Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Parallel translations
- WEB You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;
- BSB You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
- NKJV Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
- NASB You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
- NLT You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.
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's faith worked together with his actions, and his faith was perfected by works. Faith and obedience cooperate and complete one another.
Overview
James explains that Abraham's faith was not idle but active, and that his works brought his faith to maturity and full expression. Faith comes first and produces the works, which in turn confirm and complete it. This integrated picture shows that living faith and obedient deeds are partners, not rivals.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Th 1:3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
- Heb 11:17–19By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- 1 Jn 2:5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Jas 2:18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
- 1 Jn 4:17–18Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
How James 2:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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