King James Bible
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
James introduces a hypothetical objector who attempts to separate faith and works as if they were alternative spiritual gifts. This rhetorical device sets up a false dichotomy that James will dismantle, reflecting ongoing debates in the early church about the relationship between belief and action. The speaker challenges the objector to demonstrate faith apart from deeds—an impossible task since genuine faith is inherently invisible without corresponding actions. This exposes the absurdity of claiming faith that produces no tangible evidence. James presents the proper relationship: works serve as the visible manifestation of invisible faith, not as a substitute for it. This counters any misunderstanding that he advocates works-based salvation, instead arguing that authentic faith naturally produces righteous behavior.