James 2:14 (DRB)

Passage

What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

Nearby Context

James 2:12 So speak ye and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.

James 2:14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

James 2:15 And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food:

James 2:16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "For judgment without mercy to him that..." into verse 15's "And if a brother or sister be...", so "faith" and "shall" 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 "shall" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.