Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

James 2:14

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works?+ That faith cannot save him, can it?+

James 2:14

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 14 Τί What ὄφελος, benefit, ἀδελφοί brothers μου, of me, ἐὰν if ever πίστιν faith λέγῃ may be saying τις someone ἔχειν to be having ἔργα works δὲ but μὴ not ἔχῃ; he may be having? μὴ Not δύναται is able ἡ the πίστις faith σῶσαι to save αὐτόν; him?

James 2:14

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith+ but he does not have works?+ That faith cannot save him, can it?+

James 2:14

The Bible in Living English
- 14 What is the use, my brothers, if one says he has faith, but does not have deeds? can faith save him?

James 2:14

American Standard Version
- 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?

James 2:14

The Emphasized Bible
- 14 What profit, my brethren,—If one should be saying he hath faith but hath not works Can his faith save him?

James 2:14

King James Version
- 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James Study Notes—Chapter 2

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 2:14
  
  That faith cannot save him, can it?: James knows, of course, that Christians are “saved through faith”—that they cannot please God without it. (Eph 2:8; Heb 11:6 and study note) Here, though, James stresses that genuine faith is always accompanied by works, examples of which are found in the next two verses. Without such works, James says, a Christian’s faith would be “dead,” or “useless.” (Jas 2:15-17, 20) Some have claimed that James’ words contradict what Paul said about Christians being “declared righteous by faith” rather than “works of law.” (Ro 3:28; Ga 2:16) Actually, James’ teaching on faith harmonizes with that of Paul, who likewise taught that genuine faith shows itself in actions. (Eph 2:10; Heb 11:1, 4, 7-9, 17, 24-28, 31) Paul stressed that Christians must exercise faith in Jesus Christ and obey “the law of the Christ”; this is essential for salvation. (Ga 6:2; 2Ti 3:15) However, Paul also warned against those who insisted that Christians must still have the kind of “works” that were now worthless—those performed in obedience to the outdated Mosaic Law code. (Ro 3:20) So James’ forceful explanation here—that genuine faith must be accompanied by Christian works—is a vital complement to the teachings of Paul.