James 2:26

Modern

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Traditional

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Literal

For just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Latin

Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.

Greek

English

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Good works are as essential to faith as breathing is to a body (Genesis 2:7). We need both together.

James shows through Scripture that true faith is shown through actions.

James explains why Christians should care about how God will judge their actions (2:12–13): Good deeds must accompany true faith (see 1:22–25).

Theme notes and profiles

James 2:20
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
James 2:17
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Ecclesiastes 12:7
…before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Psalm 104:29
When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.
Job 34:14–15
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
Acts 7:59–60
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Luke 23:46
Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
Isaiah 2:22
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
Psalm 146:4
When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.