Romans 10:18

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

But {G235} I say {G3004}, Have {G191} they not {G3378} heard {G191}? Yes verily {G3304}, their {G846} sound {G5353} went {G1831} into {G1519} all {G3956} the earth {G1093}, and {G2532} their {G846} words {G4487} unto {G1519} the ends {G4009} of the world {G3625}.

“But, I say, isn’t it rather that they didn’t hear?” No, they did hear —

“Their voice has gone out throughout the whole world
and their words to the ends of the earth.”

But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

Context

Romans 10:18 is a pivotal verse within Paul's extended discourse on the relationship between Israel and the Gospel of Christ. Leading up to this, Paul has underscored the critical role of hearing the message of salvation for faith to be born (Romans 10:14-17). He poses a rhetorical question, "Have they not heard?" – referring to Israel's exposure to the Gospel. Verse 18 then provides his emphatic answer, drawing on Old Testament scripture to powerfully affirm that the divine message, now manifested in the Gospel, has indeed been universally proclaimed.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Universal Proclamation of the Gospel: The core message is that the "sound" and "words" of the Gospel have reached "all the earth" and "the ends of the world." This signifies the boundless reach and accessibility of God's message, suggesting that the opportunity to hear and respond has been extended globally.
  • Divine Witness and Creation's Testimony: By quoting Psalm 19:4, Paul connects the universal testimony of creation (as described in Psalm 19:1-3) to the universal witness of the Gospel. Just as the natural world silently but powerfully declares God's glory to all humanity, so too has the explicit message of Christ gone forth to every corner.
  • Human Responsibility and Accountability: The implication of this widespread proclamation is profound: unbelief is not due to a lack of hearing. If the message has reached them, then the issue lies with a refusal to believe or obey, highlighting human accountability before God. This resonates with Paul's earlier argument in Romans 1:20, where humanity is without excuse for not knowing God through creation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world" is a direct quotation from Psalm 19:4 in the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament. In Psalm 19, the "sound" (Greek: phthongos) and "words" (Greek: rhemata) primarily refer to the silent but powerful testimony of the heavens and creation proclaiming God's glory without actual speech. Paul's ingenious application of this verse to the Gospel indicates that the spoken, audible proclamation of Christ's message is as universal and undeniable in its reach as the silent witness of the cosmos itself.

Practical Application

Romans 10:18 offers enduring insights for believers today:

  • Assurance of God's Sovereign Reach: It reminds us that God's desire is for all people to hear the Gospel, and He actively ensures its widespread dissemination. The message is not limited by human barriers.
  • Motivation for Evangelism: While the verse affirms the past and ongoing spread of the Gospel, it also implicitly charges believers to continue this vital work. We are the "feet" of those who preach the good news (Romans 10:15), called to participate in this universal proclamation.
  • Understanding Unbelief: For many, unbelief is not a result of ignorance of the Gospel but often a deliberate rejection or hardening of the heart. This understanding should lead us to persistent prayer and loving, clear witness, rather than assuming people simply haven't heard.
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.

  • Psalms 19:4

    Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

  • Matthew 24:14

    And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

  • Romans 1:8

    ¶ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:8

    For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

  • Colossians 1:23

    If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

  • Colossians 1:6

    Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you, since the day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth:

  • Mark 16:15

    And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

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