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James 2:18
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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.
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< James 2:17   James 2:19 >>


James 2:18

Yea, a man will say (all erei tiv). Future active of eipon. But all here is almost certainly adversative (But some one will say), not confirmatory. James introduces an imaginary objector who speaks one sentence: "Thou hast faith and I have works" (Su pistin exeiv kagw erga exw). Then James answers this objector. The objector can be regarded as asking a short question: "Hast thou faith?" In that case James replies: "I have works also."

Show me thy faith apart from thy works (deicon moi thn pistin sou xwriv twn ergwn). This is the reply of James to the objector. First aorist active imperative of deiknumi, tense of urgency. The point lies in xwriv, which means not "without," but "apart from," as in Hebrews 11:6 (with the ablative case), "the works that properly belong to it and should characterise it" (Hort). James challenges the objector to do this.

And I by my works will shew thee my faith (kagw soi deicw ek twn ergwn mou thn pistin). It is not faith or works, but proof of real faith (live faith vs. dead faith). The mere profession of faith with no works or profession of faith shown to be alive by works. This is the alternative clearly stated. Note pistin (faith) in both cases. James is not here discussing "works" (ceremonial works) as a means of salvation as Paul in Gal. 3; Rom. 4, but works as proof of faith.




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing James 2:18:

James 2:24
James 3:13

 

<< James 2:17   James 2:19 >>

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