What does Romans 10:10 mean?

Explanation

Romans 10:10 is a foundational verse for Christian soteriology, the study of salvation.

Literally, the verse sets forth the concept that belief and confession are two complementary aspects of gaining righteousness and salvation in Christian faith.

The "heart" is symbolic of the inner self or the seat of emotions and intentions.

When the verse speaks of believing "with the heart," it refers to a deep, genuine, and personal conviction in the truth of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection provide the means for humans to be made right (righteous) before God.

The second part of the verse, "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation," emphasizes the importance of openly acknowledging this belief.

Verbal confession is seen as the outward expression of inner faith.

Both belief and confession together complete the process by which a person is considered just in the eyes of God and so obtains salvation.

Historical Context

Romans 10:10 is part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the early Christian community in Rome around AD 57.

The church in Rome was composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, which often led to a tension over Jewish law and customs in relation to the new faith in Christ.

Paul wrote this letter to address such issues and to set forth the doctrine of justification by faith apart from the works of the Law (of Moses), which was a fundamental point of contention between Jewish Christians and Gentile converts.

Theological Insights

This verse encapsulates two important theological principles in Christian doctrine:

1. Justification by Faith: It supports the idea that righteousness with God is granted on the basis of faith, not by adherence to the Law or by human works.

It is an individual's faith in Christ's redemptive work that justifies them before God.

1. Confession: It also reflects the notion that faith, while personal, is not meant to be private. Open confession of Jesus as Lord is both a declaration of allegiance and a public statement of belief.

Different denominations interpret the verse somewhat differently.

While most agree on the necessity of faith for salvation, some emphasize the role of confession more than others. For example, evangelical Christianity stresses the importance of a public declaration of faith as essential in the process of salvation.

Practical Applications

The teaching of Romans 10:10 can be applied in daily life by:

• Encouraging believers to be vocal and unashamed about their faith.
• Reminding believers that faith is both an internal conviction and an external profession.
• Serving as a foundation for evangelical efforts, where the sharing of one's faith with others is seen as an expression of true belief.

Cross-References

• 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."
• Matthew 10:32 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
• Luke 12:8 - "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

• "Heart" (καρδίᾳ - kardia): Can refer to the physical organ but is often used metaphorically for the seat of physical, spiritual, and mental life.
• "Believeth" (πιστεύεται - pisteuetai): The verb form of "faith" (πίστις - pistis), meaning to trust in, to have confidence in.
• "Righteousness" (εἰς δικαιοσύνην - eis dikaiosynēn): Refers to the state of being right, just, or as it ought to be, especially in relation to God.
• "Confession is made" (ὁμολογίᾳ - homologia): Meaning to say the same thing as another, to agree with, admit, or declare openly.
• "Salvation" (εἰς σωτηρίαν - eis sōtērian): Deliverance or safety, both in a physical and spiritual sense, often used to refer to the deliverance from sin and its consequences.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader religious context, the idea of confession appears in various forms. In some traditions, such as certain sects of Judaism and Islam, confession is made ritually to God or in the presence of a religious leader.

However, the Christian concept as reflected in Romans 10:10 is unique in its emphasis on confessing a specific belief (in Christ) as a requirement for salvation.

Scientific Perspectives

While the concepts of belief, confession, and salvation are inherently theological and do not lend themselves to scientific validation or analysis, contemporary psychology does study phenomena related to belief and behavior.

Psychologists might explore how verbalizing one's beliefs (confession) can reinforce those beliefs and how communal reinforcement (e.g., within a church setting) could contribute to the persistence of those beliefs.

However, this is a different domain of inquiry than the theological claims made in Romans 10:10.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have extensively commented on Romans 10:10:

• John Stott, a leading evangelical voice, emphasized the need for internal faith to manifest in external confession, seeing this as key to Christian witness.
• The Matthew Henry Commentary interprets this verse as simplifying the path to salvation, stating that the heart and the mouth are made use of as the soul's agents in justification and salvation.
• The New International Commentary on the New Testament suggests that Paul is countering a potential objection that the message he is proclaiming is difficult, by demonstrating that right-standing before God is as near as one's own mouth and heart.