James 2:20-26
Summary for Jas 2:20-26: 2:20-26 a James demonstrates from Scripture that genuine faith finds expression in action.2:22 b This verse explains 2:21 c so it won’t be misunderstood: Abraham was not justified by his actions alone; instead, his faith and his actions worked together. This describes the full scope of Abraham’s faithful response to God throughout his life (see Gen 12:1-4 d; 18:1-27 e).
2:23 f it happened just as the Scriptures say (literally the Scripture was fulfilled): James saw the offering of Isaac (Gen 22 g) as the fulfillment of Abraham’s pledge of faith and God’s declaration of Abraham’s righteousness (quoted from Gen 15:6 h).
• He was even called the friend of God: James emphasizes the nature of faith as a relationship of undivided loyalty (Jas 1:5-8 i; 4:4 j; John 15:15 k).
2:24 l not by faith alone: That is, not like the demons who merely believe something is true (2:19 m), but by a belief that results in generous deeds like those of God himself (1:17 n). Though some have thought that this teaching contradicts what Paul taught, it does not. Paul does not speak against good deeds themselves, but about trying to receive forgiveness of sins through good deeds (Rom 3:28 o; Gal 2:16 p). Just as Paul understands that love and generosity necessarily issue from a true faith (Gal 5:6 q), so also James knows that good deeds can result only from authentic faith that results in a commitment to God (Jas 2:18 r, 26 s).
2:25 t James presents Rahab the prostitute (see Josh 2:1 u) as his second example of how good works must accompany genuine faith. She declared her belief that the Lord God of Israel was the only God (Josh 2:9-11 v), and her faith was made perfect by her actions when she provided hospitality and a means of escape to the Israelite spies (Josh 2:1-6 w; 6:25 x; Heb 11:31 y).
2:26 z Good works are as necessary to faith as breath is to a physical body (Gen 2:7 aa). We cannot have one without the other.
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