Show (1166) (deiknuo) means to show and has the sense of (1) to draw attention to, to point out, to show, to make known, to exhibit something (by visual, auditory, gestural, or linguistic means) so that it can be apprehended by the senses, to cause to see (Mt 4:8, Lk 4:5, Mt 8:4) or (2) to show so as to prove something is true or to make clear by evidence or reasoning. Show in the sense of demonstrate or prove as in Jas 3:13). To exhibit or present to the view of others. To explain the meaning or significance of something by demonstration. Note the concentration of deiknuo in the most "graphic" NT book, the Revelation, or the revealing. How interesting that in the "revealing" we repeatedly encounter the verb to show, and specifically to show what God's plan is for the rest of the ages. Note that it is the bondservants whom will be shown these heretofore previously revealed mysteries! Little wonder that many do not understand (and/or are frightened by the book of the Revelation, for they are not His bondservants, but in fact are "earth dwellers"!). Note especially that 5 of the 33 "showings" are related to heaven! God wants us to see this preview of coming attractions, that we might be motivated to live accordingly. Deiknuo in Jas 2:18 means to make clear by evidence or reasoning. In other words, James commands (aorist imperative = Do this now! Don't delay! "The tense of urgency." - A T Robertson) the objector as a definite act to "demonstrate" or "exhibit" his faith directly. As stated earlier since faith is invisible, "the faith" that he claims to possess must by necessity be manifested by works accompanying genuine faith. Deiknuo - 33x in 31v - NAS = bring(1), show(21), showed(8), shown(2), shows(1). Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; Matthew 8:4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Mark 1:44 and He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Mark 14:15 "And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there." Luke 4:5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Luke 5:14 And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Luke 20:24 "Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's." Luke 22:12 "And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there." Luke 24:40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. John 2:18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" John 5:20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. John 10:32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" John 14:8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father '? John 20:20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Acts 7:3 and said to him, 'LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.' (Quoting from Ge 12:1 which uses deiknuo in the Lxx) Acts 10:28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. 1 Timothy 6:15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Hebrews 8:5-note who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN." (Quoting from Ex 25:40 which also uses deiknuo in the Lxx) James 2:18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. Revelation 1:1-note The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, Revelation 4:1-note After these things (Rev 2-3 - The 7 Churches, which no further mention of the church suggesting as many believe, including myself, that it is "gone", raptured!) I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." Revelation 17:1-note Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, Revelation 21:9-note Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." Revelation 21:10-note And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, Revelation 22:1-note Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, Revelation 22:6-note And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. Revelation 22:8-note I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Deiknuo - ~83v in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - Ge 12:1; 41:25, 28, 39; 48:11; Exod 13:21; 15:25; 25:9, 40; 26:30; 33:5, 18; Lev 13:49; Num 8:4; 13:26; 16:30; 22:41; 23:3; 24:17; Deut 1:33; 3:24; 4:5, 36; 5:24; 32:20; 34:1, 4; Josh 7:14; Judg 1:24f; 4:22; 13:23; 1 Sam 12:23; 2 Sam 15:25; 1 Kgs 13:12; 2 Kgs 6:6; 8:10, 13; 11:4; 20:13, 15; 2 Chr 23:3; Esth 1:4, 11; 4:8; Ps 4:7; 49:23; 58:11; 59:5; 70:20; 77:11; 84:8; 90:16; Eccl 2:24; 3:18; Song 2:14; Job 28:11; 33:23; 34:32; Hos 5:9; Amos 7:1, 4, 7; 8:1; Mic 4:2; Nah 3:5; Hab 1:3; Zech 1:9; 2:3; 3:1; 8:12; Isa 11:11; 30:30; 39:2; 40:14; 48:9, 17; 53:11; Jer 18:17; 24:1; 45:21; Ezek 11:25; 40:4; 43:10; Dan 10:1 Genesis 41:39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed (Hebrew = yada = to know; Lxx = deiknuo) you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. Exodus 15:25 Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, "I pray You, show (command in Hebrew = raah = to see; Lxx = deiknuo in the aorist imperative) me Your glory!" Deuteronomy 1:33 who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go. Deuteronomy 3:24 'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? Deuteronomy 5:24 "You said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. Deuteronomy 34:1 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 1 Samuel 12:23 "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct (Heb = yarah; Lxx = deiknuo) you in the good and right way. Without - apart from. A T Robertson adds... The point lies in choris, which means not "without," but "apart from," as in Heb 11:6-note (with the ablative case), "the works that properly belong to it and should characterise it" (Hort). James challenges the objector to do this. Without (5565) (choris) is used both as an adverb signifying separately or by itself (John 20:7). More often however choris is used as a preposition meaning apart from (eg, "apart from Him nothing came into being" John 1:3), without (eg, "without sin" He 4:15-note) or separate from (eg, "separate from Christ", Ep 2:12-note). Webster says that without (as a preposition) is used as a function word to indicate the absence or lack of something or someone. The IVP Background Commentary writes that there is... a common modern conception that faith is a once-for-all prayer involving no commitment of life or purpose and is efficacious even if quickly forgotten Hiebert comments that... The challenge implies that "without" (choris, "apart from")" deeds, which his "faith" does not have, such a demonstration is impossible. And this inability to demonstrate his faith will prove that it is not true faith. Faith and works are inseparable. (James. Moody. 