King James Bible
"Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Paul emphatically denies that human effort or moral achievement can earn salvation. This directly counters both Jewish reliance on law-keeping and Gentile pride in philosophical virtue, establishing that salvation comes entirely from God's grace through faith. The purpose clause reveals why God excluded works from salvation's equation—to eliminate human pride and self-glorification. In the honor-shame culture of the ancient world, boasting about achievements was common, but the gospel creates a level ground where only God receives glory.