What] The drift and scope of the Apostle in the ensuing discourse is to prove, that neither the bare outward profession of faith, not that faith which is without works can justifie or save, but that it must be an operative or working faith, fruitfull in good works.
faith] That is, which is without works. And the interrogation (can &c) is a strong negation, as in the former clause (what doth it profit, &c)