Romans 10:17, a courtroom haearing?

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Watchman22

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Dec 9, 2025
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Number one rule of interpreting scripture. Don't take a single scripture that we're unsure of, and knock down a mountain of scripture we are sure of.

And that's where I'm at with Rom.10:17.

Facts about Rom.10:17.
A) this is the scripture that most called out ones go to support their understanding that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Ultimately, propping up the mistranslated word "believe."

Well that sounds great, unless your one of those people who have never been exposed to Christ. And the problem with that is if that's true, that handcuffs the Father in who He calls out.

Fact 2)
B) this word "hearing" is "akoe" in the Greek. In the Strongs it's defined like you'd expect, hearing 10x, ears 4x, fame 3x, rumor 3x, report 2x, preached 1x. But when you look at this in context to Rom.10:17 , it says, " the receiving of a message. " it goes on to say, "Rom.10:17, something more than the mere sense of "hearing " , and interaction with the word and a decision is always made. [ COMPARE TO A COURTROOM HEARING. ]

So, in that context of a "courtroom hearing", certain questions need to be asked.
1) who is the judge?
2) and who or what is on trial?

In Rom.10:17 are we sitting in judgment of God and His word in the most common understanding of it? Or, should we be looking at it in a context of Jesus being on the judges seat?

I'm presenting this possible understanding that one vowel may have been left out and changed the whole meaning of Rom.10:17.

Here's the text with "us" on the judgment seat, "so then faith (comes or is) by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." ( the words "comes and is" were added by the translators.)

Here's the text with Jesus on the Judgement seat and with the one vowel added to bring out the context of a courtroom hearing.

"So then faith is by "A" hearing, "A" hearing by the word of God." (Jesus)

1) This puts Jesus on the Judgement seat where He belongs.
2) this changes what' was previously understood as God and His word being on trial, to what should be on trial, our faith! Our personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender is what the hearing is for.
3) In this context, the Father can call out anyone anywhere, like it should be.

Rom. 10:17 never sat well with me due to the fact that through most of history, mankind didn't have access to the truth in Gods word. Heck, we're still fighting amongst ourselves today about what's truth.

I'm hoping not for opposition to this, but an in depth look to persuade me one way or the other.

Jay
 
How can anyone be persuaded by God's words if he hasn't heard them? And how can anyone place confidence in what God has said without first being persuaded that what he has heard is the truth?

Paul used the word hearing because the good news was communicated orally back then. Now we have books, so it can also be said that faith comes through reading, and reading through the bible.
 
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How can anyone be persuaded by God's words if he hasn't heard them? And how can anyone place confidence in what God has said without first being persuaded that what he has heard is the truth?

Paul used the word hearing because the good news was communicated orally back then. Now we have books, so it can also be said that faith comes through reading, and reading through the bible.
Right. And when people hear others talk about the gospel (whether it be video, radio, assembling with the saints) they hear the word to have faith, which is still the same as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
 
Right. And when people hear others talk about the gospel (whether it be video, radio, assembling with the saints) they hear the word to have faith, which is still the same as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

So it sounds like you are ok with being in the judges seat, and the Father being handcuffed from calling most of mankind?

Just gathering understandings.
 
So it sounds like you are ok with being in the judges seat, and the Father being handcuffed from calling most of mankind?

Just gathering understandings.

I view the term to have faith as to have a personal relationship with Him by a personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender.
 
So it sounds like you are ok with being in the judges seat, and the Father being handcuffed from calling most of mankind?

Just gathering understandings.
Well, you have gathered your understandings incorrectly and I find them rather confusing and hilarious. I’m not seeing how believing scripture puts me in the judges seat or “handcuffing” the Father. I didn’t know I was that powerful.
 
Well, you have gathered your understandings incorrectly and I find them rather confusing and hilarious. I’m not seeing how believing scripture puts me in the judges seat or “handcuffing” the Father. I didn’t know I was that powerful.

Understanding turns into acts of faith. Correct acts of faith could save you and your household. That's worth discussing, no?
 
Number one rule of interpreting scripture. Don't take a single scripture that we're unsure of, and knock down a mountain of scripture we are sure of.

And that's where I'm at with Rom.10:17.

Facts about Rom.10:17.
A) this is the scripture that most called out ones go to support their understanding that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Ultimately, propping up the mistranslated word "believe."

