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Paul's Faith vs Jame's Works

Paul's Faith vs Jame's Works Is there a contradiction in the Bible? Some would argue and say, “Yes” there is one that I know of and it is that of Paul and James. Paul says, “   For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28) and also “Abraham believed i

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Paul’s Faith vs Jame’s Works

Is there a contradiction in the Bible? Some would argue and say, “Yes” there is one that I know of and it is that of Paul and James. Paul says, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28) and also “Abraham believed in God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3). James says something which seems completely opposite of Paul and says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone [italicsadded] (James 2:21-24). So, the question, is a man justified by works or by faith?

What is amazing about these two men is that they both appeal to Abraham as their evidence of the point they are trying to make! Paul points out that salvation and justification is by faith alone and references Genesis 15:6 where James on the other hand points to the proof of that salvation in testing referring to Genesis 22:1. “The issue is the test: was Abraham’s faith the living kind of faith that produces the obedience of faith or the dead kind that has no effect on life” (Piper, 1999). Paul taught the same proof of salvation being that the evidence is love (Galatians 5:6). John Calvin said, “It appears certain that [James] is speaking of the manifestation, not of the imputation of righteousness (Beveridge, 1966).

Paul’s point is that salvation is not earned by works and James point is the proof of salvation can be manifested and made know by your works. These two are not contradictory, but rather complementary. Just because one has lip service towards Christ does not mean that person is saved. A truly regenerated person will honor Christ with his lips but also back up his faith with love and works. This was simply the point James is trying to drive home that just because a person says he is a Christian does not mean anything! Even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). “Genuine trust involves not merely the mind but the whole person. Paul and James agree that authentic trust in Christ results in good works” (Elwell, & Yarbrough, 2013; Eph. 2:10; 1 Thess. 1:3).

McQuilkin and Copan (2014) sum up this difference beautifully, “The difference between Paul and James consists in the sequence of works and conversion: Paul denies that works have any merit for acceptance in God’s eyes before conversion; James is pleading for the absolute necessity of post-conversion works” (p. 166).

Paul and James or not contradictory but rather complementary on this issue.

References

Beveridge, H. (1966) John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion 3:17:12. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2: 115.

Elwell, W. A., & Yarbrough, R. W. (2013).Encountering the New Testament: A historical and theological survey(3rd ed.). Grand Rapids: MI. Baker Academic.

McQuilkin, R., & Copan, P. (2014). An introduction to Biblical ethics: Walking in the way of wisdom(Third ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Piper, J. (2018). Does James contradict Paul? Retrieved from https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/does-james-contradict-paul