Romans 10:17: faith comes by hearing

c. 198–203 · Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 2.6

You see how he brings faith by hearing, and the preaching of the apostles, up to the word of the Lord, and to the Son of God. We do not yet understand the word of the Lord to be demonstration. As, then, playing at ball not only depends on one throwing the ball skilfully, but it requires besides one to catch it dexterously, that the game may be gone through according to the rules for ball; so also is it the case that teaching is reliable when faith on the part of those who hear, being, so to speak, a sort of natural art, contributes to the process of learning. So also the earth co-operates, through its productive power, being fit for the sowing of the seed. For there is no good of the very best instruction without the exercise of the receptive faculty on the part of the learner, not even of prophecy, when there is the absence of docility on the part of those who hear.

1520 · Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty text

Returning to the subject which we had begun, I think it is made clear by these considerations that it is not sufficient, nor a Christian course, to preach the works, life, and words of Christ in a historic manner, as facts which it suffices to know as an example how to frame our life; as do those who are now held the best preachers: and much less so, to keep silence altogether on these things, and to teach in their stead the laws of men and the decrees of the Fathers. There are now not a few persons who preach and read about Christ with the object of moving the human affections to sympathise with Christ, to indignation against the Jews, and other childish and womanish absurdities of that kind. Now preaching ought to have the object of promoting faith in Him, so that He may not only be Christ, but a Christ for you and for me, and that what is said of Him, and what He is called, may work in us. And this faith is produced and is maintained by preaching why Christ came, what He has brought us and given to us, and to what profit and advantage He is to be received.

1520 · Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty text

The voice of the law should be brought forward, that men may be terrified and brought to a knowledge of their sins, and thence be converted to penitence and to a better manner of life. But we must not stop here; that would be to wound only and not to bind up, to strike and not to heal, to kill and not to make alive, to bring down to hell and not to bring back, to humble and not to exalt. Therefore the word of grace, and of the promised remission of sin, must also be preached, in order to teach and set up faith; since, without that word, contrition, penitence, and all other duties, are performed and taught in vain. There still remain, it is true, preachers of repentance and grace, but they do not explain the law and the promises of God to such an end, and in such a spirit, that men may learn whence repentance and grace are to come. For repentance comes from the law of God, but faith or grace from the promises of God, as it is said: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. x. 17.) Whence it comes, that a man, when humbled and brought to the knowledge of himself by the threatenings and terrors of the law, is consoled and raised up by faith in the Divine promise.

1530 · Philip Melanchthon, The Augsburg Confession 5

That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake.

1552 · John Calvin, Commentary on Acts, part 1 (chapters 1-13) 10.5

As when Christ appeared to Paul by a vision, he set, notwithstanding, Ananias to teach him, that he might by such an example establish the ministry of the preaching of the gospel, which he committed to his Church; so now the angel giveth place to Peter, that he may execute the office committed unto him by Christ. Therefore, whosoever will be the disciple of Christ, and be illuminated by the (heavenly) light of the heavenly wisdom, let him not grudge to use attentiveness and docility toward the external voice of men, which Christ useth as an instrument, and whereunto he will have our faith annexed. And we see how sore God hath punished their furious pride, who, contemning preaching, have looked for revelations from heaven. For since God will be heard in men, the ministers to whom he hath given his word cannot be contemned without contempt and reproach of him. Nevertheless, I confess that the spirits must be proved, (1 John 4:1,) that we hear not without choice whosoever do pretend that they are ministers of Christ. But because faith cometh by hearing, (Romans 10:17,) no man shall attain thereunto which shall refuse and despise the word when it is preached,

1563 · Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus (Heidelberg theologians), The Heidelberg Catechism 65

Q. It is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his benefits: where then does that faith come from? A. The Holy Spirit works it in our hearts by the preaching of the holy gospel, and confirms it by the use of the holy sacraments.

1566 · Heinrich Bullinger, The Second Helvetic Confession 1

For he that illuminates inwardly by giving men the Holy Spirit, the self-same, by way of commandment, said unto his disciples, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15). And so Paul preached the Word outwardly to Lydia, a purple-seller among the Philippians; but the Lord inwardly opened the woman’s heart (Acts 16:14). And the same Paul, upon an elegant gradation fitly placed in Romans 10, at last infers, ‘Therefore faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’ (Romans 10:14-17). We know, in the mean time, that God can illuminate whom and when he will, even without the external ministry, which is a thing appertaining to his power; but we speak of the usual way of instructing men, delivered unto us from God, both by commandment and examples.

