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pvj-06: Paul — Justified by Faith Apart from Works

Study Question

What does Paul mean by "justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28)? Examine the FULL argument of Romans 3-4: what is the "law" in view? What are the "works"? Does Paul exclude ALL doing, or a specific type of doing? Note Romans 2:13 ("the doers of the law shall be justified") which Paul wrote in the SAME epistle — how does this fit? Also Ephesians 2:8-10 — verse 10 says "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Does Paul contradict himself, or does v.10 qualify vv.8-9? Examine Romans 6:1-2 ("shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid") and Romans 3:31 ("do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law").

Depends On

  • pvj-04: Greek Terms Baseline (vocabulary ranges for nomos, pistis, dikaiosyne, ergon, charis)
  • pvj-05: Faith & Works Definitions (erga nomou vs. poieo thelema; forensic vs. kingdom-entrance contexts)

Scoping Topics (from Nave's/Strong's)

  • JUSTIFICATION: Gen 15:6; Rom 1:16-17; 2:13; 3:21-28,30; 4:1-25; 5:1,9; Gal 2:14-21; 3:6-24; Eph 6:14; Phil 3:8-9; Tit 3:7; Jas 2:20-26
  • FAITH: Rom 1:16-17; 3:22-28; 4:1-25; 5:1; Gal 2:16; 3:1-29; 5:6,22; Eph 2:8
  • RIGHTEOUSNESS: Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3-24; by faith distribution
  • GRACE OF GOD: Rom 3:22-24; 4:4-5,16; Eph 2:8; Tit 3:7
  • LAW: Rom 2:14-15; 7:7,12,14; 13:10; 1 Tim 1:8-10; Jas 1:25

Key Strong's Numbers

  • G1344 (dikaioo): justify — 40 occurrences (Romans has the highest density)
  • G4102 (pistis): faith — 244 occurrences
  • G2041 (ergon): work — 176 occurrences
  • G3551 (nomos): law — 197 occurrences
  • cmd-15-faith-grace-and-obedience (score: 0.686)
  • law-16-paul-and-law-in-romans (score: 0.667)
  • law-23-law-of-christ (score: 0.597)
  • romans-10-4-telos (score: 0.560)

Cross-Testament Parallels for Rom 3:28

  • Gal 2:16 (0.562) — closest parallel: same author, same formula
  • Jas 2:24 (0.506) — competing statement: "by works... justified, not by faith only"
  • Rom 4:5 (0.466) — "believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly"
  • Rom 2:13 (0.423) — internal tension: "doers of the law shall be justified"
  • Rom 3:31 (0.410) — qualifying statement: "we establish the law"