not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Parallel translations
- WEB not of works, that no one would boast.
- KJV Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- BSB not by works, so that no one can 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 1:9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
- Rom 11:6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
- Titus 3:3–5For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- Rom 9:16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
- 1 Cor 1:29–31that no flesh should boast before God.
- Rom 3:20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
- Rom 4:2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
- Rom 9:11For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,
- Rom 3:27–28Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
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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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