OceanSide church of Christ
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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