02.02. Chapter 2 - Verse 26

James 2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Here the apostle concludeth the whole dispute, showing how little is to be ascribed to an empty profession of faith without works; it is but as the body without the vital spirit a carcase, useless but noisome. There needeth not much illustration of this verse, the matter of it being already discussed in James 2:17 and James 2:20. For as the body without the spirit.—There is some difference about the meaning of the word πνεύματος; we read in the margin, breath; in the text, spirit. Many prefer the marginal reading, because it is not ψυχῆς, as the body without the soul, but as the body without the spirit or breath. Of this opinion is Cajetan, whose words are notable, because they fully accord with the Protestant doctrine. ‘By spirit,’ saith he, ‘is not meant the soul, but the breath: for as the body of a beast when it doth not breathe is dead, so is faith without works dead, breathing being the effect of life, as working is of living faith. Whence it is clear what the apostle meaneth,¹ when he saith, 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 which exposition their doctrine that charity is the soul of faith, and their distinction of inform and formed faith, fall to the ground. But, however, I rather think that πνεύματος in the text is not to be translated breath, but spirit or soul, that substance which quickeneth and animateth the body, which is elsewhere expressed by this word; as in those noted places, Luke 23:46, ‘Into thy hands do I commit my spirit;’ and Acts 7:59, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And that respiration which is the effect of life is expressed by other words, πνοὴ and ἀναπνοὴ; as Acts 17:25, he giveth ζωὴν καὶ πνοὴν καὶ τὰ πάντα, ‘he giveth life, and breath, and all things.’ The meaning is, then, as a body without a soul, so is faith without works. And yet hence it will not follow that charity or the works are the soul of faith, for the comparison doth not hold in regard of animation and information, but in regard of operation. As in the body without soul there are only the outward proportions and lineaments, but nothing to discover life; so in empty profession there are some lineaments of faith, but no fruits to discover the truth and life of it, it differing as much from faith as a carcase doth from a man.

¹ ‘Unde apparet quo sensu dicit, fidem sine operibus mortuam esse, non quod sentiat opera esse formam fidei, sed quod sentit opera esse concomitantia fidei, sicut halitus concomitatur vitam corporis.’—Cajetan in locum. Is dead; that is, cannot perform the functions and offices of life, or of a man. So faith without works.—The Papists understand true justifying faith, for they suppose it may be without works; but dead faith cannot be true faith, as a carcase is not a true man, and a true faith cannot be without works, Galatians 5:6. We must understand, then, an external profession of belief, which, because of some resemblance with what is true, is called faith. Is dead; that is, false or useless to all the ends and purposes of faith. For practical notes see James 2:17, James 2:20; only observe:—

Obs. That naked profession, in respect of true faith, is but as a dead body and carcase. It is so in two respects:—(1.) It is noisome as a rotten carcase. A carnal Christian is the carcase of a true Christian; there are the lineaments with corruption. An impure life veiled under profession is as noisome to God as a dead body is to you. When carnal professors draw nigh to Christ, he goeth further off, as you would from what offendeth: Matthew 7:23, ‘Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity;’ I cannot endure your presence. When they come to him in prayer, ‘The prayer of the wicked is abomination;’ like the breath that cometh from rotten lungs. (2.) It is useless, as to all the purposes of faith;² it cannot unite you to Christ, that you may possess yourselves of his righteousness, or give you a feeling of his Spirit. In short, it bringeth no glory to God, yieldeth no comfort to him that hath it, and no benefit to others; of no more use than a dead body when the spirits are gone.

² ‘Οὐδὲν κέρδος ὑγιοῦς πίστεως, τῆς πολιτείας διεφθαρμένης.’—Chrysostom de Sacerdotio, lib. 4.