A.T. Robertson Commentary Romans 10

Desire (ευδοκια). No papyri examples of this word, though ευδοκησις occurs, only in LXX and N.T., but no example for "desire" unless this is one, though the verb ευδοκεω is common in Polybius, Diodorus, Dion, Hal. It means will, pleasure, satisfaction (Matthew 11:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:5,9).

Supplication (δεησις). Late word from δεομα, to want, to beg, to pray. In the papyri. See Lu 1:13. It is noteworthy that, immediately after the discussion of the rejection of Christ by the Jews, Paul prays so earnestly for the Jews "that they may be saved" (εις σωτηριαν), literally "unto salvation." Clearly Paul did not feel that the case was hopeless for them in spite of their conduct. Bengel says: Non orasset Paul si absolute reprobati essent (Paul would not have prayed if they had been absolutely reprobate). Paul leaves God's problem to him and pours out his prayer for the Jews in accordance with his strong words in 9:1-5.

A zeal for God (ζηλον θεου). Objective genitive like Php 3:9, "through faith in Christ" (δια πιστεως Χριστου).

But not according to knowledge (αλλ' ου κατ' επιγνωσιν). They had knowledge of God and so were superior to the Gentiles in privilege (2:9-11), but they sought God in an external way by rules and rites and missed him (9:30-33). They became zealous for the letter and the form instead of for God himself.

Being ignorant of God's righteousness (αγνοουντες την του θεου δικαιοσυνην). A blunt thing to say, but true as Paul has shown in 2:1-3:20. They did not understand the Godkind of righteousness by faith (1:17). They misconceived it (2:4).

They did not subject themselves (ουχ υπεταγησαν). Second aorist passive indicative of υποτασσω, common Koine verb, to put oneself under orders, to obey, here the passive in sense of the middle (James 4:7) like απεκριθην, I answered.

The end of the law (τελος νομου). Christ put a stop to the law as a means of salvation (6:14; 9:31; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14) as in Lu 16:16. Christ is the goal or aim of the law (Galatians 3:24). Christ is the fulfilment of the law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 13:10; 1 Timothy 1:5). But here (Denney) Paul's main idea is that Christ ended the law as a method of salvation for "every one that believeth" whether Jew or Gentile. Christ wrote finis on law as a means of grace.

Thereby (εν αυτη). That is by or in "the righteousness that is from law." He stands or falls with it. The quotation is from Le 18:5.