Study Desk

What should we say then?^(bd) Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith.^(be)

But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness,^(bf) has not achieved the righteousness of the law.^[v](bg)

Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.^[w] They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^(bh)

As it is written: Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over, yet the one who believes on Him ^(bi) will not be put to shame. ^(bj)[x]

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them^[a] is for their salvation!

I can testify about them that they have zeal for God,^(a) but not according to knowledge.

Because they disregarded the righteousness from God^(b) and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness.

For Christ is the end^[b] of the law for righteousness^(c) to everyone who believes.^(d)

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them. ^(e)[c]

But the righteousness that comes from faith^(f) speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up to heaven?" ^(g)[d] that is, to bring Christ down

or, "Who will go down into the abyss?" ^(h)[e] that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.⁽ⁱ⁾

On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. ^(j)[f] This is the message of faith that we proclaim:

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"^(k) and believe in your heart^(l) that God raised Him from the dead,^(m) you will be saved.

One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, ^(n)[g]

for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,^(o) since the same Lord^(p) of all^(q) is rich to all who call on Him.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ^(r)[h]

But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him?^(s) And how can they hear without a preacher?^(t)

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful ^[i] are the feet of those ^[j] who announce the gospel of good things! ^(u)[k]

But all did not obey the gospel.^(v) For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? ^(w)[l]

So faith comes from what is heard,^(x) and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.^[m](y)

But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world. ^(z)[n]

But I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" First, Moses said: I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; ^(aa) I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding. ^(ab)[o]

And Isaiah says boldly: I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me. ^(ac)[p]

But to Israel he says: All day long I have spread out My hands to a disobedient and defiant people. ^(ad)[q]