Ephesians 2:9

KJV

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

KJV (with Strong's)

Not {G3756} of {G1537} works {G2041}, lest {G3363} any man {G5100} should boast {G2744}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast.

Berean Standard Bible

not by works, so that no one can boast.

American Standard Version

not of works, that no man should glory.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ephesians 2:9 succinctly encapsulates the profound truth of salvation by grace, emphatically stating that human works play no part in earning or meriting divine favor. This verse, following the declaration that salvation is a gift of God received through faith, serves to eliminate any ground for human pride or boasting, ensuring that all glory for redemption belongs solely to God. It stands as a foundational theological statement, safeguarding the purity of the gospel message against any notion of human achievement in the realm of spiritual reconciliation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ephesians 2:9 is the concluding statement of a powerful two-verse declaration regarding the nature of salvation. It immediately follows [Ephesians 2:8](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith"), which establishes that salvation is "by grace... through faith" and "not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Verse 9 then reinforces this truth by explicitly negating the role of "works" and stating the divine purpose behind this design: "lest any man should boast." This tight logical progression ensures that the reader fully grasps that salvation is entirely a divine initiative, precluding any human claim to merit. The subsequent verse, [Ephesians 2:10](/ephesians/2-10 "Ephesians 2:10 - Created for Good Works"), then clarifies the relationship between grace and good works, explaining that believers are God's "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works," thereby distinguishing the *source* of salvation from its *fruit*.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's letter to the Ephesians was written to a diverse church, comprising both Jewish and Gentile believers, in a prominent Roman city known for its temple of Artemis and various mystery religions. Within this context, both Jewish legalism (emphasis on adherence to the Mosaic Law and traditions) and Gentile philosophical or religious systems (which often involved ritualistic performance or ascetic practices to gain divine favor) posed a challenge to the purity of the gospel. Paul's emphatic declaration in [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Grace, Faith, and No Boasting") directly counters these prevailing mindsets, asserting that salvation is not attained through ethnic privilege, ritual observance, moral striving, or any human effort, but solely through God's unmerited favor. This message was crucial for fostering unity and preventing division within the early church, as it removed any basis for one group to boast over another based on perceived spiritual superiority or adherence to external practices.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ephesians and Pauline theology. Foremost is the theme of **Salvation by Grace**, emphasizing God's sovereign initiative and unmerited favor as the sole basis for redemption, as seen throughout Paul's letters, particularly in [Romans 3:24](/romans/3-24 "Romans 3:24 - Justified Freely by Grace") and [Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - Saved Not by Works"). Closely related is the theme of **Humility and God's Glory**, where the design of salvation specifically prevents human boasting, ensuring that all praise and credit belong to God alone, a concept echoed in [1 Corinthians 1:29-31](/1_corinthians/1-29-31 "1 Corinthians 1:29-31 - No Boasting Before God"). Furthermore, it underpins the theme of **Unity in Christ**, as the removal of works as a basis for salvation levels the playing field between Jews and Gentiles, bringing them together as one new humanity in Christ, a major focus of [Ephesians 2](/ephesians/2 "Ephesians 2 - From Death to Life, One New Man").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Not (Greek, _ou'_):** This is the absolute negative adverb, indicating a complete and definitive negation. In this context, it unequivocally denies any possibility of salvation originating from human works, leaving no room for ambiguity or partial contribution. It emphasizes the exclusive nature of grace as the source.
* **of works (Greek, _ek_ _érgon'_):** The preposition "ek" denotes origin, source, or cause, meaning "from" or "out of." When combined with "érgon" (toil, act, deed, work), it emphatically states that salvation does not proceed from, is not caused by, and does not have its origin in human actions, efforts, or religious performance. This term encompasses any human attempt to earn merit or favor with God.
* **boast (Greek, _kaucháomai'_):** This verb means to vaunt, glory, brag, or take pride in something. The phrase "lest any man should boast" reveals the divine rationale behind salvation by grace alone. If salvation were attainable through human effort, it would provide grounds for self-glory and pride, which is antithetical to God's nature and His desire for all glory to be directed to Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Not of works":** This opening phrase serves as a powerful negation, directly refuting the idea that human effort, religious observance, or moral performance can contribute to one's salvation. It clarifies that salvation does not originate from, nor is it earned by, anything a human being does. This stands in stark contrast to many ancient and modern religious systems that emphasize merit-based righteousness.
* **"lest any man should boast":** This clause provides the divine rationale for the "not of works" declaration. God's design for salvation is such that it entirely removes any basis for human pride or self-glory. If salvation were achievable through human effort, individuals could claim credit, diminishing God's glory. By making salvation a pure gift of grace, God ensures that all boasting is excluded, and all glory is rightly ascribed to Him alone.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several effective literary devices in [Ephesians 2:9](/ephesians/2-9 "Ephesians 2:9 - Not of Works"). The verse utilizes **Negation** ("Not of works") to emphatically dismiss any human contribution to salvation, creating a stark contrast with the preceding affirmation of salvation by grace. This strong negative statement serves to highlight the absolute nature of God's gift. Furthermore, the phrase "lest any man should boast" functions as a statement of **Divine Purpose**, explaining the *reason* behind God's method of salvation. It reveals God's intent to preserve His own glory and prevent human pride, thereby reinforcing the theological principle that salvation is entirely God's work. The verse also implicitly uses **Antithesis** by contrasting human "works" with divine "grace" (from the preceding verse), setting up a clear opposition between human effort and God's unmerited favor as the means of salvation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ephesians 2:9 is a cornerstone of the doctrine of *sola gratia* (grace alone) and *sola fide* (faith alone), fundamental tenets of the Protestant Reformation. It underscores that salvation is not a reward for human merit but a gratuitous act of divine love, freely given and received through faith. This truth profoundly impacts our understanding of God's character as supremely gracious and sovereign, and humanity's position as utterly dependent on His mercy. It dismantles any form of self-righteousness or spiritual pride, redirecting all glory to the Giver of salvation. This verse also lays the groundwork for understanding the true nature of good works, not as a means to salvation, but as the inevitable fruit and evidence of a life transformed by grace, as elaborated in the subsequent verse, [Ephesians 2:10](/ephesians/2-10 "Ephesians 2:10 - Created for Good Works").

