Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Parallel translations
- WEB You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;
- KJV Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
- BSB You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
- 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 labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
- Heb 11:17–19By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son,
- 1 Jn 2:5But whoever keeps his word, God’s love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him:
- Gal 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- Jas 2:18Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
- 1 Jn 4:17–18In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.