James 2:6-26 ▼

6 But you⁺ have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you⁺ and drag you⁺ into court?

7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you⁺ have been called (the noble name invoked upon you)?

8 If you⁺ really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love {Agapēseis} your neighbor as yourself ,” you⁺ are doing well.

9 But if you⁺ show favoritism, you⁺ sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery ,” also said, “Do not murder .” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom (liberty).

13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy (compassion) triumphs over judgment.

14 What good is it, my brothers (and sisters), if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds (acts)? Can such faith save him?

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you⁺ tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed, but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action \if it does not have works/, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds (acts). Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19 You believe that God {Theos} is one (that there is one God). Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds (acts) is worthless [dead]?

21 Was not our father {patēr} Abraham (father of many) justified (rendered innocent) by what he did when he offered his son Isaac (he will laugh) on the altar?

22 You see that his faith was working with his actions (acts), and his faith was perfected by what he did.

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham (father of many) believed (had faith) God {Theō}, and it was credited to him as righteousness ,” and he was called a friend of God .

24 As you⁺ can see, a man is justified by his deeds (acts) and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab (spacious) the prostitute justified (rendered innocent) by her actions when she welcomed the spies \messengers/ and sent them off on another route?

26 As the body without the spirit {pneumatos} is dead, so faith without deeds (acts) is dead.