James 2:21 (DRB)

Passage

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

Nearby Context

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

James 2:22 Seest thou that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "abraham", "father", "works", "offering", "isaac", "upon", and "altar". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "abraham", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "But wilt thou know O vain man..." into verse 22's "Seest thou that faith did cooperate with...", so "justified" and "abraham" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "justified" and "abraham" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.