Romans 10:1-21

II. Proof that the Jews were Excluded through their Unbelief.

The section may be divided into four paragraphs:

The Jews with all their religious zeal failed to recognize (1.) Christ as the end of the law (Romans 10:1-4); (2.) the gratuitous character of salvation (Romans 10:5-11); (3.) the universal character of salvation (Romans 10:12-18); and (4.) all of these things together with their rebellion had been prophesied (Romans 10:19-21). The last paragraph contains the direct application to the Jews. ‘They could not excuse themselves by this, that God had not done His part to make humanity know the gospel, or that it had not reached them, or that they could not have seen what their conduct in regard to it and God's dealings with the Gentiles would be' (Tholuck).

The argument is very concise, sometimes obscure, but there is general agreement that the responsibility of the Jews is proven from the Old Testament Scriptures, which point to salvation in Christ as by faith and hence universal, so that unbelief is the ground of rejection. The evangelical purpose of the Old Testament is implied throughout, and the Scripture citations assume that ‘Christ is the end of the law' (Romans 10:4) in its typical and prophetical significance.

The section opens with an expression of Paul's affection for his nation, an echo of chap. Romans 9:1-5, and with his testimony to their religious zeal which, however, did not prevent them from refusing Christ and His gratuitous and universal salvation, offered to all who believe. Despite their zeal, their unbelief must exclude them. The argument is carried out without any reference to the supposed conflict with the position taken in chap. Romans 9:6-29.