New American Standard Bible 2020
James 2:20
James 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- New International Version (NIV)You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
- New King James Version (NKJV)But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Context of James 2:20
18But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
Read all of James 2James 2:20 word by word
θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ, ὅτι ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν;Read the interlinear
Cross-references for James 2:20
- James 1:26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
- Job 11:11For He knows false people, And He sees injustice without investigating.
- Psalms 94:8Pay attention, you stupid ones among the people; And when will you understand, foolish ones?
- Proverbs 12:11One who works his land will have plenty of bread, But one who pursues worthless things lacks sense.
- Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty?
- Romans 1:21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
- 1 Corinthians 15:35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”
- Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- Colossians 2:8See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.
- 1 Timothy 1:6Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
- James 2:14What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
Commentaries on James 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But wilt thou know - Art thou willing to be instructed in the nature of true saving faith? Then attend to the following examples.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20But wilt thou know - Will you have a full demonstration of it; will you have the clearest proof in the case. The apostle evidently felt that the instances to which he was about to refer, those of Abraham and Rahab, were decisive. O vain man - The reference by this language is to a man who held an opinion that could not be defended. The word “vain” here used ( kene) means properly “empty,” as opposed to “full” - as empty hands, having nothing in them; then…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. 20-26James shows through Scripture that true faith is shown through actions.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. wilt thou know--"Vain" men are not willing to know, since they have no wish to "do" the will of God. James beseeches such a one to lay aside his perverse unwillingness to know what is palpable to all who are willing to do. vain--who deceivest thyself with a delusive hope, resting on an unreal faith. without works--The Greek, implies separate from the works [Alford] which ought to flow from it if it were real. is dead--Some of the best manuscripts…Read the comment
Topics related to James 2:20
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. James 2:20 Rom 9:20; 1 Cor 15:36 ↩
- 2. James 2:20 Gal 5:6; James 2:17, 26 ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries