Focused Passage

James 2:21-24

Mercy, Partiality, and Living Faith

James moves from condemning favoritism in the assembly, to exposing partiality as lawbreaking, to calling believers to mercy before judgment, and finally to demonstrating that genuine faith is living, active, and completed in works.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

24 As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Cross-references

Genesis 22:12 Classic cross-references Genesis 22:1 Classic cross-references Genesis 22:16 Classic cross-references James 2:24 Classic cross-references Romans 2:13 Classic cross-references Genesis 15:6 OliveGrove study links

Original words

{Was} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular father πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular justified ἐδικαιώθη G1344 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular by ἐξ G1537 Preposition what he did ἔργων G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural when he offered ἀνενέγκας G399 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular son υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Isaac Ἰσαὰκ G2464 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular altar θυσιαστήριον G2379 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:9 Classic cross-references Jude 1:20 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Classic cross-references Hebrews 11:17 Classic cross-references 1 John 2:5 Classic cross-references Genesis 15:6 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You see βλέπεις G991 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction [his] ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular faith πίστις G4102 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular was working with συνήργει G4903 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural actions ἔργοις G2041 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [his] ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular faith πίστις G4102 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular was perfected ἐτελειώθη G5048 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular by ἐκ G1537 Preposition what τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural he did ἔργων G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural

Verse 23

Cross-references

Genesis 15:6 Classic cross-references John 15:15 Classic cross-references Isaiah 41:8 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 20:7 Classic cross-references John 15:14 Classic cross-references

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction the ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular Scripture γραφὴ G1124 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular was fulfilled ἐπληρώθη G4137 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular that ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular says λέγουσα G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular believed Ἐπίστευσεν G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction it was credited ἐλογίσθη G3049 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular to him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular as εἰς G1519 Preposition righteousness δικαιοσύνην G1343 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction he was called ἐκλήθη G2564 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular a friend φίλος G5384 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

Genesis 15:6
See Isaiah 41:8.

Verse 24

Cross-references

James 2:15 Classic cross-references James 2:21 Classic cross-references Romans 3:28 Classic cross-references Luke 10:29 Classic cross-references Genesis 15:6 OliveGrove study links

Original words

As you can see ὁρᾶτε G3708 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction a man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is justified δικαιοῦται G1344 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular by ἐξ G1537 Preposition [his] deeds ἔργων G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction not οὐκ G3756 Adverb by ἐκ G1537 Preposition faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular alone μόνον G3440 Adverb

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