Teks -- Ephesians 2:9 (NET)

2:9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Eph 2:9 - That no man should glory

That no man should glory ( hina mē tis kauchēsētai ).

Negative final clause (hina mē ) with first aorist middle subjunctive of kauchaomai . It is all of God’ s grace.

Wesley: Eph 2:9 - Not by works

Neither this faith nor this salvation is owing to any works you ever did, will, or can do.

JFB: Eph 2:9 - Not of works

This clause stands in contrast to "by grace," as is confirmed by Rom 4:4-5; Rom 11:6.

JFB: Eph 2:9 - lest

Rather, as Greek, "that no man should boast" (Rom 3:27; Rom 4:2).

Calvin: Eph 2:9 - Not of works

9.Not of works Instead of what he had said, that their salvation is of grace, he now affirms, that “it is the gift of God.” ¹²⁴ Instead of what he had said, “ Not of yourselves, ” he now says, “ Not of works. ” Hence we see, that the apostle leaves nothing to men in procuring salvation. In these three phrases, — not of yourselves, — it is the gift of God, — not of works, — he embraces the substance of his long argument in the Epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians, that righteousness comes to us from the mercy of God alone, — is offered to us in Christ by the gospel, — and is received by faith alone, without the merit of works.

This passage affords an easy refutation of the idle cavil by which Papists attempt to evade the argument, that we are justified without works. Paul, they tell us, is speaking about ceremonies. But the present question is not confined to one class of works. Nothing can be more clear than this. The whole righteousness of man, which consists in works, — nay, the whole man, and everything that he can call his own, is set aside. We must attend to the contrast between God and man, — between grace and works. Why should God be contrasted with man, if the controversy related to nothing more than ceremonies?

Papists themselves are compelled to own that Paul ascribes to the grace of God the whole glory of our salvation, but endeavor to do away with this admission by another contrivance. This mode of expression, they tell us, is employed, because God bestows the first grace. It is really foolish to imagine that they can succeed in this way, since Paul excludes man and his utmost ability, — not only from the commencement, but throughout, — from the whole work of obtaining salvation.

But it is still more absurd to overlook the apostle’s inference, lest any man should boast. Some room must always remain for man’s boasting, so long as, independently of grace, merits are of any avail. Paul’s doctrine is overthrown, unless the whole praise is rendered to God alone and to his mercy. And here we must advert to a very common error in the interpretation of this passage. Many persons restrict the word gift to faith alone. But Paul is only repeating in other words the former sentiment. His meaning is, not that faith is the gift of God, but that salvation is given to us by God, or, that we obtain it by the gift of God.

TSK: Eph 2:9

Rom 3:20,Rom 3:27, Rom 3:28, Rom 4:2, Rom 9:11, Rom 9:16, Rom 11:6; 1Co 1:29-31; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:3-5

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Eph 2:9 - Not of works // Lest any man should boast

Not of works any works whatever, and not only works of the ceremonial law: for if they only were excluded, the opposition between God and man, grace and works, were not right, which yet we find so often elsewhere; see Rom 11:6men might not be saved by works of the ceremonial law, and yet still be saved by works, and of themselves.

Lest any man should boast glory in their own works or worth, as men are apt to do when they think they have any thing of their own which contributes to their salvation see Rom 3:27 4:2 .

PBC: Eph 2:9 - not of works

" not of works"

Jas 2:18 indicates that we show our faith by our works. That is not contrary to faith being " not of works" for there is a great difference between showing our faith by our works (a tree is known by it’s fruits) and laying claim to our works being the means of our obtaining faith. This is the very reason that the Jews did not attain unto the righteousness of God " ... because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law." {Ro 9:32}

A text that will help us understand that faith can not be a work is found in Ro 4:4-5 " Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." If the reward were of works then it would not be of grace. This is saying that if a person does not work but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly that his faith is counted for righteousness. If faith were a work then it would have to be reckoned that salvation was a debt that God owed. The word " but" indicates a contrast. Therefore believing is not a work.  318

Haydock: Eph 2:9 - Not of works

Not of works, as of our own growth, or from ourselves: but as from the grace of God. (Challoner)

Gill: Eph 2:9 - Not of works // lest any man should boast

Not of works,.... Of any kind, moral or ceremonial, before or after conversion, done without faith or in it, nor of these in any sense; works are neither the moving causes, nor the procuring causes, nor the helping causes, nor "causa sine qua non", or conditions of salvation; the best works that are done by men, are not done of themselves, but by the grace of God, and therefore can never merit at his hand: and salvation is put upon such a foot,

lest any man should boast; of his works before God, and unto men; wherefore he has denied works any place in justification and salvation, in order to exclude all boasting in man; and has fixed it in a way of grace, and has chosen and called poor sinful worthless creatures to enjoy it, that whoever glories, may glory in the Lord.