Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
- KJV I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
- NKJV Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
- NASB Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.
- NLT So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God.
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
Paul says his boasting is in Christ Jesus regarding his service to God. Any glory he claims is in what Christ has done, not in himself.
Overview
Paul speaks of legitimate 'boasting,' but carefully locates it 'in Christ Jesus.' He glories not in personal achievement but in the work of Christ through him in the things of God. This guards against self-exaltation while acknowledging real ministry. It reflects Paul's consistent stance: whatever is accomplished is by grace, so boasting must be in the Lord alone.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Cor 2:14–16But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
- 2 Cor 12:11–21I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
- 2 Cor 7:4Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
- 2 Cor 3:4–6Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
- Heb 5:1Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
- 2 Cor 12:1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
- Phil 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- Heb 2:17For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- 2 Cor 11:16–30I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
- Rom 4:2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 15:17 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.