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Jam 2:21. Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν, Abraham our father) So St Paul, Rom 4:1.-ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, was justified by works) St James recognises the inward and peculiar power of faith, which is previous to works, and distinct from works and from their influence, which reacts upon faith (Jam 2:22): but hypocrites are ignorant of this; speaking more readily in flattering terms of works, of which they themselves are destitute. Therefore James employs an argument ad hominem; and that he may convince them, he especially mentions works, while in mentioning them, he understands (as lying underneath the works) the active principle of faith. Nor does James use the word δικαιοῦσθαι, to be justified, in a different sense from that in which St Paul uses it; in which sense righteousness is most intimately connected with salvation, Jam 2:14. But that sense is a very pregnant one; so that the term righteousness is co-extensive in its meaning on the opposite side with sin (see especially the note, Rom 3:20); and as sin includes both guilt (reatus) and the taint (vitium) of our nature, so does righteousness denote the whole process, by which a man is righteous, and is judged and pronounced to he so; that is, one with whom God is no longer angry on account of his guilt, but reconciled to him: and one who on his part is no longer an enemy to God, but a friend, Jam 2:23. Comp. Rom 8:7 with what precedes and follows. Now both St James and St Paul use this word, δικαιοῦν, to justify, in one and the same sense, though St Paul in a more restricted, and St James in a wider application; and for this reason, that St Paul is accustomed to speak of the act of justification, which chiefly consists in the remission of sins; whereas St James, which is especially to be observed, speaks of the state resulting from the same justification (which is incorrectly but frequently termed a second justification), when a man continues in the righteousness which is of faith, and makes progress in that which is of works. Hence it is that St Paul, from Gen 15:6, brings forward Abraham as believing; St James, from Gen 22:10, as even offering his son upon the altar, long afterwards. The former simply adduces the saying, It was counted to him; the latter also this, He was called friend, which was afterwards added. The former says, God justifies, and justifies the ungodly, and we are justified; the latter simply says, A man is justified. The former makes mention of faith only, and not of works, although they proceed from faith; the latter makes mention of faith and works.-ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιατήριον, upon the altar) He designs to show, that the work of Abraham was undertaken altogether in earnest.