²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^(A)

¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself,^(A) declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,^{(B) 17} I will surely bless you^(C) and make your descendants^(D) as numerous as the stars in the sky^(E) and as the sand on the seashore.^(F) Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,^{(G) 18} and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b](H) because you have obeyed me.”^(I)

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about,^(A) Abraham built an altar^(B) there and arranged the wood^(C) on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar,^(D) on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife^(E) to slay his son.^{(F) 11} But the angel of the Lord^(G) called out to him from heaven,^(H) “Abraham! Abraham!”^(I)

“Here I am,”^(J) he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God,^(K) because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.^(L)”

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^(A) said Jesus, “then you would^[a] do what Abraham did.

³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”^(A)

²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(A) and I will show you my faith^(B) by my deeds.^(C)

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(A) and may be guaranteed^(B) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^(C)

¹² And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.