New Living Translation
Ephesians 2:9
9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:9 in other versions
Context of Ephesians 2:9
7So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 11Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.
Read all of Ephesians 2Ephesians 2:9 word by word
οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ephesians 2:9
- Romans 3:20For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
- Romans 4:2If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.
- Romans 9:11But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;
- Romans 11:6And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
- 1 Corinthians 1:29As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
- 2 Timothy 1:9For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Commentaries on Ephesians 2:9
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Not of works - see the notes at Romans 3:20,27.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9This is a brief summary of how a person is saved. A key belief of the good news about Jesus is that people are made righteous by trusting in Christ. They are not made righteous by their own efforts (see Romans 1:16–17; 3:24–25; Galatians 2:16; compare John 3:16, 36). Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done (see Romans 3:21–4:8; 9:16; Galatians 3:2–10; 5:1–6; compare 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5). Salvation is for those who trust only Christ…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Not of works--This clause stands in contrast to "by grace," as is confirmed by Ro 4:4, 5; 11:6. lest--rather, as Greek, "that no man should boast" (Ro 3:27; 4:2).Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 2:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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