“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”
The full verse · James 2:22 · KJV
Seest with , made ?
Asked by
James: "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1), teaching that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26)
Asked to
Objector: the "vain man" (James 2:20), an imagined person who says he has faith but has no works to show it (James 2:14, 18)
The Scene
James has just asked whether Abraham was not "justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar" (James 2:21).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJames wants the objector to look closely at Abraham and see what is plainly there. Barnes says James means "this was so plain that they could not but see it." The question presses two things. Faith "wrought with" Abraham's works: it was at work in what he did. And by those works his faith was "made perfect," brought to completion. Gill explains that Abraham's faith was "of the right kind, a faith which works by love," and that it moved him to obey.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJames answers from Scripture: "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God" (James 2:23). Then he draws the conclusion for all his readers: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Wrought with" is the Greek synergeo, to work together with. "Made perfect" is teleioo, to complete or bring to its goal. Barnes explains it as "Made complete, finished, or entire. It was so carried out as to show its legitimate and fair results." Gill says that by the offering Abraham's faith "was declared to be sincere, unfeigned, true, and genuine," "just as love is said to be perfected" in 1 John 4:17. The title "Friend of God" in James 2:23 comes from the Old Testament: "Abraham thy friend" (2 Chronicles 20:7) and "Abraham my friend" (Isaiah 41:8). Barnes calls it "a most honorable appellation."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question shows that faith and works are not rivals in a true believer. Faith came first; Abraham believed God (James 2:23; Genesis 15:6) long before Moriah, as Barnes notes. But faith did not sit idle. It worked alongside his obedience, and the obedience showed what the faith had been all along. Barnes puts it simply: "Both contributed to the end, as they do now in all cases where there is true religion."
Abraham "was called the Friend of God" (James 2:23), and Barnes says it was "in virtue of his strong faith and obedience." Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary draws the lesson: "There is no way to show we really believe in Christ, but by being diligent in good works."
Look Closer
According to James, what did Abraham's works do to his faith?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, Abraham's faith worked together with his obedience; where do You want my faith and my actions to start working together?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- In your own life, how have trusting God and obeying God fed each other?
- Abraham was called "the Friend of God." What do you think it looks like to walk with God as a friend?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Faith and obedience belong together. When you trust God, that trust shows up in what you do, and doing what He asks strengthens and completes your trust.
You do not have to choose between resting in God's grace and working hard to obey Him. In Abraham's life the two worked together. Faith came first, and works brought it to completion.
This does not mean your faith is worthless until you have done something great. Abraham's offering came after years of walking with God. Faith grows to completion over a lifetime of small and large acts of trust.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
“Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?”