Romans 10:7

KJV

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

KJV (with Strong's)

Or {G2228}, Who {G5101} shall descend {G2597} into {G1519} the deep {G12}?(that is {G5123}, to bring up {G321} Christ {G5547} again {G321} from {G1537} the dead {G3498}.)

Complete Jewish Bible

or,

“‘Who will descend into Sh’ol?’” —

that is, to bring the Messiah up from the dead.

Berean Standard Bible

or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

American Standard Version

or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 10:7 is a pivotal verse within Paul's exposition on the nature of righteousness, contrasting the unattainable righteousness sought through human effort with the accessible righteousness found through faith in Jesus Christ. Echoing and reinterpreting an Old Testament passage from Deuteronomy, Paul uses a rhetorical question to underscore that salvation does not require impossible human feats, such as descending into the realm of the dead to retrieve Christ, because Christ has already accomplished His resurrection by divine power, making salvation readily available.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 10:7 is part of a larger theological argument in Romans 9-11 concerning God's faithfulness to Israel and the nature of salvation. Specifically, it functions within Paul's contrast between "the righteousness that is by the law" ([Romans 10:5](/romans/10-5 "Romans 10:5 - Righteousness by Law")) and "the righteousness that is by faith" ([Romans 10:6](/romans/10-6 "Romans 10:6 - Righteousness by Faith")). Paul adapts and applies Moses' words from [Deuteronomy 30:11-14](/deuteronomy/30-11-14 "Deuteronomy 30:11-14 - The Commandment is Near") to argue that the "word of faith" is not distant or difficult to find. Just as [Romans 10:6](/romans/10-6 "Romans 10:6 - Righteousness by Faith") rhetorically asks "Who shall ascend into heaven?" (meaning to bring Christ down), [Romans 10:7](/romans/10-7 "Romans 10:7 - Who Shall Descend into the Deep?") asks "Who shall descend into the deep?" (meaning to bring Christ up from the dead), both questions emphasizing the futility of human effort in achieving what God has already accomplished. This sets the stage for the declaration of the accessibility of the "word of faith" in [Romans 10:8](/romans/10-8 "Romans 10:8 - The Word is Near You").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul is writing to a diverse church in Rome, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The Jewish members would have been deeply familiar with the Mosaic Law and the concept of righteousness derived from its observance. Paul's use of [Deuteronomy 30:11-14](/deuteronomy/30-11-14 "Deuteronomy 30:11-14 - The Accessibility of the Law") would resonate powerfully, as Moses' original message was about the Law's proximity and accessibility. Paul ingeniously reinterprets this principle, applying it to Christ: if the Law was near, how much more so is Christ, whose work has made salvation not only near but also freely available by faith. The concept of "the deep" (Greek: _abyssos_) would evoke images from both Jewish apocalyptic literature (e.g., the abyss as a prison for demons or the realm of the dead) and Greco-Roman mythology (e.g., the underworld), underscoring a place of ultimate separation or impossibility for human access.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans. Firstly, it highlights the **Accessibility of Salvation**, asserting that God has made the way to righteousness simple and immediate through Christ, removing any need for arduous human pilgrimages or impossible feats. Secondly, it underscores **Christ's Completed Work**, particularly His resurrection, as the divine act that makes salvation possible. The parenthetical clarification explicitly links "the deep" to the realm of the dead, emphasizing that Christ's triumph over death is a finished, non-repeatable event, not something humanity needs to facilitate. This theme is central to the gospel message articulated throughout the New Testament, notably in [1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel of Christ's Death and Resurrection"). Finally, it reinforces the core Pauline doctrine of **Righteousness by Faith**, contrasting it sharply with any notion of earning salvation through works or human striving, thereby preparing the reader for the explicit statement of faith and confession in [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief for Salvation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **deep (Greek, _ábyssos'_):** From the Greek `G12`, meaning "depthless" or "bottomless," specifically referring to an "abyss" or "bottomless pit." In this context, as clarified by Paul's parenthetical explanation, it refers to the realm of the dead, the underworld, or Hades. It signifies a place from which human effort cannot retrieve someone, emphasizing the impossibility of the task Paul describes.
* **descend (Greek, _katabaínō'_):** From the Greek `G2597`, meaning "to descend" or "to go down." This verb describes the action of going into "the deep," highlighting the imagined, impossible journey a person would have to undertake to achieve what Christ has already done. It underscores the profound separation and inaccessibility of the realm of the dead to human intervention.
* **dead (Greek, _nekrós'_):** From the Greek `G3498`, meaning "dead" (literally or figuratively) or a "corpse." In this verse, it directly refers to those who have died, emphasizing the state from which Christ was raised. It reinforces the reality of Christ's death and the miraculous nature of His resurrection, which is beyond human capability to replicate or facilitate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or, Who shall descend into the deep?"**: This is a rhetorical question posed by Paul, echoing the structure of [Deuteronomy 30:13](/deuteronomy/30-13 "Deuteronomy 30:13 - Who Will Cross the Sea?"). It implies an impossible task for humanity. The "deep" here is not merely a physical abyss but, as the subsequent clause clarifies, the realm of the dead. Paul uses this imagery to challenge any notion that salvation can be achieved by human exertion or by attempting to bring Christ back from the grave.
* **"(that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)"**: This parenthetical statement is Paul's crucial interpretive gloss. It explicitly defines "the deep" as the place from which Christ was raised and clarifies the impossible action: no human can resurrect Christ, for His resurrection was a singular, divine act. This phrase underscores the finished work of Christ's resurrection as the foundation of salvation, removing any burden from humanity to accomplish what only God could do. It highlights the completeness and sufficiency of Christ's victory over death.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several **literary devices** in Romans 10:7. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, "Who shall descend into the deep?", which is not meant to elicit an answer but to emphatically convey the utter impossibility of the action. This serves to highlight the futility of human effort in achieving salvation. Furthermore, the verse functions as an **Allusion** and **Reinterpretation** of [Deuteronomy 30:13](/deuteronomy/30-13 "Deuteronomy 30:13 - Who Will Cross the Sea?"). While Moses spoke of the Law's accessibility (not being far off), Paul applies this principle to Christ, arguing that Christ (and the righteousness He offers) is equally, if not more, accessible. The most striking device is the **Parenthetical Explanation**, "(that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)", which immediately clarifies the meaning of "the deep" and the nature of the impossible task. This direct, interpretive gloss ensures the reader grasps the theological point Paul is making: Christ's resurrection is a divine, completed act, not subject to human initiation or repetition. This also sets up an implicit **Antithesis** with any concept of human-achieved righteousness, contrasting it with the divinely provided righteousness through faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 10:7 serves as a powerful theological statement affirming the finished work of Jesus Christ and the radical accessibility of salvation through faith. It dismantles any notion that humanity must perform extraordinary, impossible feats to bridge the gap between God and themselves, or to "earn" salvation. By declaring that no one needs to "descend into the deep" to bring Christ up from the dead, Paul emphasizes that Christ's resurrection is a singular, divine act of God, not a human achievement. This truth liberates believers from the burden of striving for righteousness through works, directing them instead to the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and triumph over death. The verse powerfully undergirds the core gospel message that salvation is a gift received by faith, founded upon God's initiative and Christ's completed work, rather than human merit or effort.

