Devine Scripture

Romans 3:27

What does Romans 3:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 3:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 3:27 means

If salvation is a gift received by faith, then boasting is excluded. There is no basis for human pride when righteousness is not earned but given. Paul contrasts a “law” or principle of works with a “law” or principle of faith. Works would make room for self-glory, but faith looks away from self to Christ. This guards the honor of God as the sole author of salvation and fosters humility among believers. The church is not a museum of achievers; it is a fellowship of the redeemed. Any grounds for self-congratulation vanish at the foot of the cross, where grace levels us all and unites us in gratitude.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Where then <FI>is<Fi> the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

After expounding God’s just justification through Christ (verses 24–26), Paul draws out the first implication: boasting is excluded. The contrast between works and faith prepares for verse 28’s formal conclusion that justification is by faith apart from works of the law. Verses 29–30 then address the scope of salvation: one God justifies both Jew and Gentile through the same faith. Finally, verse 31 will address a potential misunderstanding—that faith nullifies the law—by asserting that faith actually establishes it. These implications tie doctrine to community life, eliminating pride and ethnic division while setting the proper place of the law in God’s saving plan.

v.26for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.

v.27This passage

v.28We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 9:11

    for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,

  • Romans 11:6

    But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

  • Ezekiel 16:62

    And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah;

  • 1 John 5:11

    And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

  • Ezekiel 36:31

    Then shall ye remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

  • Romans 7:25

    I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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