James Chapter 2 — Commentary on Verse 26

    As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

    Here the apostle concludes the whole argument, showing how little is to be ascribed to an empty profession of faith without works. It is like the body without the spirit of life.

    Asthebodywithoutthespirit. In the [KingJames] margin we read breath, in the [NIV] text spirit. Many people prefer the marginal reading, because it is not “as the body without the soul,” but asthebodywithoutthespirit or breath. Cajetan is of this opinion, and his words are notable because they fully accord with Protestant teaching. “By spirit,” he says, “is not meant the soul, but the breath; for as the body of a beast is dead when it does not breathe, so faith without works is dead, breathing being the effect of life, as working is of living faith. So it is clear what the apostle means when he says that faith is dead without works, not that works are the soul of faith, but that works are the companions of faith, as breathing is inseparable from life.” By this exposition, their doctrine that charity is the soul of faith and their distinction between unformed and formed faith fall to the ground. However, I think the Greek word in the text is not to be translated “breath” but spirit or “soul,” the substance that gives life and movement to the body, for this is what the word means elsewhere: “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46); “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59).

    The meaning is, then, that faith without works is like a body without a soul. And yet it does not follow that charity or works are the soul of faith, for the comparison does not hold in regard to animation but in regard to operation. As in the body without a soul there is only the outward shape but nothing to show life, so in empty profession of faith there is some appearance of faith, but no fruits to demonstrate its truth and life. It differs as much from faith as a carcass does from a living man.

    Is dead. That is, it cannot perform the functions of life or of a man.

    Sofaithwithoutdeeds. The Roman Catholics understand this to mean true, justifying faith. But dead faith cannot be true faith, just as a carcass is not a true man; and a true faith cannot be without works (see Galatians 5:6). We must understand this, then, to mean an external profession of belief, which because of some resemblance to what is true is called faith.

    Is dead. That is, false or useless to all the ends and purposes of faith.

    Notes on Verse 26

    For practical notes, see verses 17 and 20. Here only note that mere profession, in respect to true faith, is only like a carcass. It is so in two respects:

    (1)      It is noisome like a rotten carcass, just as a worldly Christian is the carcass of a true Christian. When those who claim to be Christians but are worldly come near to Christ, he goes further off, as you would from what is offensive: “Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:23). He cannot endure their presence.

    (2)      It is useless for all the purposes of faith. It cannot unite you to Christ so that you may possess his righteousness, nor give you a feeling of his Spirit. In short, it brings no glory to God and gives no comfort to the person who has it, nor any benefit to others; it is of no more use than a dead body when the spirit has gone.