2:26

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead: James concluded his discussion of faith and deeds by repeating the statement faith without deeds is dead. He had already made this statement in 2:17. Here, James used a simile to emphasize this statement.

In this simile, James compared faith without deeds to the body without the spirit. The way that they are similar is that both are dead and useless.

Some other ways to translate this simile are:

Just as a person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead! (New Century Version)
-or-
faith without action is as dead as a body without a soul (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
If someone believes/trusts but does not do good deeds, that belief/trust is as useless as a body that has no spirit.
-or-
If a person’s spirit has left his body, he cannot do any good deeds because the body has no life. In the same way, if someone believes but does not do any good deeds, his belief has no life.

2:26a

In Greek, this verse is connected to the previous verse with a conjunction. The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this conjunction. Here this conjunction introduces a simile that concludes this section.

Some other ways to indicate that 2:26 is the conclusion are:

So then (Good News Translation)
-or-
What we should understand here is this:
-or-
In conclusion

the body: The phrase the body refers to a human body.

without the spirit: The phrase the spirit here refers to the inner part of a person that continues to exist after the person has died.

is dead: If possible, translate the word dead with a word or phrase in your language that can refer to a body as well as to faith. For example:

has no life
-or-
is dead and useless

2:26b

without deeds: The phrase without deeds also occurs in 2:20b.

dead: The word dead here indicates that the person’s faith has no power to do anything and so is of no use. (Compare 2:17c where the word dead also occurs.) In some languages, the word faith cannot be spoken of as dead. If that is the case in your language, you can:

• Use a simile. For example:

as if dead
-or-
like a dead thing

• Explain the meaning of the word dead here. For example:

useless
-or-
powerless

Some other possible headings for this section are:

We must control our speech (Translator’s Handbook on James, page 100.)
-or-
Controlling the things we say (New Century Version)

Paragraph 3:1

This paragraph introduces this next section. James warned that it is a serious matter when a person becomes a teacher in the church.

3:1a

Not many of you should become teachers: In Greek, this sentence is literally “be not many teachers.” Many ambitious people wanted to have the honor of being a religious teacher. However, James told them that not all of them should be eager to become teachers.

Some other ways to translate this sentence are:

not many of you should become teachers in the church (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
we should not all try to become teachers (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
only a few of you should try to become teachers

Not many of you: The phrase Not many of you means “only some of you,” or “only a few of you.” Most of James’ readers should not try to become teachers.

teachers: The word teachers refers to those who had authority to teach in the church. They instructed other Christians in the meaning of what God had said in his word and how they should live.

Here the word teachers does not refer to a teacher in a school. This word refers only to people who teach the word of God and the good news about Jesus Christ. If many people in your area would confuse this and think of teachers of other subjects, then it may be necessary to make explicit what the teachers teach in this context. For example:

teachers in the church (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
people who teach the word of God
-or-
people who teach the Christian faith/belief

my brothers: The phrase my brothers refers to other believers in Christ to whom James was writing. In the time of James, all the teachers were men. So here, this phrase does not include women as it does in 1:2a, 1:16, 1:19a, 2:1a, 2:5a, and 2:14a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

My fellow believers
-or-
My Christian friends
-or-
My relatives in Christ

Here James used the phrase my brothers to introduce the topic of the need for believers to control their speech. If you have another way in your language to introduce a change of topic, you may use it here.

Notice that the Berean Standard Bible places the phrase my brothers in the middle of 3:1. This follows the Greek text. In some languages, it may be more natural to place it at the beginning. For example:

My friends, not many of you should become teachers… (Revised English Bible)

This same phrase occurs in 1:2a.

3:1b

because you know that: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because you know that is literally “knowing that.” This phrase introduces the reason for the statement in 3:1a. In some languages, it will be natural to follow the example of the Berean Standard Bible.

Some other ways to translate the phrase “knowing that” are:

you know (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Remember (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
you may be certain (Revised English Bible)

3:1c

we who teach: The word we refers to all teachers of God’s word. It includes James. It does not include all of James’ readers.

will be judged more strictly: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be judged more strictly means “will be examined and punished according to a stricter standard.” This refers to the day when God will judge all human beings. Teachers in the church will be judged more strictly than those who are not teachers. God will judge what they teach and how well their actions correspond to what they teach.

Here, the word judged does not refer to God judging unbelievers and condemning them eternally to hell.

Some ways to translate this are:

will be judged by a much higher standard (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
will be evaluated/assessed more strictly than those who are not teachers
-or-
will receive more severe punishment if we fail

The Berean Standard Bible uses a passive verb. Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

will be judged with greater strictness than others (Good News Translation)

• Use an active verb. For example:

God will judge us more strictly

• Translate judged as a noun. For example:

will receive more severe judgment

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.