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But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
Verse Takeaways
1
The 'Empty' Believer
Commentators explain that when James addresses the "vain man," he uses a Greek word meaning "empty." This describes someone whose profession of faith is hollow and spiritually deficient. They lack true understanding because they fail to grasp that a faith that does nothing is useless for salvation. It's a blunt term for a foolish and indefensible position.
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James
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
But wilt thou know. Will you have a full demonstration of it; will you have the clearest proof in the case? The apostle evidently felt tha…
But wilt thou know? (θελεις δε γνωναι?). "But dost thou wish to know?" Ingressive aorist active infinitive of γινοσκω (come to kno…
19th Century
Anglican
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?—“Vain,” that is, empty and useless. Some copies have a …
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James introduces the next argument in support of his proposition (v.17) with the question “Do you want evidence?” His manner of addressing his imag…
16th Century
Protestant
But wilt thou know. We must understand the state of the question, for the dispute here is not concerning the cause of justification, but o…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But wilt thou know, O vain man These are the words of the apostle reassuming the argument, that faith without works is dead, useles…
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Those who substitute a mere intellectual belief in the gospel for the entirety of evangelical religion, as many do today, are mistaken. Undoubtedly…