Well that sounds great, unless your one of those people who have never been exposed to Christ. And the problem with that is if that's true, that handcuffs the Father in who He calls out.

Fact 2)
B) this word "hearing" is "akoe" in the Greek. In the Strongs it's defined like you'd expect, hearing 10x, ears 4x, fame 3x, rumor 3x, report 2x, preached 1x. But when you look at this in context to Rom.10:17 , it says, " the receiving of a message. " it goes on to say, "Rom.10:17, something more than the mere sense of "hearing " , and interaction with the word and a decision is always made. [ COMPARE TO A COURTROOM HEARING. ]

So, in that context of a "courtroom hearing", certain questions need to be asked.
1) who is the judge?
2) and who or what is on trial?

In Rom.10:17 are we sitting in judgment of God and His word in the most common understanding of it? Or, should we be looking at it in a context of Jesus being on the judges seat?

I'm presenting this possible understanding that one vowel may have been left out and changed the whole meaning of Rom.10:17.

Here's the text with "us" on the judgment seat, "so then faith (comes or is) by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." ( the words "comes and is" were added by the translators.)

Here's the text with Jesus on the Judgement seat and with the one vowel added to bring out the context of a courtroom hearing.

"So then faith is by "A" hearing, "A" hearing by the word of God." (Jesus)

1) This puts Jesus on the Judgement seat where He belongs.
2) this changes what' was previously understood as God and His word being on trial, to what should be on trial, our faith! Our personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender is what the hearing is for.
3) In this context, the Father can call out anyone anywhere, like it should be.

Rom. 10:17 never sat well with me due to the fact that through most of history, mankind didn't have access to the truth in Gods word. Heck, we're still fighting amongst ourselves today about what's truth.

I'm hoping not for opposition to this, but an in depth look to persuade me one way or the other.

Jay

Settle this within you, God just loves you, period! It is done for you John 19:30 through Son Jesus to you. You are invited in with Father and Son the two are One, and this Won for you to be put in new life with Them in Father's spirit and Truth for you
Stand therefore stand
Col 1:21-23 and continue, thank you to Father
Ask Father in Father's Spirit and Truth, is it done for me by Son Jesus to me? Sit still and know within your own Soul, one from God Father and Son to you too
Once see you are forgiven and remain forgiven by God for you and all the world 1 John 2:1-27 then see Luke 21:14-15 and trust to be taught by God Father in risen Son, Matthew 10:16-20
Okay, you made another mistake, Father continues to love you. Now, hear from Daddy to teach you how to let go of the mistakes made and walk new in love and mercy to all too.
God takes out anger, lust and everything else in anyone that will not quit belief to see
Believe God in Son is risen as seen by the disciples first. Continue in thanksgiving and praise to God not for any self usage to gain anything here on earth, since God will provide all needs, and yes to work willingly not having to, yet willingly and see how to act your wage not your I Q anymore
God just loves us all y'all
 
Settle this within you, God just loves you, period! It is done for you John 19:30 through Son Jesus to you. You are invited in with Father and Son the two are One, and this Won for you to be put in new life with Them in Father's spirit and Truth for you
Stand therefore stand
Col 1:21-23 and continue, thank you to Father
Ask Father in Father's Spirit and Truth, is it done for me by Son Jesus to me? Sit still and know within your own Soul, one from God Father and Son to you too
Once see you are forgiven and remain forgiven by God for you and all the world 1 John 2:1-27 then see Luke 21:14-15 and trust to be taught by God Father in risen Son, Matthew 10:16-20
Okay, you made another mistake, Father continues to love you. Now, hear from Daddy to teach you how to let go of the mistakes made and walk new in love and mercy to all too.
God takes out anger, lust and everything else in anyone that will not quit belief to see
Believe God in Son is risen as seen by the disciples first. Continue in thanksgiving and praise to God not for any self usage to gain anything here on earth, since God will provide all needs, and yes to work willingly not having to, yet willingly and see how to act your wage not your I Q anymore
God just loves us all y'all

I'm working on that. But I think there are some that can appreciate the questions I've raised.
Thanks for the reply.
 
This has nothing to do with the connection you're inserting into it. It's actually quite simple. I'll interlineate the Greek and its meaning in parenthesis to see it's consistency:

NKJ Rom10:16-17 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report (akoē - noun - that which is heard: an account, report, message)?" 17 So then faith comes by hearing (akoē - noun - that which is heard: an account, report, message), and hearing (akoē - noun - that which is heard: an account, report, message) by the [spoken] word of God.

