James 2:23

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” ^[a] and he was called a friend of God. ^[b]

James 2:23 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled
( Genesis 15:6 ) which speaks of Abraham's faith, and the imputation of to him for righteousness; for the above action of Abraham, in offering up his son, was a clear proof of the truth of his faith, there commended: by this it was made known what a strong faith he had in God, and what reason there was to believe that he was a justified person.

Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness;
(See Gill on Romans 4:3) which shows both that Abraham was justified before he wrought this work, and therefore that could not be the cause or matter of his justification, but only an effect and evidence of it; and that his justification was by faith, or that object which his faith regarded, and had to do with, was his justifying righteousness:

and he was called the friend of God,
( 2 Chronicles 20:7 ) ( Isaiah 41:8 ) he was loved by God with an everlasting love, who showed acts of friendship to him; called him by his grace, and blessed him with spiritual blessings, and increased him with the increase of God; favoured him with near communion with him, honoured him with high characters, and distinguished him by peculiar marks of his favour, and reckoned his enemies and friends as his own; ( Genesis 12:8 ) and Abraham, on the other hand, loved God, and showed himself friendly to him; trusted in him, and believed every word of his; readily complied with his will, and not only yielded a cheerful obedience to his commands, but enjoined his children after him to observe them: this was a name which Abraham was well known by among the eastern nations; hence he is called by the Mahometans, (hlla lylx) , "Khalil Allah", the friend of God; and Mahomet says himself ^F3,

``God took Abraham for his friend.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Koran, Sura 4:125.

James 2:23 In-Context

21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

24 As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

Footnotes

• [a]. Genesis 15:6
• [b]. See Isaiah 41:8.