For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original Old Testament prophet, Joel, uses this promise in a context of judgment and restoration, but Paul here explicitly connects it to Jesus Christ, showing that calling on the Lord means calling on Jesus. This isn't just a general plea to a distant deity, but an intimate appeal to the Savior who is "rich unto all who call on him."
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is arguing that salvation is available to everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, because it’s found in calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. To prove this point, he quotes a promise from the prophet Joel which assures that anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. This is crucial because it shows God’s inclusive plan, demonstrating that faith in Christ, not ethnic or religious background, is the key to receiving God's saving grace.
Have you ever wondered who God has made this salvation available to? The answer is both simple and incredibly profound. It hinges on a specific kind of calling.
This verse, "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,'" is a powerful declaration of God's inclusive offer of salvation. It's a direct quote from the Old Testament prophet Joel, and Paul applies it specifically to Jesus Christ. When the New Testament talks about "calling on the name of the Lord," it's not just a casual plea or a thoughtless prayer. It means acknowledging Jesus as Lord, trusting in His finished work on the cross for your salvation, and recognizing Him as your Savior and God.
This act of calling is rooted in acknowledging your own need and God's sufficiency. It’s about recognizing that Jesus is the one who can pardon your sins and that He alone offers eternal life. By calling on His name, you are declaring your allegiance to Him as your Sovereign, your Father, and your Friend.
The world can feel so divided, but God’s good news cuts through all those barriers. Who is this salvation for, and how does God ensure everyone hears?
The word 'whosoever' is crucial here. Paul uses it to emphasize that salvation isn't limited to any single group—not to the Jews, nor to any specific nation or time period. This promise extends to everyone who calls on the Lord.
This is why the gospel must be preached! How can people call on someone they haven't heard of? Faith comes by hearing the message, and hearing the word of Christ. God's intention is for His mercy, which is as inexhaustible as His riches, to be sought and found by all people. The salvation offered is not merely a temporary deliverance but a spiritual and eternal one, securing a future with God for all who turn to Him in faith.
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Understand the original words
sōthēsetai · Greek Verb
The state of being delivered from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin, through the grace of God and faith in Jesus Christ.
onoma · Greek Noun
The person and character of God as revealed to His people; invoking this name is an act of recognizing His identity and authority as Savior.
This verse powerfully connects the Old Testament prophecy in Joel with the early church's understanding of Jesus, showing that the promise of salvation through calling on God's name has been God's consistent plan throughout history.
c. 400 BC
Book of Joel Written
The prophet Joel writes his message, which includes a prophecy of God's future salvation for those who call on His name.
c. 300-200 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew scriptures are translated into Greek (the Septuagint or LXX), making the prophecy of Joel accessible to a wider audience.
c. AD 33
Pentecost in Jerusalem
Peter quotes Joel's prophecy at Pentecost, applying it to Jesus Christ and the new era of salvation initiated by His resurrection and ascension.
c. AD 57-58— this verse
Paul writes Romans
Paul, writing from Corinth or Rome to the church in Rome, quotes Joel's prophecy to emphasize that salvation is available to all, Jew and Gentile, who call on the name of the Lord Jesus.
This is the direct Old Testament source Paul quotes, showing the ancient roots of this promise of salvation for all who call on the Lord's name.
Acts 2:21Peter quotes this same verse from Joel during his Pentecost sermon, applying it to Jesus and demonstrating its fulfillment in the early church for both Jews and Gentiles.
Psalm 20:1This psalm speaks of calling on 'the name of the God of Jacob' for deliverance, echoing the idea that invoking God's name brings help and security.
1 Corinthians 1:2Paul uses similar phrasing here, highlighting that 'everyone who calls on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ' is a theme he emphasizes throughout his letters, connecting salvation directly to invoking Jesus.
Matthew 7:7Jesus' teaching to 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you' provides a foundational principle that God responds to sincere appeals.
barnesRomans 10:13: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
For whosoever shall call ... - This sentiment is found substantially in Joel 2:32 , "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered." This is expressly applied to the times of the gospel, by Peter, in Acts 2:21 ; see the note on that place. To call on the name of the Lord is the same as to call on the Lord himself. The word "name" is often used in this manner. "The…
cambridgeRomans 10:13: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
13 . For whosoever , &c.] “ Whosoever ” refers back to “all” in Romans 10:12 . St Paul here quotes (almost verbatim with LXX.) Joel 2:32 ; (Heb., 4:5;) where the whole prediction is distinctly Messianic, and includes a reference to “the remnant whom the Lord calleth.” See Acts 2:21 for a closely parallel use by St Peter of that passage.
The original Old Testament prophet, Joel, uses this promise in a context of judgment and restoration, but Paul here explicitly connects it to Jesus Christ, showing that calling on the Lord means calling on Jesus. This isn't just a general plea to a distant deity, but an intimate appeal to the Savior who is "rich unto all who call on him."
Paul is arguing that salvation is available to everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, because it’s found in calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. To prove this point, he quotes a promise from the prophet Joel which assures that anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. This is crucial because it shows God’s inclusive plan, demonstrating that faith in Christ, not ethnic or religious background, is the key to receiving God's saving grace.
Paul is arguing that salvation is available to everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, because it’s found in calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. To prove this point, he quotes a promise from the prophet Joel which assures that anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. This is crucial because it shows God’s inclusive plan, demonstrating that faith in Christ, not ethnic or religious background, is the key to receiving God's saving grace.
"For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" — The original Old Testament prophet, Joel, uses this promise in a context of judgment and restoration, but Paul here explicitly connects it to Jesus Christ, showing that *calling on the Lord means cal…
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Last reviewed October 2026