Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
Parallel translations
- WEB Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
- KJV Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
- NKJV Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
- NASB Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
- NLT Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac on the altar. His obedient action demonstrated the reality of his faith.
Overview
James cites Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac (Genesis 22) as proof that genuine faith works. Here "justified" carries the sense of being shown or vindicated as righteous before others, not earning a verdict from God by merit. Abraham's deed openly displayed the faith God had already credited to him as righteousness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Gen 22:16–18saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son,
- Gen 22:9–12When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.
- John 8:39“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
- Rom 4:16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
- Matt 12:37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- Acts 7:2And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
- Rom 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?
- Luke 16:30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’
- Josh 24:3But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac,
- Jas 2:18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
- Jas 2:24As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
- Isa 51:2Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
- Matt 3:9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
- Ps 143:2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
- Luke 16:24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
- Rom 3:20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
- Matt 25:31–40When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
- John 8:53Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”
- Rom 4:12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
- Luke 1:73the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
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Original language
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