Dear Friend,
Thank you for your letter asking about the apparent contradiction between Paul’s comments on faith in Romans 1:7, “The just shall live by faith,” and in Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” and James’ comments on faith in James 2:18, “…shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works,” and in James 2:14-16, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
The answer lies, as it so often does, in the context. Paul is answering Job’s question “…how should man be just with God?” (Job 9:2). His answer is plain. Faith alone in the Word of God alone. He goes on to prove that this has always been the case by showing that Abraham himself was counted just in the court of heaven by faith in God before ever the ceremonial law, embodied in the rite of circumcision, was introduced. Therefore he was not justified by the deeds of the law but “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” Romans 4:3.
James on the other hand is concerned to answer the question, What is true faith? Is a mere verbal profession of faith – “though a man say he hath faith” – sufficient? Such faith is no better than mere verbal goodwill is to someone who is hungry and needs food, and cold and needs clothing (verse 16). The devils themselves have this bare belief in God. A living faith on the other hand will show itself by works of love as Abraham’s faith did when he was prepared to offer up his beloved son Isaac as an act of faith which demonstrated that he loved God more than he loved his son (verse 21).
In summary, Paul speaks of faith as the essential banknote of heaven while James holds up this banknote to the light to show the authenticating watermark “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was his faith made perfect” (verse 22). Paul speaks of the faith that justifies, James of the faith that is justified.
The Puritan, Thomas Manton, has an excellent commentary on the Epistle of James (pages 231-270) in volume 4 of his collected works (also published as a separate volume by the Banner of Truth Trust).
You raise an interesting question on the Roman Catholic view of the above which I hope to take up in a further letter DV.
Kindest regards,
Yours very sincerely,
James Tallach