Shudder (5425) (phrisso) ("old onomatopoetic verb" - A T Robertson) has the primary meaning of to be rough or to bristle up and then evolves to mean (as in this context) to shiver, shudder, or tremble. The picture is vivid for it is that of one's hair standing up on end! Clearly the implication is that the shivering or quaking is the result of the fear the unholy demons exhibit toward a holy God. The present tense indicates that bristling at the true knowledge of God is the continual fearful response of the evil spirits. A T Robertson writes that phrisso is... Like Latin horreo (horror, standing of the hair on end with terror). The demons do more than believe a fact. They shudder at it. Vincent writes that this verb occurs... Only here in New Testament. It means, originally, to be rough on the surface; to bristle. Hence, used of the fields with ears of corn; of a line of battle bristling with shields and spears; of a silver or golden vessel rough with embossed gold. Aeschylus, describing a crowd holding up their hands to vote, says, the air bristled with right hands. Hence, of a horror which makes the hair stand on end and contracts the surface of the skin, making “gooseflesh.” Rev., much better, shudder. (Vincent, M. R.. Word Studies in the New Testament 1:744) Matthew Poole writes that phrisso... signifies extreme fear and horror, viz. such as the thoughts of their Judge strike into them. This shows the faith the apostle speaks of in this place, not to be the faith of God’s elect, which begets in believers a holy confidence in God, and frees them from slavish fears; whereas the faith here spoken of, if it have any effect upon men, it is but to fill them with horror. (Matthew Poole's Commentary on the New Testament) Hiebert writes that... This term is not strictly applicable to spirits, yet it effectively conveys the intensity of the horror that seizes the demons when confronting God. They have an intense, unquestioned belief in God's existence and power, but their faith brings them no peace or salvation. They are fully aware that doom awaits them at the hands of the infinitely perfect God (Matt. 8:29; 25:41; Luke 8:31). (Ibid) As Wayne Grudem explains... Knowledge Alone Is Not Enough. Personal saving faith, in the way Scripture understands it, involves more than mere knowledge. Of course it is necessary that we have some knowledge of who Christ is and what he has done for “how are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard?” (see note Romans 10:14). But knowledge about the facts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for us is not enough, for people can know facts but rebel against them or dislike them. For example, Paul tells us that many people know God’s laws but dislike them: “Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them” (see note Romans 1:32). Even the demons know who God is and know the facts about Jesus’ life and saving works, for James says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19). But that knowledge certainly does not mean that the demons are saved. (Grudem, W: Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. IVP; Zondervan, 1994 or Logos) (Bolding added) James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (NASB: Lockman) Greek: theleis (2SPAI) de gnonai, (AAN) o anthrope kene, hoti e pistis choris ton ergon arge estin? (3SPAI) Amplified: Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless? (Amplified Bible - Lockman) Hiebert: You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? KJV: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? NLT: Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless? (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: For, my dear short-sighted man, can't you see far enough to realise that faith without the right actions is dead and useless? (Phillips: Touchstone) Rotherham: But art thou willing to learn, O empty man! That faith apart from works is idle? Wuest: But, do you desire to come to know, O senseless man! that the aforementioned faith apart from works is unproductive? (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead? BUT ARE YOU WILLING TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOOLISH FELLOW: theleis (2SPAI) de gnonai, (AAN) o anthrope kene: (James 1:26; Job 11:11,12; Psalms 94:8, 9, 10, 11; Proverbs 12:11; Jeremiah 2:5; Romans 1:21; 1Corinthians 15:35,36; Galatians 6:3; Colossians 2:8; 1Timothy 1:6; Titus 1:10) But (de) emphasizes usually emphasizes a contrast, which it may in this context, but it could as well also convey a continuative force (ie, more needs to be said). Willing (2309) (thelo) refers to a desire that comes from one’s emotions (Boulomai = desire which comes from one’s reason). It represents an active decision of the will, thus implying volition and purpose. Recognize (1097) (ginosko) has the basic meaning of taking in knowledge in regard to something or someone, knowledge that goes beyond the merely factual. Ginosko is in the aorist tense which calls for a definite act of acknowledgment by the objector. Foolish (2756) (kenos) means empty or without content and literally refers to containers as empty but figuratively to things that lack effectiveness and here in James refers to a person who is vain (empty) and opposed to the truth that true saving faith produces works of righteousness. Trench remarks that, whenever this adjective is used of persons it implies not merely an absence and emptiness of good, but, since the moral nature of man endures no vacuum, the presence of evil. You foolish fellow- More literally "O foolish, vain, senseless man!" . The Greek is sparing in its use of "O" a marker of personal address (cp use in Romans 2:3-note). James now makes an appeal to the man who would object to the vital relationship between faith and works. He is calling upon those who object to concede that their position on faith and works is in error (useless). THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS USELESS: hoti e pistis choris ton ergon arge estin? (3SPAI): 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 2:12:12-note). Webster says that without (as a preposition) is used as a function word to indicate the absence or lack of something or someone. USELESS WORKS Works (ergon) - It should be noted that the Bible mentions a number of different kinds of works including the following... Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. (Comment: These works are those deeds sinners do in order to try to attain righteousness before a holy God but sees them only as "filthy rags"!) Galatians 5:19 (note) Now the deeds (ergon - works) of the flesh (flesh) are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice ( = as their lifestyle; having never had a moment of repentance; obviously saved persons can still commit these sins but not as their habitual practice) such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Comment: These works are the product of the fallen flesh, the old sin nature, and one who habitually practices them shows by his or her works that they possess no alive, dynamic faith and thus are unregenerate and still dead in their trespasses and sins.) Colossians 1:21 (note) And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil (poneros = evil in active opposition to good; Satan is called the "poneros" one.) deeds, Hebrews 9:14 (note) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Comment: All works initiated by our old nature, no matter how well intentioned, no matter how much we or others may think they please God and no matter how philanthropic or merciful appearing they might appear -- all of these efforts are absolutely dead in the eyes of God and will be forever burned up.) Useless - Note that the Textus Receptus (source of KJV) uses nekros translated dead. Argos has better manuscript support. The point is the same in either case. 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