Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? New Living Translation How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? English Standard Version Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Berean Standard Bible O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? Berean Literal Bible But do you want to come to know, O foolish man, that faith apart from works is worthless? King James Bible But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? New King James Version But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? New American Standard Bible But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? NASB 1995 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? NASB 1977 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Legacy Standard Bible But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Amplified Bible But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless? Christian Standard Bible Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Holman Christian Standard Bible Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? American Standard Version But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? Aramaic Bible in Plain English Are you willing to know, oh feeble man, that faith without works is dead? Contemporary English Version Does some stupid person want proof that faith without deeds is useless? Douay-Rheims Bible But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? English Revised Version But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? GOD'S WORD® Translation You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless? Good News Translation You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless? International Standard Version Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless? Literal Standard Version And do you wish to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? Majority Standard Bible O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is dead? New American Bible Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? NET Bible But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? New Revised Standard Version Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? New Heart English Bible But do you want to know, foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Webster's Bible Translation But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Weymouth New Testament But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from obedience is worthless? Take the case of Abraham our forefather. World English Bible But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? Young's Literal Translation And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Faith and Works…19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? 21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?… Cross References Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, "Why did You make me like this?" 1 Corinthians 15:36 You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love. James 2:17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Treasury of Scripture But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? O vain. James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Job 11:11,12 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? … Psalm 94:8-11 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? … that. James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Jump to Previous Abraham Apart Barren Boaster Case Dead Evidence Faith Fellow Foolish Forefather Idle Obedience Recognize Shown Taught Vain Want Willing Wilt Works WorthlessJump to Next Abraham Apart Barren Boaster Case Dead Evidence Faith Fellow Foolish Forefather Idle Obedience Recognize Shown Taught Vain Want Willing Wilt Works WorthlessJames 2 1. Do not regard the rich and despise the poor brothers;13. rather we are to be loving and merciful; 14. and not to boast of faith without deeds; 17. because faith without deeds is useless; 19. as is the faith of the demons; 21. however, Abraham displayed both faith and actions; 25. as did Rahab. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?--"Vain," i.e., empty and useless. Some copies have a word which means idle, fruitless, workless, in place of that translated "dead"; but the sense is the same either way. "If," says Bishop Beveridge, "I see fruit growing upon a tree, I know what tree it is upon which such fruit grows. And so, if I saw how a man lives, I know how he believes. If his faith be good, his works cannot but be good too; and if his works be bad, his faith cannot but be bad too: for, wheresoever there is a justifying faith, there are also good works; and wheresoever there are no good works, there is no justifying faith." Works are the natural fruit of faith; and without them it is evident the tree is dead, perhaps at the very roots, ready to be cut down and cast into the fire.Verses 20-24. - (3) Third point: Proof from the example of Abraham that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. In Genesis 15:6 we read of Abraham that "he believed in the Lord; and he accounted it to him for righteousness" (LXX., Ἐπίστευσεν Αβραμ τῷ Θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην, quoted by St. Paul in Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6). But years after this we find that God "tested Abraham" (Genesis 22:1). To this trial St. James refers as that by which Abraham's faith was "perfected" (ἐτελειώθη), and by which the saying of earlier years found a more complete realization (cf. Ecclus. 44:20, 21, "Abraham... kept the Law of the Most High, and was in covenant with him... and when he was proved, he was found faithful. Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed," etc.). Verse 20. - Faith without works is dead. The Received Text, followed by the A.V., reads νεκρά, with א, A, C3, K, L, Syriac, Vulgate (Clementine). The Revisers, following B, C1, if, read ἀργή, "barren" (so Vulgate Amiat. by a correction, otiosa). Greek Oὦ (ō) Interjection Strong's 5599: A primary interjection; as a sign of the vocative case, O; as a note of exclamation, oh. foolish κενέ (kene) Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular Strong's 2756: Apparently a primary word; empty. man, ἄνθρωπε (anthrōpe) Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. do you want Θέλεις (Theleis) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. evidence γνῶναι (gnōnai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. faith πίστις (pistis) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness. without χωρὶς (chōris) Preposition Strong's 5565: Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from. deeds ἔργων (ergōn) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act. is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. worthless? ἀργή (argē) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 692: Idle, lazy, thoughtless, unprofitable, injurious. (by implication) lazy, useless. Links James 2:20 NIVJames 2:20 NLT James 2:20 ESV James 2:20 NASB James 2:20 KJV James 2:20 BibleApps.com James 2:20 Biblia Paralela James 2:20 Chinese Bible James 2:20 French Bible James 2:20 Catholic Bible NT Letters: James 2:20 But do you want to know vain (Ja Jas. Jam) |
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