James 2:18 - Forerunner Commentary

James 2:18

16 and ^aone of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” ^aShow me your faith without your works, ^band I will show you my faith by² my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is¹ dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works ^awhen he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see ^athat faith was working together with his works, and by ^bworks faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ^a“Abraham believed God, and it was¹ accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ^bthe friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, ^awas not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

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

Verse Comparison: James 2:18

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American Standard Version
Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from `thy' works, and I by my works will show thee `my' faith.

Amplified® Bible
But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.

Contemporary English Version
Suppose someone disagrees and says, "It is possible to have faith without doing kind deeds." I would answer, "Prove that you have faith without doing kind deeds, and I will prove that I have faith by doing them."

Darby English Version
But some one will say, *Thou* hast faith and *I* have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and *I* from my works will shew thee my faith.

Good News Bible
But someone will say, "One person has faith, another has actions." My answer is, "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions."

International Standard Version
But someone may say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without any works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

King James Version
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

New American Standard Bible
But someone may {well} say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

New International Version
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

New King James Version
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Young's Literal Translation
But say may some one, Thou hast faith, and I have works, shew me thy faith out of thy works, and I will shew thee out of my works my faith:

New English Translation
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”¹ Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by² my works.

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