This verse summarizes the thought of Romans 10:14-16. The word "of" Christ could mean the word from Him, namely, the message that He has sent us to proclaim ( Romans 10:15). [1] It could also refer to the message concerning Christ ( Romans 10:9). Both meanings could have been in Paul"s mind. In either case the gospel is in view. [source][source][source]
"What faith really Isaiah , in biblical language, is receiving the testimony of God. It is the inward conviction that what God says to us in the gospel is true. That-and that alone-is saving faith." [2][source]
Context Summary
Romans 10:11-21 - Needing Messengers Of Good Tidings
The Chosen People chafed, not only at the freeness of God's justifying grace, but because there was no difference made, so far as salvation was concerned, between them and the Gentiles. Surely there ought to be a special doorway for them into eternal life, apart from that trodden by the feet of the ordinary heathen world! Were they not the children of Abraham, the friend of God? Here the Apostle was compelled to withstand them. No, said he, it cannot be! There is no difference between Jew and Greek. All have sinned, and the same Lord is over all, rich to those who call upon Him, of whatever nationality.
The guests for whom the marriage feast was prepared refused to come, and therefore it was decreed that the servants of the great King should preach the gospel to every creature, and scour the highways and byways of the world for guests. The remainder of the chapter, Romans 10:14, etc., therefore vindicates the Apostle in his determination to preach the gospel beyond the limits of his own people; and in doing so, he was acting upon the old words of Deuteronomy 32:21. God would provoke their jealousy by a no-people, as they had provoked His by no-gods, Romans 10:19. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 10
1The difference between the righteousness of the law, and that of faith; 11all who believe, both Jew and Gentile, shall not be shamed; 18and that the Gentiles shall receive the word and believe 19Israel was not ignorant of these things
Greek Commentary for Romans 10:17
By the word of Christ [δια ρηματος Χριστου] “By the word about Christ” (objective genitive). [source]
By hearing [ἐξ ἀκοῆς] The same word as report, above, and in the same sense, that which is heard. [source]
Word of God [ῥήματος Θεοῦ] The best texts read of Christ. Probably not the Gospel, but Christ's word of command or commission to its preachers; thus taking up except they be sent (Romans 10:15), and emphasizing the authority of the message. Belief comes through the message, and the message through the command of Christ. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 10:17
Romans 10:12Lord [κύριος] See on Matthew 21:3. The reference is disputed: some Christ, others God. Probably Christ. See Romans 10:9, and compare Acts 10:36. The hearing which is necessary to believing comes through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17, where the reading is Christ instead of God ). [source]
2 Timothy 4:3Having itching ears [κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν] Or, being tickled in their hearing. Κνήθειν totickle, N.T.oolxx. Κνηθόμενοι itchingHesychius explains, “hearing for mere gratification.” Clement of Alexandria describes certain teachers as “scratching and tickling, in no human way, the ears of those who eagerly desire to be scratched” (Strom. v.). Seneca says: “Some come to hear, not to learn, just as we go to the theater, for pleasure, to delight our ears with the speaking or the voice or the plays” (Ep. 108). Ἁκοή , A.V. ears, in N.T. a report, as Matthew 4:24; Matthew 14:1; Matthew 24:6: in the plural, ears (never ear in singular), as Mark 7:35; Luke 7:1: hearing, either the act, as Acts 28:26; Romans 10:17, or the sense, 1 Corinthians 12:17, here, and 2 Timothy 4:4. [source]
What do the individual words in Romans 10:17 mean?
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
Greek Commentary for Romans 10:17
“By the word about Christ” (objective genitive). [source]
The same word as report, above, and in the same sense, that which is heard. [source]
The best texts read of Christ. Probably not the Gospel, but Christ's word of command or commission to its preachers; thus taking up except they be sent (Romans 10:15), and emphasizing the authority of the message. Belief comes through the message, and the message through the command of Christ. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 10:17
See on Matthew 21:3. The reference is disputed: some Christ, others God. Probably Christ. See Romans 10:9, and compare Acts 10:36. The hearing which is necessary to believing comes through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17, where the reading is Christ instead of God ). [source]
See on Luke 1:37. See Luke 3:2; Luke 4:4; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 6:5; Hebrews 11:3. [source]
Or, being tickled in their hearing. Κνήθειν totickle, N.T.oolxx. Κνηθόμενοι itchingHesychius explains, “hearing for mere gratification.” Clement of Alexandria describes certain teachers as “scratching and tickling, in no human way, the ears of those who eagerly desire to be scratched” (Strom. v.). Seneca says: “Some come to hear, not to learn, just as we go to the theater, for pleasure, to delight our ears with the speaking or the voice or the plays” (Ep. 108). Ἁκοή , A.V. ears, in N.T. a report, as Matthew 4:24; Matthew 14:1; Matthew 24:6: in the plural, ears (never ear in singular), as Mark 7:35; Luke 7:1: hearing, either the act, as Acts 28:26; Romans 10:17, or the sense, 1 Corinthians 12:17, here, and 2 Timothy 4:4. [source]