But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
Parallel translations
- WEB But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
- KJV But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
- BSB But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
- NASB But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
- NLT In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Scripture says the word is near, in your mouth and heart, which Paul identifies as the word of faith they preach. Salvation is as accessible as the gospel message itself.
Overview
Citing Deuteronomy 30:14, Paul stresses that God's saving word is not distant but near, present in mouth and heart. He identifies this nearby word with the message of faith that he and the apostles proclaim, the gospel. Because Christ has already accomplished salvation, the only thing required is to receive and confess the word, which Paul spells out in the next verse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Deut 30:14But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
- Rom 1:16–17For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
- 1 Tim 4:6If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.
- 1 Pet 1:25but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.
- Gal 3:2I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
- Rom 10:17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
- Gal 3:5He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
- Acts 13:38–39Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,
- Mark 16:15–16He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
- 1 Pet 1:23having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
- Isa 57:19I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”
- Acts 16:31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 10:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.