Is it true that James contradicts Paul on Justification?

Many Christians and theologians are of the view that apostle James contradicts apostle Paul on Justification, but is this assertion true? Can James who wrote by the divine influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, write anything which is in contradiction to that of apostle Paul who aIso wrote by the leading of the same Spirit? Is God then the author of confusion? Apostle James wrote in his epistle: You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2: 24). 

Apostle James seems to be teaching that faith plus works equals justification, in antithesis to what Paul taught: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3: 28). These two texts appears to contradict each other, but the question is this, do they really contradict each other as some claim? Skeptics and enemies of the Christian faith have used these two texts as an occasion to severely criticize the bible, as containing errors and contradictions, because they failed to reconcile James and Paul on Justification, due to their lack of understanding of the subject matter. 

Even in Christianity, one eminent theologian by the name, "Martin Luther", a strong pillar in the protestant reformation rejected the epistle of James. He vehemently opposed the epistle, because to him James was at odds with Paul, and he termed the epistle of James as "epistola straminea, a chaffy epistle, an epistle of straw, fit only to be burnt". Like Luther, many of our fellow brethren in the faith are struggling to unite James with Paul. One of the laws of hermeneutics is to interpret scriptures in their context, in order to flow with the mind of the author. I must confess that of a truth, apostle James does not contradict apostle Paul on Justification, and am going to prove that to you in this article.

Apostle Paul's teaching on Justification 

Apostle Paul was a strong proponent of justification by faith alone, and he unabashedly preached it to the best of his ability. Paul's teaching on justification is in relation to God's declaration of a sinner righteous by faith in Christ Jesus. According to apostle Paul, the way to be made right with God, the way to receive the blessing of being justified is only through faith in Christ. He wrote: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3: 23-24). 

The apostle was careful to maintain that human efforts cannot contribute to justification. He clearly states in his epistles that faith in Christ was the only means of justification, and that works is excluded: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3; 28). Jesus has paid the price, his death and literal resurrection is the foundation for our justification: He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification (Romans 4; 25). Apostle Paul's exegesis on justification in his epistles, primarily is in respect to our being declared righteous by God. To dive deeper on justification, you can read my article on, "What is Justification according to the bible? for an in-depth study.

Apostle James teaching on justification 

Apostle James meaning of justification in his epistle, does not convey the same meaning as Paul's usage of justification in his epistles. The apostle used the term in the sense of a person to prove his right standing with God by good works. To James true faith in Christ must be operative in good works. He was dealing with people with passive faith, devoid of good works. 

Let us examine what he wrote in context: ''What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself'' (James 2: 14-17).

If someone professes to have faith in Christ, and yet there is no change of heart, there is no accompanying works as evidence of salvation, then according to the apostle, such faith is vain, it is useless, because faith unaccompanied by works is dead being alone. Faith without works is dead and such faith according to James cannot save

''But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2: 18-20)

It is evident that James is addressing false professors, people who gave assent to certain truth and facts about Christ, yet not from the depth of their heart. They honored Christ with their lips, but their heart was far from him. They believed in the existence of one God, and that kind of belief cannot save, for even demons believes in the existence of the one true God, and they tremble before him. He reiterated his point that the kind of faith that does not manifest itself in good works is lifeless, useless, it is a dead faith, for such faith cannot justify.

''Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone'' (James 2: 21-24).

From the history of the old testament, we understand that Abraham was justified by faith in the sight of God. And after some years later, he demonstrated the genuineness of his faith by offering up Isaac on the altar in obedience to God. So Abraham's faith was shown to be true, active and alive when he heeded to the instructions of God. Abraham's faith was perfected, it was shown to be true by his works of obedience. The works of Abraham were evidence of his justification before God by faith, and not the cause of his justification in anyway as the context teaches. The apostle also gave a reference from the old testament of how Abraham was justified before God, and accounted as righteous and that was by faith without works, see (Genesis 15; 6). Upon being justified by faith, Abraham was called the friend of God. When James says, "that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone", he means that the faith that truly justifies is not alone, but it is a faith that works through love, it is a faith that shows itself in good works.

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead (James 2: 25-26).

Rahab was justified by faith, and she proved the genuineness of her right standing with God by receiving the messengers and sending them another way. As the body is dead without the spirit is, so faith without works is dead. So it is evident that the apostle does not teach that faith plus works equals justification before God. But a careful examination reveals that he was expositing in his epistle that true faith is always backed by good works.

Paul and James does not contradict each other

It is important to know, that both apostles were writing to different audience and were addressing different issues. Apostle Paul was dealing with the legalistic Jews, who claims that justification was not by faith, but was by the works of the law. Paul in his epistles especially in Romans and Galatians, he made it clear that the law cannot justify, but only faith in Christ can give a person right standing with God. Whereas James on the other hand, was dealing with those who professes to have faith, and yet were devoid of good works to ascertain the authenticity of their faith.

 He was dealing with false professors, people who has nothing to show that they are true followers of Christ. Both apostles does not contradict each other, but rather complement each other. Paul like James wrote that the faith that justifies works through love, see (Galatians 5; 13). He also wrote that we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, see (Ephesians 2; 10). Paul taught in his epistles that we are declared righteous by faith and that good works are the fruits of our salvation. James also teaches the same thing that we are righteous by faith, and that good works are the results of our salvation. God bless you

A thought to ponder 🤔 

One of the laws of hermeneutics is to interpret scriptures in their context, in order to flow with the mind of the author

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