Sometimes I find the fragmented phrases of Paul’s writings in the New Testament hard to follow, especially when he uses words we don’t use much today. I find it helpful to my understanding to take each passage of scripture and make each a sentence in regular, understandable English and structure to make it easier to grasp. 

So here is my breakdown of what Paul is saying in Romans chapter 10:1-13. It’s a bit of a paraphrase, but still true to the points he was making. Some words I have expanded on their meaning like the Amplified Bible does. People understand different words differently. My intent in doing this expansion of words is to hopefully portray a more complete definition of words such as “ignorant,”  “righteous,” “salvation.” They have greater implications than a single word can give. It helps my understanding of the topic, and perhaps the expansion will expand your vocabulary too!

Romans 10:1 Hey everybody in Rome This is Paul. I am praying with all my heart for the people of Israel to be saved. It’s my heart’s desire that they come to know Jesus Christ Christ.

Romans 10:2 The Israeli people definitely have a zeal and a love for God, but it’s not according to the truth. What they believe about how to have  right standing with God is not correct.

Romans 10:3 Because they are ignorant, (in the dark, uneducated, untaught, unschooled, untrained, illiterate, unlearned, uninformed, unenlightened, without knowledge of, unaware of, oblivious to, unfamiliar with, unacquainted with, uninformed about, ill-informed about, unenlightened about, naive about, in the dark about, and clueless) about the way God has now chosen to make us righteous, they (the Jews) have come up with their own ideas of how to get right standing with God. And so they don’t submit to (aren’t governed by, won’t abide by, or be regulated by, won’t comply with, accept, or adhere to, won’t be subject to, agree to, consent to, conform to, yield, capitulate or surrender) the way God decided we were to be made righteous.

Romans 10:4 Jesus Christ is the absolute, (ultimate, definite, certain, positive, unequivocal, decisive, conclusive, confirmed, complete, total, utter, downright) end of the law’s method of making us righteous if you are a born again believer in Him. (“downright” is my favorite)

Romans 10:5 Moses in the Old Testament wrote about the way of becoming righteous that the Law provided. “The man who does these things shall live by them.” (Or because of these actions he shall have a good life.) Lev. 18:5; Neh. 9:29; Ezek. 20:11,13,21; Gal. 3:12

Romans 10:6  But right standing with God when you have faith in Jesus Christ says it this way, “Don’t say in your heart, Who will go to heaven, (to bring Him down from above)…

Romans 10:7 or Who will descend into the abyss to bring Him up from the dead?

Romans 10:8 Being righteous by faith says it this way: “The Word is near me. It’s in my mouth and in my heart.” (cf. Deuteronomy 30:14) This is the way that God ordained for men today to be made righteous. It’s by faith. That’s the method that the apostles preach.

Romans 10:9 It’s basically just this: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…

Romans 10:10 Because with the heart, a man believes and gains right standing with God, and with the mouth, one confesses (acknowledges, declares, or professes) his faith and gains salvation, (redemption, deliverance, receiving a lifeline, a preservation, and a means of escape.)

Romans 10:11 The scriptures say this, “whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” (cf. Jeremiah 17:7 said it and Rom. 9:33 says it too.0

Romans 10:12 Paul also points out that there is no difference between the Jews, the chosen ones, or the pagan Greek guys. The same God is Lord over all of them. Everyone who calls upon Him, He will save.

Romans 10:13 Anyone and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (cf. Joel 2:32, Acts 2:22)

There….I think that is more clear.