Commentary on Romans

1Brethren, the kind desire of my heart, and prayer to God for Israel, is for theirsalvation.

2For I bear to them a testimony, that they have a zeal for God; but not according to knowledge,

3For being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God;

4For the end of the law is Christ for righteousness to every one who believes.

5For Moses describes the righteousness which is by the law, ^“The man who shall do these things shall live by them:”

6But the righteousness, which is by faith, saith thus, “Say not in thine heart, ‘Who shall ascend into heaven?’ this is to bring, down Christ;

7Or, ‘Who shall descend into the deep?’ that is to bring up Christ again from the dead:” but what does it say?

8“Nigh thee is the word, in thy mouth and in thy heart:” this is the word of’ faith which we preach, —

9That if thou wilt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved;

10For with the heart we believe to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation; for the Scripture says,

11“Every one who believes in him shall not be ashamed:”

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same is the Lord of all, being rich to all who call on him;

13For, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

14How 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?

15And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim peace, who proclaim good things!”

16But all have not obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Who has believed our report?”

17Faith then is by hearing, and hearing through the word of God.

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, “Into all the earth has gone forth their sound, and into the ends of the world their words.”

19But I say, Has not Israel known? First, Moses says, “I will provoke them to jealousy by them who are not a people, and by a foolish nation will I irritate them:”

20Then Isaiah is bold and says, “I have been found by those who sought me not, I have been made manifest to those, who inquired not for me;

21 But of Israel he says, “Daily have I stretched forth my hands to a people disobedient and gain saying.”