Logos Bible Study

James 2:14–17

New American Standard Bible (1995)Other versions

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Faith and Works

14aWhat use is it, bmy brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can 1that faith save him?

15aIf a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

16and one of you says to them, “aGo in peace, 1be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

17Even so afaith, if it has no works, is 1dead, being by itself.

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Footnotes

  1. 1Lit the
  2. 1Or warm yourselves and fill yourselves
  3. 1Or dead by its own standards

Cross references

  1. aJames 1:22ff
  2. bJames 1:16
  3. aMatt 25:35f; Luke 3:11
  4. a1 John 3:17f
  5. aGal 5:6; James 2:20, 26

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?

If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

NLTNew Living Translation

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says that he has faith but does not have works? That faith is not able to save him, is it? If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacking food for the day, and one of you should say to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what is the benefit? Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

KJV 1900King James Version

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.