James 2:18 — misunderstood verse: James is voicing an objector's position and then rejecting it, not affirming works over faith

James 2:18 is a rhetorical device where James gives voice to a hypothetical objector: 'But someone will say, you have faith and I have works.' The 'you' is the dead-faith person, the 'I' is James himself. James is preemptively addressing the misreading that he is 'preaching works.' He then rejects this framing by saying the only way to show faith is through works — but faith is still the central issue, not works.