A. (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

B. (18)Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

C. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:the devils also believe, and tremble.

D. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

E1. (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

D’. (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

C’.(23) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

B. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

E2. (25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

A’. (26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Note: the neat pattern is interrupted by the introduction of Rahab, using the same formula to describe her justification by faith that is used of Abraham. The disruption to the expected pattern may be the main point here. A Gentile harlot was justified on the very same basis as Abraham the father of the faithful.