19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [a]dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works (A)when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see (B)that faith was working together with his works, and by (C)works faith was made [b]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, (D)“Abraham believed God, and it was [c]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called (E)the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:20 NU useless
  2. James 2:22 complete
  3. James 2:23 credited

19 You believe that [a](A)God is one. (B)You do well; (C)the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, (D)you foolish person, that (E)faith without works is useless? 21 (F)Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that (G)faith was working with his works, and [b]as a result of the (H)works, faith was [c]perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “(I)And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a (J)friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:19 One early ms there is one God
  2. James 2:22 Or by the deeds
  3. James 2:22 Or completed

19 You believe that [a]God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]!(A) 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]?(B) 22 You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience]. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God.(C) 24 You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith].

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:19 A reference to the Shema, the Jewish confession of faith.

19 You believe that there is one God.(A) Good! Even the demons believe that(B)—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?(C) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(D) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(E) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(F) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b](G) and he was called God’s friend.(H) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
  2. James 2:23 Gen. 15:6

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

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

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

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