Romans 10:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Rather, I speak of a lofty hearing: "and hearing by the word of God." The preachers did not speak their own things, but proclaimed what they learned from God. This is much higher than miracles. God, when He speaks and when He performs miracles, must equally be believed and obeyed, because works and miracles are produced by His word. Thus heaven and all else came into being.

The second is one of the gracious gifts of the Spirit. One must know that through Baptism we put off the whole covering that lay upon us from birth, and receive the name of spiritual Israelites and people of God. Faith is from hearing. For when we hear the divine Scripture, we believe the teaching of the Spirit. Faith is perfected by all the ordinances of Christ, that is, when we truly believe, honoring and fulfilling the commandments of Him who renews us. But whoever believes contrary to the tradition of the universal Church, or through improper deeds communes with the devil, does not have faith.

"Again I ask: did Israel not know?" (Rom 10:19). He again answers in the prophetic words of Moses and Isaiah. The first foretold the faith of the Gentiles, and that this faith would arouse jealousy among the Jews. Such jealousy is plainly impossible without understanding.

The second, while proclaiming the faith of the Gentiles, speaks directly of the unbelief of the Jews. He does not say that they would fail to understand the preaching of the Gospel (Rom 10:19-21).

The Apostle gives these answers, in the very words of the prophets, to the questions set forth above. His purpose is to make the Hebrews feel more sharply the danger of their moral state, and of their God-opposing resistance to the Gospel preaching.

Isaiah's prophecy about the swift feet of those who preach peace refers directly to the Apostles. In the prophecy it further speaks of the reign of the Lord and the spread of divine salvation throughout the whole universe (Isa 52:10). "Do you see," says Saint John Chrysostom, "how by the very manner of preaching the Apostle proves that they are preachers, foreseen and sent? The Apostles, going around the universe, proclaimed nothing other than ineffable blessings and the peace of God with men. Therefore, if salvation depends on calling, calling on faith, faith on hearing, and hearing on preaching, and if the Apostles were sent and preached, then it is clear that unbelief is the Jews' own fault. On God's part everything has been done." "The Jews again raise a new objection, saying: if the Apostles were sent by God, then all ought to have obeyed them. The Prophet foretold this also from of old. What are you saying? he asked. Is it this, that not all obeyed the Gospel? But Isaiah foretold this long ago. More precisely, he foretold not only this, but something much greater. What exactly? 'Lord, who has believed our report?'" That is, very few. Since the Jews constantly sought miracles, desired to see the Resurrection, and many eagerly demanded this, the Apostle says: "hearing is by the word of God." The preachers did not speak their own things, but proclaimed what they had heard from God. This is much higher than miracles. God, when He speaks and when He works wonders, must equally be believed and obeyed, because works and miracles are produced by His word. But perhaps, although the word of the Lord was proclaimed, the Hebrews did not hear it? Explaining the Apostle's answer to this, given in the Psalmist's comparative words, "Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth," blessed Theodoret observes: "Was it possible for the Jews not to hear, when the Gentiles heard in the whole universe? The preachers of truth proclaimed the preaching first to the Jews. For the Lord Himself said to them, 'Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Mt 10:6). And in the Acts of the Apostles it is said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first' (Acts 13:46)." It remains to suppose that the Hebrews heard the Gospel preaching but did not understand it or feel it. From this side also, as is clear from what follows, they could have no excuse, because they knew and understood everything in Christianity, but persisted in obstinacy.

Let them work signs and wonders everywhere and openly. Then it would be easy to believe. The Apostle answers: miracles and signs are not the natural attribute of the Gospel. The natural way is this: one sent from God comes as an evangelist, proclaims the word of God, and those who have the capacity to sense that the word of God is truly being proclaimed here believe. Miracles and signs are not in our power. God works them, though through us, but not according to our will. He works them where and how it is pleasing to His holy will. Therefore it is unjust to demand signs and wonders from evangelists as something necessary. They have received the word of God and place it into the hearing through the Gospel. Let those who hear believe, if they are of faith. This is all. Demand nothing more. "The believer, receiving the divine words, brings forth faith as the fruit of hearing" (blessed Theodoret). Saint Chrysostom speaks thus about this: "After he cited the words of the Prophet and removed the disturbance by them, the Apostle, quite justly basing himself on this testimony, says, 'So then faith comes by hearing.' And this was not said without purpose. Since the Jews constantly sought miracles, desired to see the Resurrection, and many eagerly demanded this, the Apostle says: the Prophet announced that our faith must arise from hearing. This very thing the Apostle proves beforehand, saying, 'So then faith comes by hearing.' And since this seemed insignificant, see how he strengthens his discourse. I did not speak about ordinary hearing, he continues, nor about hearing human speeches and believing them. On the contrary, I speak of a lofty hearing: 'and hearing by the word of God.' The preachers did not speak their own things, but proclaimed what they had heard from God. This is much higher than miracles. God, when He speaks and when He works wonders, must equally be believed and obeyed, because works and miracles are produced by His word. Thus heaven and all else were made."