James 2:14-26

James 2:14-26

[14] What  doth it profit,  brethren,  though  a man  say  he hath  faith,  and  have  not  works?  can  faith  save  him?  [15] If  a brother  or  sister  be  naked,  and  destitute  of daily  food,  [16] And  one  of  say  unto them,  Depart  in  peace,  be ye warmed  and  filled;  notwithstanding  ye give  them  not  those things which are needful  to the body;  what  doth it profit?  [17] Even  so  faith,  it hath  works,  dead,  being alone.  [18] Yea,  a man  may say,  Thou  hast  faith,  and I  have  works:  shew  faith  without  works,  and I  will shew  faith  by  works.  [19] Thou  believest  that  one  God;  thou doest  well:  the devils  also  believe,  and  tremble.  [20] But  wilt  thou know,  O  vain  man,  that  faith  without  works  [21] not  Abraham  father  justified  by  works,  when he had offered  Isaac  his  son  upon  the altar?  [22] Seest thou  how  faith  wrought  with his  works,  and  by  works  faith  made perfect?  [23] And  the scripture  was fulfilled  which saith,  Abraham  believed  God,  and  it was imputed  unto him  for  righteousness:  and  he was called  the Friend  of God.  [24] Ye see  how that  by  works  a man  is justified,  and  not  by  faith  only.  [25] Likewise  also  not  Rahab  the harlot  justified  by  works,  when she had received  the messengers,  and  had sent them out  another  way?  [26] For  as  the body  without  the spirit  dead,  so  faith  without  works  dead  also. 

What does James 2:14-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some have seen this section as dealing with a new subject, the relationship of faith and works, whereas the previous one dealt with partiality ( James 2:1-13). It seems to me and to others, however, that this section relates to the preceding one in the same way James 1:19-27 relates to James 1:2-18. It deals with a larger, more basic issue that connects with and underlies the practical problem just discussed.
"In this section St. James proceeds to enlarge on the meaning and nature of that faith in Jesus Christ which was spoken of in James 2:1 as inconsistent with prosopolempsia [1]." [2]
In his discussion of favoritism James argued for genuineness and warned of superficial self-deception. The larger issue is the whole matter of faith in God. James wrote this section to challenge his readers to examine the vitality of their faith in God. Were they really putting their faith into practice, applying their beliefs to their behavior? Their preferential treatment of some people raised this question in James" mind.
"Not only is the mature Christian patient in testing ( James 1), but he also practices the truth. This is the theme of James 2. Immature people talk about their beliefs, but the mature person lives his faith. Hearing God"s Word ( James 1:22-25) and talking about God"s Word can never substitute for doing God"s Word." [3]
There have been three primary interpretations of this passage of Scripture. The first view is that it refers to a person who was a believer but has lost his salvation. He used to have saving faith but does not have it any longer. This is the view of most Arminians. The second view is that it refers to an unbeliever who professes to be a Christian but has never really exercised saving faith in Christ. His faith is only intellectual assent to gospel truth, not saving faith. [4] One advocate of this interpretation wrote, "His [5] contrast is between two kinds of faith: one that saves and one that doesn"t." [5] The third view is that it refers to a believer who is not living by faith. He is not behaving consistently with what he believes. [7] The first two views say this passage describes unbelievers whereas the third view says it describes believers. By examining the passage we should be able to decide which view is correct.