James 2:24 (KJV)

Passage

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Nearby Context

James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

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

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 23's "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith..." into verse 25's "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot...", so "justified" and "faith" 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 "justified" and "faith" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.