A Living Faith Evidenced in Works of Obedience: Part 1 (James 2:14–26)
James 2:14–26 is at the heart of James’ theological thrust. Yet, in the outline of the book, this passage is a clarification that continues to press home the main point found in James 1:19–27 (being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only) and the three prime examples which apply that main point in 2:1–13; 3:1–18; 4:1ff., respectively.
The book of James can be outlined as follows:
James: Tests of a Living Faith
· A Living Faith Evidenced in One’s Response to Trials (James 1:1-18)
· A Living Faith Evidenced in One’s Response to the Word/Law (James 1:19-27)
o Prime Example 1: Refraining from Partiality (James 2:1–13. expanding on James 1:27)
o Prime Example 2: Displaying Wise Speech and Conduct (James 3:1–18expanding on James 1:26)
o Prime Example 3: Turning from Worldliness (4:1ff., expanding on James 1:27)
Where does 2:14–26 fit into this outline? This pericope seems to answer a challenge to James’ main point. James responds with a defense of his theology regarding the relation of faith and works and especially the warning about judgment in James 2:12–13. It is an interruption between the first and second examples, but one that must occur so that he can keep pressing home his examples of being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only who has deceived himself with a false or dead faith.
Do we really have to face judgment for our works? Aren’t we saved by faith alone through grace alone so that we need not fear judgement (Romans 8:1)?
Several approaches can be taken to carefully interpret James 2:14–26. One approach is theological, comparing Paul and James. Another approach is to carefully interpret the words and phrases in each verse in the passage. We’ll begin with the broader theology in order to get an accurate larger picture of Paul’s agreement with James. Any apparent disagreement is due to reading words and phrases out of context along with a very narrow reading of Paul’s theology. The chart below succinctly summarizes the theology of Paul and James.
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| Paul | James | |
| Question | How is one saved? How is a sinner justified before God? | What kind of faith justifies? |
| Answer | By faith alone apart from works (Romans 3:24–4:25; 8:1; Galatians 2:16, 21; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; et al) | Only a genuine Faith evidenced by works (James 2:14–26)
Paul’s agreement with James may be seen in Romans 6:1–2, 15, 18–23; 8:5, 13; Galatians 2:17–20; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 1:16; 2:11–14; 3:8. |
| Focus | Salvation/Justification | Regeneration/Sanctification |
| Combatting | Legalism/Works Salvation | License/Dead Orthodoxy |
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Two well-known commentators support this theological comparison between Paul and James:
The readers of the letter, scattered by persecution into areas near Antioch, have become acquainted with a perverted form of the Pauline viewpoint, with the slogan “faith alone justifies” as its hallmark. James writes, then, to counter this false view of the relationship between faith, works, and salvation. James and Paul, when properly interpreted in their own contexts, are not opposed to one another on this point. They give the appearance of a conflict because they are writing from very different vantage points in order to combat very different problems.1
They are not antagonists facing each other with crossed swords; they stand back to back, confronting different foes of the Gospel.”* Paul is combatting a Jewish legalism that insisted upon the need for works to be justified; James insists upon the need for works in the lives of those who have been justified by faith. Paul insists that no man can ever win justification through his own efforts but must accept by faith the forgiveness that God offers him in Christ Jesus. James demands that the man who already claims to stand in right relationship with God through faith must by a life of good works demonstrate that he has become a new creature in Christ. With this, Paul thoroughly agreed. Paul was rooting out “works” that excluded and destroyed saving faith; James was stimulating a sluggish faith that minimized the results of a saving faith in dally life. “Both James and Paul view good works as the proof of faith not the path to salvation.2
James’ main point in James 2:14–26 is that faith without works is dead/useless (James 2:17, 20, 26). What good is it (James 2:14, 16)? James 2:15–17 reinforces James 2:1–13: how you treat the righteous poor amongst the brethren evidences real faith or not. James 2:14–26 also reinforces the larger point in James 1:22–27: a hearer only (faith without works of obedience/doing) is self-deceived—has a dead faith. James refutes a misapplication of faith alone: that faith can be void of any transformation in how a person lives (James 2:18, 24).
“Obedience to the Word…is a necessary mark of authentic Christianity.” (Moo, 120)
The chart below is from Bible Doctrines Teacher Edition (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2022).3 Note that Paul’s focus in Romans 3–4 (see the left side of the chart) is on justification. James’ focus in James 2 (see the right side of the chart) is on regeneration/sanctification. These aspects of saving faith do not contradict but harmonize.
In the next post we’ll take a closer look at the actual words and phrases to rightly interpret James’ argument in James 2:14–26.
Kevin Collins has served as a junior high youth leader in Michigan, a missionary in Singapore, a Christian School teacher in Utah, and a Bible writer for the BJU Press. He currently works for American Church Group of South Carolina.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash