Romans 10:17

So then faith, &c. In this verse, which forms a parenthesis of thought, St Paul uses the quotation just made in a new reference; not now to the fact of unbelief, but to the means of faith. Isaiah's words imply that the "report" of Messiah's messengers was the appointed means for the conveyance of faith ("who hath believed?") in Messiah. But this faith was (see above, Romans 10:11,) for Gentiles as well as Jews. Therefore Gentiles as well as Jews must have the "report" carried to them.

hearing Same word in Gr. as that rendered report just above. See margin of E. V.

by the word of God i.e. either "by His order," or "by(the delivery of) His message;" "by the utterance of truth from and about Him." The latter is on the whole more likely, both grammatically and by the context, where the necessity of evangelization is the main point. A various reading, but not decisively supported, is "by the word of Christ."