The Other Shoe
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:10 NASB (1963)
Resulting – You’ll need to read a few other English translations of this verse to see the issue.
“For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” ESV
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” NIV
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” NKJV
Do you see that “resulting in” doesn’t even appear in these other three versions? In fact, there isn’t any Greek word in this text for “resulting” or “and is” or “and are” in any of these translations. The Greek simply uses the preposition eis (“in, into, until”). Eis is a preposition about a spatial relationship. That’s why the NKJV is closest with “unto.” Paul isn’t saying that belief produces righteousness or that confession produces salvation. Paul is Jewish! Believing into righteousness means that these two nouns are the same thing. Believing is righteousness because, just like shema, the verb “believing” manifests itself in righteousness. I cannot have one without the other.
The same logic applies to “confesses.” Confession is not the basis for some further state called “saved.” Confessing is salvation. Paul literally says, “confesses into salvation” (homologeitai eis soterian). The verb means “to speak the same as.” It has a Hebrew root equivalent that is tied to praise and worship. It is associated with making a statement as in a court of law, providing a witness or making a solemn oath. In other words, the act of confessing is by its very nature the act of deliverance. It is to say the same thing that God says about who you are. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You” is the essence of confessing.
In our culture we tend to separate act from consequence, but this is not true in Hebrew thought. Just as the act of disobedience contains within itself the inevitable consequences so that sin and punishment are inextricably tied to each other, so the act of believing and the act of confessing are coupled with righteousness and salvation. Now you might have a better understanding of Genesis 15:6. What is the lesson here? Hebrew thought involves inward attitude and outward manifestation. If you don’t see righteousness, then there is no believing. If you don’t see the symptoms of salvation, then there is no confessing. So, take a look. What do you see?
Topical Index: resulting in, confess, believe, righteousness, salvation, Romans 10:10
