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JAMES 2:21

Victor M. Eskew

 

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

 

1.    Abraham

A.   Strong (11):  the Hebrew patriarch

B.    Thayer:  “the father of a multitude,” the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation

C.   Vine:  no information

 

2.    Father

A.   Strong (3962):  a father (literally or figuratively, near or remote)

B.    Thayer:  generator or male ancestor…a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather:  so Abraham is called, Jacob and David; fathers, i.e., ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation

C.   Vine:  from a root signifying a nourisher, protector, upholder…of a more remote ancestor, the progenitor of the people, a forefather…the patriarchs.

 

3.    Justified

A.   Strong (1344):  to render just or innocent

B.    Thayer:  to render righteous…to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

C.   Vine:  primarily, deem to be right…to declare to be righteous, to pronounce righteous

 

4.    Works

A.   Strong (2041):  to work; toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act

B.    Thayer:  an act, deed, thing done:  the idea of working emphasized in opposition to that which is less than work

C.   Vine:  work…denotes every activity undertaken for Christ’s sake

 

5.    Offered

A.   Strong (399):  to take up

B.    Thayer:  to carry or bring up, to lead up…to put upon the altar, to bring to the altar, to offer

C.   Vine:  to lead or carry up…also denotes to offer

 

6.    Isaac

A.   Strong (2464):  the son of Abraham

B.    Thayer:  to laugh, the son of Abraham and Sarah

C.   Vine:  no information

 

7.   Son

A.   Strong (5207):  son, used widely of immediate, remote or figurative kinship

B.    Thayer:  son…generally used of the offspring of men, in a restricted sense the male offspring (one born by a mother or of a father)

C.   Vine:  primarily signifies the relation of offspring to parent

8.   Altar

A.   Strong (2379):  a place of sacrifice, that is, an altar

B.    Thayer:  the altar for slaying and burning of victims

C.   Vine:  a derivative of a verb meaning “to sacrifice”…it denotes altar for the sacrifice of victims