Getting Job-ed
The following is an exegesis paper written on James 2:14-26. Often, James and Paul are pitted against each other with their stance on “justification” in their letters. However, under careful review, these authors are not opposed to each other but rather complimentary of each other.
I will place the passage that we are examining at the beginning of both articles for easy reference. James 2:14-26 ESV:
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Here is part 2 of 2:
*Also, of note, the resources in the footnotes and bibliography are a wealth of knowledge!
Faith and Works?
What is the relationship between faith and works? James makes the case that a saving faith and works that please God are not mutually exclusive. For a person to obtain true saving faith, this means that a miraculous event has come about－a spiritually dead person has come back to life (Ephesians 2:1-9)! There has to be an outward change that is visible that the person has been brought to life or else the miracle of spiritual resurrection has not really taken place. That faith is in fact dead and is not a living faith (James 2:17, 20, 26). (21)
Paul Versus James
This passage is not in contradiction to the teaching of Paul but is consistent with Pauline theology (justification by faith alone). At first glance, James and Paul appear to be stark contradictions of each other. James states, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone…” (James 2:24 ESV) while Paul states, “…yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16 ESV). Much ink has been spilled in church history over this topic and even Martin Luther stated, at one time, that James is an “epistle made of straw” (which he later relented over).(22) Yet under close scrutiny, both of the authors are consistent with each other. The task is complicated by the fact that both authors use the same word in Greek for “justified” (“dikaioutai” in Greek) and also appeal to the same Old Testament character for proof of their argument (Abraham in Romans 4 and James 2:21-23).(23) To solve this, one must ask themselves, “What problem is the author trying to address or solve with their claim?” (24)
We have demonstrated that James is concerned about a certain kind of faith that can save someone: a faith that is alive and moving.(25) This faith that is a saving faith is demonstrated by an outward expression. Paul’s concern for His audience is that of people that were tempted to revert back to Jewish laws for their justification in the sight of God－believing that the act itself is what saves someone.(26) Paul’s use of “justified” is used in a way that states how someone that is sinful can be made in right standing with a Holy God, while James’ use of “justified” is used to mean “demonstrate” or to “prove” something, such as proving a faith is genuine. (27)
This can be demonstrated even by the use of the same Greek word for “justified.” This same word, in different contexts, can be used to mean different things.(28) For example, the same word for “justified” is used in Matthew 11:19 ESV: “…Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”(29) A responsible scholar would not look at the words of Jesus and state that wisdom is declared in right standing in the sight of God by her actions but rather it is demonstrated to be in fact wisdom by its outward expression of wisdom.(30) James’ use of “justified,” especially while read within its context, alludes to a faith that is proven to be a real faith by the outward expression that is visible.
Abraham as an Example
Both Paul (Romans 4) and James allude to the same Old Testament character to prove their arguments. However, the way in which they use the example of Abraham argues for both of the claims they are trying to make: for Paul, a person is made in right standing with a Holy God by faith alone, and for James, true saving faith is vindicated by the fruit it bears.
In Romans 4, Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 ESV when speaking about Abraham, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” Abraham’s right standing with God (this use of the term “justified”) came from His faith in God, which is very early in Abraham’s story in Genesis. In James 2:21, the author references back to Genesis 22 as Abraham offers up Isaac as a sacrifice. James’ reference comes seven chapters later than Paul’s reference (many years later) and in context, the reference can be seen that James is using his example of Abraham to show that this action proved or vindicated Abraham’s faith, as stated in James 2:22-24.(31) James demonstrates that his message is not in conflict with Paul’s message of justification by faith alone but rather Abraham’s faith was demonstrated outwardly by his actions in Genesis 22. Thus, we can conclude that both Paul and James are discussing two different facets of our faith: one is discussing how we are made righteous before a holy God and the other is the outward expressions of that event that took place (and continues to change the individual). (32)
Abuse of Justification by Faith Alone
Paul himself understood that the doctrine of justification by faith alone would be abused by people (Romans 6:1-2, 15). Whether intentional or not, James helps the audience to see the relationship of the fruit that is born by true saving faith. We should be so gracious to have the Book of James in our canon to help shape our theology in such a well-rounded fashion! That is not to say that Paul himself did not believe in the outward expression of a truly regenerated person, quite the contrary (Romans 3:8, 1 Corinthians 6:12).(33) We observe this fact in Philippians 2:12-13 ESV: “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Paul calls his audience to truly work out their salvation in a temporal sense, yet who causes the working and the means for working? God Himself. All of this is echoing what James teaches in his letter. Paul and James are completely congruent with each other, only if one has eyes to see and ears to hear it.
