James 2 Footnotes

2:14-26 Many skeptics argue that a contradiction exists between Paul’s statement that “a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Rm 3:28; see 4:5-6; Gl 2:16) and the teaching of James that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (Jms 2:24). These positions, however, actually complement one other.

Paul and James addressed different situations. On the one hand, Paul refuted a Jewish legalism holding that one must observe the law’s requirements in order to be saved. James, on the other hand, opposed an antinomianism that was twisting faith in Christ so much that no expression of works was necessary.

Moreover, when Paul used the word justified, he meant “saved” or “declared righteous,” whereas James meant “vindicated” or “authenticated.” By works, Paul meant “works of the law,” whereas James meant works that faith produces.

In light of the above, Paul was saying that one is declared righteous by God apart from the works of the law. James, by contrast, was saying that a person’s faith produces works that vindicate his faith in Christ as genuine. James used Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac (vv. 21-23; see Gn 22:9) and Rahab’s protection of the spies (Jms 2:25; see Jos 2) as examples showing how works authenticate the reality of faith in God. For James, faith without works was clearly worthless (Jms 2:14-19,26). Authentic faith will bear the fruit of good works. This understanding of the relationship between faith and works is consistent with multiple statements by Paul (Rm 2:17-25; 12:1-2; Gl 5:6; 1Th 1:3).