The concept of Faith without works in Christianity
Faith without works is a fundamental Christian concept emphasizing that mere belief in God is inadequate without corresponding good deeds and actions. It stresses that genuine faith must be demonstrated through actions, indicating that faith without works is ineffective, inactive, and essentially dead. This teaching, significant in James's epistle, highlights the necessity of coupling belief with good deeds to ensure one's faith is alive and authentic, aligning with Catholic teachings on the relationship between faith and action.
Synonyms: Idle faith, Passive belief
In Spanish: Fe sin obras; In Finnish: Usko ilman tekoja; In Malay: Iman tanpa perbuatan; In Swedish: Tro utan gärningar; In Dutch: Geloof zonder werken; In German: Glaube ohne Werke
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Christian concept of 'Faith without works'
From: Expositions of Holy Scripture
(1) This is described as being dead, while works without faith are compared to rootless flowers or hastily constructed bricks without binding straw, as per the text.[1] (2) A phrase indicating that mere belief without demonstration through actions is ineffective.[2] (3) The teaching that mere belief is insufficient without accompanying actions that reflect that belief.[3] (4) A concept that emphasizes that belief alone is inadequate without the fruits of action in a Christian context.[4] (5) A concept that indicates that mere belief in a doctrine without accompanying good deeds and actions is insufficient for a genuine Christian life.[5]
From: Bible cyclopedia, critical and expository
(1) The concept that faith that does not produce good works is ineffective and dead.[6] (2) An important concept in James's epistle indicating that faith is meaningless without corresponding actions that demonstrate its authenticity.[7]
From: Summa Theologica (English translation)
(1) The concept that mere belief without accompanying good deeds is insufficient for salvation, illustrating that faith must be active.[8] (2) The idea that belief must be accompanied by actions and good deeds to be considered alive and genuine.[9] (3) A concept that suggests faith must be accompanied by good deeds to be considered alive and effective, highlighting the connection between belief and action.[10] (4) A concept derived from scripture indicating that faith devoid of corresponding actions is dead or inactive.[11]