ROMANS 10:17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17
This verse is often repeated in church, but when you slow down and examine it in context, it becomes far more powerful than a simple motivational line about listening to sermons.
In Romans 9 through 11, Paul is addressing Israel’s unbelief and explaining how righteousness truly comes. In chapter 10, he makes it clear that salvation is not achieved by works of the law but by faith in Christ.
Just a ... moreROMANS 10:17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17
This verse is often repeated in church, but when you slow down and examine it in context, it becomes far more powerful than a simple motivational line about listening to sermons.
In Romans 9 through 11, Paul is addressing Israel’s unbelief and explaining how righteousness truly comes. In chapter 10, he makes it clear that salvation is not achieved by works of the law but by faith in Christ.
Just a few verses earlier in Romans 10:9-10, Paul says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. The entire section is about how someone comes to saving faith.
Now verse 17 makes sense.
FAITH:
The Greek word for faith is pistis (πίστις). It means trust, conviction, reliance, firm persuasion. It is not blind optimism. It is settled confidence rooted in truth.
Faith is not manufactured internally. It is produced by something.
HEARING:
The Greek word translated “hearing” is akoē (ἀκοή). It can mean the act of hearing, but it also means the message that is heard. That is important. Paul is not talking about sound waves hitting your ear. He is talking about receiving a proclaimed message.
In fact, earlier in the passage Paul says, “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14.
Faith does not grow in isolation. It grows when truth is proclaimed.
THE WORD OF GOD:
Here is where it gets deeper.
The phrase “word of God” in Romans 10:17 is not the common Greek word logos (λόγος). It is rhema (ῥῆμα).
Logos generally refers to the broad, structured Word of God, the full revelation. Rhema emphasizes a spoken, declared word. It is the message proclaimed.
So the structure of the verse literally reads like this:
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the proclaimed message about Christ.
Many manuscripts actually read “the word of Christ” instead of “the word of God,” and the meaning fits the context perfectly. The message about Christ produces faith.
This is critical.
Faith is not self-generated positivity.
Faith is not wishful thinking.
Faith is not hype music or emotional atmosphere.
Faith is the result of exposure to revealed truth about Jesus Christ.
When the gospel is clearly proclaimed, something supernatural happens. The Spirit of God uses that truth to awaken conviction inside the listener.
Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is living and powerful. It is not static information. It is active.
This verse also destroys a common mistake. You cannot starve yourself of Scripture and expect strong faith. If faith comes by hearing the proclaimed Word, then a lack of intake leads to a lack of growth.
No Word. No fuel. No faith.
If you want deeper faith, saturate yourself in Scripture. Read it. Hear it taught accurately. Study it. Meditate on it. Speak it. Faith grows in the soil of truth.
And here is the bigger picture.
Paul’s entire argument in Romans 10 is about mission. People cannot believe if they do not hear. They cannot hear unless someone speaks. This verse is not just about personal devotion. It is about evangelism.
Someone’s eternal destiny is connected to whether the message is proclaimed.
Faith does not fall from the sky.
It is ignited by the gospel.
Romans 10:17 is not a cliché. It is the engine room of salvation and spiritual growth.
If your faith feels weak, do not chase feelings. Chase truth.
Truth produces faith.
✠ Sir John Scivoletti ✠
✠ Turco Joan of Arc Priory ✠
✠✠Act and God will Act (Actus et Deus Act)✠✠
