Romans 10:10 in the New World Translation: Public Declaration, or Confesses

 

Romans 10:10: For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. NAB

For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation. NWT

Answer: Many object to the rendering "public declaration" instead of "confesses." The same Greek word for confess (HOMOLOGEO) is also used at Matt 7:23 as declare. The NKJV Vine's Expository Dictionary gives "to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts" as one definition. 

The NIV, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible states at Romans 10:10, "The word 'declare' (Greek homologeo) has the connotation of a 'binding public declaration by which a legal relation is contractually established.'"

The BDAG Lexicon gives as one of its definitions of HOMOLOGEO "to acknowledge someth., ordinarily in public, acknowledge, claim, profess, praise. a. of a public declaration as such" 

"Most often, homologeo means to assert, confess or declare publicly (Mt 7:23; Mt 10:32 = Lk 12:8;Jn 9:22; 12:42;Ac 23:8). This outward confession is viewed as a window into the person's actual beliefs (Rm 10:10). In this sense, homologeo may refer to a public declaration..." HCSB Experiencing the Word New Testament (p. 530)

"The Christian life therefore begins with a confession of faith, a public declaration before witnesses (Rom. 10:9–10 ..." Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined (p. 257)

Many other bibles also do not use the word "confesses" here either, such as: Smith & Goodspeed, Schonfield, 20th Century NT, J.B. Phillips, Jewish NT, Living Bible, New Life NT, Kingdom of God Version, CEV, Williams NT. 

"For with the heart it is believed into righteousness, and with the mouth is profession made into salvation." Eonian Life Bible 

"The belief of the heart puts you in the right, while the profession of the mouth brings salvation..." The Unvarnished New Testament (see also the Kleist & Lilly New Testament)