Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁷ In this manner also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by^[a] itself.

Faith Cannot Be Seen Apart From Works

¹⁸ But someone will say “You have faith, and I have works”. Show me your faith without^[b] the works, and I will show you the faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one^[c]? You do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!

Faith Is Perfected By Works

²⁰ But do you want to know^[d], O empty^[e] person, that faith without works is useless^[f]? ²¹ Abraham our father— was he not declared-righteous by works^[g], having offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you^[h] see that faith was working-with his works, and the faith was perfected^[i] by the works? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled, the one saying [in Gen 15:6] “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness”. And he was called a friend of God. ²⁴ Do you^[j] all see that a person is declared-righteous by works, and not by faith alone^[k]? ²⁵ And likewise also Rahab the prostitute— was she not declared-righteous by works, having received the messengers and sent-them-out by a different way? ²⁶ For just as the body without spirit^[l] is dead, so also faith without works is dead.