James 2:22

22 Therefore thou seest, that faith wrought with his works, and his faith was filled of works [and his faith was fulfilled of works].

James 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works
Not to justify him before God; for neither faith nor works are ever said in Scripture to justify any man; but his faith being of the right kind, a faith which works by love, it put him upon doing this work, and many others; for this was done in faith, ( Hebrews 11:17-19 ) as all good works are, which are properly such; and where there is true faith, it will influence and engage a man to do good works, as it did Abraham.

And by works was faith made perfect?
not with an absolute perfection; for though Abraham's faith was very great, yet there were things lacking in it, and he had his fits and times of unbelief; and had he lived till now, his faith, in this sense, would not have been perfect; and he would have had reason to have used the apostle's petition, ( Luke 17:5 ) much less would it have been made thus perfect by works; but the sense is, that hereby his faith was declared to be sincere, unfeigned, true, and genuine; just as love is said to be perfected, ( 1 John 4:17 ) .

James 2:22 In-Context

20 But wilt thou know, thou vain man, that faith without works is idle?

21 Whether Abraham, our father, was not justified of works [Abraham, our father, whether he was not justified of works], offering Isaac, his son, on the altar?

22 Therefore thou seest, that faith wrought with his works, and his faith was filled of works [and his faith was fulfilled of works].

23 And the scripture was filled, saying, Abraham believed to God, and it was areckoned to him to rightwiseness [+And the scripture is fulfilled, saying, Abraham believed to God, and it was reckoned to him to rightwiseness], and he was called the friend of God.

24 Ye see that a man is justified of works, and not of faith only.