Romans 10:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For {G1063} with the heart {G2588} man believeth {G4100} unto {G1519} righteousness {G1343}; and {G1161} with the mouth {G4750} confession is made {G3670} unto {G1519} salvation {G4991}.

For with the heart one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance.

For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Commentary on Romans 10:10 (KJV)

Romans 10:10 is a pivotal verse in Paul's explanation of salvation, building upon the preceding verse to clarify the two-fold nature of genuine faith. It succinctly describes the internal conviction and external declaration that lead to a right standing with God and ultimate deliverance.

Context

This verse is situated within Romans chapters 9-11, where the Apostle Paul addresses the relationship between Israel and the Gentile believers concerning God's plan of salvation. Having established in Romans 10:9 that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection, verse 10 elaborates on the mechanism: the belief of the heart and the confession of the mouth. Paul emphasizes that God's righteousness is available to all who believe, contrasting it with the Law's demands that Israel sought to fulfill by works (Romans 10:3).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Heart-Belief unto Righteousness: The verse highlights that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, internal conviction of the "heart" (kardia in Greek). This term signifies the core of a person's being—their mind, will, and emotions. It is this profound belief in God's provision through Christ that leads to being declared righteous by God, a state of right standing with Him, not earned by works but freely given through faith (Romans 3:22, Ephesians 2:8-9).
  • Mouth-Confession unto Salvation: The internal belief is then outwardly expressed through "confession" (homologia), meaning to speak the same thing as, or openly declare. This public acknowledgment of faith in Jesus Christ is the necessary external manifestation of the internal change. It is not merely a formality but a vital step that confirms the heart's belief and leads to the fullness of "salvation" (sōtēria), which encompasses deliverance from sin's penalty and power, preservation, and wholeness.
  • Inseparable Connection: The verse uses "For" (Gar) to link the two clauses, showing they are intrinsically connected. Genuine faith involves both the inner conviction and the outer declaration. One validates the other; a truly believing heart will naturally lead to a confessing mouth (Luke 6:45).

Linguistic Insights

  • "Heart" (kardia): In biblical anthropology, the heart is not just the seat of emotions but the center of one's entire inner life—intellect, will, and moral character. Thus, "believeth with the heart" implies a complete, volitional trust.
  • "Believeth" (pisteuō): This Greek verb means to put one's trust in, to rely upon, to be persuaded of. It denotes active commitment, not passive intellectual agreement.
  • "Righteousness" (dikaiosynē): Refers to God's attribute of justice and the state of being declared just or right by God. It's an imputed righteousness, a gift of God through faith in Christ.
  • "Confession" (homologia): Derived from homo (same) and logos (word), it means to speak the same word, to agree with, to openly acknowledge. It implies an alignment of one's words with God's truth, often in a public context (Matthew 10:32).
  • "Salvation" (sōtēria): This broad term signifies deliverance, preservation, safety, and wholeness. It encompasses spiritual, physical, and eternal well-being.

Practical Application

Romans 10:10 provides a clear pathway to salvation that remains relevant today. It teaches us that:

  • Authenticity Matters: True faith is not superficial. It begins with a deep, personal conviction within the heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.
  • Faith is Active: This internal belief is meant to be expressed outwardly. For believers, this means openly acknowledging Christ as Lord in their lives, sharing their faith, and living in a way that testifies to their allegiance to Him.
  • Salvation is Accessible: This verse underscores the simplicity and accessibility of God's plan of salvation. It is not based on complicated rituals or unattainable works, but on the genuine belief of the heart and the confession of the mouth. This truth should empower believers to share the Gospel with confidence, knowing that God has made the way of salvation clear for all who would embrace it.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 John 4:15

    Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

  • Romans 10:9

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

  • Galatians 2:16

    Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

  • John 1:12

    But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

  • John 1:13

    Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

  • John 3:19

    And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

  • John 3:21

    But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

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