James 2:22
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:22 in other translations
| BSB | You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. |
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| WEB | You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected. |
| ASV | Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; |
| YLT | dost thou see that the faith was working with his works, and out of the works the faith was perfected? |
| DARBY | Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected. |
| BBE | You see that his faith was helping his works and was made complete by them; |
| Webster | Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? |
What does James 2:22 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
How faith wrought with his works. συνηργει. Co-operated with. The meaning of the word is, to work together with any one; to co-operate, (1Cor 16:16; 2Cor 6:1;) then to aid, or help, (Mk 16:20;) to contribute to the production of any result, where two or more persons or agents are united. Compare Rom 8:28. The idea here is, that the result in the case of Abraham, that is, his salvation, or his religion, was secured, not by one of these things alone, but that both with contributed to it. The result which was reached, to wit, his acceptance God, could not have been obtained by either one of them separately, but both, in some sense, entered into it. The apostle does not say that, in regard to the merit which justifies, they came in for an equal share, for he makes no affirmation on that point; he does not deny that in the sight of God, who foresees and knows all things, he was regarded as a justified man the moment he believed, but he looks at the result as it was, at Abraham as he appeared under the trial of his faith, and says that in that result there was to be seen the co-operation of faith and good works. Both contributed to the end, as they do now in all cases where there is true religion.
And by works was faith made perfect. Made complete, finished, or entire. It was so carried out as to show its legitimate and fair results. This does not mean that the faith in itself was defective before this, and that the defect was remedied by good works; or that there is any deficiency in what the right kind of faith can do in the matter of justification, which is to be helped out by good works; but that there was that kind of completion which a thing has when it is fully developed, or is fairly carried out.
(+) "Seest thou" or, "Thou seest" (a) "faith wrought with his works" Heb 11:17
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 2:14-26
Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from…
James 2:22 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for James 2:22
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
- Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
- Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- 1 John 2:5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
- James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
- 1 John 4:17-18
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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 2:22 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ¿No ves que la fe obró con sus obras, y que la fe fué perfecta por las obras? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Tu vois que la foi agissait avec ses œuvres; et par les œuvres la foi fut rendue parfaite. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Du siehst, daß der Glaube zu seinen Werken mitwirkte, und daß der Glaube durch die Werke vollendet wurde. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est? |