Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 10:17

"So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." — Romans 10:17 (ASV)

But here an element of tragedy enters. The good news of physical restoration may have been welcome to Israel, but the spiritual salvation God promised to provide through his Servant and did provide in the fullness of time has met with unbelief. What a change of atmosphere from Paul’s quotation of Isa 52:7 in v.15 to his quotation of Isa 53:1 in v.16! The prophet foresaw a repudiation of the message about salvation through a suffering Servant. History has sustained prophecy (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Paul sums up by saying that faith depends on hearing and understanding the message. “And the message is heard through the word of Christ.” This can mean either “the word about Christ” or “the word proclaimed by Christ” (the former is more likely).