Romans 10:7

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

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}.)

or,

“‘Who will descend into Sh’ol?’” —

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

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

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

Romans 10:7 is part of a crucial passage where the Apostle Paul contrasts the righteousness sought through human effort and adherence to the law with the righteousness freely offered through faith in Jesus Christ. This verse, along with the preceding Romans 10:6, adapts and applies Old Testament scripture from Deuteronomy to explain the accessibility of salvation.

Context

In Romans chapter 10, Paul expresses his deep desire for the salvation of Israel, who, despite their zeal for God, had sought righteousness through the law rather than through faith. He quotes from Deuteronomy 30:12-14, where 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 reinterprets this to refer to Christ, emphasizing that one does not need to perform impossible feats—like bringing Christ down from heaven or bringing Him up from the dead—to find Him.

Key Themes

  • The Accessibility of Salvation: This verse powerfully conveys that salvation is not found by embarking on an arduous, impossible journey to reach God or bring Christ back. Instead, salvation is near, already accomplished by God.
  • Christ's Resurrection as a Completed Work: The parenthetical explanation, "that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead," explicitly links "the deep" to the realm of the dead and underscores the completed work of Christ's resurrection. Humanity does not need to perform this act; Christ has already conquered death. This aligns with the core of the Gospel message found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
  • Righteousness by Faith: By stating what *not* to do (seek Christ in impossible places), Paul prepares the listener for what *to* do: embrace the "word of faith" that is readily available (as explained in Romans 10:8). This contrasts sharply with the idea of earning righteousness through works or religious pilgrimages.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "deep" is abyssos (ἄβυσσος), which literally means "bottomless" or "abyss." In ancient thought, it often referred to the underworld, the realm of the dead, or a vast, unplumbable chasm. Paul uses this imagery to emphasize the futility of trying to retrieve Christ from such a place, reinforcing that His resurrection is a divine act, not a human achievement. The phrase "bring up Christ again from the dead" directly confirms the significance of Christ's victory over death, a central tenet of Christian faith.

Practical Application

Romans 10:7 provides immense comfort and clarity for believers today. It assures us that salvation is not a mysterious or unattainable goal requiring extraordinary human effort. Instead, it is a gift based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. We do not need to "descend into the deep" to find Him or to earn His favor, because He has already descended, conquered death, and risen again. Our part is simply to believe and confess, as further elaborated in Romans 10:9-10. This verse encourages us to rest in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, embracing the truth that God has made the path to righteousness simple and accessible through faith.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.
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