King James Bible
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
James addresses those who claim orthodox belief in monotheism, a fundamental tenet of Jewish and Christian faith. This intellectual assent to God's unity echoes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), the central confession of Israel. James offers faint praise, acknowledging that believing in one God is correct but insufficient. The ironic tone suggests that mere mental agreement falls short of what genuine faith requires. Demons possess the same intellectual knowledge of God's existence yet remain His enemies, their trembling revealing terror rather than trust. This stark comparison proves that saving faith must transcend mere acknowledgment to include submission and transformation.