Romans 10:1–21: Israel's zeal, the near word, and a people who heard

Says The chapter follows 9:30–33: the Gentiles "have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith" (9:30, BSB), while Israel's "pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works" (9:32, BSB). Paul prays for Israel's salvation and testifies that they are zealous for God, "but not on the basis of knowledge" (10:1–2, BSB). Christ is "the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes" (10:4, BSB). Confessing "Jesus is Lord" and believing that God raised him from the dead is the way the chapter says a person "will be saved" (10:9, BSB). There is "no difference between Jew and Greek" (10:12, BSB; compare 3:22). Calling on the Lord depends on believing, hearing, preaching and sending (10:14–15). Israel did hear (10:18) and was not without warning (10:19–21).

Uncertain Two questions stay open, with no lean: what "their own" righteousness is (10:3), and how Lev 18:5 (10:5) relates to Deut 30:12–14 (10:6–8), with what Christ as τέλος (telos) of the law (10:4) means for that relation. The meaning of the word τέλος is treated in note.language.Rom.10.1-Rom.10.4.zelos-telos. The views are set out in note.exegetical.Rom.10.1-Rom.10.4.zeal-and-the-end-of-the-law and note.exegetical.Rom.10.4-Rom.10.8.law-and-faith.

Uncertain Other open points carry a lean with the main alternative named: ῥήματος Χριστοῦ (rhēmatos Christou, "word of Christ," 10:17) and what Israel knew (10:19). How Ps 19:4 is used in 10:18 is left open with the options named.

Structure. 10:1–4, prayer, zeal and Christ the τέλος of the law; 10:5–13, the righteousness of faith and the near word; 10:14–21, hearing, preaching and Israel's response.