Romans 10:16 (KJV)

Passage

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Nearby Context

Romans 10:14 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?

Romans 10:15 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!

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:18 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "obeyed", "gospel", "esaias", "saith", "lord", "hath", "believed", and "report". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "obeyed" and "gospel", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "And how shall they preach except they..." into verse 17's "So then faith cometh by hearing and...", so "obeyed" and "gospel" 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 "obeyed" and "gospel" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.