Romans 10:13-15
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse isn't just promising general rescue; it highlights that the "Lord" being called upon is Jesus himself. Paul intentionally uses Old Testament language about God that the early church recognized as referring to Jesus, powerfully showing he is the divine Savior for everyone.
Paul is building his case for why salvation through faith in Jesus is available to everyone, Gentiles included. He just argued that there's no essential difference between Jew and Gentile before God, and that the same Lord is abundantly gracious to all who call on him. This verse powerfully backs up that claim by quoting the prophet Joel, emphasizing that God's promise of salvation isn't exclusive but extends to anyone, regardless of background, who turns to him.
Ever feel like you don't quite measure up? This verse throws open the doors wide, reminding us that God's salvation isn't exclusive.
Paul here drops a powerful, echoing promise straight from the Old Testament prophet Joel. It's a game-changer because it erases any idea of religious favoritism.
No Exceptions, No Sides
The word 'whosoever' isn't just a suggestion; it's a bold declaration that God’s saving grace is available to everyone. It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, or what you've done. The invitation is extended to all humanity.
The Heart of the Promise
This promise is so crucial that Paul reiterates it, drawing from Joel's prophecy. He's showing that God's plan, even from ancient times, was always meant to include all people who turn to Him.
What does it really mean to 'call on the name of the Lord'? It's more than just uttering a phrase; it's a posture of the heart.
This verse connects salvation to the act of 'calling on the name of the Lord.' This isn't a casual greeting; it's a deep acknowledgment and reliance.
Acknowledging Divine Authority
When we call on the 'name' of the Lord, we're not just using a title. In biblical thought, a name signifies the very essence, character, and authority of a person. To call on the name of the Lord is to call on the Lord Himself, acknowledging His power, His sovereignty, and His ability to save.
Trust and Dependence
This calling implies a recognition of our own inability to save ourselves. It's an act of humble surrender, confessing our need and trusting in His power to deliver us. It signifies a deep dependence on Him for salvation, both now and for eternity.
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.
kērussontos · Greek Verb
To proclaim, herald, or announce publicly; specifically used for the proclamation of the Christian gospel as a divine mandate to bring others to faith.
apostalōsin · Greek Verb
Being commissioned, dispatched, or authorized by God to carry out a specific mission or message.
This verse echoes an ancient promise from the prophet Joel, which was understood even in the Old Testament to refer to God's ultimate saving act. When Peter preached at Pentecost, he explicitly applied this promise to Jesus, and Paul uses it here to show that salvation is universally available through faith in Christ, not limited by ethnicity.
c. 800 BC
Prophet Joel Delivers His Message
The prophet Joel delivers his prophecy, including the famous passage promising salvation to all who call on the Lord's name, likely during a time of national crisis or a locust plague.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
After Jesus' resurrection and ministry, he ascends to heaven, leaving his followers to spread the gospel message.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Birth of the Church
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading Peter to quote Joel 2:32 in his sermon, applying the promise of salvation through calling on Jesus' name to the newly formed Christian community.
c. AD 57-58— this verse
Paul Writes the Book of Romans
While imprisoned, possibly in Caesarea or Rome, Paul writes his letter to the Roman church, explaining the gospel and its implications for both Jews and Gentiles.
This verse is a direct quote from the Old Testament prophet Joel, showing that the promise of salvation through calling on the Lord is an ancient one, intended from the beginning.
Acts 2:21Peter quotes Joel 2:32 on the day of Pentecost, applying it to Jesus Christ and demonstrating its fulfillment in the early church, emphasizing that salvation is found in calling on Jesus' name.
Psalm 20:1This psalm speaks of calling on 'the name of the God of Jacob' for help and deliverance, illustrating the Old Testament concept of invoking God's name as a plea for salvation and protection.
1 Corinthians 1:2Paul also applies Old Testament language referring to God to Jesus Christ, reinforcing the understanding that 'calling on the Lord' in Romans refers to calling on Jesus as divine.
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 verse isn't just promising general rescue; it highlights that the "Lord" being called upon is Jesus himself. Paul intentionally uses Old Testament language about God that the early church recognized as referring to Jesus, powerfully showing he is the divine Savior for everyone.
Paul is building his case for why salvation through faith in Jesus is available to everyone, Gentiles included. He just argued that there's no essential difference between Jew and Gentile before God, and that the same Lord is abundantly gracious to all who call on him. This verse powerfully backs up that claim by quoting the prophet Joel, emphasizing that God's promise of salvation isn't exclusive but extends to anyone, regardless of background, who turns to him.
Paul is building his case for why salvation through faith in Jesus is available to everyone, Gentiles included. He just argued that there's no essential difference between Jew and Gentile before God, and that the same Lord is abundantly gracious to all who call on him. This verse powerfully backs up that claim by quoting the prophet Joel, emphasizing that God's promise of salvation isn't exclusive but extends to anyone, regardless of background, who turns to him.
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Who exactly is this 'Lord' we're called to call upon? The New Testament makes it crystal clear.
Paul applies this Old Testament promise, originally referring to Yahweh, directly to Jesus Christ. This is a pivotal theological point that underscores Jesus' divine identity.
The Divine Connection
When Paul quotes Joel 2:32, he's not just finding a nice-sounding verse. He's deliberately linking the act of calling on 'the Lord' with faith in Jesus. This means that when we call on Jesus, we are calling on God Himself.
Jesus: The Object of Faith
This usage is consistent throughout the New Testament. Expressions used for God the Father in the Old Testament are applied to Jesus in the New. This confirms that Jesus is not merely a prophet or a good teacher, but God incarnate, the one true Lord who offers salvation. He is the Savior that the Father has sent.
euangelizomenōn · Greek Verb
The 'evangel' or message of salvation; the announcement of what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity.
"For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preac…" — The verse isn't just promising general rescue; it highlights that the "Lord" being called upon is Jesus himself. Paul intentionally uses Old Testament language about God that the early church recogni…
