Romans 10:14 (ASV)

Passage

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Nearby Context

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:

Romans 10:13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shall", "call", "believed", and "heard". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shall" and "call", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "for Whosoever shall call upon the name..." into verse 15's "and how shall they preach except they...", so "shall" and "call" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "shall" and "call" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.