The Meaning of James 2:21 Explained

James 2:21

KJV: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

YLT: Abraham our father -- was not he declared righteous out of works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar?

Darby: Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

ASV: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Was  not  Abraham  our  father  justified  by  works,  when he had offered  Isaac  his  son  upon  the altar? 

What does James 2:21 Mean?

Study Notes

justified
.
works
Cf. James 2:24 . These are two aspects of one truth. Paul speaks of that which justifies man before God, viz.: faith alone, wholly apart from works; James of the proof before men, that he who professes to have justifying faith really has it. Paul speaks of what God sees--faith; James of what men see--works, as the visible evidence of faith. Paul draws his illustration from Genesis 15:6 James from Genesis 22:1-19 . James' key phrase is "ye see" James 2:24 for men cannot see faith except as manifested through works.

Verse Meaning

This verse at first seems to contradict other verses that say God declared Abraham righteous when Abraham believed God"s promise ( Genesis 15:1-6; Romans 4:1-5). The solution to the problem lies in the meaning of "justified." This word always means to declare someone righteous in the sight of the law, not to make someone righteous in his or her conduct (cf. Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 25:1; 1 Kings 8:32). The failure to define justification biblically is what has led some Reformed interpreters to conclude that everyone who is truly justified will inevitably behave righteously.
The NIV translation "considered righteous" is a bit misleading (cf. James 2:25). Abraham was declared righteous more than once. Most interpreters understand the first scriptural statement of his justification as describing his "new birth," to use the New Testament term ( Genesis 15:6). This is when God declared Abraham righteous. About20 years later James says Abraham was justified again. Scripture consistently teaches that believers whom God declares righteous never lose their righteous standing before God ( Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1; et al.). They do not need to be saved again. Abraham"s subsequent justification evidently refers to a second declaration of his righteousness. James said this second time Abraham"s works declared him righteous. They gave testimony (bore witness) to his faith. [1] Works do not always evidence faith ( James 2:19), but sometimes they do. They do whenever a person who has become a believer by faith continues to live by faith. Abraham is a good example of a believer whose good works (obedience to God) bore witness to his righteousness. He continued to live by faith just as he had been declared righteous by faith.

Context Summary

James 2:14-26 - Deeds The Evidence Of Faith
The Apostle is speaking here of a faith that does not result in a changed life. It is the faith which believes about Jesus Christ, as distinguished from that which believes in Him. We may believe about Him as we do about Luther or Washington, but such faith will not avail, either here or hereafter. It can no more affect our condition than the pious wish that a shivering beggar may be warmed, and fed will make him either one or the other.
The presence or absence of results in life and conduct is the real test of faith, as the green shoot of a living seed. James calls these results works. We are justified by works, because they prove our faith to be the real faith. Real faith binds the soul to the living Christ, produces deep penitence and humility, and brings about an absolutely new sort of behavior-as when Abraham was willing to offer Isaac, and Rahab received and assisted the spies. To reckon on God is to be a friend of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: James 2

1  Do not regard the rich and despise the poor brothers;
13  rather we are to be loving and merciful;
14  and not to boast of faith without deeds;
17  because faith without deeds is useless;
19  as is the faith of the demons;
21  however, Abraham displayed both faith and actions;
25  as did Rahab

Greek Commentary for James 2:21

Justified by works [εχ εργων εδικαιωτη]
First aorist passive indicative of δικαιοω — dikaioō (see Galatians and Romans for this verb, to declare righteous, to set right) in a question with ουκ — ouk expecting an affirmative answer. This is the phrase that is often held to be flatly opposed to Paul‘s statement in Romans 4:1-5, where Paul pointedly says that it was the faith of Abraham (Romans 4:9) that was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness, not his works. But Paul is talking about the faith of Abraham before his circumcision (Romans 4:10) as the basis of his being set right with God, which faith is symbolized in the circumcision. James makes plain his meaning also. [source]
In that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar [ανενεγκας Ισαακ τον υιον αυτου επι το τυσιαστηριον]
They use the same words, but they are talking of different acts. James points to the offering (ανενεγκας — anenegkas second aorist - with first aorist ending - active participle of αναπερω — anapherō) of Isaac on the altar (Genesis 22:16.) as proof of the faith that Abraham already had. Paul discusses Abraham‘s faith as the basis of his justification, that and not his circumcision. There is no contradiction at all between James and Paul. Neither is answering the other. Paul may or may not have seen the Epistle of James, who stood by him loyally in the Conference in Jerusalem (Acts 15; Gal 2). [source]
When he had offered [ἀνενέγκας]
Incorrect. For the participle states the ground of his justification. By works gives the general ground; offered, etc., the specific work. Compare Genesis 22:16, Genesis 22:17. Rev., correctly, in that he offered. The word ἀνενέγκας is, lit., brought up to; and means, not actually to offer up in sacrifice (though Isaac was morally sacrificed in Abraham's will), but to bring to the altar as an offering See on 1 Peter 2:5. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 2:21