1655–1662 · William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour Part 16. Direction Twelfth. The Duty of every Christian in complete Armour to aid by

The gospel itself saves not, except it be made known. ‘If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost,’ II Cor. 4:3. Where God sends no light, he intends no love. In bodily sickness a physician may make a cure, though his patient knows not what the medicine is that he useth. But the soul must know its remedy before he can have any healing benefit from it. John is sent ‘to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,’ Luke 1:77. No knowledge, no remission. Christ must be lift up on the pole of the gospel, as well as on the tree of the cross, that by an eye of faith we may look on him, and so be healed, John 3:14. ‘Look unto me, and be ye saved,’ Isa. 45:22. A man that sees may lead another that is bodily blind to the place he would go. But he that would go to heaven must have an eye in his own head to see his way, or else he will never come there. ‘The just shall live by his faith,’ Hab. 2:4, not by another’s. A proxy faith is bootless. Now saving faith is a grace that sees her object; it is ‘the evidence of things not seen,’ Heb. 11:1; that is, which are not seen by sense. ‘I know,’ saith Paul, ‘whom I have believed,’ II Tim. 1:12. Therefore faith is oft set out by knowledge: ‘And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent,’ John 17:3. Now, how can they know Christ and life eternal, till the gospel be made known, which bringeth him and life by him to light? II Tim. 1:10. And by whom shall the gospel be made known if not by the ministers of it? Thus far the apostle drives it: ‘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?’ Rom. 10:14. So that this great work lies at the minister’s door.

1674 · John Owen, Pneumatologia, or a Discourse Concerning the Holy Spirit (Books I-V) 3.2

First, There are some things required of us in a way of duty in order unto our regeneration, which are so in the power of our own natural abilities as that nothing but corrupt prejudices and stubbornness in sinning do keep or hinder men from the performance of them. And these we may reduce unto two heads:— 1. An outward attendance unto the dispensation of the word of God, with those other external means of grace which accompany it or are appointed therein. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” Rom. x. 17; that is, it is hearing the word of God which is the ordinary means of ingenerating faith in the souls of men.

1692 · Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer 2

True faith is wrought by the ministry of the word. ‘Faith comes by hearing.’

1710–1714 · Matthew Henry, Commentary on John 4.27-42

In this instance we may see how faith comes by hearing. [1.] Faith comes to the birth by hearing the report of men. These Samaritans, for the sake of the woman's saying, believed so far as to come and see, to come and make trial. Thus the instructions of parents and preachers, and the testimony of the church and our experienced neighbours, recommend the doctrine of Christ to our acquaintance, and incline us to entertain it as highly probable. But, [2.] Faith comes to its growth, strength, and maturity, by hearing the testimony of Christ himself; and this goes further, and recommends his doctrine to our acceptance, and obliges us to believe it as undoubtedly certain. We were induced to look into the scriptures by the saying of those who told us that in them they had found eternal life; but when we ourselves have found it in them too, have experienced the enlightening, convincing, regenerating, sanctifying, comforting, power of the word, now we believe, not for their saying, but because we have searched them ourselves: and our faith stands not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, 1 Cor. ii. 5; 1 John v. 9, 10.

c. 1714 · John Evans, Commentary on Romans 10.12-21

He shows that the word preached is the ordinary means of working faith (v. 17): So then, ara—however; though many that hear do not believe, yet those that believe have first heard. Faith cometh by hearing. It is the summary of what he had said before, v. 14. The beginning, progress, and strength of faith, are by hearing. The word of God is therefore called the word of faith: it begets and nourishes faith. God gives faith, but it is by the word as the instrument. Hearing (that hearing which works faith) is by the word of God. It is not hearing the enticing words of man's wisdom, but hearing the word of God, that will befriend faith, and hearing it as the word of God.

c. 1714 · Jeremiah Smith, Commentary on Titus 1.5

Faith comes by hearing, and is preserved, maintained, and made fruitful, through it also. Ignorance and corruption, decays of good and increase of all evil, come by want of a teaching and quickening ministry.

1834 · Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible: Romans 10.17

When it is said that faith cometh by hearing, it is not meant that all who hear actually believe, for that is not true; but that faith does not exist unless there is a message, or report, to be heard or believed. It cannot come otherwise than by such a message; in other words, unless there is something made known to be believed. And this shows us at once the importance of the message, and the fact that people are converted by the instrumentality of truth, and of truth only.

1871 · David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on Romans 10.17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God—"This is another confirmation of the truth that faith supposes the hearing of the Word, and this a commission to preach it."

