(Romans 10:6-8) The righteousness which is of faith speaketh?

Righteousness (of faith) is Speaking

⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up into heaven?”, that is, to bring Christ down, ⁷ or “who will go down into the abyss?”, that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.(Romans 10 DLNT)

of faith is genitive modifying the nominative righteousness. Righteousness (of faith) is speaking.

Paul is making an argument based upon the Law (what Moses wrote):

¹¹ "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. ¹² It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' ¹³ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'(Deuteronomy 30)

Paul's is arguing from the historical turth. Christ was crucified and raised from the dead. Therefore, righteousness of faith will not say (in the heart), "who will go up heaven..." because the Christ has come down from heaven. Nor will righteousness of faith say, "who will go down into the abyss..." because the Christ has been raised from the dead.

It is Deuteronomy 30:14
Paul asks a rhetorical question: ἀλλὰ τί λέγει

The answer is Deuteronomy, specifically 30:14:

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:14)

Paul is referring to a specific verse in the Law. There is no need to add "it" to the question.

Question: But what says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”
Answer: Moses, Deuteronomy 30:14

Conclusion
Paul is personifying righteousness of faith which is what identifies those who believe Jesus is the Christ and is the fulfillment of the Law:

⁴ For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God...

⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. (NLT)

This is figurative language. Examples being, “the law says…” when in fact the law doesn’t literally/actually say anything, or “the alarm clock yells my name every morning…” it’s the same idea here, ”the righteousness that comes from faith says…”

Paul is merely pointing out how it works. It’s an interpretation or an application or a reading of righteousness that comes from faith.

Paul is saying that imputed righteousness that is received by faith doesn’t need to climb into heaven to be attained by attaining Christ, nor does it need to raise Christ from the dead as though His work were incomplete, rather believers have Christ in them and as such they have His righteousness too. It does not need to be earned. It’s received by faith.

Believing in Christ one attains righteousness fully and wholly. If you believe the good news and accept it, it is sufficient to attain righteousness. A vastly different paradigm than that offered under the Mosaic Law. And very difficult to receive as veritable except by faith

This is uncomplicated, both grammatically and contextually. Let me go back to Rom 10:3 to get the context and Rom 10:6 makes little sense on its own.

Rom 10:3 & 4 establishes a contrast between the legalistic Jews, who sought to establish their own righteousness by keeping the law, vs, those who submit to God's righteousness that comes by faith to all who trust/believe.

Rom 10:5 & 6 continue this same contrast as follows:

• righteousness that comes by the law Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
• the righteousness that come from faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ...

This is supported by the grammar - it is the righteousness (ie, by extension, those seeking the righteousness) speaking.

Now, the thrust of Paul's statement about NOT saying that Christ ascended and descended is this: (again by contrast)

• the righteousness that seeks to be established by law is from the person and denies Christ's saving sacrifice, His death and burial and His resurrection and ascent into heaven. That is "who needs anyone to ascend and descend because we have established our own righteousness."
• by contrast, those who trust and believe in Christ for their credited righteousness by faith do NOT say such things.

Thus, Paul teaches what he concludes in V8-10 -

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

That, is true righteousness by faith!

There is faith that repudiates the righteousness of God. For example, many demonic entities believe that God exists (for they were cast out of his presence); they believe that the Son of God was born of woman, was crucified, and rose again, and is now in heaven. They believe that Christ is going to suddenly usher in the Day of Resurrection and Judgment and that he will cast them into the sulphuric, burning lake forever. Those ones actually have much stronger belief in all that than some professed Christians.

But is such belief faith? James wrote about faith requiring actions, and how the devils also believe there is one God, yet tremble (James 2:18-19). Without seeing their future estate, they believe it will happen, hence their trembling. They may know that God is righteous but rage against the righteousness of God. They do not have the righteousness of faith, and never will.

This extreme example helps lead into the faith of God's people, Israel, addressed in Romans chapter 10. Israel did not have demonic belief that raged against God's righteousness, yet Paul exposed their belief as not in accord with knowledge:

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Romans 10:2-4 A.V.

This demonstrates that it is possible to have faith in God, yet that faith not being sufficient for them to submit to the righteousness of God. The demons won't submit, nor will those who put their own supposed righteousness either above, or on a par with God's righteousness.

Verse 6 now leads into the question asked: Who/what is the word "it" referring to in verse 8 (righteousness or faith)?

