Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn’t brag to God.

倘若亚伯拉罕是因行为称义，就有可夸的；只是在神面前并无可夸。

倘若亚伯拉罕是因行为称义，他就有可夸的，但是在上帝面前他一无可夸。

倘若亚伯拉罕是因行为称义，他就有可夸的，但是在神面前他一无可夸。

如果亚伯拉罕是因为有好行为而被称为义人，他就可以夸口了，但他在上帝面前没有可夸的。

亚伯拉罕若是因行为称义，就有可夸的，只是不能在神面前夸口。

事实上，如果亚伯拉罕本于行为被称为义，他就有可夸耀的；然而在神面前他并没有可夸耀的。

倘若亞伯拉罕是因行為稱義，就有可誇的；只是在神面前並無可誇。

倘若亞伯拉罕是因行為稱義，他就有可誇的，但是在上帝面前他一無可誇。

倘若亞伯拉罕是因行為稱義，他就有可誇的，但是在神面前他一無可誇。

如果亞伯拉罕是因為有好行為而被稱為義人，他就可以誇口了，但他在上帝面前沒有可誇的。

亞伯拉罕若是因行為稱義，就有可誇的，只是不能在神面前誇口。

倘若亞伯拉罕是由於行為而得稱義，他就有可誇了，可不是在上帝面前有可誇啊。

事實上，如果亞伯拉罕本於行為被稱為義，他就有可誇耀的；然而在神面前他並沒有可誇耀的。

亞伯拉罕若因行見義、則有可誇、然於上帝前則無之、

曰、縱有之、亦無可誇、若亞伯拉罕恃己所行而稱義、則有可誇、惟在上帝前、本無可誇也、

若亞伯拉罕由其所行而得稱義、則有可誇、惟於天主前無有也、

彼若欲以事功見稱、誠有所誇；然在天主之前、實不足多也。

If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about— but not before God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.

If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about— but not before God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about— but not before God.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath[ whereof] to glory; but not before God.

For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about– but not before God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

It is written,“ The one who boasts should boast about what the Lord has done.”( Jeremiah 9:24)

If I have to brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am.

I want to be joined to him. Being right with God does not come from my obeying the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God because of faith.

Joshua spoke to all the people. He said,“ The Lord is the God of Israel. He says,‘ Long ago your people lived east of the Euphrates River. They worshiped other gods there. Your people included Terah. He was the father of Abraham and Nahor.

The Lord says,“ Do not let wise people brag about how wise they are. Do not let strong people boast about how strong they are. Do not let rich people brag about how rich they are.But here is what the one who brags should boast about. They should brag that they have the understanding to know me. I want them to know that I am the Lord. No matter what I do on earth, I am always kind, fair and right. And I take delight in this,” announces the Lord.

The people of Egypt will see you and say,‘ This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me. But they will let you live.Tell them you are my sister. Then I’ll be treated well and my life will be spared because of you.”

Then Abimelek called Abraham in. Abimelek said,“ What have you done to us? Have I done something wrong to you? Why have you brought so much guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”Abimelek also asked Abraham,“ Why did you do this?”Abraham replied,“ I thought,‘ There is no respect for God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’Besides, she really is my sister. She’s the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.God had me wander away from my father’s house. So I said to her,‘ Here is how you can show your love to me. Everywhere we go, say about me,“ He’s my brother.” ’ ”

So Pharaoh sent for Abram.“ What have you done to me?” he said.“ Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?

But when I preach the good news, I can’t brag. I have to preach it. How terrible it will be for me if I do not preach the good news!

Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you brag as though you did not?

It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it.

So no one will be considered right with God by obeying the law. Instead, the law makes us more aware of our sin.But now God has shown us his saving power without the help of the law. But the Law and the Prophets tell us about this.We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for the Gentiles.Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory.The free gift of God’s grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free.God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived.God did all this to prove in our own time that he does what is right. He also makes right with himself those who believe in Jesus.So who can brag? No one! Are people saved by the law that requires them to obey? Not at all! They are saved because of the law that requires faith.We firmly believe that a person is made right with God because of their faith. They are not saved by obeying the law.

Then Pharaoh gave orders to his men about Abram. They sent him on his way. So he left with his wife and everything he had.

Because I belong to Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my work for God.

We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Some people take pride in their looks rather than what’s in their hearts. If you take pride in us, you will be able to answer them.

So no one can boast to God.

He continued,“ Go through it. Look at the evil things they are doing here. I hate those things.”

Even those who are circumcised don’t obey the law. But they want you to be circumcised. Then they can brag about what has been done to your body.I never want to brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross the ways of the world have been crucified as far as I am concerned. And I have been crucified as far as the ways of the world are concerned.

But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin. It does so in order that what was promised might be given to those who believe. The promise comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

We can’t gain anything by bragging. But I have to do it anyway. I am going to tell you what I’ve seen. I want to talk about what the Lord has shown me.I know a believer in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven 14 years ago. I don’t know if his body was taken up or not. Only God knows.I don’t know if that man was in his body or out of it. Only God knows. But I do know thathe was taken up to paradise. He heard things there that couldn’t be put into words. They were things that no one is allowed to talk about.I will brag about a man like that. But I won’t brag about myself. I will brag only about how weak I am.Suppose I decide to brag. That would not make me a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I don’t brag, so that no one will think more of me than they should. People should judge me by what I do and say.God has shown me amazing and wonderful things. People should not think more of me because of it. So I wouldn’t become proud of myself, I was given a problem. This problem caused pain in my body. It is a messenger from Satan to make me suffer.Three times I begged the Lord to take it away from me.But he said to me,“ My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ’s power can rest on me.

And I will keep on doing what I’m doing. That will stop those who claim they have things to brag about. They think they have a chance to be considered equal with us.