1992) By - The idea could be either emerging from or by means of (cp Ro 1:17-note = "by faith", Ro 3:30-note = "by faith", 1Jn 4:6 = "by this"). I will show you my faith by (means of) my works - James now states he is ready and willing to demonstrate the very thing he has challenged the objector to demonstrate. In other words, James will demonstrate his works as the proof of something beyond those works. To reiterate, James' works prove that he has saving faith and without the root of such a faith there could be no fruit. Works do not save, but works show. Works do not redeem, but works reveal. Works reveal what is in the heart. Works do not effect salvation but evidence it. And as J C Ryle said "obedience is the only sound evidence of saving faith". A C Gaebelein counters those who say James is not discussing genuine faith that saves (there are some teachers in evangelical circles who hold this view, a view with which I strongly disagree.) There is no difficulty at all connected with this passage. The Holy Spirit through James shows that true faith which justifies before God must be evidenced by works. “ (The Annotated Bible) The excellent new ESV Study Bible does not waver one iota declaring flatly that... Faith that is not accompanied by action is useless and dead, unable to save.... Although it may seem as if James is contradicting Paul’s “by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works” (Ep 2:8, 9), in reality there is no dichotomy between faith and works, for Paul and James would agree that the basis of salvation is grace alone through faith, with works not the basis but the necessary result thereof (Ep 2:10). Dr Charles Ryrie... James is not saying that we are saved by works but that a faith that does not produce good works is a dead faith. James was not refuting the Pauline doctrine of justification by true faith but a perversion of it. Both Paul and James define faith as a living, productive trust in Christ. Genuine faith cannot be "dead" to morality or barren to works. (The Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Translation: 1995. Moody Publishers) (Bold added for emphasis) A W Tozer... That many of our hotly defended beliefs are no more than reactions to what we consider false doctrines would not be difficult to prove. The doctrine of justification by works (itself a serious error), for instance, has driven some teachers to espouse the equally damaging error of salvation without works. To many people the thought of "works" is repugnant because of its association with the effete Judaism of the New Testament era. The upshot of the matter is that we have salvation without righteousness and right doctrine without right deeds. Grace is twisted out of its moral context and made the cause of lowered standards of conduct in the church. (This World: Playground or Battleground?) There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and which in its effect upon the Christian religion may be more destructive than Communism, Romanism and Liberalism combined. It is the glaring disparity between theology and practice among professing Christians. So wide is the gulf that separates theory from practice in the church that an inquiring stranger who chances upon both would scarcely dream that there was any relation between them. An intelligent observer of our human scene who heard the Sunday morning sermon and later watched the Sunday afternoon conduct of those who had heard it would conclude that he had been examining two distinct and contrary religions. It appears that too many Christians want to enjoy the thrill of feeling right but are not willing to endure the inconvenience of being right. So the divorce between theory and practice becomes permanent in fact, though in word the union is declared to be eternal. Truth sits forsaken and grieves till her professed followers come home for a brief visit, but she sees them depart again when the bills become due. They protest great and undying love for her but they will not let their love cost them anything. (The Root of the Righteous) The truth is that faith and obedience are two sides of the same coin and are always found together in the Scriptures. As well try to pry apart the two sides of a half-dollar as to separate obedience from faith. The two sides, while they remain together and are taken as one, represent good sound currency and constitute legal tender everywhere in the United States. Separate them and they are valueless. Insistence upon honoring but one side of the faith-obedience coin has wrought frightful harm in religious circles. Faith has been made everything and obedience nothing. The result among religious persons is moral weakness, spiritual blindness and a slow but constant drift away from New Testament Christianity. (The Size of the Soul) The difference between faith as it is found in the New Testament and faith as it is found now is that faith in the New Testament actually produced something—there was a confirmation of it. Faith now is