Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 2:18

"Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from [thy] works, and I by my works will show thee [my] faith." — James 2:18 (ASV)

James next proceeds to develop the argument in support of his proposition. His first point is that deeds are necessary to prove that a person has faith. The problem of identifying the persons referred to by the pronouns “you” and “I” is not easily resolved. Perhaps it is best to paraphrase the quotation as follows: “One person has faith; another has deeds.” The statement then becomes an assertion that faith and works are not necessarily related to each other and that it is possible to have either one without the other. To this assertion James responds with a challenge: “Show me your faith without deeds.” He implies that faith cannot be demonstrated apart from action. It is an attitude of the inner person, and it can only be seen as it influences the actions of the one who possesses it. Mere profession of faith proves nothing as to its reality. Hence James declares, “I will show you my faith by what I do.”