Bible Strands
Romans 10:15
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church mid-argument, having just established (10:14) that belief requires hearing and hearing requires preaching. This verse closes the chain by naming the condition that makes preaching possible: being sent.
The words — ἀποσταλῶσιν (apostalōsin), aorist passive subjunctive of apostellō, "they shall be sent forth," is the hinge: the passive voice means the preacher does not originate the mission but receives it. κηρὺξωσιν (kēryxōsin), from kēryssō, carries the sense of a public herald's proclamation, not private persuasion.
The thread — The quotation is Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15 repeats the image of feet bringing good news. Ephesians 2:17 ties the same "peace" proclamation to Christ's work of reconciling far and near.
Why it lands — The verse makes sending a precondition, not a preference: no one preaches on their own authority. The "beauty" attached to the feet belongs to the act of being dispatched, not to the messenger's character or eloquence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Cross-references
- Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
- Nahum 1:15 Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.
- Ephesians 2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
- Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
- Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
- Isaiah 40:9 Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- Ephesians 3:8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- Ephesians 4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Jeremiah 23:32 “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.