Copyright © 2001 by Elizabeth E. Shively
The Unity of the Bible's Message:
Paul's use of Deuteronomy in Romans 10:6-8
(or: "Does an Analysis of the context of Deuteronomy 30:12-14
help us to understand Paul's use of this text in Romans 10:6-8?")
by Elizabeth E. Shively
Introduction
Problematic is the apostle Paul's handling of the Old Testament Scriptures
because of the interpretative freedom with which he approaches many of the texts he
employs. Paul's use of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 in Romans 10:6-8 provides one example.
Here he applies what Moses said concerning the law to the incarnation and resurrection
of Christ (vv. 6-7), and to the gospel message (v. 8) in what seems to be an unlikely
interpretation of the OT text. Unable to make sense of Paul's exegesis, some scholars
hold that Paul misinterprets or misapplies this OT text.
Many others have solved the
problem by concluding that Paul's use of Deut. 30:12-14 in Rom. 10:6-8 is a prime
example of the rhetorical use of the OT.
That is, Paul did not intend to quote Deut.
30:12-14, but only used its language as a vehicle for expressing his theological position
without regard to its meaning. We have found that most who write about Paul's use of
Deut. 30:12-14 in Rom. 10:6-8 make their assessments without ever showing a thorough
analysis of the OT text in its context. This paper will explore the possibility that such an
analysis might lead to a different conclusion regarding Paul's usage of this OT text.
1
E.g., John Knox argues that this is a "particularly flagrant case" of quoting Scripture out of its
context. Knox, "The Epistle to the Romans," vol. 9 (IB; New York: Abingdon, 1954), 556-7.
2
H.A.W. Meyer, The Epistle to the Romans, vol. 2 (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1881) 174f; J.A.
Fitzmeyer, Romans: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (AB; New York: Doubleday,
1993) 588; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids: Eerdman's, 1983)
338-40; Sanday and Headlam, The Epistle to the Romans (ICC; New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911)
86-9); C.K. Barrett, The Epistle to the Romans (New York: Harper and Row, 1957) 199. Earl Ellis calls
Paul's use rhetorical, but says that the quotation has "more than a casual relation" to the OT context. Ellis,
Paul's Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1957) 123.