Profitable Faith

“Foolish/Vain”—kenov—1) Empty, vain, devoid of truth. Strong—Empty (literally or figuratively):-- empty, (in) Vain.

“Dead”(See :20)—nekrov—Strong—from an apparently primary nekuv(a corpse); Dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun):-- Dead.

OR—“Useless”(WH—Maj.)—argov—1) Free from labor, at leisure; 2) Lazy, shunning the labor which one ought to perform. Idle, involving blameworthiness. Strong—Inactive, i.e. Unemployed; (by implication) lazy, useless:-- Barren, idle, slow.

:21—“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?”

The biblical events surrounding “Abraham” were familiar to James’ audience. James & they considered “Abraham” as their “father” or ancestor. Thus the audience is Jewish.

“Abraham” had faith in his God but his faith was “justified” by that which he did regarding the command of God to “offer Isaac” “on the altar.” His “faith” would not have been justified had he refused God’s desire. Abraham’s would thus have been faith with no works to justify it, back it up orprove it. His faith would have been the same foolish & dead faith as that of the man in :18-20.

“Justified/Considered righteous”(See :24, 25)—dikaiow—1) To render righteous or such he ought to be; 2) To show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is & wishes himself to be considered; 3) To declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be. Strong—To render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent:-- Free, justify(-ier), be righteous.

“Offered”—anaferw—1) To carry or bring up, to lead up—1a) men to a higher place; 2) To put upon the altar, to bring to the altar, to offer; 3) To lift up one's self, to take upon one's self.

“Altar”—yusiasthrion—1) The altar for slaying & burning of victims used of—1a) The altar of whole burnt offerings which stood in the court of the priests in the temple at Jerusalem, 1b) The altar of incense which stood in the sanctuary or the Holy Place, 1c) Any other altar—1c1) metaph., The cross on which Christ suffered an expiatory death: to eat of this altar i.e. to appropriate to one's self the fruits of Christ's expiatory death. Strong—A place of sacrifice, i.e. An altar (special or genitive case, literal or figurative):-- Altar.

:22—“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, & by works faith was made perfect?”

Regarding Abraham’s faith, his personal “faith” was working in tandem with his “works.” In so doing, his conceptual “faith” was transformed into active faith, thus becoming “perfect” or complete as it should be.

“Working Together”—sunergew—1) To work together, help in work, be partner in labour; 2) To put forth power together with & thereby to assist. Strong—To be a fellow-worker, i.e. Co-operate:-- Help (work) with, work(-er) together.