Discovery BoxJames 2:18 
Context2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” 1 Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by 2 my works.
James 3:1
Context3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, 3 because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 4
James 4:1
Context4:1 Where do the conflicts and where 5 do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, 6 from your passions that battle inside you? 7
James 4:14
Context4:14 You 8 do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? 9 For you are a puff of smoke 10 that appears for a short time and then vanishes.
1 tn There is considerable doubt about where the words of the “someone” end and where James’ reply begins. Some see the quotation running to the end of v. 18; others to the end of v. 19. But most punctuate as shown above. The “someone” is then an objector, and the sense of his words is something like, “Some have faith; others have works; don’t expect everyone to have both.” James’ reply is that faith cannot exist or be seen without works.
2 tn Or “from.”
3 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
4 tn Grk “will receive a greater judgment.”
5 tn The word “where” is repeated in Greek for emphasis.
6 tn Grk “from here.”
7 tn Grk “in your members [i.e., parts of the body].”
8 tn Grk “who” (continuing the description of the people of v. 13). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
9 tn Or “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”
10 tn Or “a vapor.” The Greek word ἀτμίς (atmis) denotes a swirl of smoke arising from a fire (cf. Gen 19:28; Lev 16:13; Joel 2:30 [Acts 2:19]; Ezek 8:11).
