Santiago 2:14, Santiago 2:18 NTV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:1-26

Warnings Against Respect of Persons. Belief and Practice1. Another instance of inconsistency. Jesus Christ the Lord of glory] better, ’Jesus Christ the glory,’ or ’the glorious one,’ One of the rare passages in which St. James breaks through his habitual reserve in speaking of the Master, and shows us something of his devotion to Christ. Such reserve was natural to a Jew. 2. In the Jewish-Christian Church the place for worship is still the synagogue (Hebrews 10:25). At first strangers would be... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 2:14

(14) What doth it (or, is the) profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?—Some allusion here is made most probably to the Shema, the Jewish creed, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4). It was the daily protest of the devout Israelite in the midst of idolaters, and the words of his morning and evening of life, as well as of the ordinary day. A similar utterance of faith is held to be the test of the true believer in Islam, when the two... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 2:14-26

(14-26) FAITH AND WORKS.—We now enter on the most debatable ground of the Epistle; a battle-field strewn with the bones and weapons of countless adversaries. It is an easy thing to shoot “arrows, even bitter words”; and without doubt, for what seemed to be the vindication of the right, many a hard blow has been dealt on either side—so many, indeed, that quiet Christian folk have no desire to hear of more. The plain assertions of holy Scripture on this matter are enough for them; and they... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 2:1-26

James 2:1 The sermon was chiefly occupied with proving that God is no respecter of persons; a mark of indubitable condescension in the clergyman, the rank in society which he could claim for himself duly considered. But, unfortunately, the church was so constructed, that its area contained three platforms of position, actually of differing level; the loftiest, in the chancel, on the right hand of the pulpit, occupied by the gentry; the middle, opposite the pulpit, occupied by the tulip-beds of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - James 2:14-26

Chapter 12FAITH AND WORKS: THREE VIEWS OF THE RELATION , OF THE TEACHING OF ST. JAMES TO THE TEACHING OF ST. PAUL-THE RELATION OF LUTHER TO BOTH.James 2:14-26"What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it have... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - James 2:1-26

II. THE ROYAL LAW: FAITH AND WORKS CHAPTER 2 1. The faith of Christ with respect to persons (James 2:1-5 ) 2. The royal law (James 2:6-13 ) 3. Faith must be manifested by works (James 2:14-26 ) James 2:1-5 Here we have the synagogue mentioned, sufficient evidence that these Jewish believers were still gathering together in the Jewish fashion, and were not an ecclesia, an assembly, gathered out. The Epistle to the Hebrews, written many years after the Epistle of James, exhorted them to... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - James 2:14

2:14 {8} What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?(8) The fifth place which follows very well with the former treatise, concerning a true and living faith. The proposition of the place is this: Faith which does not bring forth works is not that faith by means of which we are justified, but an false image of that faith, or else this: they who do not show the effects of faith are not justified by faith. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:1-26

The first 13 verses of this chapter form a second division of the book, dealing with the faith of Christ as being above all personal considerations, perfectly true and impartial. To mix the faith of Christ therefore with a partial respect for persons, is a matter here strongly reproved. For Christ is Lord of glory, and we answerable directly to Him, not to mere men, wealthy or otherwise. Verse 2 shows that Jewish believers were at that time still connected with the synagogue, for the word... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - James 2:1-26

RESPECT OF PERSONS ; FAITH AND WORKS We next have some admonition concerning respect of persons, or the relation of the rich and the poor (James 2:1 ; James 2:13 ). This would seem to be connected with the trials of the poor mentioned in chapter 1. It not infrequently happens that the people who complain of the abundance of the rich, are the most obsequious in their conduct, as if they expected something from them as a result. Perhaps it was so here. Or it may be, that this instruction... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - James 2:10-26

The Broken Law Jam 2:10-26 That seems to be hard. James is hard. He cuts like a diamond. Now and then he melts a little in his feeling, and then he says some gracious words; says indeed some of the most gracious words that can be found in the New Testament; then presently he straightens himself again as if he had never stooped to dry a tear. It seems unreasonable that, if a man be good in nine points, all the nine points should go for nothing because he is wrong or bad in the tenth point.... read more