Darby Bible
James 2:14
14What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
- New International Version (NIV)What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
- English Standard Version (ESV)What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
- New King James Version (NKJV)What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
Context of James 2:14
12So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty; 13for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment. What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him? 15Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?
Read all of James 2James 2:14 word by word
Τί τὸ ὄφελος, ἀδελφοί μου, ἐὰν πίστιν λέγῃ τις ἔχειν, ἔργα δὲ μὴ ἔχῃ; μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν;Read the interlinear
Cross-references for James 2:14
- James 2:16and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?
- Jeremiah 7:8Behold, ye confide in words of falsehood that cannot profit.
- Romans 2:25For circumcision indeed profits if thou keep [the] law; but if thou be a law-transgressor, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
- 1 Corinthians 13:3And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.
- 1 Timothy 4:8for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come.
- Hebrews 13:9Be not carried away with various and strange doctrines; for [it is] good that the heart be confirmed with grace, not meats; those who have walked in which have not been profited by [them].
- James 2:18But 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.
- James 1:22But be ye doers of [the] word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.
- Matthew 5:20For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness surpass [that] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
- Matthew 7:21Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that does the will of my Father who is in the heavens.
- Luke 6:49And he that has heard and not done, is like a man who has built a house on the ground without [a] foundation, on which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the breach of that house was great.
- Acts 8:13And Simon also himself believed; and, having been baptised, continued constantly with Philip; and, beholding the signs and great works of power which took place, was astonished.
- Acts 15:9and put no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22If any one love not the Lord [Jesus Christ] let him be Anathema Maranatha.
- Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any force, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.
Commentaries on James 2:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14What doth it profit - though a man say he hath faith - We now come to a part of this epistle which has appeared to some eminent men to contradict other portions of the Divine records. In short, it has been thought that James teaches the doctrine of justification by the merit of good works, while Paul asserts this to be insufficient, and that man is justified by faith. Luther, supposing that James did actually teach the doctrine of justification by works…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith? - The apostle here returns to the subject adverted to in James 1:22-27, the importance of a practical attention to the duties of religion, and the assurance that men cannot be saved by a mere speculative opinion, or merely by holding correct sentiments. He doubtless had in his eye those who abused the doctrine of justification by faith, by holding that good works are unnecessary to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-26Verses 14-26 Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from this saving faith. A bare…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14If someone claims to have faith: James writes to Christians to urge them to actions that come from true faith. Paul teaches the same thing (see, for example, Galatians 5:6). But he often criticizes those who rely on actions to define their relationship with God (Romans 3:20, 28; 4:3–5; Galatians 2:16; 3:1–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. James here, passing from the particular case of "mercy" or "love" violated by "respect of persons," notwithstanding profession of the "faith of our Lord Jesus" (Jas 2:1), combats the Jewish tendency (transplanted into their Christianity) to substitute a lifeless, inoperative acquaintance with the letter of the law, for change of heart to practical holiness, as if justification could be thereby attained (Ro 2:3, 13, 23). It seems hardly likely but that…Read the comment
Topics related to James 2:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on James 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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