1892 · G. G. Findlay, The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Ephesians Praise and Prayer, Chapter IV. The Final Redemption

How characteristic is this antithesis of hearing and faith! St Paul delights to ring the changes upon these terms. The gospel he carried about with him was a message from God to men, the good news about Jesus Christ. It needs, on the one hand, to be effectively uttered, proclaimed so as to be heard with the understanding; and, on the other hand, it must be trustfully received and obeyed. Then the due result follows. There is salvation,—conscious, full.

1906 · Hugh Latimer, Sermons prayer.6

Faith is the hand wherewith we receive his benefits; therefore we must needs have faith. But how shall we obtain faith? Faith indeed bringeth Christ, and Christ bringeth remission of sins; but how shall we obtain faith? Answer: St Paul teacheth us this, saying: Fides ex auditu, “Faith cometh by hearing God’s word.” Then if we will come to faith, we must hear God’s word: if God’s word be necessary to be heard, then we must have preachers which be able to tell us God’s word.

1911 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 57 (1911) 3259

Seek also to hear the preacher who preaches experimentally, one who can tell you that he knows he is a sinner, but that he has believed in Jesus and is saved and knows he is saved! For your healing, you need to have not a surgeon who has never seen a case like yours before, but one who knows about it! And if he has gone through a similar experience, himself, then he is the man for you. If a man has not had anything done for his soul, he cannot tell you of anything that has been done. If he has never seen himself to be a sinner and has never passed from death unto life. If he has never known the bitter pangs of soul trouble and has never looked to the precious Savior on the Cross and leaped to find himself set free, why, what is the good of him as a preacher? Let him go and bake bread, or break stones on the road—what has he to do with preaching a Gospel of which he knows nothing? Therefore I say again to you—if you would get faith, hear that Gospel that speaks to your soul because he who preaches it speaks from his soul about something that he knows for himself! And if you have your choice, hear one who speaks earnestly, for to hear a cold preacher is the surest way of getting cold, yourself!

1938 · William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 10

Faith, indeed, comes of hearing. Do not imagine men will be saved in any other way. Earnest, prayerful Cornelius is commanded (and that by an angel) to send for “Simon whose surname is Peter, who shall speak to thee words by which thou shalt be saved” (Acts 11:14). “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [lit., the preached thing—Christ crucified] to save them that believe” (I Cor. 1:21 marg.). Note also that “faith cometh.” If you hear, with a willing heart, the good news, that Christ died for you; that He was buried; that He was raised from the dead:—by truly “hearing,” faith will “come” to you. You do not have to do a thing but hear!

1938 · William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 10

: So faith is from a report; but the report through the word of Christ—The Greek term here for “word” is hrēma, not logos. It literally is, “saying,” “speech,” as in John 3:34; 14:10; Acts 11:14. Faith, indeed, however, does come from a report; and there must be a message and a messenger, sent of God; as we have seen. But Christ accompanies this preached word by His Almighty “voice,” as we know from John 5:25: “The hour cometh, that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.” It is a “quickened” word, that creates living faith.

1549 · John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews 4.2

As to a former statement, when I said that there is no faith where the word is wanting, and that those who make such a divorce wholly extinguish faith and reduce it to nothing, the subject is worthy of special notice. For it hence appears evident that faith cannot exist in any but in the children of God, to whom alone the promise of adoption is offered. For what sort of faith have devils, to whom no salvation is promised? And what sort of faith have all the ungodly who are ignorant of the word? The hearing must ever precede faith, and that indeed that we may know that God speaks and not men.

1677 · John Owen, The Reason of Faith 5

The matter to be believed is the mystery of the gospel, which was kept secret since the world began, or from the giving of the first promise; not absolutely, but with respect unto that full manifestation which it hath now received. This God commands to be believed; the everlasting God, he who hath sovereign authority over all, requires faith in a way of obedience hereunto. But what ground or reason have we to believe it? This alone is proposed, namely, the divine revelation made in the preaching of the apostles and writings of the prophets; for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” Rom. x. 17. This course, and no other, did our Saviour, even after his resurrection, take to beget and confirm faith in the disciples, Luke xxiv. 25–27.

1820 · John Tillotson, Works, Volume 4: Sermons LV-LXXXIV 65

“How shall they believe, (saith St. Paul, Rom. x. 14.) how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard?” and, ver. 17. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” So that to deny and renounce our senses, in matters of faith, is to take away the main pillar and foundation of it.

1865 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 11 (1865) 609

How then? "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." There is the whole history of faith—the Word of God gives the teaching which blesses us with knowledge and then comes faith. The sight of the eye, religious awe, impressions of dread, emotions of wonder—these do not give faith—but hearing something which I can apprehend is the means of my believing!

