Law and faith in Romans 10:4–8: two ways, or the law's own goal in Christ?

Says "For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”" (10:5, BSB). "But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’" (10:6, BSB), and it says, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, "the word of faith we are proclaiming" (10:8, BSB). The quotations are Lev 18:5 (10:5) and Deut 30:12–14 (10:6–8); their Hebrew and Greek forms are compared in note.language.Rom.10.5-Rom.10.8.lev-18-5-deut-30-12-14.

Uncertain Whether 10:5 and 10:6–8 set two ways against each other (contrast) or read Deut 30 as showing the law's own goal in Christ (continuity). The δέ (de, "but") of 10:6 marks a contrast in the sentence but does not settle the theological question, and the range of the word τέλος (see note.language.Rom.10.1-Rom.10.4.zelos-telos) rules none of the readings below out. This commentary takes no lean. The main readings, each with its grounds: - Lutheran and Reformed law–gospel contrast. Paul sets the righteousness of doing (10:5) against the righteousness of faith, which forbids asking who will ascend or descend and announces a near word (10:6–8). Grounds: two speakers, Moses and "the righteousness that is by faith"; the faith–works contrast of 9:32; and Gal 3:12, where Paul sets the same line of Lev 18:5 against faith. - Reformed continuity, often joined to the law's third use. Deut 30 already says the commandment is near; Paul lets the righteousness of faith speak those words and finds their goal in Christ and the preached word (10:6–8). Grounds: Paul cites Moses as Scripture on both sides; the stress on Christ as the law's goal (10:4); and the law is not called a mistake. On this reading the law guides the justified but is not the ground of the verdict. - Dispensational readings. Christ ends the Mosaic administration as a way of righteousness (10:4, with the stress on end), and the near word is the gospel now proclaimed. Grounds: the contrast of doing and believing (10:5–8) and "the word of faith we are proclaiming" (10:8, BSB). - New Perspective and covenantal readings. The contrast is between Israel's covenant standing marked by the law and God's righteousness that takes in Jew and Gentile by faith in Christ. Grounds: "their own" read as national (10:3), "no difference between Jew and Greek" (10:12, BSB), and Paul's rereading of Deut 30 for the people who call on the Lord (10:11–13).

Implies All four readings affirm salvation by grace through faith in Christ, as 10:9–13 states; they remain distinct readings and are not blended. Justification by faith apart from works (3:28) is the shared boundary; see note.exegetical.Rom.3.27-Rom.3.31.boasting-excluded.