V. Those who’ve never heard.
Asking that question, “what about those who have never heard?” is usually a ploy to divert questioning from yourself to someone far away. You aren’t thinking of a real person when you ask that question, are you? You’ve just heard someone else use it as an example that successfully thwarts some pesky gospel-sharer who’s bugging you.
Nevertheless let me answer your question: there are many people around the world who have “never heard” the Gospel, never read a Bible, never even heard the name of Jesus. I know – I spent the first 15 years of my adult life working hard in some rugged places to help these people hear the Gospel in their own language. Today, thousands of Christians around the world obediently leave their families and friends to do the same thing, and thousands of others live and give sacrificially to enable them to do it. Those who go arent’ doing it for money (they’re poor as church mice) or power (fear of heat, filth, bugs, and diseases soon show you how powerless you are) or position (no one will ever even hear their name). No, they go only to obey their crucified and risen Lord who told them simply, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), They go – I went – because, yes, if those who haven’t heard don’t hear and believe, they will go to hell when they die.