SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:23
¿Y que la Escritura fue cumplida, que dice: Abraham crey a Dios, y le fue imputado a justicia, y fue llamado amigo de Dios?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - James 2:23
Verse 23. The scripture was fulfilled] He believed God; this faith was never inactive, it was accounted to him for righteousness: and being justified by thus believing, his life of obedience showed that he had not received the grace of God in vain. See the notes on Gen. xv. 6; Rom. iv. 3; Gal. iii. 6; where this subject is largely explained. The friend of God.] The highest character ever given to man. As among friends every thing is in common; so God took Abraham into intimate communion with himself, and poured out upon him the choicest of his blessings: for as God can never be in want, because he possesses all things; so Abraham his friend could never be destitute, because God was his friend.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled , etc.] ( Genesis 15:6) which speaks of Abraham's faith, and the imputation of to him for righteousness; for the above action of Abraham, in offering up his son, was a clear proof of the truth of his faith, there commended: by this it was made known what a strong faith he had in God, and what reason there was to believe that he was a justified person. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness ; (See Gill on Romans 4:3) which shows both that Abraham was justified before he wrought this work, and therefore that could not be the cause or matter of his justification, but only an effect and evidence of it; and that his justification was by faith, or that object which his faith regarded, and had to do with, was his justifying righteousness: and he was called the friend of God , ( 2 Chronicles 20:7 Isaiah 41:8) he was loved by God with an everlasting love, who showed acts of friendship to him; called him by his grace, and blessed him with spiritual blessings, and increased him with the increase of God; favoured him with near communion with him, honoured him with high characters, and distinguished him by peculiar marks of his favour, and reckoned his enemies and friends as his own; ( Genesis 12:8) and Abraham, on the other hand, loved God, and showed himself friendly to him; trusted in him, and believed every word of his; readily complied with his will, and not only yielded a cheerful obedience to his commands, but enjoined his children after him to observe them: this was a name which Abraham was well known by among the eastern nations; hence he is called by the Mahometans, hlla lylj , Khalil Allah, the friend of God; and Mahomet says himself f27 , God took Abraham for his friend.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 fait alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, an 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 this saving faith. A bare profession may gain the good opinion of piou people; and it may procure, in some cases, worldly good things; but what profit will it be, for any to gain the whole world, and to los their souls? Can this faith save him? All things should be accounte profitable or unprofitable to us, as they tend to forward or hinder the salvation of our souls. This place of Scripture plainly shows that a opinion, or assent to the gospel, without works, is not faith. There is no way to show we really believe in Christ, but by being diligent in good works, from gospel motives, and for gospel purposes. Men may boas to others, and be conceited of that which they really have not. Ther is not only to be assent in faith, but consent; not only an assent to the truth of the word, but a consent to take Christ. True believing is not an act of the understanding only, but a work of the whole heart That a justifying faith cannot be without works, is shown from tw examples, Abraham and Rahab. Abraham believed God, and it was reckone unto him for righteousness. Faith, producing such works, advanced his to peculiar favours. We see then, ver. #(24), how that by works a ma is justified, not by a bare opinion or profession, or believing withou obeying; but by having such faith as produces good works. And to have to deny his own reason, affections, and interests, is an action fit to try a believer. Observe here, the wonderful power of faith in changin sinners. Rahab's conduct proved her faith to be living, or havin power; it showed that she believed with her heart, not merely by a assent of the understanding. Let us then take heed, for the best works without faith, are dead; they want root and principle. By faith an thing we do is really good; as done in obedience to God, and aiming a his acceptance: the root is as though it were dead, when there is n fruit. Faith is the root, good works are the fruits; and we must see to it that we have both. This is the grace of God wherein we stand, and we should stand to it. There is no middle state. Every one must eithe live God's friend, or God's enemy. Living to God, as it is the consequence of faith, which justifies and will save, obliges us to d nothing against him, but every thing for him and to him __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ορατε 3708 5719 V-PAI-2P 3708 5720 V-PAM-2P τοινυν 5106 PRT οτι 3754 CONJ εξ 1537 PREP εργων 2041 N-GPN δικαιουται 1344 5743 V-PPI-3S ανθρωπος 444 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εκ 1537 PREP πιστεως 4102 N-GSF μονον 3441 A-ASN 3440 ADV
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Was fulfilled (eplhrwqh). Not was confirmed, which the word does not mean either in New-Testament or in classical usage, but was actually and fully realized. James here uses the formula which in the Old Testament is employed of the realizing of a former utterance. See 1 Kings ii. 27; 2 Chronicles xxxvi. 22 (Sept.).Imputed (elogisqh). Lit., as Rev., reckoned.
He was called the friend of God. The term, however, does not occur either in the Hebrew or Septuagint, though it is found in the A.V. and retained in Rev. Old Testament. In 2 Chron. xx. 7 (Sept.), thy friend tw hjgaphmenw, thy beloved. In Isa. xli. 8 (Sept.), my friend is on hjgaphsa whom I loved. "The friend of God" is still the favorite title of Abraham among the Jews and Mohammedans.
