Romans 10:6

Which is of faith. Paul personifies righteousness by faith as if it were itself speaking. Compare the personification of wisdom (Prov. 1:20; Luke 11:49) and of exhortation (Heb. 12:5). The apostle might have said, “Moses speaks thus concerning righteousness by faith.” Thus both parts of Rom. 10:4 are proved by the testimony of Moses, namely the impossibility of obtaining righteousness by law (v. 5) and the assurance that we may obtain righteousness by faith (vs. 6-8).

Many commentators have found difficulty in the fact that Paul uses words of Moses which seem to pertain only to the law, to describe righteousness by faith. But the difficulty lies in the mistaken assumption, so widely held, that the law and the gospel are diametrically opposed to each other. The problem is resolved by recognizing that righteousness by faith has always been God’s method for saving man and that the giving of the law through Moses was an integral part of this plan. Moreover, Moses was especially used by God to set up the great system of types and ceremonies that symbolized the whole plan of righteousness by faith in Christ. Consequently, it is quite unreasonable to assume that Moses was ignorant of the proper relationship between the law and the gospel and that whenever he spoke so strongly of obedience to God’s commandments he was commending righteousness by law rather than by faith.

Speaketh on this wise. That is, speaks in this manner. The quotation is from Deut. 30:11-14. In that chapter Moses lists the blessings that would come to Israel if they were obedient to God’s law. It is important to observe that Moses is speaking to those to whom he has previously said: “God will circumcise thine heart, ... to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live” (Deut. 30:6). Moses is here describing the experience of truly penitent and faithful Israelites. He is speaking of the law from the point of view of Israelites circumcised in heart. It is not necessary to suppose, as have many commentators, that Paul is merely appropriating the words of Moses about the law, and thus applying them to something that Moses did not have in mind. As Paul found righteousness by faith in Abraham, who believed and obeyed God, so here he finds the essence of righteousness by faith in the experience of those who turn in repentance to God and love and obey Him with all their heart and soul. The words of Moses, understood in their true spiritual sense, describe a righteousness which is, indeed, righteousness by faith.

Say not in thine heart. This expression is found in Deut. 9:4 and is used by Paul to introduce his quotation from Deut. 30:12-14. “To say in the heart” represents a Hebrew idiom meaning “to think,” usually of an evil thought (see also Deut. 15:9; 18:21; Ps. 14:1; Matt. 3:9; 24:48; Rev. 18:7; cf. 1 Cor. 7:37).

Who shall ascend? Moses spoke these words to point out that God’s word is not far off and beyond man’s reach, but that it has already been revealed and has been made plain to him. Paul uses the same words concerning the gospel, the still clearer revelation of God’s word that has been given in Christ.

To bring Christ down. As though He had not yet come. Righteousness by faith says, “Do not doubt that Christ has already come. The Son of God has already become man and dwelt among us. Faith is not so difficult a matter, for Christ has come.”