September 7th 2025 James ch 2 v 14 - 26
This is the best known and most widely debated passage in the epistle.
Most of the difficulties in the interpretation of 2:14-26 have arisen out of a failure to understand that:
(1) James was not disproving the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith but rather a twisting of it.
(2) Paul and James used the words works and justification in different senses.
V 14. The answer which the two questions of this verse expect is a resounding "No!"
It is important to understand that the faith under discussion is a so-called, or spurious, faith.
It is only a false faith that does not produce works and that is incapable of saving.
By works James does not have in mind the Jewish doctrine of works as a means of salvation,
but rather works of faith, the moral outworking of true piety and especially the "work of love"
V 15,16. An example is now shown
The "ill clad" and hungry person is a brother or sister, a member of the Christian community.
The needy brother is sent away with the empty words, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled,
without so much as a hand being lifted to meet his urgent needs.
James indignantly asks: "What on earth is the good of that?"
The movement from the singular to the plural (ye) may indicate that "James assumes that all members of the brotherhood would be responsible for these, callous remarks even though only one of them might speak to them"
V 17. The faith under discussion, (which is really not faith at all,) is not merely useless or unacceptable, but dead. A faith that does not concern itself, by active contribution, in the needs of others is not faith at all.
V 18. The difficulties in this verse arise out of the fact that the ancient Greek had neither punctuation nor quotation marks.
The objector is introduced by a man may say, a form often found in ancient synagogue sermons
How much of the verse is to be considered as the words of the objector is open to doubt, but it is probably best to include only, Thou hast faith, and I have works.
James disproves this attempt to separate faith and works by the challenge: Show me thy faith without thy works. This he certainly believes to be impossible.
V 19. Belief in the unity of God was a fundamental article of the creed of the Jews.
James holds that such a belief is good.
However, if it is lacking in deeds, it arises no higher than the faith of the demons.
They, too, are monotheists, but this only makes them tremble, presumably in view of God's judgment
( Mark 5 v 7; Matthew 8 v 29).
V 20. James reaches a new point in his argument with the words,
But wilt thou know.
He is now ready to present Scriptural arguments to support his case for a working faith, ,
The ASV and RSV both follow the rendering barren rather than dead, and rightly so, because the latter is the result of conforming to 2 v 26.
in this context is probably best taken to mean "unproductive of salvation."
V 21. The scriptural example given is Abraham our father.
That he was considered to be the ancestor of all true Christians is clear from Gal 3 v 6-29.
The use of the word justified here is not to be confused with Paul's use of the term in relation to Abraham
Paul points to Abraham's initial justification when he "believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness" (Gen 15 v 6).
James is referring to an event that took place many years later, when Abraham was instructed to offer up his son Isaac. By this act he demonstrated the reality of the Genesis 15 experience.
V 22. Abraham's life remarkably demonstrates the impossibility of severing faith from works, or vice versa ( 2 v 18). In his case the two went hand in hand. Works brought faith to completion.
V 23. In Abraham's act of obedience the scripture (Gen 15 v 6) was fulfilled.
Friend of God was a title commonly applied to Abraham (Isa 41 v 8; 2 Chr 20 v 7;
Imputed unto him
Imputation is the act of God whereby He accounts righteousness to the believer in Christ who has borne the believers sins in proof of the law see Philemon v 17-18
When God looks at us He sees His son Jesus
V 24. This verse is the definite reply to the question of verse 14.
Bare, unproductive faith, cannot save a man.
True faith will demonstrate itself in works, and only such a faith brings justification.
V 25. James' second Scriptural example stands in marked contrast to Abraham.
Rahab was a woman, a Gentile, and a prostitute. She was chosen to show that James' argument covered the widest ranges of possibilities
She, like Abraham, showed her justification by action ( Josh 2 v 1-21).
V 26. The concluding statement to the teaching of 2 v 14-26, shows that the relation between faith and works is as close as that between the body and the spirit.
Life is the result of the union in both instances.
When the two elements are separated, death results.
News from the Church New dates
17th September…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
1st October..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
ANSWERS TO 31st August QUESTIONS
1) Raised her from the dead 2) Restored his sight 3) Lovest thou Me 4) An angel 5) They fell asleep
6) A crown of thorns 7) An Angel 8) Because she gave all she had 9) Lamps 10) Salt
11) Garments and branches from trees 12) Camels hair 13) In the Temple 14) The East 15) Cousins 16) A manger
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is General about Acts
1 How did Stephen die?
2 What did God sent to free Paul and Silas from prison?
3 Who was the Idol worshipped by the people of Ephesus?
4 What occupation was Paul doing before he became a Christian?
5 Paul was sent as a missionary to which people?
6 Paul was bitten by what, when he was gathering sticks?
7 What was Lydias occupation ?
8 When Paul was shipwrecked on Melita how many people were drowned?
9 What vision did Stephen see before he died?
10 When in Jail what did Paul and Silas do at midnight?
11 Who were the first 2 Christian missionaries?
12 Why did Paul go to Macedonia?
13 What happened to Paul near to the island of Melita ?
14 Why was Paul taken to Rome?
15 When did the Church begin?
16 What did Peter tell the people they must do to be saved?
God Bless