Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
Parallel translations
- WEB But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else.
- KJV But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
- NKJV But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
- NASB But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.
- NLT Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
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
Each person should examine his own work, so that any boasting rests on himself and not on comparison with others. We are to test our own lives before God rather than measure ourselves against others.
Overview
Paul urges honest self-examination instead of self-congratulation by comparison. Whatever cause for satisfaction a believer may have should come from sober assessment of his own conduct before God, not from feeling superior to others. This encourages humility and personal responsibility, freeing believers from the rivalry that destroys community.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Cor 13:5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
- Ps 26:2Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.
- 1 Cor 11:28Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
- 2 Cor 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- 2 Cor 11:12–13But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
- 1 Jn 3:19–22And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- 1 Cor 3:21–23Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
- 1 Cor 4:3–4I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
- Prov 14:14The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
- Job 13:15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
- 1 Cor 1:12–13What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
- 1 Cor 4:6–7Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
- Gal 6:13For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 6:4 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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