en_tn_condensed/jas/02/21.md

# General Information:

Since these are Jewish believers, they know the story of Abraham, about whom God had told them long ago in his word.

# Was not Abraham our father justified by works ... on the altar?

This rhetorical question is used to rebut the foolish man's arguments from [James 2:18](../02/18.md), who refuses to believe that faith and works go together. Alternate translation: "Abraham our father was certainly justified by works ... on the altar." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]])

# Was not Abraham our father justified by works ... on the altar?

This can be restated to remove the abstract noun "works." This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Did not God justify Abraham our father because of what he did ... on the altar?" or "God certainly justified Abraham our father because of what he did ... on the altar." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])

# father

Here "father" is used in the sense of "ancestor."