* [Deuteronomy 30:11-14](/deuteronomy/30-11-14 "Deuteronomy 30:11-14 - The Commandment is Near")
* [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief for Salvation")
* [1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel of Christ's Death and Resurrection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 10:7 offers profound comfort and clarity for every believer. It assures us that the path to a right standing with God is not an arduous, mysterious quest requiring superhuman effort or impossible religious pilgrimages. We are not called to "descend into the deep" or perform any act to bring Christ back from the dead, because He has already triumphed over death and ascended to the Father. This truth frees us from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn God's favor or prove our worthiness. Instead, it invites us to rest in the perfect, completed work of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is not dependent on our striving but on His finished work. This understanding should cultivate a deep sense of gratitude, humility, and assurance, knowing that God has made the way to Him simple and accessible through faith, not through our own impossible achievements. It encourages us to abandon self-reliance and embrace the radical grace offered in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that salvation is not based on human effort impact your understanding of God's grace and your personal walk with Him?**
* **In what areas of your life might you still be trying to "descend into the deep" or earn God's favor through your own actions, rather than resting in Christ's completed work?**
* **How does Christ's completed work, particularly His resurrection, provide a solid foundation for your faith and assurance in the face of doubt or fear?**

### FAQ

**What does "the deep" refer to in Romans 10:7?**

Answer: In Romans 10:7, "the deep" (Greek: _abyssos_) refers to the realm of the dead, or Hades. Paul's parenthetical explanation, "(that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)," explicitly clarifies this meaning. It is not a literal physical location that humans can access to retrieve Christ, but a metaphorical representation of an impossible task, emphasizing that Christ's resurrection was a divine act, not something that humans could or needed to facilitate. This aligns with the broader biblical understanding of the abyss as a place of death, chaos, or imprisonment, as seen in various Old Testament and apocalyptic texts.

**How does Romans 10:7 relate to the Old Testament passage in Deuteronomy 30?**

Answer: Romans 10:7, along with [Romans 10:6](/romans/10-6 "Romans 10:6 - Righteousness by Faith"), is Paul's reinterpretation and application of [Deuteronomy 30:11-14](/deuteronomy/30-11-14 "Deuteronomy 30:11-14 - The Commandment is Near"). In Deuteronomy, Moses tells the Israelites that God's commandment is "not in heaven, nor beyond the sea," meaning it is not far off or difficult to find. Paul takes this principle of accessibility and applies it to Christ. Just as the Law was near and accessible, so too is Christ and the righteousness He offers. Paul's rhetorical questions about ascending to heaven or descending into the deep serve to highlight that salvation through Christ does not require impossible human quests, but is readily available through faith, as explained further in [Romans 10:8](/romans/10-8 "Romans 10:8 - The Word is Near You").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 10:7 profoundly highlights the Christ-centered nature of salvation by emphasizing that the "bringing up Christ again from the dead" is not a task for humanity but a completed divine act. This verse underscores Jesus' unique role as the victor over death and the sole source of righteousness. His descent into death, often understood as His experience of separation and the grave, and His subsequent glorious resurrection, mean that no human effort is required to achieve what He has already accomplished. Christ Himself "descended into the deep" and conquered it, holding "the keys of hell and of death" ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Christ Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")). His resurrection is the ultimate proof of His divine power and the efficacy of His atoning work, fulfilling all Old Testament prophecies and types that pointed to a deliverer who would overcome the grave. Therefore, our righteousness is not found in our ability to perform impossible tasks or religious duties, but solely in the perfect, finished work of Christ, whose triumph over sin and death provides the accessible path to God for all who believe, as beautifully articulated in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers") and [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Defeat of Death").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Revelation 1:18

[I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

1 Peter 3:18

¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 3:22

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Romans 4:25

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.