Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
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Learn about the sources and coverage →Brothers and sisters, my heart's deepest desire and my prayer to God is that my fellow Israelites would be saved.1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Ἀδελφοί, ἡ μὲν εὐδοκία τῆς ἐμῆς καρδίας καὶ ἡ δέησις ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν.
Adelphoi, hē men eudokia tēs emēs kardias kai hē deēsis hē pros ton theon hyper tou Israēl estin eis sōtērian.
I can testify that they are deeply devoted to God, but their zeal is not guided by a true understanding of His righteousness.2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Μαρτυρῶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὅτι ζῆλον θεοῦ ἔχουσιν, ἀλλ’ οὐ κατ’ ἐπίγνωσιν.
Martyrō gar autois hoti zēlon theou echousin, all’ ou kat’ epignōsin.
Because they did not understand the righteousness that comes from God, they tried to establish their own righteousness instead, refusing to submit to the righteousness God provides.3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Ἀγνοοῦντες γὰρ τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην, καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν δικαιοσύνην ζητοῦντες στῆσαι, τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ὑπετάγησαν.
Agnoountes gar tēn tou theou dikaiosynēn, kai tēn idian dikaiosynēn zētountes stēsai, tē dikaiosynē tou theou ouch hypetagēsan.
For Christ is the fulfillment and goal of the Law, bringing righteousness to everyone who believes in Him.4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Τέλος γὰρ νόμου χριστὸς εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι.
Telos gar nomou christos eis dikaiosynēn panti tō pisteuonti.
Moses wrote about righteousness based on the Law: “The person who obeys these commandments will live by them.”5
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Μωϋσῆς γὰρ γράφει τὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου, ὅτι ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς.
Mōysēs gar graphei tēn dikaiosynēn tēn ek tou nomou, hoti ho poiēsas auta anthrōpos zēsetai en autois.
But the righteousness that comes through faith speaks differently: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” —as though someone needed to bring Christ down to us.6
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Ἡ δὲ ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοσύνη οὕτως λέγει, Μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, Τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν;—τοῦτ’ ἔστιν χριστὸν καταγαγεῖν—
Hē de ek pisteōs dikaiosynē houtōs legei, Mē eipēs en tē kardia sou, Tis anabēsetai eis ton ouranon?—tout’ estin christon katagagein—
“Or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” —as though someone needed to bring Christ up from the dead.
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
ἤ, Τίς καταβήσεται εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον;—τοῦτ’ ἔστιν χριστὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναγαγεῖν.
ē, Tis katabēsetai eis tēn abysson?—tout’ estin christon ek nekrōn anagagein.
But what does Scripture say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the message of faith that we proclaim.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει; Ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· τοῦτ’ ἔστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν·
Alla ti legei? Engys sou to rhēma estin, en tō stomati sou kai en tē kardia sou; tout’ estin to rhēma tēs pisteōs ho kēryssomen;
If you openly confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.7
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
ὅτι ἐὰν ὁμολογήσῃς ἐν τῷ στόματί σου κύριον Ἰησοῦν, καὶ πιστεύσῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ὅτι ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν, σωθήσῃ·
hoti ean homologēsēs en tō stomati sou kyrion Iēsoun, kai pisteusēs en tē kardia sou hoti ho theos auton ēgeiren ek nekrōn, sōthēsē;
For it is with the heart that a person believes and is made righteous before God, and with the mouth that a person openly confesses that faith and is saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
καρδίᾳ γὰρ πιστεύεται εἰς δικαιοσύνην, στόματι δὲ ὁμολογεῖται εἰς σωτηρίαν.
kardia gar pisteuetai eis dikaiosynēn, stomati de homologeitai eis sōtērian.
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”8
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή, Πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ’ αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται.
Legei gar hē graphē, Pas ho pisteuōn ep’ autō ou kataischynthēsetai.
There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, because the same Lord is Lord over everyone, generously blessing all who call upon Him.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν διαστολὴ Ἰουδαίου τε καὶ Ἕλληνος· ὁ γὰρ αὐτὸς κύριος πάντων, πλουτῶν εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους αὐτόν.