1872 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 18 (1872) 1031

Faith cannot be washed into us by immersion, nor sprinkled upon us in christening; it is not to be poured into us from a chalice, nor generated in us by a consecrated piece of bread. There is no magic about it; it comes by hearing the word of God, and by that way only.

1884 · Dwight Lyman Moody, The Way to God and How to Find It 3

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. x. 17). That is whence faith comes. It is not for me to sit down and wait for faith to come stealing over me with a strange sensation; but it is for me to take God at His Word.

1890 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Around the Wicket Gate 6

Evidence weighed and knowledge obtained lead up to faith. It is true that faith in Jesus is the gift of God; but yet he usually bestows it in accordance with the laws of mind, and hence we are told that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." If you want to believe in Jesus, hear about him, read about him, think about him, know about him, and so you will find faith springing up in your heart, like the wheat which comes up through the moisture and the heat operating upon the seed which has been sown.

1893 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 39 (1893) 2327

Suppose that I were to announce to you, tonight, that the Czar of all the Russias is dead and you said that you wished to believe it? You could not believe it by an effort of your mind—you would enquire for evidence of the truth of my statement, or you would wait till you saw the telegrams tomorrow—and so you would learn whether it was true or not. It is not a distinct act of the will, alone, that brings faith—"Faith comes by hearing."

c. 385 · Gregory of Nyssa, The Great Catechism (Oratio catechetica magna) 31

The conclusion, then is that it is not the goodness of God that is chargeable with the fact that the Faith is not engendered in all men, but rather the disposition of those by whom the preaching of the Word is received.

c. 743–750 · John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (Expositio fidei; De fide orthodoxa) 83

Moreover, faith is twofold. For faith cometh by hearing. For by hearing the divine Scriptures we believe in the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The same is perfected by all the things enjoined by Christ, believing in work, cultivating piety, and doing the commands of Him Who restored us. For he that believeth not according to the tradition of the Catholic Church, or who hath intercourse with the devil through strange works, is an unbeliever. But again, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, or undoubting and unambiguous hope alike of what God hath promised us and of the good issue of our prayers. The first, therefore, belongs to our will, while the second is of the gifts of the Spirit.

1551 · John Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, part 4 (chapters 49-66) 53.1

Isaiah does not include merely the men of his own time, but all posterity to the end of the world; for, so long as the reign of Christ shall endure, this must be fulfilled; and therefore believers ought to be fortified by this passage against such a scandal. These words refute the ignorance of those who think that faith is in the power of every person, because preaching is common to all. Though it is sufficiently evident that all are called to salvation, yet the Prophet expressly states that the external voice is of no avail, if it be not accompanied by a special gift of the Spirit. And whence proceeds the difference, but from the secret election of God, the cause of which is hidden in himself?

1555 · John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, part 2 Luke.11.27

We must first hear, and then keep; for as faith cometh by hearing, (Romans 10:17,) it is in this way that the spiritual life must be commenced. Now as the simple hearing is like a transitory looking into a mirror, as James says, (1:23,) he likewise adds, the keeping of the word, which means the effectual reception of it, when it strikes its roots deep into our hearts, and yields its fruit.

1754 · John Wesley, Explanatory Notes on John 20.31

Faith cometh sometimes by reading; though ordinarily by hearing.

1865 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 11 (1865) 633

You cannot make yourself believe. Faith is the gift of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. But it comes through hearing, and hearing is principally blessed to the working of faith, because it gives you a sight of Christ in meditation and, as some say, "seeing is believing." Certainly such a sight as hearing gives is often made the channel by which the soul believes in Christ.

1872 · Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (Part III, chapters XV-XX; Part IV, Eschatology) 3.20.12

When he says, “Faith cometh by hearing,” he does not mean that all who hear believe. When our Lord says, We are sanctified by the truth, He does not teach that the truth always has this sanctifying efficacy. The Bible teaches that the Word does not profit unless “mixed with faith in them that” hear it.

1872 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 18 (1872) 1031

I ought, perhaps, to add that the expression 'by hearing,' though of course literally it must be confined to the hearing of words vocally uttered, is meant to include in its spirit the reading of the word; for reading is a sort of hearing with the eyes, and faith has often come and will often come to men while they are reading the word of God for themselves. We must not kill the spirit of the text by excessive regard to the mere letter of it, and we should do so if we excluded reading, which is a quiet hearing of the still small voice of the printed page. Faith comes by the word of God reaching our minds, and our knowing and understanding it. The entrance of God's word giveth light. 'Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live.'

1885 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 31 (1885) 1843

"Alas!" cries one, "I have been listening to the gospel for years." That is quite right, for "faith cometh by hearing"; but recollect, we are not saved by mere listening, nor even by knowing, unless we advance to believing.