james-2:14-17,-1-john-3:11-18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:14

Verse 14 14What doth it profit. He proceeds to commend mercy. And as he had threatened that God would be a severe Judge to us, and at the same time very dreadful, except we be kind and merciful towards our neighbors, and as on the other hand hypocrites objected and said, that faith is sufficient to us, in which the salvation of men consists, he now condemns this vain boasting. The sum, then, of what is said is, that faith without love avails nothing, and that it is therefore wholly dead. But... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:15

Verse 15 15If a brother, or, For if a brother. He takes an example from what was connected with his subject; for he had been exhorting them to exercise the duties of love. If any one, on the contrary, boasted that he was satisfied with faith without works, he compares this shadowy faith to the saying of one who bids a famished man to be filled without supplying him with the food of which he is destitute. As, then, he who sends away a poor man with words, and offers him no help, treats him with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:17

Verse 17 17Is dead, being alone. He says that faith is dead, being by itself, that is, when destitute of good works. We hence conclude that it is indeed no faith, for when dead, it does not properly retain the name. The Sophists plead this expression and say, that some sort of faith is found by itself; but this frivolous caviling is easily refuted; for it is sufficiently evident that the Apostle reasons from what is impossible, as Paul calls an angel anathema, if he attempted to subvert the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14

Omit the article (with B, C 1 ), and read τί ὀφελος : so also in James 2:16 . Can faith save him! rather, with R.V., that faith ( ἡ πίστις ); the faith in question. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-17

(1) First point : Faith without works is equivalent to profession without practice, and is therefore dead. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-19

Works the test of faith. God has joined faith and works together; but perverse human nature will insist upon putting them asunder. In the apostolic age, Paul met with many people who made works everything, to the neglect of faith; and James met with others who made faith everything, to the neglect of works.. In our time, too, multitudes outside the Church are saying that good conduct is the one thing needful, while orthodoxy of creed is comparatively unimportant. "For modes of faith let... 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 2:15-16

Observe the practical character of the illustration chosen, from works of mercy (cf. James 1:27 ). ωσι in James 2:15 should be deleted (omitted by B, C, K); also the disjunctive particle δὲ at the commencement of the verse (with א , B). read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:17

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-17

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-19

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:14-26

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:15-16

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