* [Romans 3:27](/romans/3-27 "Romans 3:27 - Where is Boasting Then?")
* [Galatians 2:16](/galatians/2-16 "Galatians 2:16 - Justification by Faith, Not Works")
* [Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - Not by Works of Righteousness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ephesians 2:9 offers profound liberation and a call to humility for every believer. Understanding that salvation is "not of works" frees us from the crushing burden of performance-based religion, where one constantly strives to earn God's approval or maintain a certain level of righteousness to secure their standing. Instead, it invites us into a relationship of grateful response to God's lavish, unmerited love. This truth cultivates deep humility, recognizing that our spiritual life and eternal hope are entirely dependent on God's initiative and provision, leaving no room for self-congratulation. It shifts our focus from what *we* can do for God to what *He* has already done for us, fostering a spirit of worship and a desire to live a life that honors Him, not out of obligation or fear, but out of profound gratitude for His indescribable gift.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you still be tempted to rely on your own efforts or "works" to gain God's favor or approval?**
* **How does the truth that salvation is "not of works" impact your sense of spiritual security and assurance?**
* **If all boasting is excluded, how can you intentionally direct all glory and praise to God in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**Does "not of works" mean that good works are unimportant for a Christian?**

Answer: Absolutely not. While salvation is explicitly stated as "not of works" (Ephesians 2:9), the very next verse clarifies the crucial role of good works in the Christian life. [Ephesians 2:10](/ephesians/2-10 "Ephesians 2:10 - Created for Good Works") states, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." This means that good works are not the *cause* of salvation, but rather the *result* and *evidence* of genuine faith and a transformed life. They are the natural overflow of God's grace working within us, demonstrating the reality of our new creation in Christ. As [James 2:17](/james/2-17 "James 2:17 - Faith Without Works is Dead") famously puts it, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." Good works are essential, not for earning salvation, but for living out our salvation and glorifying God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ephesians 2:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies God's grace and provides the sole basis for salvation, thereby eliminating any human ground for boasting. Christ's sinless life, His atoning death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection constitute the "gift of God" mentioned in [Ephesians 2:8](/ephesians/2-8 "Salvation by Grace Through Faith"). It is through His finished work, not our own efforts, that we are reconciled to God. The very reason we cannot boast in our works is because Christ's work is entirely sufficient and complete; He became our righteousness ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")), fulfilling all the demands of the law that no human could perfectly keep ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ the End of the Law")). Therefore, when we are saved, our boasting is not in ourselves or our deeds, but "in the Lord" ([1 Corinthians 1:31](/1_corinthians/1-31 "1 Corinthians 1:31 - Boast in the Lord")), acknowledging that every spiritual blessing flows from Him ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). Christ is the ultimate expression of God's grace, ensuring that salvation remains a divine gift that brings glory exclusively to God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Timothy 1:9

Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Romans 11:6

And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Romans 9:16

So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

1 Corinthians 1:29

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1 Corinthians 1:31

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.