Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
James here, passing from the particular case of "mercy" or "love" violated by "respect of persons," notwithstanding profession of the "faith of our Lord Jesus" (James 2:1), combats the Jewish tendency (transplanted into their Christianity) to substitute a lifeless, inoperative acquaintance with the letter of the law, for change of heart to practical holiness, as if justification could be thereby attained (Romans 2:3, Romans 2:13, Romans 2:23). It seems hardly likely but that James had seen Paul's Epistles, considering that he uses the same phrases and examples (compare James 2:21, James 2:23, James 2:25, with Romans 4:3; Hebrews 11:17, Hebrews 11:31; and James 2:14, James 2:24, with Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16). Whether James individually designed it or not, the Holy Spirit by him combats not Paul, but those who abuse Paul's doctrine. The teaching of both alike is inspired, and is therefore to be received without wresting of words; but each has a different class to deal with; Paul, self-justiciaries; James, Antinomian advocates of a mere notional faith. Paul urged as strongly as James the need of works as evidences of faith, especially in the later Epistles, when many were abusing the doctrine of faith (Titus 2:14; Titus 3:8). "Believing and doing are blood relatives" [RUTHERFORD].
What doth it profit—literally, "What is the profit?"
though a man say—James' expression is not, "If a man have faith," but "if a man say he hath faith"; referring to a mere profession of faith, such as was usually made at baptism. Simon Magus so "believed and was baptized," and yet had "neither part nor lot in this matter," for his "heart," as his words and works evinced, was not right in the sight of God. ALFORD wrongly denies that "say" is emphatic. The illustration, James 2:16, proves it is: "If one of you say" to a naked brother, "Be ye warmed, notwithstanding ye give not those things needful." The inoperative profession of sympathy answering to the inoperative profession of faith.
can faith save him—rather, "can such a faith (literally, 'the faith') save him?"—the faith you pretend to: the empty name of boasted faith, contrasted with true fruit-producing faith. So that which self-deceivers claim is called "wisdom," though not true wisdom, James 3:15. The "him" also in the Greek is emphatic; the particular man who professes faith without having the works which evidence its vitality.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing James 2:14:
1 Corinthians 13:2
Galatians 5:6
James 2:14
James 2:16
James 2:18
James 3:1
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