Go to Related Reading
About this book

Romans

About this book
Chapter 10

1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation. 2 For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth. 3 For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”⁠ 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”⁠ (that is, to bring Christ down)⁠ 7 or “Who will descend into the abyss?”⁠ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 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 preach), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.⁠ 14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” 16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ. 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 19 But again I ask, didn’t Israel understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.” 20 And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But about Israel he says, “All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people!”⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Baruch 3:29 and Romans 10:6

Deuterocanon · New Testament

Share:

Summary

Baruch echoes the language of Deuteronomy about ascending to heaven or crossing the sea, interpreting it as more than just the Torah and applying it to the search for wisdom. In Romans, Paul follows a similar reading, adapting it to faith in Jesus.

Passages

Baruch 3:29

Deuterocanon
26 Giants were born that were famous of old, great of stature, and expert in war. 27 God didn’t choose these, nor did he give the way of knowledge to them, 28 so they perished, because they had no wisdom. They perished through their own foolishness. 29 Who has gone up into heaven, taken her, and brought her down from the clouds? 30 Who has gone over the sea, found her, and will bring her for choice gold? 31 There is no one who knows her way, nor any who comprehend her path. 32 But he that knows all things knows her, he found her out with his understanding. He who prepared the earth for all time has filled it with four-footed beasts.
200–50 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Baruch

Romans 10:6

New Testament
4 For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 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 preach), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
55–58 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Romans

References

"... this linkage suggests that Paul is ascribing to Jesus Christ attributes that earlier Jewish texts had associated with God's eternal creative wisdom ... Note also the connection between Romans 10:6-7 and Baruch 3:29-30 ..."
Richard B. Hays, "The Story of God's Son" in Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, and Richard B. Hays, ed. Seeking the Identity of Jesus: A Pilgrimage (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008), 183–184.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Your feedback

Baruch 3:29 and Romans 10:6

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library