truly is Savior (Acts 2:21).
And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?Belief is anchored in information, not imagination. Paul underscores that saving faith is rooted in the revealed gospel, not in a vague sense of the divine.
• Hearing means receiving the specific news that “Christ died for our sins…was buried…was raised” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
• Throughout Scripture, faith is generated by God’s spoken word—Abraham believed after hearing God’s promise (Genesis 15:4-6;Galatians 3:6-8).
• Even Cornelius, already God-fearing, needed Peter’s message to believe unto salvation (Acts 10:22, 33-44).
And how can they hear without someone to preach?The Lord has chosen human messengers as His ordinary means of broadcasting the gospel.
• “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The preached word is God’s appointed delivery system.
• Old Testament prophets modeled this: Isaiah’s lips were cleansed so he could say, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:6-8).
• New Testament practice confirms it: Paul and Barnabas “spoke the word of the Lord” and “many believed” (Acts 13:44-48).
• The chain is unbreakable: sent preacher → heard message → believed gospel → called on the Lord → saved (Romans 10:15;2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
summaryRomans 10:14 unpacks the logical sequence God ordained for salvation: proclamation leads to hearing, hearing produces belief, belief issues in a heartfelt call, and that call receives the promised rescue. Each link depends on the previous one, emphasizing both the necessity of gospel preaching and the certainty that all who believe and call upon Christ will be saved.
(14-21) Thus there is a distinct order--belief, confession, invocation. But before either the last or the first of these steps is taken the gospel must be preached. The Jew, however, cannot plead that the gospel has not been preached to him. It
has been preached both to Jew and Gentile. Both Moses and Isaiah had foretold the conversion of the Gentiles, and Isaiah had also foretold the unbelief of the Jews.
Verses 14, 15. -
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? This question may be taken, in the first place, as serving to connect the two passages from Joel and from Isaiah (see previous note). But it is further the beginning of a sorites, suggested by a new thought, which is carried out to the end of the chapter. The course of this new thought through the rest of the chapter may be expounded as follows: It might be pleaded, in behalf of the unbelieving Jews, that they had never really heard, through preachers duly sent to them, the gospel message; and hence that they were not to be blamed for rejecting it. With this idea before him, the apostle first (vers. 14, 15) allows generally, in the form of a series of questions, that, as before
calling on the Lord there must be
faith, so before
faith there must be
hearing, before
hearing there must
be preaching, and for
preaching there must be authorizing
mission; and he quotes, in illustration, a passage from Isaiah, which describes beautifully the preaching of good tidings of peace by commissioned messengers to all the world. But he is careful to add (vers. 16, 17) that, according to the same prophet, such universal
preaching, and consequent
hearing, does not involve universal
hearkening; thus showing, in view of the main purpose of his argument, that the fact of the Jews not
hearkening now is no evidence that they had not
heard. Then he goes on to ask whether any could plead the excuse of not having
heard, so as to justify want of the
faith that cometh of
hearing. Nay, he replies (ver. 18), the sound of the good tidings has gone forth to all the earth, even like the language of nature spoken of in
Psalm 19. Then (ver. 19), pressing his argument home to the Jews, who have been all along in view, he asks, "But I say, Did not
Israel know?" The word
ἕγνω, being different from
ἤκουσααν previously used, must express some different meaning. But what St. Paul exactly meant by it is not quite clear. The quotations from the Old Testament that follow in proof of knowledge (vers. 19, 20) seem to support the view that what Israel knew, or ought to have known, was the Divine design of the promulgation of the "good tidings" to all the world, which has just been spoken cf. Such promulgation should have been to them no stumbling-block; for it had been told to them from Moses downwards, and they had full opportunity of
knowing it. Lastly (ver. 21), the apostle intimates that the present state of things, in which Gentiles accept the gospel while Israel in the main rejects it, far from being an objection to it, is but a further fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecies, which represent God as making himself known to those who had not known him, while pleading with Israel in vain. This exposition of the supposed course of thought being borne in mind, the passage (with the further aid of some interposed comments) may become intelligible. It continues: 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 (or, good
tidings) of peace, and] bring glad tidings of flood things! (
Isaiah 3:7). The genuineness of the. words within brackets is at least doubtful. Even with them the text is not quoted in full, though sufficiently to remind of its purport.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
HowΠῶς(Pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!thenοὖν(oun)Conjunction
Strong's 3767:Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.can they callἐπικαλέσωνται(epikalesōntai)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1941:(a) To call (name) by a supplementary (additional, alternative) name, (b) mid: To call upon, appeal to, address.onεἰς(eis)Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.[the One]ὃν(hon)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.in whom they have not believed?ἐπίστευσαν(episteusan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4100:From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.Andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.howπῶς(pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!can they believe in [the One]πιστεύσωσιν(pisteusōsin)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4100:From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.of whomοὗ(hou)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.they have not heard?ἤκουσαν(ēkousan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 191:To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.Andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.howπῶς(pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!can they hearἀκούσωσιν(akousōsin)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 191:To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.withoutχωρὶς(chōris)Preposition
Strong's 5565:Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from.[someone] to preach?κηρύσσοντος(kēryssontos)Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2784:To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.
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NT Letters: Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him (Rom. Ro) 
