Therefore, where is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of principle? Of works? No, but through a principle of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith. 31Therefore, do we annul the Law through faith? May it never be! Rather, we confirm the Law. (Romans 3:27-31 translated from the NA28 Greek text to English)
As I translated Romans 3:27-31 I had to do some research on how others had rendered νόμου in v27, v28, and v31. The NASB and LSB renders it as “law” and “Law” meaning a principle in the v27, but then as the O.T. Law in v28 and v31…. The ESV renders it as “law” in all four cases. As I looked at the context though I could see what Paul was saying very clearly in v27 in his rhetorical questions so I rendered νόμου, “nomou”, “principle, law, the Law” in v27 as “principle.”
What is this “boasting” Paul is referring to? It is the Greek verb καύχησις, “kauchēsis”, “refers to the act of boasting, distinguished from the result of such action. It can be negative or positive. (e.g., having a sense of legitimate “pride” in a person or “glorifying” in God), καύχησις can be evil (James 4:16), forbidden (Romans 3:27), or the unstoppable result of the truth of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:10), depending on the context and content of the boast.” From this we see that in the passage we are studying that Paul is discussing negative connotation of “boasting.” So what are people boasting of that they should not be boasting of that genuine salvation excludes or forbids <Continue reading post>