James 2:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 2:14-26

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. To let them see, therefore, what a wretched foundation they built their hopes upon, it is here proved at large that a man is justified, not by faith only, but by works. Now, I. Upon this arises a very great... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 2:14-26

2:14-26 My brothers, what use is it if a man claims to have faith and has no deeds to show? Are you going to claim that his faith is able to save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear, and if they have not enough for their daily food, and if one of you says to them, "Go in peace! Be warmed and fed!" and yet does not give them the essentials of bodily existence, what use is that? So, if faith too has no deeds to show, by itself it is dead. But someone may well say, "Have you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:20

But wilt thou know, O vain man ,.... These are the words of the apostle reassuming the argument, that faith without works is dead, useless, and unprofitable; and the man that boasts of his faith, and has no works to show it, he calls a "vain man", an empty one, sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal; empty vessels make the greatest sound; such are proud boasters, vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind; but are empty of the true knowledge of God, and of the faith of Christ, and of the grace of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:20

But wilt thou know - Art thou willing to be instructed in the nature of true saving faith? Then attend to the following examples. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:20

Verse 20 20But wilt thou know. We must understand the state of the question, for the dispute here is not respecting the cause of justification, but only what avails a profession of faith without works, and what opinion we are to form of it. Absurdly then do they act who strive to prove by this passage that man is justified by works, because James meant no such thing, for the proofs which he subjoins refer to this declaration, that no faith, or only a dead faith, is without works. No one will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

WARNING AGAINST RESTING CONTENT WITH A MERE BARREN ORTHODOXY . Preliminary note : This is the famous passage which led to Luther's depreciation of the whole Epistle, which he termed a "right strawy" one. At first sight it appears, indeed, diametrically opposed to the teaching of St. Paul; for: St. James refers to her as an example of justification by works (verse 25). The opposition, however, is only apparent; for: (a) That the object of the much-vaunted faith of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

Faith and works. I. THE HOLLOWNESS OF PROFESSION WITHOUT PRACTICE ; of a mere orthodox creed without the deeds of love, which are as the fruits by which the tree is known. There is no reason to think that the Pharisee of the one parable was unorthodox, or that Dives in another was a heretic; but the faith of each of these was worthless, because not a "faith which worketh by love." The good Samaritan was a stranger and an alien, but did by nature the deeds of the Law; and thus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

Faith and works. The supposed antagonism between Paul and James. Misapprehension. Paul's great argument is that, not by seeking to fulfill an impossible righteousness do we make ourselves just before God, but by acknowledging our sin and accepting his salvation. James's argument is, that the very faith which saves us is a faith which brings forth after-fruits, or it is not true faith at all. So, then, the "works" to which the one refers are works done with a view to salvation, that God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:20

Faith without works is dead . The Received Text, followed by the A.V., reads νεκρά , with א , A, C 3 , K, L, Syriac, Vulgate (Clementine). The Revisers, following B, C 1 , if, read ἀργή , "barren" (so Vulgate Amiat. by a correction, otiosa ) . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:20-24

(3) Third point : Proof from the example of Abraham that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. In Genesis 15:6 we read of Abraham that "he believed in the Lord; and he accounted it to him for righteousness" ( LXX ., ἐπίστευσεν αβραμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην , quoted by St. Paul in Romans 4:3 ; Galatians 3:6 ). But years after this we find that God "tested Abraham" ( Genesis 22:1 ). To this trial St. James refers as that by which... read more

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