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Text -- James 2:17 (NET)

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Context
2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Works | Righteousness | Religion | JUSTIFICATION | Hypocrisy | Faith | DISCREPANCIES, BIBLICAL | DEAD | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes


Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College

Other
Evidence

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Jam 2:17 - -- If it have not works ( ean mē echēi erga ). Another condition of the third class with ean and mē and the present active subjunctive of echo...

If it have not works ( ean mē echēi erga ).

Another condition of the third class with ean and mē and the present active subjunctive of echō , "if it keep on not having works."

Robertson: Jam 2:17 - -- In itself ( kath' heautēn ). In and of itself (according to itself), inwardly and outwardly dead (nekra ). Same idiom in Act 28:16; Rom 14:22. It ...

In itself ( kath' heautēn ).

In and of itself (according to itself), inwardly and outwardly dead (nekra ). Same idiom in Act 28:16; Rom 14:22. It is a dead faith.

Vincent: Jam 2:17 - -- Being alone ( καθ ' ἑαυτήν ) Wrong. Rev., correctly, in itself . The phrase belongs to dead. It is dead, not merely in referenc...

Being alone ( καθ ' ἑαυτήν )

Wrong. Rev., correctly, in itself . The phrase belongs to dead. It is dead, not merely in reference to something else, but absolutely.

Wesley: Jam 2:17 - -- So likewise that faith which hath not works is a mere dead, empty notion; of no more profit to him that hath it, than the bidding the naked be clothed...

So likewise that faith which hath not works is a mere dead, empty notion; of no more profit to him that hath it, than the bidding the naked be clothed is to him.

JFB: Jam 2:17 - -- ALFORD joins "is dead in itself." So BENGEL, "If the works which living faith produces have no existence, it is a proof that faith itself (literally, ...

ALFORD joins "is dead in itself." So BENGEL, "If the works which living faith produces have no existence, it is a proof that faith itself (literally, 'in respect to itself') has no existence; that is, that what one boasts of as faith, is dead." "Faith" is said to be "dead in itself," because when it has works it is alive, and it is discerned to be so, not in respect to its works, but in respect to itself. English Version, if retained, must not be understood to mean that faith can exist "alone" (that is, severed from works), but thus: Even so presumed faith, if it have not works, is dead, being by itself "alone," that is, severed from works of charity; just as the body would be "dead" if alone, that is, severed from the spirit (Jam 2:26). So ESTIUS.

Clarke: Jam 2:17 - -- If it hath not works, is dead - The faith that does not produce works of charity and mercy is without the living principle which animates all true f...

If it hath not works, is dead - The faith that does not produce works of charity and mercy is without the living principle which animates all true faith, that is, love to God and love to man. They had faith, such as a man has who credits a well-circumstanced relation because it has all the appearance of truth; but they had nothing of that faith that a sinner, convinced of his sinfulness, God’ s purity, and the strictness of the Divine laws, is obliged to exert in the Lord Jesus, in order to be saved from his sins.

Calvin: Jam 2:17 - -- 17.Is dead, being alone. He says that faith is dead, being by itself, that is, when destitute of good works. We hence conclude that it is indeed no f...

17.Is dead, being alone. He says that faith is dead, being by itself, that is, when destitute of good works. We hence conclude that it is indeed no faith, for when dead, it does not properly retain the name. The Sophists plead this expression and say, that some sort of faith is found by itself; but this frivolous caviling is easily refuted; for it is sufficiently evident that the Apostle reasons from what is impossible, as Paul calls an angel anathema, if he attempted to subvert the gospel. (Gal 1:8.)

TSK: Jam 2:17 - -- so : Jam 2:14, Jam 2:19, Jam 2:20,Jam 2:26; 1Co 13:3, 1Co 13:13; 1Th 1:3; 1Ti 1:5; 2Pe 1:5-9 alone : Gr. by itself

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Jam 2:15-17 - -- If a brother or sister be naked ... - The comparison in these verses is very obvious and striking. The sense is, that faith in itself, without ...

