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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
2:14-26 Faith without Works Is Dead. James continues the theme that hearing/faith must lead to doing/works. Although it may seem as if James is contradicting Paul's "by grace you have been saved through faith . . . not a result of works" (Eph. 2:8-9), in reality there is no dichotomy between faith and works, for Paul and James would agree that the basis of salvation is grace alone through faith, with works not the basis but the necessary result thereof (Eph. 2:10).
2:14-17 Faith without Works. Faith that is not accompanied by action is useless and dead, unable to save.
2:14 What good . . . ? The form of the question indicates that a negative answer (i.e., "no good") is expected. The Greek particle mē at the beginning of the next question (Can that faith save him?) shows that James again expects a negative answer. If someone says he has faith but lacks the resulting evidential works, one must doubt that he has been saved. James is not implying that even genuine faith is the basis of salvation; rather, it is the means and instrument by which one is saved (see Eph. 2:8-9).
2:15-16 An illustration of what faith without works looks like in everyday life. In itself the phrase Go in peace, be warmed and filled is a pious wish and prayer for the welfare of the poor, but in reality it is a cop-out, masking a refusal to help the person in need. There is no good (Gk. ophelos, "profit, honor") in such a prayer. "What good is it?" frames vv. 14-16.
