Romans 3 · Verse 28

Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:28, King James Version

Romans 3:28 in other translations

BSBFor we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
WEBWe maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
ASVWe reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
YLTtherefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.
DARBYfor we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law.
BBEFor this reason, then, a man may get righteousness by faith without the works of the law.
WebsterTherefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

What does Romans 3:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 3:27-28

27-28. Where is boasting then? ... excluded. By what law?--on what principle or scheme?. of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.

Read the full comment on Romans 3:27-28 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. Therefore. As the result of the previous train of argument.

That a man. That all who are justified; that is, that there is no other way.

Is justified by faith. Is regarded and treated as righteous, by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Without the deeds of the law. Without works as a meritorious ground of justification. The apostle, of course, does not mean that Christianity does not produce good works, or that they who are justified will not obey the law, and be holy; but that no righteousness of their own will be the ground of their justification. They are sinners; and as such can have no claim to be treated as righteous. God has devised a plan by which they may be pardoned and saved; and that is by faith alone. This is the grand peculiarity of the Christian religion. This was the peculiar point in the reformation from popery. Luther often called this doctrine of justification by faith the article on which the church stood or fell--articulus stantis, vel earlentis ecclesiae--and it is so. If this doctrine is held entire, all others will be held with it. If this is abandoned, all others will fall also. It may be remarked here, however, that this doctrine by no means interferes with the doctrine that good works are to be performed by Christians. Paul urges this as much as any other writer in the New Testament. His doctrine is, that they are not to be relied on as a ground of justification; but that he did not mean to teach that they are not to be performed by Christians is apparent from the connexion, and from the following places in his epistles: Rom 2:7, 2Cor 9:8, Eph 2:10, 1Timm 2:10, 5:10,25, 6:18, 2Ti 3:17, Tit 2:7,14; Tit 3:8, Heb 10:24. That we are justified by our works is a doctrine which he has urged and repeated with great power and frequency. See Rom 4:2,6, 9:11,32, 11:6, Gal 2:16, 3:2,5,10, Eph 2:9, 2Ti 1:9.

(d) "that a man" Rom 3:20-22, 8:3, Gal 2:16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 Therefore we conclude, etc. - Seeing these things cannot be denied, viz., that all have sinned: that all are guilty, that all are helpless: that none can deliver his own soul, and that God, in his endless mercy, has opened a new and living way to the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Heb 10:19, Heb 10:20, etc: therefore we, apostles and Christian teachers, conclude, λογιζομεθα, prove by fair, rational consequence, that a man - any man, is justified - has his sins blotted out, and is received into the Divine favor, by faith in Christ's blood, without the deeds of the law, which never could afford, either to Jew or Gentile, a ground for justification, because both have sinned against the law which God has given them, and, consequently, forfeited all right and title to the blessings which the obedient might claim.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 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…

Read the full comment on Romans 3:27-31 →

Romans 3:28 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

λογιζόμεθαlogizomethaWe reckonG3049
γὰρgarthereforeG1063
δικαιοῦσθαιdikaiousthaito be justifiedG1344
πίστειpisteiby faithG4102
ἄνθρωπονanthrōpona manG444
χωρὶςchōrisapart fromG5565
ἔργωνergōnworksG2041
νόμου.nomouof the Law.G3551

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 3:28

  • Titus 3:7

    That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  • Galatians 2:16

    Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

  • Galatians 3:24

    Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

  • Galatians 3:8

    And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

  • Romans 3:26

    To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

  • Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

  • James 2:24

    Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

  • Romans 4:5

    But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

  • Philippians 3:9

    And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

  • John 6:40

    And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:11

    And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • John 5:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20-22,26; 4:5; 5:1; 8:3; Joh 3:14-18; 5:24; 6:40; Ac 13:38,39
1Co 6:11; Ga 2:16; 3:8,11-14,24; Php 3:9; Tit 3:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 3:27

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

  • Romans 3:28

    Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

  • Romans 3:29

    Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Read all of Romans 3

Romans 3:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que, concluímos ser el hombre justificado por fe sin las obras de la ley.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car nous concluons que l’homme est justifié par la foi, sans œuvres de loi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wir urteilen, daß ein Mensch durch Glauben gerechtfertigt wird, ohne Gesetzeswerke.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Arbitramur enim justificari hominem per fidem sine operibus legis.