If a brother or sister be naked ... - The comparison in these verses is very obvious and striking. The sense is, that faith in itself, without the acts that correspond to it, and to which it would prompt, is as cold, and heartless, and unmeaning, and useless, as it would be to say to one who was destitute of the necessaries of life, depart in peace."In itself considered, it might seem to have something that was good; but it would answer none of the purposes of faith unless it should prompt to action. In the case of one who was hungry or naked, what he wanted was not good wishes or kind words merely, but the acts to which good wishes and kind words prompt. And so in religion, what is wanted is not merely the abstract state of mind which would be indicated by faith, but the life of goodness to which it ought to lead. Good wishes and kind words, in order to make them what they should be for the welfare of the world, should be accompanied with corresponding action. So it is with faith. It is not enough for salvation without the benevolent and holy acts to which it would prompt, any more than the good wishes and kind words of the benevolent are enough to satisfy the wants of the hungry, and to clothe the naked, without correspondent action. Faith is not and cannot be shown to be genuine, unless it is accompanied with corresponding acts; as our good wishes for the poor and needy can be shown to be genuine, when we have the means of aiding them, only by actually ministering to their necessities. In the one case, our wishes would be shown to be unmeaning and heartless; in the other, our faith would be equally so. In regard to this passage, therefore, it may be observed:

(1) That in fact faith is of no more value, and has no more evidence of genuineness when it is unaccompanied with good works, than such empty wishes for the welfare of the poor would be when unaccompanied with the means of relieving their wants. Faith is designed to lead to good works. It is intended to produce a holy life; a life of activity in the service of the Saviour. This is its very essence; it is what it always produces when it is genuine. Religion is not designed to be a cold abstraction; it is to be a living and vivifying principle.

\caps1 (2) t\caps0 here is a great deal of that kindness and charity in the world which is expressed by mere good wishes. If we really have not the means of relieving the poor and the needy, then the expression of a kind wish may be in itself an alleviation to their sorrows, for even sympathy in such a case is of value, and it is much to us to know that others feel for us; but if we have the means, and the object is a worthy one, then such expressions are mere mockery, and aggravate rather than soothe the feelings of the sufferer. Such wishes will neither clothe nor feed them; and they will only make deeper the sorrows which we ought to heal. But how much of this is there in the world, when the sufferer cannot but feel that all these wishes, however kindly expressed, are hollow and false, and when he cannot but feel that relief would be easy!

\caps1 (3) i\caps0 n like manner there is much of this same kind of worthless faith in the world - faith that is dead; faith that produces no good works; faith that exerts no practical influence whatever on the life. The individual professes indeed to believe the truths of the gospel; he may be in the church of Christ; he would esteem it a gross calumny to be spoken of as an infidel; but as to any influence which his faith exerts over him, his life would be the same if he had never heard of the gospel. There is not one of the truths of religion which is bodied forth in his life; not a deed to which he is prompted by religion; not an act which could not be accounted for on the supposition that he has no true piety. In such a case, faith may with propriety be said to be dead.

Being alone - Margin, "by itself."The sense is, "being by itself:"that is, destitute of any accompanying fruits or results, it shows that it is dead. That which is alive bodies itself forth, produces effects, makes itself visible; that which is dead produces no effect, and is as if it were not.

Poole: Jam 2:17 - -- Even so faith that which they boasted of, and called faith. Is dead void of that life, in which the very essence of faith consists, and which alway...

Even so faith that which they boasted of, and called faith.

Is dead void of that life, in which the very essence of faith consists, and which always discovers itself in vital actings and good fruits, where it is not hindered by some forcible impediment; in allusion to a corpse, which plainly appears to have no vital principle in it, all vital operations being ceased. It resembles a man’ s body, and is called so, but in reality is not so, but a dead carcass.

Being alone margin, by itself, or in itself; be it what it will, it is but dead: or, as we render it, being alone, i.e. not in conjunction with works, which always it should be.

Gill: Jam 2:17 - -- Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. It is like a lifeless carcass, a body without a soul, Jam 2:26 for as works, without faith,...

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. It is like a lifeless carcass, a body without a soul, Jam 2:26 for as works, without faith, are dead works, so faith, without works, is a dead faith, and not like the lively hope and faith of regenerated persons: and indeed, such who have no other faith than this are dead in trespasses and sins; not that works are the life of faith, or that the life of faith lies in, and flows from works; but, as Dr. Ames observes b, good works are second acts, necessarily flowing from the life of faith; to which may be added, and by these faith appears to be living, lively and active, or such who perform them appear to be true and living believers.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Jam 2:1-26 - --1 It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich, and to despise the poor brethren;13 rather we are to be loving and merciful;14 and n...

