James 2:21
in James 2Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
KJV
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
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This verse in James 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseOn the one hand, the blessed James says that Abraham was justified by works when he bound Isaac his son on the altar, but on the other hand Paul says that he was justified by faith, which appears to be contradictory. However, this is to be understood as meaning that Abraham believed before he had Isaac and that Isaac was given to him as a reward for his faith.
This site's exposition
Was not our father Abraham justified
on James 2:21-24
Abraham was justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, and his faith was perfected by what he did. Paul cites Genesis 15:6 for the sinner's standing before God (Romans 4:2-5), and James the Genesis 22 altar for faith proven real.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Let us cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means of possessing it. Let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith? Isaac, [James 2:21] with perfect confidence, as if knowing what was to happen, cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice. [Genesis 22:6-10] Jacob, through reason of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and came to Laban and served him; and there was given to him the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Abraham our father was he not justified by works, offering Isaac his son upon the altar? see that faith did work with his works: and by the works the faith was complete? And the Scripture was fulfilled, saying, Abraham believed God, and it was reputed …
A commentator
Hilary of ArlesINTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES · Written before 449.
proposed
When Abraham went up the mountain to sacrifice Isaac, he took four things with him—a sword, fire, a heavy heart and a pile of wood. What does the fire stand for if not the suffering of Christ? What does the sword signify, if not death? …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Now someone might object to this and say: "Did Paul not use Abraham as an example of someone who was justified by faith, without works? And here James is using the very same Abraham as an example of someone who was justified, not by faith …
Both apostles cite Abraham in support of their teaching about faith. One, by the example of Abraham, proves that faith is above works, and the other, that works are above faith. But it was said above that each takes the words ("faith" and "works") in …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Our father Abraham was justified by works, offering Isaac his son upon the altar. Elegantly, the example of good works from the patriarch himself was pointed out to be learned, urging those who believed from among the Jews to follow the deeds of their first …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Was not Abraham our father justified by works,.... Not as the causes of his justification, that is denied, Rom 4:2 but as effects of it, showing the truth of his faith, and the reality of his justification: he had both faith and works, and the former were known by the latter; and even the faith which he had expressed years ago was manifested, demonstrated, and confirmed to be true and genuine, by the instance of his obedience to God, here produced; by which it appeared he was a true believer, a justified person, approved of God, and loved by him.
Was not Abraham justified by works - St. Paul says he was justified by faith, Rom. iv, 2, &c.: yet St. James does not contradict him; for he does not speak of the same justification. St. Paul speaks of that which Abraham received many years before Isaac was born, Gen. xv, 6.
But these are well reconciled, by observing what is said in Heb. 11 , which shows that the faith both of Abraham and Rahab was such as to produce those good works of which James speaks, and which are not to be separated from faith as justifying and saving.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Was not Abraham our father - Our progenitor, our ancestor; using the word “father,” as frequently occurs in the Bible, to denote a remote ancestor. Compare the notes at Mat 1:1. A reference to his case would have great weight with those who were Jews by birth, and probably most of those to whom this Epistle was addressed were of this character. See the Introduction. Justified by works - That is, in the sense in which James is maintaining that a man professing religion is to be justified by his works.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
In Jas 2:23, James, like Paul, recognizes the Scripture truth, that it was his faith that was counted to Abraham for righteousness in his justification before God. when he had offered--rather, "when he offered" [ALFORD], that is, brought as an offering at the altar; not implying that he actually offered him.
Was not Abraham our father - Did not the conduct of Abraham, in offering up his son Isaac on the altar, sufficiently prove that he believed in God, and that it was his faith in him that led him to this extraordinary act of obedience?
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀβραὰμ | abraam | Abraham | G11 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατὴρ | pater | father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐξ | ex | by | G1537 → | 911 times |
| ἔργων | ergon | works | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ἐδικαιώθη | edikaiothe | was justified | G1344 → | 38 times |
| ἀνενέγκας | anenegkas | having offered | G399 → | |
| Ἰσαὰκ | isaak | Isaac | G2464 → | |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱὸν | huion | son | G5207 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θυσιαστήριον; | thusiasterion | altar? | G2379 → |
ἈβραὰμAbraham
abraamG11 →
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
πατὴρfather
paterG3962 →410 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐξby
exG1537 →911 times
ἔργωνworks
ergonG2041 →168 times
ἐδικαιώθηwas justified
edikaiotheG1344 →38 times
ἀνενέγκαςhaving offered
anenegkasG399 →
ἸσαὰκIsaac
isaakG2464 →
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
υἱὸνson
huionG5207 →
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
θυσιαστήριον;altar?
thusiasterionG2379 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 12:37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- Proverbs 13:3
Through
Romans 4:16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who…
it leads to
- Romans 3:24–26
and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
- Romans 3:24–26
Through
John 8:39“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
it leads to
- Galatians 3:7
Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
- Romans 9:7
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
- John 8:37
I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.
- Romans 2:28–29
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
- Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
- Galatians 3:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About James
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians (Clement); Cyril of Alexandria, CATENA; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on James; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on James and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on James.