James 2:14–17
James: faith without deeds is dead
Study it word by word14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it?
15If a brother or a sister is naked and lacking daily food,
16and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, but you do not give them the things needed for the body, what good is it?
17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
In its context
12So speak and so act as those who are about to be judged by the law of freedom.
13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
…
18But someone will say: You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder.
Its words in the original
- ὄφελοςophelos· benefit, use
Benefit, use, profit.
- ἀδελφοίadelphoi· brother
Brother. Also a close relative, a fellow countryman and, among believers, a brother in the faith.
- πίστινpistin· faith
Faith: firm trust in God; also faithfulness.
- λέγῃlegēi· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ἔχεινechein· have
Have, possess, hold.
- ἔργαerga· work
Work, deed, what someone does.
- δύναταιdynatai· can, be able
Can, be able.
- σῶσαιsōsai· save
Save, rescue from danger or death; also heal from an illness.
- ἀδελφὴadelphē· sister
Sister.
- γυμνοὶgymnoi· naked
Naked; also poorly clothed.
- ὑπάρχωσινhyparchōsin· be, exist
Be, exist, be present; "what one has", one's possessions.
- λειπόμενοιleipomenoi· lack
Lack, be lacking; in the passive, be in need, fall short.
- ἐφημέρουephēmerou· daily
Daily, for the day: enough for one day.
- τροφῆςtrophēs· food
Food, nourishment.
- ὙπάγετεHypagete· go away
Go away, leave; "go!".
- εἰρήνῃeirēnēi· peace
Peace: the wholeness and well-being God gives; as a greeting, "peace to you".
- θερμαίνεσθεthermainesthe· warm oneself
Warm oneself.
- χορτάζεσθεchortazesthe· feed, satisfy
Satisfy, feed until full.
- δῶτεdōte· give
Give.
- ἐπιτήδειαepitēdeia· necessary, needed
Necessary, needed; "what is needed", the necessities.
- σώματοςsōmatos· body
Body.
- νεκράnekra· dead
Dead.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.