James 2:23 (WEB)
So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Catechism · 1
“To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith; it must be "working through charity," abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.” — Catechism footnote: Gal 5:6; Rom 15:13; cf. Jas 2:14-26
Fathers and councils · 8
Irenaeus of Lyons
“But when He terms His disciples “the friends of God,” He plainly declares Himself to be the Word of God, whom Abraham also followed voluntarily and under no compulsion (sine vinculis), because of the noble nature of his faith, and so became “the friend of God.”” — editor's note: Jas. ii. 23.
Read the whole comment“And that man was not justified by these things, but that they were given as a sign to the people, this fact shows,— that Abraham himself, without circumcision and without observance of Sabbaths, “believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.”” — editor's note: Jas. ii. 23.
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Tertullian
“Whence was Abraham accounted “a friend of God,” if not on the ground of equity and righteousness, (in the observance) of a natural law?” — editor's note: See Isa. xli. 8; Jas. ii. 23.
Read the whole comment“In short, Abraham believed God, and was accredited by Him with righteousness; but it was patience which proved his faith, when he was bidden to immolate his son, with a view to (I would not say the temptation, but) the typical attestation of his faith.” — editor's note: See Gen. xv. 6; Rom. iv. 3, 9, 22; Gal. iii. 6; James ii. 23.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“He was justified not only by works, but also by faith: for though he did many things well, yet he was never called the friend of God, except when he believed.” — editor's note: James ii. 23; 2 Chron. xx. 7; Is. xli. 8; Gen. xv. 6.
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Jerome
“Proofs of these things are not wanting either in scriptural times or our own; for Abraham, in spite of his immense wealth, was “the friend of God” and poor men are daily arrested and punished for their crimes by law.” — editor's note: Isa. xli. 8; Jas. ii. 23.
Read the whole comment“For one who had gone so far astray as to live in Gomorrah could not all at once reach the noonland where Abraham, the friend of God, entertained God and His angels.” — editor's note: Jas. ii. 23.
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Clement of Alexandria
“For the first is found to have been expressly called “friend;” and the second is shown to have received a new name, signifying “he that sees God;” while Isaac, God in a figure selected for Himself as a consecrated sacrifice, to be a type to us of the economy of salvation.” — editor's note: Jas. ii. 23.
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Cross-references · 2
Cited together with
Cross-reference given by the World English Bible's translators.
Parallel passages
Romans 4:3 and James 2:23 share the same wording (9 words).