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? Contemporary English Version Does some stupid person want proof that faith without deeds is useless? 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? Majority Standard Bible O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is dead? NET Bible But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? 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? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd do you wish to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? Berean Literal Bible But do you want to come to know, O foolish man, that faith apart from works is worthless? Young's Literal Translation And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead? Smith's Literal Translation And wilt thou know, O empty man, that faith without works is dead? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Catholic Public Domain Version So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? New American Bible Do you want proof, you ignoramus, 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? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWould you know, O weak man, that faith without works is dead? Aramaic Bible in Plain English Are you willing to know, oh feeble man, that faith without works is dead? NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut will you know, vain man, that faith without works is dead? Godbey New Testament Do you wish to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is inefficient? Haweis New Testament But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Mace New Testament Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects? 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. Worrell New Testament But are you willing to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is worthless? Worsley New Testament But desirest thou to know, O vain man, that faith without 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 4:2-5 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. / For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” / Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. ... Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love. Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, / even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death. Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast. / For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 1 John 3:17-18 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. Titus 3:8 This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people. 1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. / For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Isaiah 58:6-7 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice. Ezekiel 18:5-9 Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: / He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period. / He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. ... 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. O foolish man The term "foolish" in the Greek is "ἀνὴρ κενός" (anēr kenos), which can be translated as "empty" or "vain." This phrase is a direct address to someone who lacks understanding or insight. In the biblical context, foolishness is often associated with a lack of spiritual discernment or wisdom. The use of "man" here is generic, addressing anyone who might hold the view that faith can exist without accompanying actions. This phrase sets the tone for a corrective teaching, urging the reader to reconsider their understanding of faith. do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless (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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