King James Bible
"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"
James presents Rahab as a second example (after Abraham) of justification through active faith, deliberately highlighting her outsider status as a Canaanite prostitute. Her justification came not from her background but from concrete actions that demonstrated genuine faith in Israel's God. Rahab's faith manifested in the risky act of welcoming the Israelite spies into her home in Jericho, recognizing them as representatives of the true God. This reception required both discernment of God's purposes and courage to act against her own people's interests. Her faith continued through strategic deception of the king's men and helping the spies escape via her window, ensuring their safety. This specific act of protection completed her work of faith, demonstrating that genuine belief produces deliberate, costly action even when personal danger is involved.