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sin and failure, God guaranteed that in the future he would see that his people received
the covenant blessings through a restorative work of the human heart (30:1-10, esp. v. 6).
To sum up the teaching of this passage, the righteousness based on the law would fail,
but the righteousness of God would prevail. The Jews of Paul's day were acting as if the
righteousness based on the law would succeed, against what the law itself taught.
Paul's Use of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 in Romans 10:6-8
That which is spoken by "the righteousness of faith" consists in three partial
quotations (vv. 6a, 7a, 8a) followed by three interpretations (vv. 6b, 7b, 8b). The first
two quotation/interpretation combinations describe the righteousness of faith from a
negative point of view (i.e., what faith is not), while the third combination describes this
faith from a positive point of view (i.e., what faith is). Paul's explanation of the first
question, "who will ascend into heaven?" likely refers to the incarnation of Christ, and
his explanation of the second, "who will descend into the abyss?" to his resurrection (vv.
6-7; cf. vv. 8-9). Even though Paul does seem to be addressing the issue of works-
righteousness vs. faith-righteousness in vv. 2-8, it is possible that he does not refer to the
issue of works-righteousness specifically in his use of these proverbial questions if he
stays true to the context of Deut. 30:12-14. Perhaps Paul uses these proverbial questions
to address Israel's lack of understanding expressed earlier in v. 2, rather that to address
their efforts to achieve righteousness. To ask such questions as Paul puts forward would
be to reveal a lack of understanding regarding the revelation of God's righteousness, and
to deny that "Christ is the
WHYOR of the law for righteousness to all who believe" (10:4).
On the other hand, it would be an expression of faith to recognize and submit to the
revelation of God's righteousness in Christ. Paul's third explanation is set off by an