"But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart... But what saith it?... that is, the word of faith, which we preach." Romans 10:6-8 AV, extracts for emphasis

"It" is the preached gospel of the righteousness of God, believed not just to utter words of profession, but which belief is in the hearts of those moved to confess Jesus Christ. As verse 10 states:

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10 A.V.

The two are inseparable. The word of faith, preached, believed in both heart and mind, enacted in living demonstration of the righteousness of God, in Christ.

Answer

Students of literature will know that it is an artistic way of saying that the Scripture (in fact God through Scripture) speaks about the righteousness of faith.

It is one of the literary devices used by the writers.

“It” is the Scripture.

Explanation

The context is given by Paul in Romans 9:31-32.

“but Israel following after a Law of righteousness did not arrive at a Law of righteousness? Why? Because it was not of faith, but as of works of Law. For they stumbled at the Stone-of-stumbling”.

Israel (Jew first and then the Greeks/Gentiles) was supposed to reach at the law (standard) of righteousness.

It was to be done through “faith” in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

But the Jews tried to reach it through the “works of law” (animal sacrifices).

Thus we learn that:

• The Law of righteousness = the Goal;

• Faith = the right Means;

• Works of Law = the wrong Means.

The best example one can cite to explain the controversy of “law vs. faith” is Apostle Paul himself.

Before conversion, he was far from the Law of righteousness:

“the one who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and insolent” (1 Tim 1:13).

But as a Jew he was perfect in his Jewish life following the works of Law:

“If any other thinks that he has reason to trust in the flesh, I more. I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. As regards the Law, I was a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness in the Law, blameless” (Phlp 3:4-6).

Paul before his conversion, as a “blasphemer”, “persecutor” and “insolent” cannot be talking about the spiritual Law. He is talking about the Works of Law because the original Law doesn’t talk anything about Pharisee.

Paul is talking about a different law here, the ritual law with traditions added by the fathers:

“I am truly a man, a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the exactness of the Law of the fathers, being a zealous one of God, as you all are today. I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons” (Acts 22:3-4).

At that stage Paul could never reach the Law of righteousness even if he fervently tried. Why?

“And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it” (Rom 8:7).

Yet, one day, because of God’s grace, he received mercy. He was made righteous by God.

“but I received mercy, because being ignorant I did it in unbelief” (1 Tim 1:13).

Paul didn’t deserve this because he was a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent. Yet God showed mercy through His grace and Paul was given faith in a powerful way on the road to Damascus.

“But the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the Word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. But for this reason I received mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for an example to those being about to believe on Him to everlasting life” (1 Tim 1:14-16).

Conclusion

Paul, earlier, as a Pharisaic Jew, thought that the traditions of his fathers with strict observances of animal sacrifices absolved him of his sins.

But he learned through faith that only Jesus’ unique sacrifice as the Lamb of God absolved his sins. Thus he was “made righteous” by God. Thereafter he did “good works” obeying God’s spiritual laws.

This is the righteousness which is of faith.

“Even as also David says of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Rom 4:6-7).

[To the best of my understanding, and with the help of the wise counsel here at BH (regarding grammar and additional textual information, although each contributor has independently arrived at a different interpretation) I am answering this question outside of the normal bias because otherwise a centuries-old interpretive focus on faith continues unchallenged instead of a focus on Christ (who is Faith, the only Evidence of things not seen, the only Substance of things hoped for).]

ANSWER

This is not figurative language in Romans 10:6-8. It is, instead, spiritually literal language. How so? Simply put, Paul's messages always point to Christ.

When Paul speaks of love, hope, justification, salvation, righteousness, faith, etc --he is pointing to Christ.

Paul clearly points to Christ again here in this message (through inspiration), clarifying OT truth by incorporating NT truth to enlarge the previous understanding of his audience.

There is nothing here that uses figurative methods from literature, but it is all spiritually literal. This is a main salvific message from God Himself! Paul is revealing a message from Christ, the Righteousness which is of Faith, who is actually the One speaking through Paul.

The Lord our Righteousness is speaking through this NT passage and also through the quoted OT passage. In addition (unfortunately, due to the translators' systemic theology) He is referred to as "it".

Thus, I submit for everyone's further consideration and remembrance the following:

...and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jer 23:6b)

Jesus Christ is the only "righteousness which is of faith". And, He speaketh still.

6 But the righteousness which is of faith (the Lord our Righteousness) speaketh on this wise

8 But what saith it (He)?

[Italics mine]

Here is the message from the Lord our Righteousness, the same One who is the Righteousness which is of Faith:

Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.