James 2:20 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

²⁰ But will you acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without [good] deeds is useless?

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

²⁰ 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)

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

Common English Bible

²⁰ Are you so slow? Do you need to be shown that faith without actions has no value at all?

Catholic Public Domain Version

²⁰ So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:20 Cross References

Romans 1:21

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.

Romans 3:28

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].

Romans 9:20

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?”

Galatians 5:6

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].

Galatians 6:3

For any person who thinks he is someone [important], when he is really nothing, is self-deceived.

Colossians 2:8

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.

1 Timothy 1:6

Some people have strayed away from these things and have turned aside to useless discussions.

Titus 1:10

For there are many rebellious people, especially among the circumcision [i.e., the Jews], whose talk is useless and who deceive people.

James 1:26

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.

James 2:17

In the same way, if [your] faith does not have [good] deeds [to accompany it], it is dead, [because it stands] alone.

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without [good] deeds is dead.