21 Was not Abraham our father [a]justified through works, (A)when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou not that the faith [b]wrought with his works? and through the works was the faith made [c]perfect.

23 And the Scripture was [d]fulfilled which saith, (B)Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.

24 [e]Ye see then how that of works a man is [f]justified, and not of [g]faith only.

25 [h]Likewise also was not (C)Rahab the harlot justified through works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

26 [i]For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so the faith without works is dead.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:21 Was he not by his works known and found to be justified? for he speaketh not here of the causes of justification, but by what effects we may know that a man is justified.
  2. James 2:22 Was effectual and fruitful with good works.
  3. James 2:22 That the faith was declared to be a true faith, and that by works.
  4. James 2:23 Then was the Scripture fulfilled, when it appeared plainly, how truly it was written of Abraham.
  5. James 2:24 The conclusion: he is only justified that hath that faith which hath works following it.
  6. James 2:24 Is proved to be just.
  7. James 2:24 Of that dead and fruitless faith which you boast of.
  8. James 2:25 A fourth reason taken from a like example of Rahab the harlot, who also proved by her works that she was justified by a true faith.
  9. James 2:26 The conclusion repeated again: faith which bringeth not forth fruits and works, is not faith, but a dead carcass.

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