The gospel/good news = "our report/message" - explained as faith from a report/message/good news & a report/message/good news from a spoken word of/from God.

The problem is that akoē - noun is what's called a verbal noun so it ranges in meaning from (BDAG Lexicon) 1. the faculty of hearing, 2. the act of hearing, 3. the organ w. which one hears, 4. that which is heard - a. fame, report, rumor, b. account, report, message

I think some translators are going to the #2 act of hearing in part to pick up akouō - the verb form in Rom10:14.

These translators stuck with the noun sense:

NET Romans 10:17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.​
YLT Romans 10:17 so then the faith is by a report, and the report through a saying of God,​
CJB Romans 10:17 So trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a word proclaimed about the Messiah.​
DBY Romans 10:17 So faith then is by a report, but the report by God's word.​
 
I'm working on that. But I think there are some that can appreciate the questions I've raised.
Thanks for the reply.

all I can say is, continue, then you will learn from whether what you did was or is bad or good for your Soul, Live presently as your first born flesh is dead Romans 6:12, yet read it all, trust Father to reveal the truth to you, you will know and learn to do new. As long as you do not quit. And this has taken me years to see what I now see, and did not at first and sinned much. not able to quit and whenever I thought I did, pride entered and I was better than others until I saw Luke 18:9-14 And Matthew 18:24-35 I am nothing, God is everything.

I went through under Law and got cursed in it. I wanted and can still want to be perfect. that is what under Law did to me and I got lost in it for many years, yet still stood in beleif to get through thanking God not ever knowing how, just standing in trust God will show me, and all mothers that will not quit either, read the book of Job, see the last chapter, yet got through your own troubles first too. Will you reject your wife as Job did job 2:10 if she said what she said to job?
Then God revealed to me, it s done for me by God to me to see new and get so caught up in love and mercy to all, there is no more thought of whether I sinned again or not as was under. That kept me in the sin I hated so much yet did it as Paul talks about in Romans 7 how he was caught up under Law too. He even killed those in beleif until. That road to Damascus and the change began in him to say in Phil 3 he gave up under Law to win Christ
Perplexing to me for a long time, now see it and am not proud of any wrong I did and any right I did. The problem was it is/ was "I" trying to do what God had done by Son for us all 1 John2:1-27
If God does not get the credit then it probably is not of God is it?
 
What? I thought you were discussing Romans 10:17 and how faith comes?

Ya, I'm not convinced faith can come by hearing, for the reasons stated in the Op.

I think it's possible faith comes by "A" hearing, "A" hearing by the word of God Jesus Christ.

"A" hearing to judge whether our surrendered life is genuine or not. If it is, He gives us a portion of His Presence at the beginning, that will cause us to make a better, deeper surrendering of ourselves. That process continues like that throughout the salvation journey. Changing as we receive His Spirit and the mind of Christ.
 
all I can say is, continue, then you will learn from whether what you did was or is bad or good for your Soul, Live presently as your first born flesh is dead Romans 6:12, yet read it all, trust Father to reveal the truth to you, you will know and learn to do new. As long as you do not quit. And this has taken me years to see what I now see, and did not at first and sinned much. not able to quit and whenever I thought I did, pride entered and I was better than others until I saw Luke 18:9-14 And Matthew 18:24-35 I am nothing, God is everything.

I went through under Law and got cursed in it. I wanted and can still want to be perfect. that is what under Law did to me and I got lost in it for many years, yet still stood in beleif to get through thanking God not ever knowing how, just standing in trust God will show me, and all mothers that will not quit either, read the book of Job, see the last chapter, yet got through your own troubles first too. Will you reject your wife as Job did job 2:10 if she said what she said to job?
Then God revealed to me, it s done for me by God to me to see new and get so caught up in love and mercy to all, there is no more thought of whether I sinned again or not as was under. That kept me in the sin I hated so much yet did it as Paul talks about in Romans 7 how he was caught up under Law too. He even killed those in beleif until. That road to Damascus and the change began in him to say in Phil 3 he gave up under Law to win Christ
Perplexing to me for a long time, now see it and am not proud of any wrong I did and any right I did. The problem was it is/ was "I" trying to do what God had done by Son for us all 1 John2:1-27
If God does not get the credit then it probably is not of God is it?

No problem giving God all the credit here.

Glad your journey is giving you peace.