a beginning and an end. We have faith in faith—but nothing happens. They had faith in a risen Christ and something did happen. That's the difference. (The Counselor) Larry Richards... It's easy for folks to get confused about which faith is meant when someone says "I believe." What James said was that there is a way to tell the difference. Faith that says, "I suppose" has no transforming power. This kind of faith produces no works. Faith that says, "I commit myself, heart and soul," is transforming faith. This kind of faith will always produce good works in the life of the man or woman who believes. What kind of faith do you and I have in Christ? A look at our lives ought to tell. (365-Day Devotional Commentary) John Butler... The message of James was hard for many to accept for it seemed to contradict salvation by grace. But when one understands that James is talking about justification before men and not before God, then the matter of works is no longer contradictory to salvation by grace. Evidence of our salvation will be seen in works. Lack of good works gives ominous evidence that our salvation is only talk but not walk. (Studies of the Savior) A T Robertson... It is not faith or works, but proof of real faith (live faith vs. dead faith). The mere profession of faith with no works or profession of faith shown to be alive by works. This is the alternative clearly stated. Note pistin (faith) in both cases. James is not here discussing "works" (ceremonial works) as a means of salvation as Paul in Galatians 3; Romans 4, but works as proof of faith. Douglas Moo... In the ancient world, writers often used a sort of argumentative style to carry along their discussion. Paul uses it frequently in Romans, and James uses it here. He has an imaginary opponent object, "You have faith; I have deeds" (Jas 2:18). The force of this objection has been understood in a great number of ways, but the simplest interpretation is to assume that the objector is arguing for the principle "different people, different gifts": Why cannot one believer be especially gifted with faith while another has the ability to perform good deeds? James answers this objection with a challenge (Jas 2:18,19): "Give me evidence, apart from deeds, that you have faith. You can't do it, can you? But I can point to my deeds as the clear evidence of the reality of my faith. Why, faith without deeds is no better than the intellectual 'faith' of demons; they have a perfectly correct 'theology' but do not have the commitment to what they believe—their faith has affected their minds, but not their wills. So a faith without deeds is also a less than Christian faith, a bogus faith." (Baker Commentary on the Bible) Kistemaker writes that In everything he does, faith is the main ingredient. Just as a motor produces power because an electrical current flows into it, so a Christian produces good deeds because true faith empowers him. (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. NT Commentary Set. Baker Book or Logos) Warren Wiersbe... How could a person show his faith without works? Can a dead sinner perform good works? Impossible! When you trust Christ, you are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ep 2:10-note). Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for Christ; you receive the life, then you reveal the life. Faith that is barren is not saving faith. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos) Thomas Vincent... If you have a saving interest in Christ, you have obedience. Your faith shows itself in your works— James 2:18. And your love shows itself in your keeping Christ's commands— John 14:21. Such as do not obey Christ's laws—but cast His commandments behind their backs, and will not have this Lord to rule over them—have neither faith, nor love, nor life, nor likeness unto Christ; and therefore be sure that they have no interest in Him. Test your interest in Christ, the only Deliverer from future wrath—by these marks and evidences. (The Only Deliverer from the Wrath to Come) Barnes has the following analysis of this passage.... The word which is rendered "yea," (alla) would be better rendered by but. The apostle designs to introduce an objection, not to make an affirmation. The sense is, "someone might say," or, "to this it might be urged in reply." That is, it might perhaps be said that religion is not always manifested in the same way, or we should not suppose that, because it is not always exhibited in the same form, it does not exist. One man may manifest it in one way, and another in another, and still both have true piety. One may be distinguished for his faith, and another for his works, and both may have real religion. This objection would certainly have some plausibility, and it was important to meet it. It would seem that all religion was not to be manifested in the same way, as all virtue is not; and that it might occur that one man might be particularly eminent for one form of religion, and another for another; as one man may be distinguished for zeal, and another for meekness, and another for integrity, and another for truth, and another for his gifts in prayer, and another for his large-hearted benevolence. To this the apostle replies, that the two things referred to, faith and works, were not independent things, which could exist separately, without the one materially influencing another--as, for example, charity and chastity, zeal and meekness; but that the one was the germ or source of the other, and that the existence of the one was to be known only by its developing itself in the form of the other. A man could not show that he possessed the one unless it developed itself in the form of the other. In proof of this, he could boldly appeal to any one to show a case where faith existed without