James 2:14-19

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.”

— ‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭19‬‬ 

So many lessons to learn from this passage (and yes it extends to the end of the chapter), both in wisdom, faith, and hermeneutics and grammar. Someday I’ll have a separate post on the functions of the article, but that really is the key here. That “the” in v. 14 has been translated by the NET as “that kind of faith.” Seems odd at first, but it’s their way of interpreting an article that points back to something previously mentioned. 

If we saw a truck drive by making a crazy sound, or a certain person in the park, or we were talking about a famous event, we could use the English article in a similar way. We wouldn’t describe the whole item or concept every time. We would just say, “the truck” or “the boy,” (or more likely, “that truck/that man/that incident”). The article can function this way in Greek.

As much as I argue for staying in one book and gleaning its themes primarily, there’s nothing to be scared of when it comes to the big “James vs. Paul” showdown. Comparing Romans 3 and James 2 can be spooky at first, but that’s only because we strip verses of their context and don’t let authors say what they want to.

James is talking to a people hurting in famine. Impoverished. Far from home (Diaspora). He’s talked a bunch to the “poor/wealthy” divide in the church already in ch 2, and now he asks how any believing individual cannot help those in need? 

Genuine faith demonstrates itself in works. Empty words mean nothing. “I’ll pray for you.” “I hope you find some clothes and food.” God bless you and your family.” That doesn’t show faith. 

The question, “Can that faith save him?” is also written in a way to expect a negative answer. No, he has the wrong kind of faith. 

Are we to judge one another’s salvation? No, probably not a good idea. Is this the metric that lets me know someone’s eternal status? Again, I’m probably not going to judge. That’s not James’s point. His conclusion is simply that believers should help other believers in need. 

If not, our so-called faith is a lot like the demons. We believe God exists and even know Jesus pretty well. But we are not willing to share His love with others.

The neat thing is that Paul has nearly identical themes in his letters. “We owe no one anything but love.” Gal 5

Doing good things can never earn God’s favor, free us from sin or death, or gain life. But once we have received His life and love, it should be impossible not to share it with others. When we receive goodness and grace, we extend it. Otherwise, pretty much every NT author should conclude it’s possible we haven’t received anything.