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What the Bible Says About Boasting

Overview

The Bible addresses boasting across 66 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Bigotry, Works, Depravity of Man and Reasoning. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus and Apollos.

Key Bible verses about boasting

New Testament

Romans

Romans 3:1

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

Romans 3:2

Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Romans 3:3

For what if some did not believe?3361 shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Romans 3:4

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 3:5

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say?3361 Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

Romans 3:6

God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

Romans 3:7

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

Romans 3:8

And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,)3754 Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

Romans 3:9

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; proved: Gr. charged

Romans 3:10

As it is written There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:11

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Romans 3:12

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:13

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Romans 3:14

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Romans 3:15

Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Romans 3:16

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

Romans 3:17

And the way of peace have they not known:

Romans 3:18

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:19

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. guilty: or, subject to the judgment of God

Romans 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:21

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 3:22

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:25

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; set forth: or, foreordained remission: or, passing over

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 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:

Romans 3:30

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Romans 3:31

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Romans 11:17

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; among them: or, for them

Romans 11:18

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Romans 11:19

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Romans 11:20

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Romans 11:21

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:17

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. words: or, speech

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Corinthians 1:20

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:23

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1 Corinthians 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:26

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1 Corinthians 1:27

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1 Corinthians 1:28

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

1 Corinthians 1:29

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1 Corinthians 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1 Corinthians 1:31

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

1 Corinthians 4:6

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

1 Corinthians 4:7

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?1161 now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? maketh: Gr. distinguisheth thee

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 10:12

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. are: or, understand it not

2 Corinthians 10:13

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. rule: or, line

2 Corinthians 10:14

For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

2 Corinthians 10:15

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, enlarged: or, magnified in you

2 Corinthians 10:16

To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. line: or, rule

2 Corinthians 10:17

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

People in the Bible and boasting

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

Studying boasting for yourself

  • Begin with Psalms 49:6, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus and Apollos and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Bigotry, Works, Depravity of Man and Reasoning.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about boasting?

The Bible addresses boasting across 66 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Bigotry, Works, Depravity of Man and Reasoning. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus and Apollos.

How many Bible verses are about boasting?

The Bible references boasting in 66 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention boasting?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Psalms 49:6: “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;”

Which people in the Bible are associated with boasting?

Jesus and Apollos.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on boasting.

Preach a series on Boasting