A New Reading of James 2:17-26
The Jonathan Mitchell New Testament
By Jonathan Mitchell

The earliest NT Greek manuscripts seldom had punctuation. Consult this passage in the Concordant Greek Text, which is a facsimile of Codex Sinaiticus, or search for a photo of this manuscript. Many verses can be understood as either a statement, or a question. In this passage from the Epistle of James, chapter 2, the conventional translations seem to conflict with verses in Romans 4 and Hebrews 11. Where Jas. 2:21 is commonly rendered as a question, I have rendered it as a statement. Verse 24 I rendered as a rhetorical question. Likewise I have made 2:25 to be a statement, and thus it now agrees with Heb. 11:31.

This short post will simply present my rendering of Jas. 2:17-26 for your consideration. I think that you will observe that it can really show a different understanding of what James was teaching, in this passage:

17. Thus also [is] The Faithfulness (or: this trust, conviction, and loyalty): if it should not continue to have works (include actions; possess deeds; have employment), by itself it exists being dead (or: is lifeless; = is unresurrected) in correspondence to, and in the sphere of, and along the line and degree of, itself.

18. In contrast, someone will proceed saying, "You continuously have (hold) faith, and I continuously have (or: possess) works (actions; deeds). You at once show me (exhibit to my eyes) your faith apart from the works or actions, and I, forth from out of the midst of my actions, works and deeds, will continue showing (exhibiting to) you the faith, trust, conviction, loyalty and The Faithfulness." [cf Mat. 25:34-40; Heb. 11:1-12:3]

19. You continuously believe (or: trust; are convinced) that God is One (or: that God exists being One; that One exists being God; or: that there is one God). [Deut. 6:4] You are performing (doing) beautifully (excellently; ideally) - even the demons (or: and those [demonic people]; [note: a Hellenistic concept and term: = animisticly influenced, or psychologically distorted]) continuously believe (or: presently trust; are constantly loyal; are normally convinced [about this]; [cf Lu. 4:33-35; Acts 19:15]), and constantly shudder (bristle; shiver; are ruffled).

[comment: in this last phrase Jacob is either making an ontological statement about "demons," or he is using sarcasm, referring in a derogatory manner to the Jews who also believe this; Jesus used the term diablos (devil; one who thrusts-through folks) to refer to Judas in John 6:70; He used the term satan when speaking to Peter in Mark 8:33; this phrase could also refer to the superstitious mindsets of folks who have believed Jewish or pagan myths, or have accepted Hellenistic, animistic influences into their thinking]

20. But are you willing to experientially and intimately know and receive insight, O empty person, that the faith, trust and loyalty, apart from the works and actions, exists being inactive (continues unproductive; [p74 reads: empty; without contents; other MSS: is dead])? [cf Gal. 5:6b]

21. Our father Abraham was not placed within the Way pointed out (made fair; put in right relationship; rightwised; made a just one; also: = placed in covenant) from out of works, when offering up his son Isaac upon the altar! [cf Gen. 22:8-18; Rom. 4:9-22; Heb. 11:17]

22. Are you normally seeing that the faith, trust and loyalty continued to synergistically work together with his actions and works, and then, forth from out of the actions (or: works), this faith (trust, loyalty and conviction) was brought to its goal (was perfected; was matured; was finished)? [cf Heb. 11:8-12, 17-19]

23. And thus the Scripture was made full, the one saying, "Now Abraham believed (or: put trust and confidence) in God (or: became persuaded by God; adhered to God), and he was counted into the Way pointed out by Him (or: he was considered rightwised by Him; he was reckoned fair, equitable and just in Him; alternately: so it was counted into right relation [= covenant inclusion] for him)," [Gen. 15:6; cf Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6] and later, he was called "God's friend." [2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8]

24. Are you folks normally observing (or: perceiving) that humanity (or: a person) is normally being eschatologically delivered and rightwised (from time to time being placed in right relationship in the Way pointed out; progressively made fair and equitable; normally justified; = put in covenant) forth from out of the midst of actions and works, and not ONLY from out of faith and trust (or: [Christ’s] Faithfulness)?

25. Now in this same vein, even Rahab the prostitute, taking under [her roof] and welcoming the agents (messengers; Gr.: angelos), and then later exiting them by a different way, was NOT rightwised (eschatologically delivered; placed in right relationship in the Way pointed out; rectified; made fair and equitable; justified; or: shown to be righteous; also: = brought into covenant) forth from out of works! [cf Josh. 2:1, 9-13; Heb. 11:31]

26. Now it follows that, just as the body apart from a breath-effect (or: spirit) is lifeless (dead), thus, in this way also, the faith or trust [which is] apart from actions, or works [i.e., the living it out], is (exists being) lifeless (a dead corpse). [cf Heb. 11:1-12:3]

Looking into the references which are on offer, inserted into the text, will shed light on the passage which I have quoted.

Jonathan

John Gavazzoni adds: Am I right in seeing how....as in your translation.....the verb tense for believing, indicates a present and continuous, continual, habitual action [thus the noun-form, "pistis"/"faith" is of the same constitution] is pertinent for understanding Jacob's explanation re: the relationship of faith to works, in that unless faith remains continuously, progressively active, being therefore dead, that death-state is evidenced in its lack of works, or in the character of the works.

Saving (healing/delivering/wholeness-imparting) faith is not a once-for-all exercise of the will, but an ongoing, every growing participation in the faith OF Christ which continues to bear fruit: 30, 60, 100 fold. It just now occurred to me that James, speaking of works, rather than fruit, seems to be accommodating, making concession to, Jewish legal-mentality "looking at the outer appearance" whereas "God seeth the heart," For Paul writes of "the works of the flesh" compared to "the fruit of the Spirit."

This brings me to what had for a long time befuddled my understanding, i.e., the seemingly enigmatic way, in verse 26 that He correlates or connects "the body" with faith/trust, and the works with death, in a kind of reverse of what he has previously written about faith as dead, He's saying that the faith or trust depends upon living works, if he's read precisely in that verse Why? because, as Jesus said, "this is the work OF God, that ye believe on Him whom the Father has sent." Faith is the product of God's work in us.

On one hand, it's a continuously living faith that is expressed in works/actions, but the dynamic at work is the work of God, i.e., the faith OF Christ livingly, actively at work in us. So, while of course, it is faith/trust that actively produces living works, it is also true that there is a work that produces the faith/trust, to repeat, "the work of God."

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