How to Teach This Topic
The way in which I would teach/preach this passage would be similar to the format of this paper. James 2:14-26 has to be taught in context that extends the train of thought from James 1:22. A grasp on the original meaning, author, audience, and setting must be made to truly understand the passage. Then, I would present the conflict that has been brought up in church history with particular verses like Galatians 2:16 and James 2:24. To stand these verses up next to each shows the conflict at hand, but then an attempt to truly exegete the two passages has to be made. The Book of James has to be shown so that the progressive flow and then even his reference to Abraham is truly not contradicting Paul but is saying something completely different than Paul (while even using the same word in Greek!). With careful treatment of the writings of both of these inspired writers, the audience can be shown textual proof that there is not a quarrel between the two authors but rather agreement and are even complimentary to each other.
Conclusion
In conclusion, since the Reformation, seldom has one passage in Scripture brought up more controversy in the church than James 2:14-26.(34) However, the goal of this paper was to show that this conflict is not truly grounded. The purpose of this paper was to discuss: the main point of James 2:14-26, how James develops and argues his main point in the passage, what the relationship between faith and works is, how this passage is consistent with Paul and how the passage does not contradict Pauline teaching (justification by faith alone), and finally, how this passage could be taught or preached. The study of James 2:14-26 and subsequently Paul and James’ theologies has been a tremendous joy and will help me with shepherding others in helping them understand this difficult passage.
Footnotes
1. R.C. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 1), accessed March 8, 2023, https://www.ligonier.org
/learn/series/themes-from-james/faith-and-works-part-1
2.Karen Jobes, Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles, (Michigan, Zondervan,
2011), 150-158.
3. Tim Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 3rd ed., (Oregon, BibleProject, 2020), 138-139.
4. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 138-139.
5. Jobes, Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles, 162.
6. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 138-139.
7. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 138-139.
8. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 138-139.
9. George H. Guthrie, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews, James, Ed. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, (Michigan, Zondervan, 2006), 238.
10. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 138-139.
11. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 18-19.
12. John Piper, Does James Contradict Paul?, accessed March 7, 2023, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages
/does-james-contradict-paul
13. Mackie, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 138-139.
14. R. C. Sproul, Paul vs. James?: Justified by Faith Alone with R.C. Sproul, accessed Marc 7, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HMb9YjRq8Q
15. Guthrie, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews, James, 239.
16. Guthrie, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews, James, 239-240.
17. R.C. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2), accessed March 9, 2023, https://www.ligonier.org
/learn/series/themes-from-james/faith-and-works-part-2
18. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, 2nd ed., (Michigan, Zondervan, 2020), 894-895.
19. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
20. Guthrie, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews, James, 238.
21. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
22. Sproul, Paul vs. James?: Justified by Faith Alone with R.C. Sproul.
23. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
24. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
25. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
26. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
27. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
28. Piper, Does James Contradict Paul?
29. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
30. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2).
31. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, 894.
32. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, 894.
33. Guthrie, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews, James, 241.
34. Sproul, Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 1).
Bibliography
Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, 2nd ed., (Michigan,
Zondervan, 2020).
Guthrie, George H., The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews, James, Ed. Tremper Longman
III and David E. Garland, (Michigan, Zondervan, 2006).
Jobes, Karen, Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles, (Michigan,
Zondervan, 2011).
Mackie, Tim, Read Scripture: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, 3rd ed., (Oregon,
BibleProject, 2020).
Piper, John, Does James Contradict Paul?, accessed March 7, 2023, https://www.desiringgod
.org/messages/does-james-contradict-paul
Sproul, R. C., Paul vs. James?: Justified by Faith Alone with R.C. Sproul, accessed March 7,
2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HMb9YjRq8Q
Sproul, R. C., Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 1), accessed March 8, 2023,
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/themes-from-james/faith-and-works-part-1
Sproul, R. C., Themes from James: Faith and Works (Part 2), accessed March 9, 2023,
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/themes-from-james/faith-and-works-part-2
