James 2:14 (DBY)

Passage

What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

Nearby Context

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

James 2:13 for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

James 2:14 What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:15 Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

James 2:16 and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "profit", "brethren", "works", and "save". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "profit", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "for judgment will be without mercy to..." into verse 15's "Now if a brother or a sister...", so "faith" and "profit" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "profit" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.