The righteousness that comes from faith doesn't demand impossible journeys like ascending to heaven; it declares that the needed salvation is already here, brought down to us by Christ. This highlights that faith isn't about striving for something unattainable, but about recognizing what God has already accomplished in Christ.
But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is contrasting the impossible task of achieving righteousness through the Law with the accessible righteousness found through faith in Christ. He argues that the demands of the Law are impossibly high, requiring perfection that humans cannot attain. In contrast, the "righteousness of faith" is presented as readily available, not requiring superhuman feats but a simple acceptance of God's work in Christ.
Have you ever felt like God's commands or salvation were impossibly out of reach? The righteousness that comes from faith has a very different message.
Paul is contrasting the mindset of trying to earn God's favor through strict adherence to the law with the radical freedom found in faith. The law demands perfect obedience, a task so impossible that it leads to despair. It asks, 'Who can perfectly keep these commands to earn life?'
The righteousness based on faith, however, personifies this faith and gives it a voice. It dismisses the idea of impossible cosmic quests for salvation. Instead of saying, 'Who can ascend to heaven to bring down God's perfect standard?' or 'Who can descend into the depths to bring up victory over death?', faith declares that the message of salvation is already here. It's not a hidden secret requiring a perilous journey, but a revealed truth accessible to all who believe.
The questions 'Who will ascend?' and 'Who will descend?' seem impossibly difficult. But Paul reinterprets them, pointing to the finished work of Christ.
Paul takes the hypothetical, impossible tasks presented in Deuteronomy – ascending to heaven or descending into the depths – and reframes them through the lens of the gospel.
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Faith doesn't require a new cosmic mission; it rests on the completed redemptive work of Christ – His coming down and His rising again.
If the great tasks of salvation are already accomplished by Christ, what is our response? It's not a journey, but a simple reception.
After posing the impossible questions and reinterpreting them in light of Christ's finished work, Paul immediately pivots to the gospel's accessibility. The 'word' – the message of salvation through faith in Christ – is not distant or hidden.
This contrasts sharply with the arduous, uncertain path implied by the legalistic mindset. Faith's response is to believe the good news that God has already acted decisively in Christ, making salvation attainable through simple trust and confession.
Understand the original words
dikaiosynē · Greek Noun
The state or quality of being acceptable to God, involving a right relationship with Him based on Christ's atonement rather than human works.
pistis · Greek Noun
A firm conviction, trust, or reliance upon the person and work of Jesus Christ; it is the instrument through which one receives the gift of salvation.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Anointed One, the promised Messiah of Israel, who fulfills the Old Testament covenants and is the Savior of humanity.
kardia · Greek Noun
In this context, the deep, inner self where human will, volition, intellect, and spiritual conviction reside.
abyssos · Greek Noun
The deep, dark, or unfathomable place; often associated with the realm of the dead or the place of judgment.
rhēma · Greek Noun
A divine message, doctrine, or proclamation; specifically, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul powerfully adapts words originally meant to show the accessibility of God's Law to demonstrate that salvation through Christ is even more readily available, requiring faith, not impossible human effort.
c. 1400 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God delivers the Ten Commandments and the Pentateuch to Moses on Mount Sinai, establishing a covenant and a detailed system of laws for Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Deuteronomy's Exhortation
Moses delivers his final addresses to the Israelites, reiterating the Law and emphasizing its accessibility and the consequences of obedience and disobedience.
c. 1st century AD
Jewish Expectations of the Messiah
Many Jews anticipate a Messiah who will powerfully deliver Israel, often with expectations tied to visible signs and earthly rule.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then, according to Christian belief, resurrected, fulfilling messianic prophecies and inaugurating the new covenant.
c. AD 33-62— this verse
Apostolic Preaching of the Gospel
The apostles spread the message of Jesus Christ, emphasizing salvation through faith in his death and resurrection, not through strict adherence to the Law.
This is the primary passage Paul is quoting and reinterpreting. Moses describes the accessibility of God's commands, while Paul adapts it to show how faith in Christ makes salvation readily available.
Psalm 139:7-10These verses express the impossibility of escaping God's presence, paralleling Paul's rhetorical questions about ascending to heaven or descending into the depths, highlighting that God's presence and saving power are not impossibly distant.
Isaiah 40:28-31This passage speaks of God giving strength to the weary and renewing their strength, underscoring that God's power is not distant or inaccessible, but is given to those who wait for Him, much like the accessibility of salvation through faith that Paul emphasizes.
John 1:14This verse states that 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' directly countering the idea that one would need to 'ascend into heaven to bring Christ down,' as Christ has already come to earth.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4This passage summarizes the core message of the gospel – Christ died for our sins and was raised – which is the very act that makes salvation accessible and negates the need for impossible journeys to bring it about.
vincentRomans 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:)"
The righteousness which is of faith (ἡ ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοσύνη).The of-faith righteousness. Righteousness is personified. Paul makes the righteousness of faith describe itself. Of faith, ἐκ from. Marking the source.Speaketh on this wise (οὕτως λέγει)The quotation in Romans 10:6-8 is a free citation from Deuteronomy…
bensonRomans 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:)"
Romans 10:6-9 . Blot the righteousness which is of faith — The method of becoming righteous by believing; speaketh — A very different language from that of the law, and may be considered as expressing itself thus; (to accommodate to our present subject the words which Moses spake touching the plainness of his law:) Say no…
The righteousness that comes from faith doesn't demand impossible journeys like ascending to heaven; it declares that the needed salvation is already here, brought down to us by Christ. This highlights that faith isn't about striving for something unattainable, but about recognizing what God has already accomplished in Christ.
Paul is contrasting the impossible task of achieving righteousness through the Law with the accessible righteousness found through faith in Christ. He argues that the demands of the Law are impossibly high, requiring perfection that humans cannot attain. In contrast, the "righteousness of faith" is presented as readily available, not requiring superhuman feats but a simple acceptance of God's work in Christ.
Paul is contrasting the impossible task of achieving righteousness through the Law with the accessible righteousness found through faith in Christ. He argues that the demands of the Law are impossibly high, requiring perfection that humans cannot attain. In contrast, the "righteousness of faith" is presented as readily available, not requiring superhuman feats but a simple acceptance of God's work in Christ.
"But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say…" — The righteousness that comes from faith doesn't demand impossible journeys like ascending to heaven; it declares that the needed salvation is already here, brought down to us by Christ. This highligh…
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Last reviewed October 2026
