Reconciling Romans 10:17 and 12:3: Faith by Hearing or by Measure?

by Rex Rouis

On the surface, it appears that Romans 10:17 and Romans 12: 3 contradict each other. One says that faith ‘comes by hearing’ and the other that ‘God gives to each a measure of faith.’ First Romans 10:17:

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASB

Let’s do a quick and partial Greek study of this verse. The word for ‘hearing’ is not the common word for hearing in the New Testament and can be translated as a ‘message they heard.’ It is translated exactly that way in Hebrews 4:2 NIV. The term “word” here is rendered from the Greek term rhema, often interpreted as a specific, direct, spoken word. This suggests a dynamic, personal communication from someone. In this case, that person is Christ Himself. To retranslate accordingly it could be rendered:

So faith comes from a message that is heard, a message that is heard by the spoken personal word of Christ. Romans 10:17

This ‘hearing’ is the written word coming alive in our hearts. It is a personal living word to us that speaks out from the total written general message (Bible) of God. It happens when the written word becomes real to us in our hearts. That is the moment faith comes. Clearly if ‘faith comes’ there could be a previous time when one had less faith or no faith. Jesus talked with type of language frequently – no faith, little faith, great faith, if you had faith, etc. Now Romans 12:3:

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3

This verse has been used to say that God has given each of us an allotment or measure of faith. We then have all the faith we will ever need, and all we have to do is use it. What are we to think?  To analyze the apparent tension between these two passages we need to carefully examine the contexts of these verses.

Romans 10:17: Faith Comes by Hearing

This faith, as described here, focuses on what has been described as objective faith – about objects and things, This type of faith concerns trust in God’s ability to act in specific circumstances, such as healing, deliverance, protection, and the overcoming of challenges (metaphorical mountains). This type of faith involves tangible results and is oriented toward God’s intervention in specific areas of life. It reflects a reliance on God’s promises and power for certain situational outcomes.

These two passages reflect different aspects of faith within the believer’s life. Faith is how we receive everything from God.

In this sense: Hearing the spoken (rhema) of Christ creates a faith that activates divine power in tangible ways. Objective faith aligns closely with Jesus’ teaching in Mark 11:22-24, where He says, “Have faith in God… whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” This type of faith is aligned with the prayer of faith, which is primarily about things and situations.

Romans 12:3: God Allots a Measure of Faith

In Romans 12:3-8, Paul speaks of the “measure of faith that God has assigned.” The full context here suggests that this faith is not focused on tangible outcomes (objective faith). But rather serves as a vehicle or medium through which individuals fulfill their God-given roles and callings within the body of Christ. This faith enables believers to discern and carry out their unique functions according to God’s sovereign design. Let’s read the whole passage:

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8

This type of faith can be called subjective faith, which pertains to the inner empowerment given to believers to fulfill their specific callings. It is not about external manifestations (like healing or deliverance) but about the internal alignment with God’s will and purposes for their lives. This reflects God’s sovereign gifting to individuals, equipping them for particular tasks or ministries, as seen in Romans 12:6, where Paul describes various spiritual gifts such as prophecy, teaching, serving, and leadership. He goes on to say that we should operate in these gifts to the level of one’s given measure of faith.

However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s (given) faith; Romans 12:6

Faith here functions as the inner capacity to walk within one’s calling to the extent of God’s will, enabling believers to serve humbly and effectively within the broader Christian community. We all have been given amounts of this type of faith corresponding to the strength and type of our calling. This verse tells us to use those gifts and callings according to the measures given. This should produce humility fully knowing that all giftings are determined not by us but by God. Comparison to others then is irrelevant.

Reconciling the Two Verses

The apparent differences between Romans 10:17 and Romans 12:3 can be harmonized when we understand that they describe faith in different contexts and functions:

Romans 10:17 emphasizes objective faith, which arises through hearing the direct, personal word (rhema) of Christ. This faith empowers believers to trust God for specific outcomes in their lives.

Romans 12:3 highlights subjective faith, which is given as a divine allotment to enable believers to fulfill their God-given callings and ministries within the body of Christ. This faith serves as the vehicle through which God’s purposes are transmitted and accomplished.

Both forms of faith originate with God and are gifts of His grace, but they operate in distinct dimensions:

Further Scriptural Support

Objective Faith: The concept of faith as trust in God’s power to act is seen in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” and in examples like the faith of the centurion in Matthew 8:8-10.

Subjective Faith: The idea of faith as a conveyance for God’s calling is supported by Ephesians 4:7, “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift,” emphasizing the unique and purposeful distribution of divine enablement.

Conclusion

The two verses reflect different aspects of faith within the believer’s life. Together, these show the multifaceted nature of God’s use of faith in the individual. Both can offer tangible results but in completely different ways. One a desired grace for things, and the other for spiritual purpose and calling. Faith is a wonderful thing, it is how we receive everything from Him, one way or another.