Romans 10:6

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above:])

But {G1161} the righteousness {G1343} which is of {G1537} faith {G4102} speaketh {G3004} on this wise {G3779}, Say {G2036} not {G3361} in {G1722} thine {G4675} heart {G2588}, Who {G5101} shall ascend {G305} into {G1519} heaven {G3772}?(that is {G5123}, to bring {G2609} Christ {G5547} down {G2609} from above:)

Moreover, the righteousness grounded in trusting says:

“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend to heaven?’” —

that is, to bring the Messiah down —

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)

But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 10:6

In Romans 10:6, the Apostle Paul continues his profound discussion on the nature of salvation, contrasting the righteousness that comes from the law with the righteousness that comes from faith. This verse, along with the subsequent verses, is a powerful declaration of the accessibility of God's saving grace through belief in Jesus Christ.

Context

Chapter 10 of Romans addresses Israel's failure to attain righteousness through the law, despite their zeal for God (Romans 10:2). Paul explains that they pursued a righteousness based on works, rather than submitting to God's way of righteousness through faith. Verse 6 directly quotes and reinterprets Deuteronomy 30:12-14, where Moses speaks of the commandment not being "hidden from thee" or "far off." Paul applies this ancient text to the new covenant reality, showing that Christ has already fulfilled the requirements, making salvation readily available.

Key Themes

  • Accessibility of Salvation by Faith: The core message is that salvation is not a distant, unreachable goal. It doesn't require arduous human effort or mystical journeys ("Who shall ascend into heaven?"). God has brought salvation near through Christ.
  • Contrast with Righteousness by Law: Paul explicitly contrasts this "righteousness which is of faith" with the "righteousness which is of the law" mentioned in Romans 10:5. The law demands perfect obedience, which no one can fully achieve, leading to a pursuit of righteousness that is ultimately unattainable by human strength.
  • Christ's Finished Work: The rhetorical question "Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above:])" emphasizes that Christ has already come from heaven. His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection have already accomplished what is necessary for salvation. There is no need for humanity to perform a heroic feat to "bring Him down" or complete His work.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the righteousness which is of faith" (Greek: hē ek pisteōs dikaiosynē) highlights that this righteousness originates from or out of faith. It is not something earned by works but received through trust and belief. The rhetorical questions posed in the verse are a direct allusion to Deuteronomy 30, but Paul recontextualizes them to speak of Christ. The idea of "bringing Christ down" underscores the sufficiency and finality of His first advent; His work is complete, and salvation is now offered freely.

Related Scriptures

  • For the full contrast between law and faith, see Romans 3:21-22 and Galatians 3:11.
  • The subsequent verses in Romans 10, particularly Romans 10:9-10, elaborate on the simplicity of this faith: confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection.
  • The original source of the rhetorical questions is found in Deuteronomy 30:11-14.

Practical Application

Romans 10:6 offers immense comfort and clarity. It reminds us that salvation is not a reward for human striving or an elusive mystery, but a free gift made available through Christ's completed work. We are not called to ascend to heaven to bring Christ down, nor to descend into the abyss to bring Him up (as in Romans 10:7). Instead, we are called to simply believe in Him. This verse encourages humility, rejecting self-righteousness, and embracing the profound yet simple truth that God has done all that is necessary for us to be made right with Him. The way of faith is direct, personal, and accessible to everyone.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 30:11 (25 votes)

    ¶ For this commandment which I command thee this day, it [is] not hidden from thee, neither [is] it far off.

  • Deuteronomy 30:14 (25 votes)

    But the word [is] very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

  • John 3:12 (8 votes)

    If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?

  • John 3:13 (8 votes)

    And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.

  • Proverbs 30:4 (8 votes)

    Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if thou canst tell?

  • Ephesians 4:8 (8 votes)

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

  • Ephesians 4:10 (8 votes)

    He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)