An Exegetical Reassessment of Faith and Works in James 2:18–26

James 2:18–26 remains one of the most debated passages in the New Testament, particularly regarding the relationship between faith and works and its perceived tension with Pauline theology. This study provides a detailed exegetical analysis of James 2:18–26 with the aim of clarifying its literary structure and theological argument. The study specifically examines the use of key Greek terms such as pistis (faith), erga (works), dikaioō (justify), and teleioō (complete), as well as the rhetorical features of the text, including the use of an imaginary interlocutor and exemplary figures like Abraham and Rahab. The study adopts a qualitative exegetical methodology, incorporating historical-cultural analysis, literary-rhetorical criticism, and lexical study. Findings reveal that the author of Epistle of James does not oppose faith as the basis of salvation but critiques a deficient form of faith that lacks practical expression. Furthermore, the concept of justification in the passage is best understood as demonstrative or evidential rather than purely forensic. The study concludes that James presents a coherent theological framework in which genuine faith is intrinsically linked to action, thereby resolving the perceived contradiction with Paul the Apostle.