Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
- BSB But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
- NKJV But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
- NASB But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
- NLT Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
James answers an objector by insisting that faith can only be demonstrated through works. Invisible faith without works cannot be shown to be real.
Overview
James engages a hypothetical interlocutor who would separate faith from works. His reply is that faith cannot be displayed apart from the deeds it produces; works are the visible evidence of inward faith. This reinforces that genuine, saving faith and obedient action belong together and cannot be divided in practice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Jas 3:13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- Jas 2:14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
- 1 Tim 1:5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Titus 2:11–14For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
- Titus 2:7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
- Rom 14:23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
- 1 Th 1:3–10Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
- Matt 7:16–17Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
- Heb 11:31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
- Heb 11:33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- Rom 3:28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- Heb 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
- 1 Cor 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- Jas 2:22–25Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
- 2 Cor 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- Rom 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- 2 Cor 7:1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Rom 4:6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
How James 2:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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