James 2:18 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) But someone may say, “You have faith and I have [good] deeds.” [I reply], show me your faith without your [good] deeds, and I will show you my faith by my [good] deeds. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith. American Standard Version (1901) Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. Common English Bible Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. Catholic Public Domain Version Now someone may say: "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. |
But the person who has doubts about eating [a certain food] is self-condemned if he [goes ahead and] eats it, because his action is not based on faith [i.e., if he lacks the conviction that he is doing what is right]. And whatever is not done with such a conviction is a sin.
For we conclude that a person is made right with God by faith [in Christ], apart from [obedience to] the requirements of a law [or, the Law of Moses, See verse 20].
Even King David also spoke of the blessing experienced by the person who was considered righteous by God apart from doing good deeds.
Therefore, none of those who are in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus will be condemned.
But you [i.e., probably an objecting Jew] will say to me, “Why does God still find fault [with people]? For who can [successfully] resist what God wants to do?”
And if I have the [spiritual] gift of prophecy, and can understand all [of God’s] secret purposes, and have all knowledge; and if I have all [the supernatural] faith necessary to relocate mountains [See Matt. 17:20], but do not have love [for people], I am nothing.
Therefore, if any person is in [fellowship with] Christ, he is a new person. His old ways have passed away; now his ways have become new.
[So], since we have these promises [See 6:16-18], dear ones, we should purify ourselves from everything that pollutes [our] body and spirit while living lives completely separated [from sin], out of reverence for God.
For in [our relationship with] Christ neither the practice of circumcision nor refraining from its practice matters in any way; but [all that really matters is having a genuine] faith [in Christ] that causes us to work [for Him] out of a genuine love [for Him and others].
But the goal of this instruction is [to] love [God and people] from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.
In everything [you do], you should show that you are a [proper] example of doing good deeds. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
By [having] faith, Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with the disobedient [inhabitants of Jericho] because she welcomed the [twelve] spies in peace.
who, by [having] faith, conquered kingdoms, practiced what was right, and obtained what was promised [by God]. They shut the mouths of lions,
And unless one has faith, it is impossible for him to be pleasing to God, for the person who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
What good is it, my brothers [and sisters], if a person says he has faith but does not have [good] deeds? Can such faith save him?
Who [then] is the wise and understanding person among you? He should show by his good conduct [that he has] deeds of gentleness [stemming] from wisdom.