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

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:14

What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?If a man say he hath faith ... Here, at last, is that subjective trust/faith which is so frequently imported into New Testament passages. The word for "faith" here is exactly the one used in Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8, etc.; and the allegation that here is a pretended faith, or some inferior brand of faith, is absolutely illogical, there being no word in the apostolic writings regarding... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:15

If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?If a brother or sister ... one of you ... These words tied in with "my beloved brethren" in James 2:14, make it impossible to suppose that James was addressing some external theory. No, the problem addressed was exactly the one that exists today, namely, Christians supposing that "faith only"... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:17

Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. As Ward said, "Faith alone in James 2:24 and faith without works in James 2:26 correspond with what is said here."[30]Is dead in itself ... The dead do not do anything, the same being analogous with trust/faith without works. But is this not equivalent to the proposition that faith without works is not "real faith"? Indeed no. Is a dead body no longer a body? Is a dead body not real? Is a dead body different in nature from a living body?... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:14

James 2:14.— The Jews retained the highest reverence for their law, and would adhere to it as the method of justification or acceptance with God, even after the coming of the gospel of Christ. Whereas the apostles assured them, that faith, or the gospel method, was the only way in which they could hope for acceptance. Some of the JewishChristians,hearingfaithextolledso much above the law, seem to have wilfully misrepresented the design of the apostles, as if by faith they had meant no more than... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:17

James 2:17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, &c.— See the preceding note. St. Paul (says Dr. Heylin,) had used the term faith as it was understood in the Jewish schools; (and still in our own schools, where it is said, "Objectum formale fidei, est veritas prima;") and as our Lord often used it, particularly when he condemned the Pharisees for their neglect of it, though a principal point of their own law: but some Christian professors soon let go the primitive sense of the word, and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:14

14. James here, passing from the particular case of "mercy" or "love" violated by "respect of persons," notwithstanding profession of the "faith of our Lord Jesus" ( :-), combats the Jewish tendency (transplanted into their Christianity) to substitute a lifeless, inoperative acquaintance with the letter of the law, for change of heart to practical holiness, as if justification could be thereby attained (Romans 2:3; Romans 2:13; Romans 2:23). It seems hardly likely but that James had seen Paul's... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:15

15. The Greek is, "But if," &c.: the "But" taking up the argument against such a one as "said he had faith, and yet had not works," which are its fruits. a brother, &c.—a fellow Christian, to whom we are specially bound to give help, independent of our general obligation to help all our fellow creatures. be—The Greek implies, "be found, on your access to them." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:16

16. The habit of receiving passively sentimental impressions from sights of woe without carrying them out into active habits only hardens the heart. one of you—James brings home the case to his hearers individually. Depart in peace—as if all their wants were satisfied by the mere words addressed to them. The same words in the mouth of Christ, whose faith they said they had, were accompanied by efficient deeds of love. be . . . warmed—with clothing, instead of being as heretofore "naked" (James... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:17

17. faith . . . being alone—ALFORD joins "is dead in itself." So BENGEL, "If the works which living faith produces have no existence, it is a proof that faith itself (literally, 'in respect to itself') has no existence; that is, that what one boasts of as faith, is dead." "Faith" is said to be "dead in itself," because when it has works it is alive, and it is discerned to be so, not in respect to its works, but in respect to itself. English Version, if retained, must not be understood to mean... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:14

1. James’ assertion 2:14The Arminian interpretation of this verse (view one above) is as follows. If a person claims to be a Christian but gives no evidence of true faith by the way he lives, he may never have been saved or he may no longer be saved. One Reformed view (view two above) is that if a person claims to be a Christian but gives no evidence of true faith by the way he lives, he was never saved. [Note: For a response to advocates of lordship salvation that hold this position, see... read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:14

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:15

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:17

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:14

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:17

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:14

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:15

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:16

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:17

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:14

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