Boasting

Negatively, conceitedly praising oneself. Positively, trusting and exulting in who God is, and what he has done.

Boasting condemned

1 John 2:16 See also Psalm 10:2–6, Psalm 12:3–4, Psalm 52:1, Psalm 94:4; Habakkuk 1:10–11; Romans 1:29–30; 2 Timothy 3:1–2

For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but from the world.

Boasting exposed as folly

Proverbs 27:1 See also Judges 9:38–40; Proverbs 25:14; 1 Corinthians 3:18–23; James 4:13–16

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Salvation by faith means no-one can boast about human merit

Ephesians 2:8–9 See also Luke 18:9–14; Romans 2:17–24, Romans 3:27, Romans 11:17–21; Galatians 6:14

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

Examples of foolish boasting

Isaiah 10:12–14 See also Isaiah 37:24–25; Daniel 4:28–30 Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel 7:8, Daniel 7:11, Daniel 11:36; Acts 8:9–10 Simon the sorcerer; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 the antichrist; 2 Peter 2:17–18

So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”

Legitimate boasting

Boasting in God

Jeremiah 9:23–24 See also 1 Samuel 2:1–3; Psalm 34:2, Psalm 44:8; 1 Corinthians 1:27–31; Jeremiah 9:24; 2 Corinthians 10:7–18; Hebrews 3:6

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth — for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Boasting in the results of ministry

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 See also Romans 15:17–19; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 8:24–9:3

After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? You are indeed our glory and our joy.

Boasting in the conduct of ministry

2 Corinthians 1:12–14 See also 1 Corinthians 9:15; 2 Corinthians 11:7–12; 2 Timothy 3:10–11

For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God — not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God. For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely, as you have already understood us in part, that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.