works. He was himself willing to submit to this just trial in regard to this point, and to demonstrate the existence of his own faith by his works. Thou hast faith, and I have works. You have one form or manifestation of religion in an eminent or prominent degree, and I have another. You are characterized particularly for one of the virtues of religion, and I am for another; as one man may be particularly eminent for meekness, and another for zeal, and another for benevolence, and each be a virtuous man. The expression here is equivalent to saying, "One may have faith, and another works." Shew me thy faith without thy works. That is, you who maintain that faith is enough to prove the existence of religion; that a man may be justified and saved by that alone, or where it does not develop itself in holy living; or that all that is necessary in order to be saved is merely to believe. Let the reality of any such faith as that be shown, if it can be; let any real faith be shown to exist without a life of good works, and the point will be settled. I, says the apostle, will undertake to exhibit the evidence of my faith in a different way-- in a way about which there can be no doubt, and which is the appropriate method... And I will show thee my faith by my works. I will furnish in this way the best and most certain proof of the existence of faith. It is implied here that true faith is adapted to lead to a holy life, and that such a life would be the appropriate evidence of the existence of faith. By their fruits the principles held by men are known. See [Mt 7:16-note]. (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary) ><>><>><> Puritan Thomas Brooks... Where the stock is dead, the branches must needs be barren. Alas! the barrenness of many professors plainly discovers on what stock they are growing. It is easy to pretend to faith—but "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds." James 2:18. (Human Nature in its Fourfold State) ><>><>><> Thomas Watson... Works of charity evidence grace. Charity evidences saving faith. "I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:18. Works are faith's letters of credence. We judge of the health of the body by the pulse; so Christian, judge of the health of your faith by the pulse of charity. The Word of God is the rule of faith, and good works are the witnesses of faith. Charity evidences also love. Love loves mercy; it is a noble bountiful grace. Mary loved Christ, and how liberal was her love! She bestowed on Christ her tears, kisses, and costly ointments. Love, like a full vessel, will have vent; it vents itself in acts of liberality. (The Ten Commandments) ><>><>><> Roll 'em Up - When Dave Thomas died in early 2002, he left behind more than just thousands of Wendy's restaurants. He also left a legacy of being a practical, hard-working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values. Among the pieces of good advice that have outlived the smiling entrepreneur is his view of what Christians should be doing with their lives. Thomas, who as a youngster was influenced for Christ by his grandmother, said that believers should be "roll-up-your-shirtsleeves" Christians. In his book Well Done, Thomas said, "Roll-up-your-shirtsleeves Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study Scripture with devotion, be super-active in their church, and take their ministry to others to spread the Good Word." He went on to say they are "anonymous people who may be doing even more good than all the well-known Christians in the world." That statement has more meat in it than a Wendy's triple burger. Thomas knew about hard work in the restaurant business, and he knew it is vital in the spiritual world too. In James 2:17, we read that unless our faith is accompanied by works, our faith is dead. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work. There's plenty to do. — Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Let's gladly work in serving Christ, For faith alone is dead; Let's labor out of love for Him Who suffered in our stead. —D. DeHaan A living faith is a working faith. ><>><>><> Lightning And Thunder - When we see lightning flash across the sky, we expect the roar of thunder to follow. If there were no lightning, there would be no thunder because one causes the other. It's like that with faith. Just as thunder always follows lightning, good works always follow true faith. The relationship between faith and works is explained in the New Testament writings of Paul to the Ephesians, and in a brief letter from James. At first glance, these authors seem to contradict each other. Paul insisted, "By grace you have been saved through faith, . . . not of works" (Eph 2:8, 9-note). But James declared, "A man is justified [declared righteous] by works, and not by faith only" (Jas 2:24). In context though, James wasn't denying that we are saved by faith. He referred to Abraham, saying that he "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Jas 2:23). This belief occurred years before Abraham gave evidence of his faith by preparing to offer his son as a sacrifice (Jas 2:21). Nor was the apostle Paul denying the value of works, for right after stating that we are saved by faith alone he said that we are saved "for good works" (Eph. 2:10-note). What about you? Has the "lightning" of personal faith in Christ been followed by the "thunder" of good works? — Haddon W. Robinson (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) DIGGING DEEPER Read Genesis 15:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Genesis 22:1-14. Why did God give righteousness to Abraham? How did Abraham prove his faith? We are saved by faith alone, but faith that saves is never alone. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/james_218-20.htm#show