The interpretation timeline

Jas 2:26

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Jas 2:26 · Douay-Rheims
“For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.”
Patristic before A.D. 750
398
A.D.
Didymus the Blind Patristic
c. A.D. 313–398
“Just as the spirit joins itself to the body and by doing so brings the latter to life, so works, joined to faith, give life to it as well. Furthermore, it is to be understood that faith without works is not faith at all, just as a dead man is not really a human being. But how can some say that because the spirit which gives life to the body is more honorable than the body, therefore works are more honorable than faith? I have looked into this matter in some detail and shall try to explain my position on this. It is undoubtedly true that the spirit is nobler than the body, but this does not mean that works can be put before faith, because a person is saved by grace, not by works but by faith. There should be no doubt but that faith saves and then lives by doing its own works, so that the works which are added to salvation by faith are not those of the law but a different kind of thing altogether.”
Source
407
A.D.
John Chrysostom Patristic
A.D. 347–407
“Faith without works is dead, and works without faith are dead also. For if we have sound doctrine but fail in living, the doctrine is of no use to us. Likewise if we take pains with life but are careless about doctrine, that will not be any good to us either. It is therefore necessary to shore up the spiritual edifice in both directions.”
Source
542
A.D.
Caesarius of Arles Patristic
c. A.D. 470–542
“In order that we may bear the name Christian as a remedy, not leading to judgment, let us take up good works while the remedies are still within our power.”
604
A.D.
Gregory the Great Patristic
c. A.D. 540–604
“For behold, the voice of all proclaims Christ, but the life of all does not proclaim Him. Most follow God with their voices, but flee from Him by their conduct. Hence Paul says: "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him." Hence James says: "Faith without works is dead."”
604
A.D.
Gregory the Great Patristic
c. A.D. 540–604
“What greatly gladdens is what follows: "Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed." In this saying, we are indeed specially marked out, we who retain in our minds Him whom we have not seen in the flesh. We are marked out—but only if we follow our faith with works. For he truly believes who practices by his deeds what he believes. In contrast to these, concerning those who hold faith in name only, Paul says: "They profess that they know God, but in their deeds they deny Him." Hence James says: "Faith without works is dead."”
Source
Undated date unknown
Oecumenius Patristic
c. A.D. 550
“For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead. "faith without works is dead." James says faith which is after baptism. For faith without works profits nothing, except that it makes us liable to a still greater punishment, who indeed have received the talent, yet have not returned the gain. From which the Lord also teaches us that after baptism good works are necessary for us, since after being baptized by John he went to the desert and undertook struggles against the Devil. (Matt. 4:1) Paul also exhorts those who had already received the mysteries, saying: "Let us strive to enter into that rest." (Heb. 4:4) As if faith were not enough, but purity of life should also be added, and great diligence should be applied to this.”
Source
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.