James 2:23 bbe — And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as ri…

Bible in Basic English

"And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness; and he was named the friend of God."

— James 2:23, Bible in Basic English

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James 2:23 in Other Translations

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James 2 — Context

20

Do you not see, O foolish man, that faith without works is of no use?

21

Was not the righteousness of Abraham our father judged by his works, when he made an offering of Isaac his son on the altar?

22

You see that his faith was helping his works and was made complete by them;

23

And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness; and he was named the friend of God.

24

You see that a man's righteousness is judged by his works and not by his faith only.

25

And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?

26

For as the body without the spirit is dead even so faith without works is dead.

James 2:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does James 2:23 say?
James 2:23 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness; and he was named the friend of God.”
Where is James 2:23 in the Bible?
James 2:23 is found in the New Testament, in the book of James, chapter 2, verse 23.
Who wrote James?
James is traditionally attributed to James, half-brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem church. It was written c. AD 44–49.
What is the book of James about?
James is the New Testament's closest cousin to Old-Testament wisdom literature — pungent, practical, and uncompromising. Faith without works is dead. The tongue is a fire. The prayers of a righteous man avail much. It calls Christians to walk their talk.
What are the major themes of James?
James explores themes including Faith and Works, Wisdom, Speech, Suffering, Prayer. These themes shape the meaning and context of James 2:23.
What translation should I read James 2:23 in?
James 2:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize James 2:23?
James 2:23 reads (BBE): “And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness; and he was named the friend of God.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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