dead works
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A theologian's term (from Heb. ix, 14) denoting such works as^do not earn salvation, or even assist in obtaining it.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “dead works” mean?
A theologian's term (from Heb. ix, 14) denoting such works as^do not earn salvation, or even assist in obtaining it.
Is “dead works” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.