Romans 10:6

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh The "righteousness of faith" is here equivalent to "the righteousness of God." Song of Solomon 4:11; Song of Solomon 4:13. Here, by a striking personification, not unlike that of the Divine Wisdom in the Proverbs, Justification is said to speak, in the words of Deuteronomy. In St Paul's view "the Word of God" indeed "liveth," with a life which gives an almost personality to its doctrines. Perhaps he avoids the phrase "Mosesspeaketh" because the terms of the legalcovenant have just been quoted as uttered by him (Romans 10:5).

Say not in thine heart The original of the quotations here is Deuteronomy 30:12-14. The form of the quotation is free; but nevertheless St Paul really employs the passage as a proof, and does not merely adapt it to his purpose. For the very point of his argument just here is that, in and by the Law, Christ is suggested and announced; and if he merely adapted Mosaic words to express his own thought, this point would be missed. Alford has some admirable remarks on the passage: he argues that the practical import of the passage in Deuteronomy is that the Law, as the Revelation of God's will, is not an unintelligible mystery to man, but a thing that can be known and loved; but that, if so, then à fortiorithis is true "of Him who is the end of the law, and of the commandment to believe in Him, which (1 John 3:23) is now God's commandment." St Paul assumes that the O. T. is fall of Christ (Messiah;) and so it is no wonder to him to see in this Mosaic passage a divinely-designedsuggestion of His exaltation, humiliation, and gospel, under words having another immediate reference.

in thine heart Words not in Heb. or LXX., but meaning what the Heb. ("that thou shouldest say") means; the "speaking" of thought.

Who shall ascend, &c. This and the next question come of anxiety and perplexity:q. d., "In order to be saved, have I to bringthe necessary Manifestation of God's will from Heaven or Hades? Have I to procureIncarnation and Resurrection?" "No; all is now done; the Person and the Work are complete, and ready. As at Sinai, so in the Gospel, God has done His part unasked; and now thy part is to accept and own His Son as thy Justification."

that is, &c. The Apostle, guided by the Holy Ghost, explains the innermost intention of the Holy Ghost as He spoke by Moses. What was the meaning of Moses, consciously to himself, is only part of the question.

to bring Christ down In His Incarnation.