The Word is Near You

“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);” -Romans 10:6–8

To show what righteousness based on faith looks like, he once again quotes Moses, but this time doing so by personifying “righteousness based on faith.” This handling of the Scripture is consistent with the Jewish exegetical practices of his day as is the insertion of his own gospel application of this passage originally about the law of Moses. It’s helpful to keep in mind that all of Moses’ writing are considered “The Law” in one respect (Cf. James 2:10). 

Paul quotes another amalgamation of Deuteronomy. The first part is taken from Deuteronomy 9:4 whereas the second part is taken from Deuteronomy 30:11-14. 

““Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.” -Deuteronomy 9:4

““For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” -Deuteronomy 30:11–14

Again, what Deuteronomy says about the law of Moses, Paul then applies to the gospel of Christ Jesus. Christ (the righteousness of God) does not have to be brought down to us or brought up for us. The righteousness of God is a person, Jesus Christ, and he has already descended and he has already resurrected. This was God’s work (marvelous in our sight), a work of revelation to be received by faith. 

The righteousness of God based on faith, Jesus Christ, is speaking now. It is the word of faith that Paul is preaching. God has revealed Christ to us; we don’t need to go searching for him. We need only believe! 

As John notes, The Word (the Divine Logos) became flesh and dwelt among the apostles, and they have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (Cf. John 1:14).