James 2:20

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 12:11 : 11 The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense.
  • Gal 5:6 : 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight– the only thing that matters is faith working through love.
  • Rom 1:21 : 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.
  • Jas 2:26 : 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
  • Gal 6:3 : 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
  • Col 2:8 : 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
  • 1 Tim 1:6 : 6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.
  • Titus 1:10 : 10 For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,
  • Jas 1:26 : 26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
  • Jas 2:17 : 17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.
  • Jer 2:5 : 5 This is what the Lord says:“What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.
  • Job 11:11-12 : 11 For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? 12 But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.
  • Ps 94:8-9 : 8 Take notice of this, you ignorant people! You fools, when will you ever understand? 9 Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see? 10 Does the one who disciplines the nations not punish? He is the one who imparts knowledge to human beings! 11 The LORD knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt.
  • 1 Cor 15:35-36 : 35 The Resurrection Body But someone will say,“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Jas 2:14-19
    6 verses
    89%

    14Faith and Works Together What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?

    15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,

    16and one of you says to them,“Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?

    17So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.

    18But someone will say,“You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.

    19You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that– and tremble with fear.

  • Jas 2:24-26
    3 verses
    87%

    24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

    25And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

    26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

  • Jas 2:21-22
    2 verses
    80%

    21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

    22You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.

  • Rom 4:2-6
    5 verses
    73%

    2For if Abraham was declared righteous by works, he has something to boast about– but not before God.

    3For what does the scripture say?“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

    4Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.

    5But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.

    6So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

  • Rom 3:27-28
    2 verses
    72%

    27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!

    28For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.

  • Eph 2:8-9
    2 verses
    72%

    8For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

    9it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

  • Jas 1:22-23
    2 verses
    71%

    22But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

    23For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.

  • Gal 2:16
    70%

    16yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

  • Titus 1:16
    70%

    16They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

  • Gal 3:4-6
    3 verses
    69%

    4Have you suffered so many things for nothing?– if indeed it was for nothing.

    5Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

    6Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,

  • Heb 11:6
    69%

    6Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

  • Gal 3:11-12
    2 verses
    69%

    11Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.

    12But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.

  • Titus 3:8
    68%

    8Summary of the Letter This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.

  • Jas 1:26
    68%

    26If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

  • John 6:28-29
    2 verses
    68%

    28So then they said to him,“What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?”

    29Jesus replied,“This is the deed God requires– to believe in the one whom he sent.”

  • Jas 1:7
    68%

    7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

  • 1 Cor 15:36
    68%

    36Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies.

  • Jas 1:3
    67%

    3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

  • Hab 2:4
    67%

    4Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness.

  • Jas 1:20
    67%

    20For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

  • Gal 5:6
    67%

    6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight– the only thing that matters is faith working through love.

  • Gal 6:3
    67%

    3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

  • Rom 1:17
    67%

    17For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written,“The righteous by faith will live.”

  • Rom 2:13
    67%

    13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.

  • Eph 2:1
    66%

    1New Life Individually And although you were dead in your offenses and sins,

  • Rom 11:6
    66%

    6And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

  • Rom 2:6
    66%

    6He will reward each one according to his works:

  • Titus 3:14
    66%

    14Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.

  • Rom 2:3
    66%

    3And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment?

  • Heb 10:38
    66%

    38But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.

  • Rom 3:3
    66%

    3What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?