James 2:18-26
Amplified Bible
18 But someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].” 19 You believe that [a]God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]!(A) 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]?(B) 22 You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience]. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God.(C) 24 You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith]. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] [b]spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route?(D) 26 For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- James 2:19 A reference to the Shema, the Jewish confession of faith.
- James 2:25 Lit messengers.
James 2:18-26
New International Version
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds,(A) and I will show you my faith(B) by my deeds.(C) 19 You believe that there is one God.(D) Good! Even the demons believe that(E)—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?(F) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(G) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(H) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(I) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b](J) and he was called God’s friend.(K) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(L) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.(M)
Footnotes
- James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
- James 2:23 Gen. 15:6
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