Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Parallel translations
- WEB We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
- BSB For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
- NKJV Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
- NASB For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
- NLT So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
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 states plainly that a person is justified by faith, not by works of the law. This is the core of the doctrine of justification.
Overview
This verse is a summary thesis of Paul's argument and a touchstone of Reformation teaching on justification by faith alone. Being declared righteous comes through faith in Christ, entirely apart from law-keeping. It assures believers that their standing before God rests on Christ's work received by faith, not on their own performance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Titus 3:7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Gal 2:16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- Gal 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
- Gal 3:24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- Rom 3:26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
- Rom 8:3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- Rom 4:5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
- Jas 2:24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
- Phil 3:9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
- John 6:40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- Rom 3:20–22Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- Eph 2:9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- Acts 13:38–39Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
- 1 Cor 6:11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
- Gal 3:11–14But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
- Rom 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
- John 5:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- John 3:14–18And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 3:28 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.