james-2:23,-genesis-15:1-6-niv

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:23

And he was called the Friend of God. The expression comes from Isaiah 41:8 ; 2 Chronicles 20:7 (in the Hebrew, א ; LXX ., ὅν ἠγάπησα τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ σου ) . The same title, φίλος θεοῦ , is given to Abraham by Clement of Rome ('Ad Corinthians,' 10.; 17), and was evidently a standing one among the Jews. Philo actually in one instance quotas Genesis 18:17 as ἀβραὰμ τοῦ φίλου μου instead of ποῦ παιδός μου . Illustrations from later rabbinical writers may... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith - That is, the fair and full meaning of the language of Scripture was expressed by this act, showing in the highest sense that his faith was genuine; or the declaration that he truly believed, was confirmed or established by this act. His faith was shown to be genuine; and the fair meaning of the declaration that he believed God was carried out in the subsequent act. The passage here referred to occurs in Genesis 15:6. That which it is said Abraham... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 2:23-24

James 2:23-24. And the scripture Which was afterward written, was hereby eminently fulfilled. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. This was twice fulfilled, when Abraham first believed, and when he offered up Isaac. St. Paul speaks of the former fulfilling, and St. James of the latter. And he was called the friend of God Both by his posterity, (2 Chronicles 20:7,) and by God himself, Isaiah 41:8. So pleasing to God were the works he wrought in faith! “The... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 2:14-26

Proof of genuine faith (2:14-26)The Christian faith is not merely a mental belief, but something that is practised. Those who say they have faith must give evidence of it by their behaviour. In the case of the poor Christians just referred to, it is useless to talk sympathetically to them but not give them food and clothing. A professed faith must produce a corresponding change in behaviour, otherwise it is dead and useless (14-17).Genuine faith will prove itself by good deeds. The simple... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 2:23

fulfilled . App-125 . believed . App-150 . imputed = reckoned. Greek. logizomai . See Romans 2:3 (thinkest). righteousness . App-191 . Quoted from Genesis 15:6 , but it received a further fulfilment after Jam 22:10 , which obtained the testimony of verses: James 2:15-18 . friend of God . See 2 Chronicles 20:7 . Isaiah 41:8 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:23

... and the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.James here quoted exactly the same passage that Paul quoted in Romans 4:3, proving that his teaching concerned exactly the same kind of justification as that in view by Paul; it does, however, explode any possibility of "faith only" having been the grounds of that justification, even in the teachings of Paul.And he was called the friend... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:23

James 2:23. And the scripture was fulfilled, &c.— The passage here referred to, is recorded Gen 15:6 and is there applied to Abraham's firm trust in the promise of God, concerning a son and heir. Now that was about fifty years before his binding Isaac as a victim upon the altar (Genesis 22:9; Genesis 22:24.); by which act of obedience St. James here intimates, that the passage mentioned, Gen 15:6 was fulfilled; not that that passage was a prophesy, or prediction of this event, but that the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:23

23. scripture was fulfilled— Genesis 15:6, quoted by Paul, as realized in Abraham's justification by faith; but by James, as realized subsequently in Abraham's work of offering Isaac, which, he says, justified him. Plainly, then, James must mean by works the same thing as Paul means by faith, only that he speaks of faith at its manifested development, whereas Paul speaks of it in its germ. Abraham's offering of Isaac was not a mere act of obedience, but an act of faith. Isaac was the subject of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:14-26

B. The Importance of Vital Faith 2:14-26Some have seen this section as dealing with a new subject, the relationship of faith and works, whereas the previous one dealt with partiality (James 2:1-13). It seems to me and to others, however, that this section relates to the preceding one in the same way James 1:19-27 relates to James 1:2-18. It deals with a larger, more basic issue that connects with and underlies the practical problem just discussed."In this section St. James proceeds to enlarge... read more