Romans 3:27
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that the "law" of faith doesn't just offer a different path to salvation, but fundamentally redefines what it means to be right with God. It's not about earning favor through our actions, but about recognizing our complete dependence on God's grace, which naturally shuts down any self-congratulation.
Paul is dismantling the idea that religious observance or heritage can earn salvation, especially in contrast to the Jews' pride in the Law. Having just established that all humanity, both Jew and Gentile, are sinners unable to justify themselves, he now addresses the logical consequence: boasting is impossible. This verse pivots to explain that the "law" of God doesn't allow for boasting through works, but instead operates by faith, a principle that levels everyone before God.
Have you ever felt like you've earned something, or that you're just naturally better than others? Paul tackles that head-on.
Paul asks, 'Where is boasting then?' (Romans 3:27). This isn't just about bragging; it's about any kind of pride or self-reliance in our standing before God. For the Jews, this often meant boasting in their adherence to the Law or their special covenant status. For others, it might be pride in their good deeds, intelligence, or heritage. Paul declares this boasting is 'excluded'—shut out completely.
Why? Because justification by faith means we have nothing to claim for ourselves. It's all God's grace, received through faith in Jesus. True humility arises when we recognize our absolute need and God's complete provision.
Paul contrasts two 'laws.' One promises pride, the other demands humility. Which one actually saves us?
Paul poses a crucial question: 'By what kind of law?' Is it a 'law of works' or a 'law of faith'? He emphatically says 'No' to the law of works as the basis for justification that doesn't exclude boasting.
This 'law of faith' is what truly excludes boasting because it forces us to admit our inability and rely entirely on God's mercy.
Understand the original words
kauchēsis · Greek Noun
Exultation or self-congratulatory pride based on one's own achievements or adherence to the law. In the context of salvation, it refers to human efforts to earn favor with God, which Scripture declares is excluded.
nomos · Greek Noun
A system, principle, or rule of operation. In this context, it refers to the 'principle' of how God relates to humanity, distinguishing between the system based on human effort (works) and the system based on response to God (faith).
This parable vividly contrasts the boasting of the self-righteous Pharisee, who relies on his works, with the humble confession of the tax collector who relies on God's mercy. It clearly illustrates how a 'law of works' can lead to boasting, while a 'law of faith' leads to humble reliance and exclusion of pride.
Ephesians 2:8-9This passage directly echoes Romans 3:27, stating that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, 'so that no one can boast.' It reinforces the idea that boasting is excluded precisely because our salvation is a gift, not an achievement.
Galatians 3:23-26Here, Paul explains that before faith came, humanity was held captive under the 'law of works' until Christ arrived, after which we are no longer under that tutelage but are children of God through faith. This mirrors the shift from a system that could potentially foster boasting to one that excludes it by faith.
Philippians 3:3-9Paul powerfully details his own background, which would have given him immense grounds for boasting according to a 'law of works.' He then explicitly rejects all of it, counting it as loss, in favor of the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, thereby demonstrating the exclusion of boasting through the law of faith.
ellicottRomans 3:27: "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
(27-31) A review of the consequences of this process of justification. How does it affect the pretensions of the Jew? It shuts them out by laying stress no longer on works, which were the proper fulfilment of the first law as it stood, but upon faith. Faith is the true medium of justification. And faith belongs as much to Gentile as to Jew. For faith is the appointed means by which all ma…
bensonRomans 3:27: "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
Romans 3:27 . Where is boasting then? — The boasting of the Gentiles in their philosophy, or of the Jews in the rites of the law of Moses, as sufficient for their salvation. Or the boasting of the Jews against the Gentiles, or that of any one in his own righteousness, or on account of any peculiar privileges he may enjoy. It is excluded — This way of justification by free grace, through f…
The verse highlights that the "law" of faith doesn't just offer a different path to salvation, but fundamentally redefines what it means to be right with God. It's not about earning favor through our actions, but about recognizing our complete dependence on God's grace, which naturally shuts down any self-congratulation.
Paul is dismantling the idea that religious observance or heritage can earn salvation, especially in contrast to the Jews' pride in the Law. Having just established that all humanity, both Jew and Gentile, are sinners unable to justify themselves, he now addresses the logical consequence: boasting is impossible. This verse pivots to explain that the "law" of God doesn't allow for boasting through works, but instead operates by faith, a principle that levels everyone before God.
Paul is dismantling the idea that religious observance or heritage can earn salvation, especially in contrast to the Jews' pride in the Law. Having just established that humanity, both Jew and Gentile, are sinners unable to justify themselves, he now addresses the logical consequence: boasting is impossible. This verse pivots to explain that the "law" of God doesn't allow for boasting through works, but instead operates by faith, a principle that levels everyone before God.
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"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith." — The verse highlights that the "law" of faith doesn't just offer a different path to salvation, but fundamentally redefines what it means to be right with God. It's not about earning favor through o…
