Romans 3:27

Amplified Bible

Then what becomes of [our] boasting? It is excluded [entirely ruled out, banished]. On what principle? On [the principle of good] works? No, but on the principle of faith.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So do we have any reason to boast about ourselves? No reason at all. And why not? Because we are depending on the way of faith, not on what we have done in following the law.

Revised Standard Version
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Where is then thy reioysinge? It is excluded. By what lawe? by ye lawe of workes? Naye: but by the lawe of fayth.

Hebrew Names Version
Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

International Standard Version
What, then, is there to boast about? That has been eliminated. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on the principle of faith.Romans 2:17,23; 4:2; Romans 2:17,23, 1 Corinthians 1:29,31; Ephesians 2:9;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

New Century Version
So do we have a reason to brag about ourselves? No! And why not? It is the way of faith that stops all bragging, not the way of trying to obey the law.

Update Bible Version
Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? No: but by a law of faith.

Webster's Bible Translation
Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No; but by the law of faith.

English Standard Version
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.

World English Bible
Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works?

Weymouth's New Testament
Where then is there room for your boasting? It is for ever shut out. On what principle? On the ground of merit? No, but on the ground of faith.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Where thanne is thi gloriyng? It is excludid. Bi what lawe? Of dedis doyng? Nay, but by the lawe of feith.

English Revised Version
Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.

Berean Standard Bible
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

Contemporary English Version
What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith.

American Standard Version
Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.

Bible in Basic English
What reason, then, is there for pride? It is shut out. By what sort of law? of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Complete Jewish Bible
So what room is left for boasting? None at all! What kind of Torah excludes it? One that has to do with legalistic observance of rules? No, rather, a Torah that has to do with trusting.

Darby Translation
Where then [is] boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by law of faith;

Etheridge Translation
Where, then, is boasting ? It is abolished. By what law ? of works ? No, but by the law of faith.

Murdock Translation
Where then is glorying? It is annihilated. By what law? by that of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

King James Version (1611)
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what Law? Of works? Nay: but by the Law of faith.

New Living Translation
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.

New Life Bible
What then do we have to be proud of? Nothing at all! Why? Is it because men obey the Law? No! It is because men put their trust in Christ.

New Revised Standard
Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Where is then the reioycing? It is excluded. By what Lawe? of woorkes? Nay: but by the Lawe of faith.

George Lamsa Translation
Where is boasting then? It is worthless. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Where, then, the boasting! It is excluded. Through what kind of law? Of works? Nay! but through a law of faith:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Where is then thy boastyng? It is excluded. By what lawe? Of workes? Nay, but by the lawe of fayth.

Good News Translation
What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe.

Christian Standard Bible®
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.

King James Version
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore, where is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Literal Translation
Then where is the boasting? It was excluded. Through what law? Of works? No, but through a Law of faith.

Young's Literal Translation
Where then [is] the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith:

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Where is now then thy reioysinge? It is excluded. By what lawe? By the lawe of workes? Nay, but by the lawe of faith.

Mace New Testament (1729)
what reason then is there for boasting? it is excluded. what, by the ceremonial law? no: but by the law of faith.

THE MESSAGE
So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we've learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.

New English Translation
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!

New King James Version
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Simplified Cowboy Version
So do we have any bragging rights about being made right with God? Shoot no, we were made right because of what Jesus did, not because we followed the Code.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Legacy Standard Bible
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment]. ²⁰For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin]. ²¹But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. ²²This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God's Son]. There is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus' crucifixion]. ²⁶It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior]. ²⁷Then what becomes of [our] boasting? It is excluded [entirely ruled out, banished]. On what principle? On [the principle of good] works? No, but on the principle of faith.²⁸For we maintain that an individual is justified by faith distinctly apart from works of the Law [the observance of which has nothing to do with justification, that is, being declared free of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Where: Romans 3:19, Romans 2:17, Romans 2:23, Romans 4:2, Ezekiel 16:62, Ezekiel 16:63, Ezekiel 36:31, Ezekiel 36:32, Zephaniah 3:11, Luke 18:9-14, 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, 1 Corinthians 4:7, Ephesians 2:8-10

