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James 2:20 KJV
James · chapter 2 · verse 20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?James 2:20 · King James Version
James 2:20 in context
18Yea, 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.
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Commentary
Key words (Strong's)
- withoutchōrisseparate, apart, without any, besidesG5565 →
- faithpistisconviction of the truth of anything, belief in the NT of a conviction or belief…G4102 →
- worksergonbusiness, employment, that which any one is occupied, that which one undertakes to do…G2041 →
- wiltthelōto will, have in mind, intend, to be resolved or determined, to purpose, to desire, to…G2309 →
- knowginōskōto learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel, to become known, to…G1097 →
- vainkenosempty, vain, devoid of truth, of places, vessels, etc. which contain nothing, of men…G2756 →
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In this latter part of the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare profession of the Christian faith, as if that would save them, while the temper of their minds and the tenour of their lives were altogether disagreeable to that holy religion which they professed.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 14-26