James 2:17

In today’s scripture from St. James, we come across an apparent contradiction regarding a truth that is relevant to salvation, one that is so central to the Christian faith that it brought a major split in the Church and still continues to divide Protestants and Catholics. The apparent contradiction centers on the words of St. Paul in Romans 3:28. “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” Martin Luther who began the protestant reformation understood this as meaning that we are saved by “faith alone.” Luther was so convinced of the importance of this viewpoint that he included the word “alone” in his own translation of Romans 3:28, even though it is not in the original Greek text.

How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction between St. Paul’s teaching that we are justified by faith apart from good works and that of James who says that faith without works is dead?

A problem that many Christians today still have, is that of confusing justification with salvation. If we keep in mind that God who justified us by faith does not save us by faith alone, we will appreciate that we must bear fruit that results in good works; fruit befitting repentance or the risk of damnation on the last day (see Matthew 7:16-23; John 15:1-2)

The meaning of works is another source of confusion on the issue of faith and works. There are two kinds of works mentioned in the New Testament letters of St. Paul. There are works of the law (erga nomou), mentioned in Romans and Galatians, and there are good works (erga agatha), mentioned only in Ephesians. Understanding the difference between these two kinds of works is important to reconcile what St. James and St. Paul are saying.

Works of the law are actions that are neither morally good nor bad in themselves, because they are performed simply to observe a law. Such actions include keeping the Sabbath, circumcision, and avoiding certain meats.

Good works, on the other hand, are works that are good in themselves because we benefit from them; such as, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick.

St. Paul explains that works of the law do not bring justification. In no way does he condemn good works. Good works are necessary for authentic Christian living since, as St. James tells us, faith without good works is dead (James 2:17), and St. Paul also reminds us in the letter to Corinthians that love is the greatest of the Christian virtues. (1 Cor. 13:13)

The entire Bible is in support of St. James’ emphasis on the necessity of faith and good works for Christian living. The account of the Last Judgment given to us in Matthew 25 shows that it is based on good works: “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. … Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)
Let us pray for the conviction then, to translate our faith into deeds since, as Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who hears my word and puts it into practice.

Fr. Hugh Duffy