not by works, so that no one can boast.
Parallel translations
- WEB not of works, that no one would boast.
- KJV Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- NKJV not of works, lest anyone should boast.
- NASB not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- NLT Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Salvation is not by works, so that no one can boast. It excludes all human merit and pride from our standing before God.
Overview
Paul completes verse 8 by ruling out 'works' as the basis of salvation, with the explicit purpose 'that no one would boast.' Because grace is free, all ground for self-congratulation is removed. The only fitting response is humble gratitude, and all glory belongs to God alone.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Tim 1:9He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Rom 11:6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
- Titus 3:3–5For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Rom 9:16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
- 1 Cor 1:29–31so that no one may boast in His presence.
- Rom 3:20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
- Rom 4:2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
- Rom 9:11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
- Rom 3:27–28Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
How Ephesians 2:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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