James 5:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

NIV: remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

NASB: let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

CSB: let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

NLT: you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

KJV: Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

NKJV: let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Verse 20 completes a thought James began in the prior verse. In verse 19, he stated that if one of his readers would go and bring back a former member of their community who has wandered from God's truth, that rescuing Christian should understand what's at stake. Those wandering ones have walked away from truth and into sin. What they now believe is error. They are trusting a lie that is leading them away from the path of faith in God. If they can be turned back, they—or their soul—will be saved from death and their many sins will be covered over.

Reading this verse, even today, a question remains: whether these wandering ones are true Christians or people who were drawn to the Christian community, but never placed their faith in Christ. Some commentators suggest that since their souls will be saved from death, which is likely eternal death, these must be unbelievers who wandered toward Christ and then away from Him without ever crossing over into a sincere commitment of faith.

Other commentators suggest that perhaps these are genuine Christians who will be saved from actual, physical death in this life if they can be turned back to walking in faith in God. This would suggest that, for the good of themselves and others, God is willing to end the temporary, physical life of a believer who has rebelled against Him.

Still other teachers would suggest that these people wandering into sin were genuine Christians who are in danger of losing their salvation. That option does not seem to be consistent with the teaching of the rest of Scripture. The salvation we have in Christ is secure. For that reason, the first two options—or some combination—are the reasonable way to interpret this passage.

James 5:13–20 closes out the letter by encouraging those who believe in God to show it. This is most readily shown by praying in response to every circumstance. We should pray for ourselves, praise God, and invite the spiritual leaders of our churches to pray for us when we are sick, or spiritually weak. Healing will follow; sins will be forgiven. We should confess sins to each other so we can pray for strength for each other to overcome sin. Prayer works; God hears and responds. If we really believe this is true, our behavior will reflect it.

What was causing fights and quarrels among the Christians to whom James was writing? They were living by the world's wisdom. This false perspective says human beings should do whatever it takes to get what they want in this life, even if it hurts other people. James says that to live that way is adultery, but God gives grace. Christians should repent and move close to God again. We should trust Him to provide, to be the Judge, and to lift us up in His time. In humility, we must acknowledge that all of our plans are dependent on Him, and He can change them at any moment.

Prior chapters in this letter focused on the relationship between beliefs and actions, and how to practically apply the concepts of Christianity. In chapter 4, James called his Christian readers to repent of their worldliness and turn back to closeness with God. Now in the last chapter of his letter, James addresses three things: He pronounces to the rich oppressors of the Christians that their judgment is coming on the day of the Lord. He urges those suffering under that oppression to remain patient, strong in their faith, as they wait for the day of the Lord. And he encourages all Christians to show their faith in God by praying in response to every circumstance.

The book of James is about specifically understanding what saving faith looks like. How does faith in Christ reveal itself in a believer's life? What choices does real trust in God lead us to make? Those are the questions James answers. Most scholars believe the writer was Jesus' half-brother, a son born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus' birth. James may not have come to believe Jesus was the Messiah until after the resurrection. Eventually, though, he became one of the leaders of the Christian church in Jerusalem. This is possibly the earliest-written of all the New Testament books, around AD 40–50. James addresses his letter to Jewish Christians scattered around the known world.