Romans 10:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

NIV: or 'Who will descend into the deep?'' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

NASB: or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).'

CSB: or, "Who will go down into the abyss? " that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.

NLT: And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).'

KJV: Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

NKJV: or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Paul has written in the previous verse that Israel should not attempt to bring the Messiah down from heaven when that has already happened. Christ has already come down! Paul is applying what God said to Israel about obeying His commands (Deuteronomy 30:11–14) to the idea of having faith in Christ.

Israel, in Paul's context, should not look for someone to ascend into heaven to bring the Messiah down or, now, to descend into the abyss to bring the Messiah up, as if from the dead. Christ has already come to them in the form of Jesus and walked among them. He descended to the earth, died on the cross, descended into the abyss, and then ascended back to earth before ascending to heaven.

In other words, Christ has already been near to Paul's Jewish readers. They should not continue looking for the Messiah to come down or come up. Instead, they should understand that He has been near them and that the Word of God, and faith, is right in front of them ready to be believed. This "word of faith" is a reference to the gospel: the message of God's intended plan for our salvation.

Romans 10:5–13 explores how Israel's people have, for the most part, rejected God by refusing to trust in Christ. Instead of waiting for some new truth to fall from heaven, or float up from the abyss, they ought to recognize that truth has already been given. All who confess Christ as Lord, and believe in His resurrection, will be saved. This is true for both Jews and Gentiles.

Paul's heart is broken for his people, Israel. He prays they will be saved through faith in Christ. Their enthusiasm for God is made useless by their attempt to be made righteous by their own law-keeping instead of by faith in Christ. What, then, is required to be saved? One must confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead. The same is true for both Jews and Gentiles. God waits patiently for Israel to turn and believe.

Romans 9 concluded with Paul's declaration that Israel has stumbled over the stumbling stone of Christ. Romans 10 describes Paul's heartfelt prayer that Israel would be saved, despite her commitment to saving herself through works. Why have the Israelites not confessed the Lordship of Jesus and believed in the resurrection? It's not for lack of hearing and understanding; they are disobeying the gospel. Paul will insist, though, in the following chapter, that God has not rejected Israel. He still holds out His hands to her, offering salvation through faith in Christ.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 4/29/2024 7:00:23 AM