James 2:14

Faith and Works Together

2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, ¹  if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith ²  save him? ³ 

James 3:13

True Wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. ⁴ 

James 3:17

3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, ⁵  full of mercy and good fruit, ⁶  impartial, and not hypocritical. ⁷ 

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¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

² tn Grk “the faith,” referring to the kind of faith just described: faith without works. The article here is anaphoric, referring to the previous mention of the noun πίστις (pisti") in the verse. See ExSyn 219.

³ sn The form of the question in Greek expects a negative answer.

⁴ tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”

⁵ tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”

⁶ tn Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”

⁷ tn Or “sincere.”