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Sunday, August 3rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

James 2:24

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abraham;   Faith;   Hypocrisy;   Religion;   Righteousness;   The Topic Concordance - Faith/faithfulness;   Justification;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Faith;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Faith;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Abraham;   Righteousness;   Romans, Theology of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Faith;   Justification;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Antinomianism;   James, the Letter;   Judgment Day;   Justification;   Obedience;   Salvation;   Works;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bible;   Canon of the New Testament;   Faith;   Games;   Idolatry;   James, Epistle of;   Justification, Justify;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abraham ;   Faith;   Formalism;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Harlot ;   James Epistle of;   Law;   Man;   Regeneration;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Faith,;   Works;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Faith;   How;   James, Epistle of;   Justification;   Poverty;   Work;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 29;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
King James Version (1611)
Ye see then, how that by workes a man is iustified, and not by faith only.
King James Version
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
English Standard Version
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
New American Standard Bible
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
New Century Version
So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Berean Standard Bible
As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
Contemporary English Version
You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.
Complete Jewish Bible
You see that a person is declared righteous because of actions and not because of faith alone.
Darby Translation
Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.
Easy-to-Read Version
So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Ye see then howe that of workes a man is iustified, and not of faith onely.
George Lamsa Translation
You see then, how a man by works becomes righteous, and not by faith only.
Good News Translation
You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.
Lexham English Bible
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Literal Translation
You see, then, that a man is justified out of works, and not out of faith only.
Amplified Bible
You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith].
American Standard Version
Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Bible in Basic English
You see that a man's righteousness is judged by his works and not by his faith only.
Hebrew Names Version
You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.
International Standard Version
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Etheridge Translation
Thou seest that by works man is justified, and not by faith alone.
Murdock Translation
Thou seest, that by works a man is justified, and not by faith alone.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ye see then, howe that of deedes a man is iustified, and not of fayth only.
English Revised Version
Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
World English Bible
You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Ye see then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Weymouth's New Testament
You all see that it is because of actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not simply because of faith.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ye seen that a man is iustified of werkis, and not of feith oneli.
Update Bible Version
You see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Webster's Bible Translation
Ye see then that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
New English Translation
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
New King James Version
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
New Living Translation
So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
New Life Bible
A man becomes right with God by what he does and not by faith only.
New Revised Standard
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Ye see that - by works, a man is declared righteous, and not by faith alone.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?
Revised Standard Version
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye se then how that of dedes a man is iustified and not of fayth only.
Young's Literal Translation
Ye see, then, that out of works is man declared righteous, and not out of faith only;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye se then how that of dedes a man is iustified, and not of faith only
Mace New Testament (1729)
you see then, that a man is accounted just for his actions, and not for his bare faith.
Simplified Cowboy Version
A cowboy is made right with God by putting his faith to work, not just by talkin' about it.

Contextual Overview

14Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? 18 I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. 19Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands? 21Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works? 25The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

James 2:15-18, James 2:21, James 2:22, Psalms 60:12

Reciprocal: Luke 10:29 - willing John 14:21 - that hath

Cross-References

Genesis 2:1
Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail.
Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day Because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done. This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created.
Genesis 2:10
A river flows out of Eden to water the garden and from there divides into four rivers. The first is named Pishon; it flows through Havilah where there is gold. The gold of this land is good. The land is also known for a sweet-scented resin and the onyx stone. The second river is named Gihon; it flows through the land of Cush. The third river is named Hiddekel and flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
Genesis 2:15
God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.
Genesis 2:16
God commanded the Man, "You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead."
Psalms 45:10
"Now listen, daughter, don't miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you. Be here—the king is wild for you. Since he's your lord, adore him. Wedding gifts pour in from Tyre; rich guests shower you with presents."
Proverbs 12:4
A hearty wife invigorates her husband, but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.
Proverbs 31:10
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of- God . Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,.... Not as causes procuring his justification, but as effects declaring it; for the best works are imperfect, and cannot be a righteousness justifying in the sight of God, and are unprofitable in this respect; for when they are performed in the best manner, they are no other than what it is a man's duty to perform, and therefore cannot justify from sin he has committed: and besides, justification in this sense would frustrate the grace of God, make void the death of Christ, and encourage boasting in men. Good works do not go before justification as causes or conditions, but follow it as fruits and effects:

