3:28 For we
consider that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law.
a person is justified. Not that a believer is not bound to work afterward
through love, as Abraham was even willing to sacrifice his son. Works indeed
come after someone has been justified and not before he is justified; but a
person is made just by faith alone without preceding works. Thus they who have
done works of the law out of ear are not more just, since faith is not working
through love in the heart if it does not go outward in works. Hence the justice
of faith does not come from the merits of earlier works, as the Jews used to
pride themselves in. And good works done before faith are empty: like runners
who seem to have great strength and a fast pace, yet are running outside the
track. For intention makes a work good, and faith directs intention, without
the works. Without preceding works, not without subsequent works, apart
from which faith would be empty, as James says: Faith without works is dead (James
2:17, 26); and Paul himself: if I should have all so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing (1 Cor 13:2).
we consider—we apostles consider that faith justifies, he
declares this by his own authority
a person—whosoever, also a Gentile
works of the law—carnal works (The Glossa Ordinaria on Romans [trans.
Michael Scott Woodard; TEAMS Commentary Series; Kalamazoo, Mich.: Western
Michigan University, 2011], 58-59)