Acts 7:41 Offered [ἀνήγαγον]
Lit., led up. See on James 2:21. [source]
Hebrews 13:15 Let us offer [ἀναφέρωμεν]
Lit. bring up the offering to the altar. See James 2:21, where the full phrase occurs. For the phrase offer up through Jesus Christ, comp. 1 Peter 2:5. [source]
Hebrews 11:17 When he was tried offered up [προσενήνοχεν πειραζόμενος]
The full sense of the statement is missed in A.V. The meaning is that while the trial is yet in progress, Abraham hath already offered up his son, before the trial has come to an issue, by the act of his obedient will, through faith in God. Comp. James 2:21. [source]
James 2:23 Was fulfilled [επληρωτη]
First aorist passive indicative of πληροω — plēroō the usual verb for fulfilling Scripture. So James quotes Genesis 15:6 as proving his point in James 2:21 that Abraham had works with his faith, the very same passage that Paul quotes in Romans 4:3 to show that Abraham‘s faith preceded his circumcision and was the basis of his justification. And both James and Paul are right, each to illustrate a different point. [source]
James 3:4 Though they are so great [τηλικαυτα οντα]
Concessive participle of ειμι — eimi The quantitative pronoun τηλικουτος — tēlikoutos occurs in the N.T. only here, 2 Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 2:3; Revelation 16:18. If James had only seen the modern mammoth ships. But the ship on which Paul went to Malta carried 276 persons (Acts 27:37).And are driven (και ελαυνομενα — kai elaunomena). Present passive participle of ελαυνω — elaunō old verb, in this sense (2 Peter 2:17) for rowing (Mark 6:48; John 6:19).Rough Old adjective (from σκελλω — skellō to dry up), harsh, stiff, hard (Matthew 25:24).Are yet turned (μεταγεται — metagetai). Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω — metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25).By a very small rudder For the use of υπο — hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο — hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου — Pēdaliou (from πηδον — pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου — Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς — elachus for μικρος — mikros).The impulse (η ορμη — hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω — euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς — euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται — bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι — boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
James 3:4 Rough [σκληρον]
Old adjective (from σκελλω — skellō to dry up), harsh, stiff, hard (Matthew 25:24).Are yet turned (μεταγεται — metagetai). Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω — metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25).By a very small rudder For the use of υπο — hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο — hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου — Pēdaliou (from πηδον — pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου — Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς — elachus for μικρος — mikros).The impulse (η ορμη — hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω — euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς — euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται — bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι — boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
James 3:4 Are yet turned [μεταγεται]
Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω — metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25). [source]

What do the individual words in James 2:21 mean?

Abraham the father of us not by works was justified having offered Isaac the son of him upon the altar
Ἀβραὰμ πατὴρ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη ἀνενέγκας Ἰσαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον

Ἀβραὰμ  Abraham 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀβραάμ  
Sense: the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation.
πατὴρ  father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἔργων  works 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ἐδικαιώθη  was  justified 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δικαιόω  
Sense: to render righteous or such he ought to be.
ἀνενέγκας  having  offered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀναφέρω  
Sense: to carry or bring up, to lead up.
Ἰσαὰκ  Isaac 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰσαάκ  
Sense: the son of Abraham and Sarah.
υἱὸν  son 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐπὶ  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
θυσιαστήριον  altar 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: θυσιαστήριον  
Sense: the altar for slaying and burning of victims used of.