Romans 10:17 (GNV)

Passage

Then faith is by hearing, and hearing by the worde of God.

Nearby Context

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, Howe beautifull are the feete of them which bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:16 But they haue not all obeyed ye Gospel: for Esaias saith, Lord, who hath beleeued our report?

Romans 10:17 Then faith is by hearing, and hearing by the worde of God.

Romans 10:18 But I demaund, Haue they not heard? No doubt their sound went out through all the earth, and their wordes into the endes of the worlde.

Romans 10:19 But I demaund, Did not Israel knowe God? First Moses sayth, I will prouoke you to enuie by a nation that is not my nation, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "But they haue not all obeyed ye..." into verse 18's "But I demaund Haue they not heard...", so "faith" and "hearing" 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 "faith" and "hearing" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.