¹⁷ So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

⁵ For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge,^{(A) 6} and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(B) 9} For anyone who lacks these things is blind, suffering from eye disease, forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.^(C)

¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.^{(A) 20} Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless?^[a]

Faith without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it?^(A)

¹³ And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

⁵ But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.^(A)

³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

³ If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast^[a] but do not have love, I gain nothing.^(A)