How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (NRSV 1:28-31)
Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. (KJV 1:28-31)
Being boastful is in there somewhere. Did you spot it? Does this mean that Paul thinks being haughty and bragging a lot is just as bad as murder and God-hating?
Quote #2
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? (NRSV 2:17-21)
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? (KJV 2:17-21)
This one goes out to the know-it-alls out there. Paul is accusing this religious person of boasting about their superior relationship with God but also failing to see the ways he falls short. Take that, religious hypocrites.
Quote #3
You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (NRSV 2:23)
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (KJV 2:23)
Again, Paul hits the religious hypocrites hard. These guys talk up their obedience to the law, but don't realize that they're not really following the law because they're not following Christ. Check and mate.