Ou gar estin diastolē Ioudaiou te kai Hellēnos; ho gar autos kyrios pantōn, ploutōn eis pantas tous epikaloumenous auton.
For Scripture declares, “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Πᾶς γὰρ ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου σωθήσεται.
Pas gar hos an epikalesētai to onoma kyriou sōthēsetai.
But how can people call upon the Lord if they have not believed in Him? And how can they believe in someone they have never heard about? And how can they hear unless someone tells them?9
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Πῶς οὖν ἐπικαλέσονται εἰς ὃν οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν; Πῶς δὲ πιστεύσουσιν οὗ οὐκ ἤκουσαν; Πῶς δὲ ἀκούσουσιν χωρὶς κηρύσσοντος;
Pōs oun epikalesontai eis hon ouk episteusan? Pōs de pisteusousin hou ouk ēkousan? Pōs de akousousin chōris kēryssontos?
And how can anyone proclaim the message unless they are sent? Just as Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Πῶς δὲ κηρύξουσιν ἐὰν μὴ ἀποσταλῶσιν; Καθὼς γέγραπται, Ὡς ὡραῖοι οἱ πόδες τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων εἰρήνην, τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων τὰ ἀγαθά.
Pōs de kēryxousin ean mē apostalōsin? Kathōs gegraptai, Hōs hōraioi hoi podes tōn euangelizomenōn eirēnēn, tōn euangelizomenōn ta agatha.
Yet not everyone has obeyed the Good News. For Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed our message?”10
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντες ὑπήκουσαν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. Ἠσαΐας γὰρ λέγει, Κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν;
All’ ou pantes hypēkousan tō euangeliō. Ēsaias gar legei, Kyrie, tis episteusen tē akoē hēmōn?
So faith comes from hearing the message, and that message comes through the Word of God.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Ἄρα ἡ πίστις ἐξ ἀκοῆς, ἡ δὲ ἀκοὴ διὰ ῥήματος θεοῦ.
Ara hē pistis ex akoēs, hē de akoē dia rhēmatos theou.
But I ask, have they not heard? Of course they have! As Scripture declares, “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”11
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Ἀλλὰ λέγω, μὴ οὐκ ἤκουσαν; Μενοῦνγε· Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς τὰ πέρατα τῆς οἰκουμένης τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν.
Alla legō, mē ouk ēkousan? Menounge; Eis pasan tēn gēn exēlthen ho phthongos autōn, kai eis ta perata tēs oikoumenēs ta rhēmata autōn.
Then I ask, did Israel fail to understand? Moses was the first to declare God's warning: “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will provoke your anger through a nation without understanding.”12
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Ἀλλὰ λέγω, μὴ οὐκ ἔγνω Ἰσραήλ; Πρῶτος Μωϋσῆς λέγει, Ἐγὼ παραζηλώσω ὑμᾶς ἐπ’ οὐκ ἔθνει, ἐπὶ ἔθνει ἀσυνέτῳ παροργιῶ ὑμᾶς.
Alla legō, mē ouk egnō Israēl? Prōtos Mōysēs legei, Egō parazēlōsō hymas ep’ ouk ethnei, epi ethnei asynetō parorgiō hymas.
And Isaiah boldly declares, “I was found by those who were not seeking Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me.”
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Ἠσαΐας δὲ ἀποτολμᾷ καὶ λέγει, Εὑρέθην τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ζητοῦσιν, ἐμφανὴς ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ἐπερωτῶσιν.
Ēsaias de apotolma kai legei, Heurethēn tois eme mē zētousin, emphanēs egenomēn tois eme mē eperōtōsin.
But concerning Israel, God says, “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people who refuse to obey and continually oppose Me.”
But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Πρὸς δὲ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ λέγει, Ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐξεπέτασα τὰς χεῖράς μου πρὸς λαὸν ἀπειθοῦντα καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα.
Pros de ton Israēl legei, Holēn tēn hēmeran exepetasa tas cheiras mou pros laon apeithounta kai antilegonta.