Maclaren: Jam 2:14-23 - --Faith Without Works What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sis...

MHCC: Jam 2:14-26 - --Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereb...

Matthew Henry: Jam 2:14-26 - -- In this latter part of the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare profession of the Christian faith, as if that would sa...

Barclay: Jam 2:14-17 - --The one thing that James cannot stand is profession without practice, words without deeds. He chooses a vivid illustration of what he means. Suppos...

Constable: Jam 2:1-26 - --III. Partiality and Vital Faith 2:1-26 "In the epistle of James, the Holy Spirit has given the church a commenta...

Constable: Jam 2:14-26 - --B. The Importance of Vital Faith 2:14-26 Some have seen this section as dealing with a new subject, the ...

Constable: Jam 2:17 - --3. James' restatement of his point 2:17 James was not saying that a person who responds to anoth...

College: Jam 2:1-26 - --JAMES 2 VII. JUDGING BY APPEARANCE (2:1-13) A. FAVORITISM (2:1-7) 1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favorit...

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Commentary -- Other

Evidence: Jam 2:17 Faith without works . A Christian farmer in western Kansas felt sure that God spoke to him to give his $40,000 hail insurance to missions. So, in fait...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: James (Book Introduction) THE EPISTLE OF JAMES BEFORE a.d. 50 By Way of Introduction The Author He claims to be James, and so the book is not anonymous. It is either ge...

JFB: James (Book Introduction) THIS is called by EUSEBIUS ([Ecclesiastical History, 2.23], about the year 330 A.D.) the first of the Catholic Epistles, that is, the Epistles intende...

JFB: James (Outline) INSCRIPTION: EXHORTATION ON HEARING, SPEAKING, AND WRATH. (Jam. 1:1-27) THE SIN OF RESPECT OF PERSONS: DEAD, UNWORKING FAITH SAVES NO MAN. (Jam. 2:1-...

TSK: James (Book Introduction) James, the son of Alphaeus, the brother of Jacob, and the near relation of our Lord, called also James the Less, probably because he was of lower stat...

TSK: James 2 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Jam 2:1, It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich, and to despise the poor brethren; Jam 2:13, rather we are to be ...

Poole: James 2 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 2

MHCC: James (Book Introduction) This epistle of James is one of the most instructive writings in the New Testament. Being chiefly directed against particular errors at that time brou...

MHCC: James 2 (Chapter Introduction) (Jam 2:1-13) All professions of faith are vain, if not producing love and justice to others. (Jam 2:14-26) The necessity of good works to prove the s...

Matthew Henry: James (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The General Epistle of James The writer of this epistle was not James the son of Zebedee; for he was pu...

Matthew Henry: James 2 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle condemns a sinful regarding of the rich, and despising the poor, which he imputes to partiality and injustice, and show...

Barclay: James (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTER OF JAMES James is one of the books which bad a very hard fight to get into the New Testament. Even when it did come to ...

Barclay: James 2 (Chapter Introduction) Respect Of Persons (Jam_2:1) The Peril Of Snobbery Within The Church (Jam_2:2-4) The Riches Of Poverty And The Poverty Of Riches (Jam_2:5-7) The R...

Constable: James (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical background The writer of this epistle was evidently the half-b...

Constable: James (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1 II. Trials and true religion 1:2-27 A. The v...

Constable: James James Bibliography Adamson, James B. The Epistle of James. New International Commentary on the New Testament se...

Haydock: James (Book Introduction) THE CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES, THE APOSTLE. __________ ON THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES. INTRODUCTION. The seven following Epistles have bee...

Gill: James (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JAMES This epistle is called "general", because not written to any particular person, as the epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philem...

Gill: James 2 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JAMES 2 In this chapter the apostle dissuades from a respect of persons, on account of outward circumstances; shows that the law is...

College: James (Book Introduction) FOREWORD I owe a debt of gratitude to many for assistance with this volume. John York and John Hunter are responsible for making me a part of the Co...

College: James (Outline) OUTLINE I. GREETING - 1:1 II. ENDURING TRIALS - 1:2-4 III. ASK FOR WISDOM - 1:5-8 IV. RICHES TEMPORARY - 1:9-11 V. TEMPTATION NOT FROM ...

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