21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(A) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(B) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(C) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[a](D) and he was called God’s friend.(E) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(F) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:23 Gen. 15:6

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,”[a] and he was called God’s friend.[b] 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:23 sn A quotation from Gen 15:6.
  2. James 2:23 sn An allusion to 2 Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8; 51:2; Dan 3:35 (LXX), in which Abraham is called God’s “beloved.”