Is it okay to boast or brag?

I hear this question a lot: Is it okay to boast (brag) about our accomplishments (ie. promotion at school or work, graduation, getting saved or baptized etc.) or about material things we have recently acquired?  On basic instinct, one might say, "Of course, it's okay to brag about good things"  or "Yes, it is okay to brag or boast but only if it is about God",  and some others say, "Bragging  or boasting is a sin" and "You should never brag about yourself",  BUT Is this what the Bible says?  To answer this question, let us just see what the Bible has to say about it:
Do not boast (brag) about yourself or your accomplishments
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Prov. 27:1
Let other's who notice your accomplishments compliment you
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Prov. 27:2
Should We Boast That We are Saved?
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Eph. 2:8 
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:9
Boasting is not acceptable to God Except by the Law of Faith
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law?  Of works? Nay:but by the law of faith. Romans 3:27
Boasting and celebrating to boast of things you will do is evil
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. James 4:16

Is it okay to boast about the Lord?

For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, our which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 2 Cor. 7:14
​
​Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. 2 Cor. 8:24

Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting our of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 2 Cor. 9:3

Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 2 Cor. 9:4

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 2 Cor. 10:15
​
Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; Jer. 9:23

Should We Be Boasting In The Lord?

​Most definitely, we should boast (brag) about what the Lord has done.

My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. Psa. 34:2

And you will swear, 'As the LORD lives,' In truth, in justice and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory." Jer. 4:2

Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; Jer. 9:23
​
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Jer. 9:24

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. Rom. 4:2

Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. I Cor. 4:6

Rather, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 2 Cor. 10:17

General References to Boasting in The Bible

General references
​It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. Proverbs 20:14
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
​Proverbs 25:14
Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Isaiah 10:15
 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: Jeremiah 9:23
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Romans 1:30
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! James 3:5

Evil Boasting

Of evil
​But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. James 4:16
​To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Psalms 52:1

---

Fast Facts:
​Definition of Boasting

​BOASTING, participle present tense Talking ostentatiously; glorying; vaunting.
BOASTING, noun Ostentatious display of personal worth, or actions; a glorying or vaunting. (Websters 1828 dictionary)

---

Complete Bible reference Study Library

Contains KJV Bible with Strongs Markup, Strongs Concordances, Hebrew & Greek dictionary with in-depth lexicon Definitions, transliteration text, Pronounciation guide and Complete bible word index. ​

---

Fast Facts:
​First Reference to Boasting

Acts 5:36-For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 

Fast Facts:
​Last Reference To Boasting

2 Cor. 11:17-That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Bible Usage Facts 

​Boast-20 times
Boasted-2 times
Boasters-2 times
Boastest-1 time
​Boasteth-4 times
Boasting-9 times
Boastings-1 time (1).

Pharisee Bragging While Praying

Jesus told this parable of the pharisee and the publican (also known as the taxpayer) who came to pray. The pharisees prayers were selfish, bragging, and he even insulted the publican in his prayers.

Pharisee Bragging In His Prayers

Memory Verse

Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; Jer. 9:23
​
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Jer. 9:24

Biblical Instances of Boasting 

Instances of boasting:
Ben-Hadad
And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. 1 Kings 20:10
​And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. I Kings 20:11
​
Sennacherib
2 Kings 18:19
Isaiah 10:8-15

The disciples
Luke 10:17; Luke 10:20

Spiritual
Psalms 49:6-9; Psalms 52:1; Psalms 94:4; Romans 3:1-31; Romans 11:17-21; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31; 1 Corinthians 4:6-7; 2 Corinthians 10:12-17; Ephesians 2:8-10

---

Memory Verse

But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. James 4:16 

---

References: ​
​King James Bible Dictionary - Reference List - Boasting. (2017). King James Bible Dictionary. Retrieved 29 December 2017, from http://www.kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/boasting