James 2:21-23 NIV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:23

Verse 23 23And the Scripture was fulfilled. They who seek to prove from this passage of James that the works of Abraham were imputed for righteousness, must necessarily confess that Scripture is perverted by him; for however they may turn and twist, they can never make the effect to be its own cause. The passage is quoted from Moses. (Genesis 15:6.) The imputation of righteousness which Moses mentions, preceded more than thirty years the work by which they would have Abraham to have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

WARNING AGAINST RESTING CONTENT WITH A MERE BARREN ORTHODOXY . Preliminary note : This is the famous passage which led to Luther's depreciation of the whole Epistle, which he termed a "right strawy" one. At first sight it appears, indeed, diametrically opposed to the teaching of St. Paul; for: St. James refers to her as an example of justification by works (verse 25). The opposition, however, is only apparent; for: (a) That the object of the much-vaunted faith of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

Faith and works. I. THE HOLLOWNESS OF PROFESSION WITHOUT PRACTICE ; of a mere orthodox creed without the deeds of love, which are as the fruits by which the tree is known. There is no reason to think that the Pharisee of the one parable was unorthodox, or that Dives in another was a heretic; but the faith of each of these was worthless, because not a "faith which worketh by love." The good Samaritan was a stranger and an alien, but did by nature the deeds of the Law; and thus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

Faith and works. The supposed antagonism between Paul and James. Misapprehension. Paul's great argument is that, not by seeking to fulfill an impossible righteousness do we make ourselves just before God, but by acknowledging our sin and accepting his salvation. James's argument is, that the very faith which saves us is a faith which brings forth after-fruits, or it is not true faith at all. So, then, the "works" to which the one refers are works done with a view to salvation, that God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:20-24

(3) Third point : Proof from the example of Abraham that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. In Genesis 15:6 we read of Abraham that "he believed in the Lord; and he accounted it to him for righteousness" ( LXX ., ἐπίστευσεν αβραμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην , quoted by St. Paul in Romans 4:3 ; Galatians 3:6 ). But years after this we find that God "tested Abraham" ( Genesis 22:1 ). To this trial St. James refers as that by which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:20-26

Justification by faith and works. The meaning of this notable passage has been much contested, because its teaching seems to many minds to contradict the doctrine of justification by faith. It was this apparent antagonism which led Martin Luther for a time to denounce the whole Epistle of James as a mere handful of "straw." Since his day, however, good men have been coming more and. more to see that Paul and James, so far from opposing one another, are in reality presenting different sides... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:23

And he was called the Friend of God. The expression comes from Isaiah 41:8 ; 2 Chronicles 20:7 (in the Hebrew, א ; LXX ., ὅν ἠγάπησα τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ σου ) . The same title, φίλος θεοῦ , is given to Abraham by Clement of Rome ('Ad Corinthians,' 10.; 17), and was evidently a standing one among the Jews. Philo actually in one instance quotas Genesis 18:17 as ἀβραὰμ τοῦ φίλου μου instead of ποῦ παιδός μου . Illustrations from later rabbinical writers may... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:21

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 Matthew 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... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:22

Seest thou - Margin, “Thou seest.” Either rendering is correct, and the sense is the same. The apostle means to say that this was so plain that they could not but see it.How faith wrought with his works - συνήργει sunērgei. Cooperated with. The meaning of the word is, “to work together with anyone; to co operate,” 1 Corinthians 16:16; 2 Corinthians 6:1; then to aid, or help, Mark 16:20; to contribute to the production of any result, where two or more persons or agents are united. Compare... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith - That is, the fair and full meaning of the language of Scripture was expressed by this act, showing in the highest sense that his faith was genuine; or the declaration that he truly believed, was confirmed or established by this act. His faith was shown to be genuine; and the fair meaning of the declaration that he believed God was carried out in the subsequent act. The passage here referred to occurs in Genesis 15:6. That which it is said Abraham... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:23

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:20-24

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:20-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:23

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