Romans 3:27
 Romans 3:27 
New International Version (©2011)
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

New Living Translation (©2007)
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.

English Standard Version (©2001)
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.

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.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
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.

International Standard Version (©2012)
What, then, is there to boast about? That has been eliminated. On what principle? On that of actions? No, but on the principle of faith.

NET Bible (©2006)
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Where is pride, therefore? It has been eliminated with him. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

American King James Version
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law 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.

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

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

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.

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

Weymouth 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.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:27-31 God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - Where then is the boasting? (that of the Jew, referred to in ch. 2, of his superiority to the Gentile with regard to justification). It is excluded. By what manner of (ποίου) law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Is it, then, here implied that the law of works would allow of boasting? Not so practically. But its theory would leave room for it, on the supposition of its conditions being fulfilled; it is a kind of law (observe ποίου νόμου;) which does not exclude it; for if a man could say, "I have fulfilled all the righteousness of the Law," he would have something wherein to glory. But the principle of the law of faith, which has been shown to be the only one available for the justification of either Jew or Gentile, in itself excludes it. It will be observed that the strict sense of the word νόμος, hitherto preserved, is extended in νόμος πίστεως. (For the various applications of which the word is capable, see especially ch. 7.)


Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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 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.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Ro 3:27-31. Inferences from the Foregoing Doctrines and an Objection Answered.

Inference first: Boasting is excluded by this, and no other way of justification.

27, 28. Where is boasting then? … excluded. By what law?—on what principle or scheme?.

of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.


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Justified by Faith
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. 27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. …

Romans 2:17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
Romans 2:23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
Romans 3:26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God.
Romans 9:31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.
1 Corinthians 1:29 so that no one may boast before him.