of works: Romans 9:11, Romans 9:32, Romans 10:5, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16

but by: Romans 7:21, Romans 7:23, Romans 7:25, Romans 8:2, Mark 16:16, John 3:36, Galatians 3:22, 1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:4 - I have prepared Judges 7:2 - Israel Zechariah 12:7 - save Matthew 20:12 - borne Luke 15:29 - Lo Luke 18:12 - fast Romans 1:30 - boasters Romans 4:6 - without Romans 11:18 - Boast not Ephesians 2:9 - General

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Where is boasting then?.... There is no room nor reason for it, either in Jews or Gentiles: not in the Jews, who were very apt to boast of their being Abraham's seed; of their circumcision; of their being Israelites; of their having and keeping the law; of God being their God; and of their knowledge of him: nor in the Gentiles, who were ready to boast of their philosophy, wisdom, and learning; of their self-sufficiency, freewill, and of the things they had in their own power.

It is excluded; it is shut out of doors; the key is turned upon it; it is not allowed of; it is entirely exploded:

by what law? of works? nay; for, that establishes boasting when men seek life, righteousness, and salvation by the works of it, and fancy they shall be able to attain them this way:

but by the law of faith: not by a law requiring faith; nor as if the Gospel was a law, a new law, a remedial law, a law of milder terms; but the word "law" here answers to the Hebrew word תורה, which signifies any "doctrine" or "instruction", and oftentimes the doctrine of the Gospel, as in Isaiah 2:3, and here particularly, the doctrine of a sinner's justification by faith in the righteousness of Christ; according to which doctrine the most unlikely persons are justified, even ungodly persons, the worst and vilest of sinners; and that without any consideration of works, by faith only, which is freely given them; and by faith in Christ's righteousness only: so that there is not the least room for boasting in the creature, but all their boasting is in Christ, who is made unto them righteousness, and by whom they are justified.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Where is boasting then? - Where is there ground or occasion of boasting or pride? Since all have sinned, and since all have failed of being able to justify themselves by obeying the Law, and since all are alike dependent on the mere mercy of God in Christ, all ground of boasting is of course taken away. This refers particularly to the Jews, who were much addicted to boasting of their special privileges; See the note at Romans 3:1, etc.

By what law? - The word “law “here is used in the sense of “arrangement, rule, or economy.” By what arrangement, or by the operation of what rule, is boasting excluded? “(Stuart).” See Galatians 3:21; Acts 21:20.

Of works - The Law which commands works, and on which the Jews relied. If this were complied with, and they were thereby justified, they would have had ground of self-confidence, or boasting, as being justified by their own merits. But a plan which led to this, which ended in boasting, and self-satisfaction, and pride, could not be true.

Nay - No.

The law of faith - The rule, or arrangement which proclaims that we have no merit; that we are lost sinners; and that we are to be justified only by faith.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 27. JEW. Where is boasting, then? — 'η καυχησις, This glorying of ours. Have we nothing in which we can trust for our acceptance with God? No merit of our own? Nothing accruing to us from our circumcision and being in covenant with God.

APOSTLE, It is excluded — εξεκλεισθη, It is shut out; the door of heaven is shut against every thing of this kind.

JEW. By what law? — By what rule, doctrine, or reason is it shut out? by the law of works? The rule of obedience, which God gave to us, and by which obedience we are accepted by him?

APOSTLE. Nay — Not by the law of works; glorying is not cut off or shut out by that; it stands in full force as the rule of life; but you have sinned and need pardon. The law of works grants no pardon, it requires obedience, and threatens the disobedient with death. But all glorying in the expectation of salvation, through your own obedience, is excluded by the law, the doctrine of faith: faith alone, in the mercy of God, through the propitiation made by the blood of Jesus, (Romans 3:25,) is that by which you can be justified, pardoned, and taken into the Divine favour.