Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him [for their blessings]. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with [spiritual] darkness.
James 2:20 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) But will you acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without [good] deeds is useless? More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless? American Standard Version (1901) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? Common English Bible Are you so slow? Do you need to be shown that faith without actions has no value at all? Catholic Public Domain Version So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? |
Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him [for their blessings]. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with [spiritual] darkness.
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].
But who [do you think] you are, [you mere] man, to [attempt a] reply to God? Will the object formed [i.e., a clay pot] say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me this way?”
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].
For any person who thinks he is someone [important], when he is really nothing, is self-deceived.
Pay attention so that no one takes you [spiritually] captive through his philosophy and empty deception based on human tradition, according to the principles of the world and not according to Christ.
Some people have strayed away from these things and have turned aside to useless discussions.
For there are many rebellious people, especially among the circumcision [i.e., the Jews], whose talk is useless and who deceive people.
If anyone considers himself to be religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, this person is self-deceived and his religion is worthless.
In the same way, if [your] faith does not have [good] deeds [to accompany it], it is dead, [because it stands] alone.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without [good] deeds is dead.