James 2:23 (KJV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

James 2:23 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 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "scripture", "fulfilled", "saith", "abraham", "believed", "imputed", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "scripture", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Seest thou how faith wrought with his..." into verse 24's "Ye see then how that by works...", so "called" and "scripture" 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 "called" and "scripture" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.