and not by faith only: or as without works, or a mere historical faith, which being without works is dead, of which the apostle is speaking; and therefore can bear no testimony to a man's justification; hence it appears, that the Apostle James does not contradict the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:28 since they speak not of the same sort of faith; the one speaks of a mere profession of faith, a dead and lifeless one; the other of a true faith, which has Christ, and his righteousness, for its object, and works by love, and produces peace, joy, and comfort in the soul. Moreover, the Apostle Paul speaks of justification before God; and James speaks of it as it is known by its fruits unto men; the one speaks of a justification of their persons, in the sight of God; the other of the justification and approbation of their cause, their conduct, and their faith before men, and the vindication of them from all charges and calumnies of hypocrisy, and the like; the one speaks of good works as causes, which he denies to have any place as such in justification; and the other speaks of them as effects flowing from faith, and showing the truth of it, and so of justification by it; the one had to do with legalists and self-justiciaries, who sought righteousness not by faith, but by the works of the law, whom he opposed; and the other had to do with libertines, who cried up faith and knowledge, but had no regard to a religious life and conversation; and these things considered will tend to reconcile the two apostles about this business, but as effects declaring it; for the best works are imperfect, and cannot be a righteousness justifying in the sight of God, and are unprofitable in this respect; for when they are performed in the best manner, they are no other than what it is a man's duty to perform, and therefore cannot justify from sin he has committed: and besides, justification in this sense would frustrate the grace of God, make void the death of Christ, and encourage boasting in men. Good works do not go before justification as causes or conditions, but follow it as fruits and effects:

and not by faith only: or as without works, or a mere historical faith, which being without works is dead, of which the apostle is speaking; and therefore can bear no testimony to a man's justification; hence it appears, that the Apostle James does not contradict the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:28 since they speak not of the same sort of faith; the one speaks of a mere profession of faith, a dead and lifeless one; the other of a true faith, which has Christ, and his righteousness, for its object, and works by love, and produces peace, joy, and comfort in the soul. Moreover, the Apostle Paul speaks of justification before God; and James speaks of it as it is known by its fruits unto men; the one speaks of a justification of their persons, in the sight of God; the other of the justification and approbation of their cause, their conduct, and their faith before men, and the vindication of them from all charges and calumnies of hypocrisy, and the like; the one speaks of good works as causes, which he denies to have any place as such in justification; and the other speaks of them as effects flowing from faith, and showing the truth of it, and so of justification by it; the one had to do with legalists and self-justiciaries, who sought righteousness not by faith, but by the works of the law, whom he opposed; and the other had to do with libertines, who cried up faith and knowledge, but had no regard to a religious life and conversation; and these things considered will tend to reconcile the two apostles about this business.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ye see then - From the course of reasoning pursued, and the example referred to.

How that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only - Not by a cold, abstract, inoperative faith. It must be by a faith that shall produce good works, and whose existence will be shown to men by good works. As justification takes place in the sight of God, it is by faith, for he sees that the faith is genuine, and that it will produce good works if the individual who exercises faith shall live; and he justifies men in view of that faith, and of no other. If he sees that the faith is merely speculative; that it is cold and dead, and would not produce good works, the man is not justified in his sight. As a matter of fact, therefore, it is only the faith that produces good works that justifies; and good works, therefore, as the proper expression of the nature of faith, foreseen by God as the certain result of faith, and actually performed as seen by men, are necessary in order to justification. In other words, no man will be justified who has not a faith which will produce good works, and which is of an operative and practical character. The ground of justification in the case is faith, and that only; the evidence of it, the carrying it out, the proof of the existence of the faith, is good works; and thus men are justified and saved not by mere abstract and cold faith, but by a faith necessarily connected with good works, and where good works perform an important part. James, therefore, does not contradict Paul, but he contradicts a false explanation of Paul’s doctrine. He does not deny that a man is justified in the sight of God by faith, for the very passage which he quotes shows that he believes that; but he does deny that a man is justified by a faith which would not produce good works, and which is not expressed by good works; and thus he maintains, as Paul always did, that nothing else than a holy life can show that a man is a true Christian, and is accepted of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 24. Ye see then how — It is evident from this example that Abraham's faith was not merely believing that there is a God; but a principle that led him to credit God's promises relative to the future Redeemer, and to implore God's mercy: this he received, and was justified by faith. His faith now began to work by love, and therefore he was found ever obedient to the will of his Maker. He brought forth the fruits of righteousness; and his works justified-proved the genuineness of his faith; and he continued to enjoy the Divine approbation, which he could not have done had he not been thus obedient; for the Spirit of God would have been grieved, and his principle of faith would have perished. Obedience to God is essentially requisite to maintain faith. Faith lives, under God, by works; and works have their being and excellence from faith. Neither can subsist without the other, and this is the point which St. James labours to prove, in order to convince the Antinomians of his time that their faith was a delusion, and that the hopes built on it must needs perish.


 
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