Martin Luther contended that James should not be considered part of the NT Canon partly because, in his impression, James contradicts Paul's teaching that we are not saved by works. Specifically, Luther could not correlate Ephesians 2:8-9 with James 2:14-26.
--> Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. -ESV
--> James 2:14-26
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. -ESV
Now, by some it is suggested that Paul wrote Hebrews. Not even a careful study of Hebrews and James is necessary to discover that Paul{assuming that he wrote Hebrews} and James are in complete agreement. In Hebrews chapter 11 Paul addresses faith. Hebrews 11:1 begins:
--> 1 Now faith is the *substance* of things hoped for, the *evidence* of things not seen. -KJV
The Greek for *substance* is ὑπόστασις [hupostasis/G5287] and is indicative of a foundation upon which something rest secure. The Greek for *evidence* is ἔλεγχος [elegchos/G1650] and means "proof." So a faithful rendering of Hebrews 11:1 would also be:
--> "Faith is the foundation for which all that we believe rests upon; it is the proof of our conviction which cannot otherwise be seen."
Paul continues by giving examples of rewards from faith and fruit/works from faith:
--> 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain... [an example of motivation from faith]
--> 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated [an example of reward from faith]
--> 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house [an example of motivation{"moved with fear"(that is, reverent fear)} working with hope for reward{"saving of [Noah's] house"} producing obedience{ [Noah] "prepared an ark"}]
--> 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. [an example of hope for reward{"receive[ing]... an inheritance"} working with obedience{"obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went"} producing perseverance despite hardships{cf vs.9}].
From the examples Paul gives we can conclude that "faith" is much more than belief/trust/hope. Faith also consists of the "evidences"; the visible good works as proof of faith. Perhaps part of James' epistle was in response to schisms that surfaced teaching that one is saved on the merits of belief alone despite, or irrespective of, the existance/non-existance of good works. This assumption would seem to be supported by James' statement in 2:19
--> 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
As well, perhaps James in chapter 2 was drawing upon Paul's letter to the Hebrews to show that what he was saying was in total agreeance with Paul when James reiterated the examples of Abraham and Rahab{cf. Hebrews 11:8/James 2:21 and Hebrews 11:31/James 2:25}.
In conclusion, we can well see that Paul's intent was never to teach that works have nothing to do with being saved. In context, we must understand Ephesians 2:8-9 to teach that salvation is purely a gift from God... nothing we can do can ever merit deserving being saved- it is solely a work of God's grace. This grace is received{note: a gift must be received or rejected} through faith. Although good works do not save, our works manifest that we have faith; which is otherwise invisible to the world around us.
Funny{actually, NOT!}; that many who contest this doctrine of "works evidences faith=grace unto salvation" based upon Ephesians 2:8-9 seem to totally neglect Eph2:10
--> 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. -HCSB
--> Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. -ESV
--> James 2:14-26
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. -ESV
Now, by some it is suggested that Paul wrote Hebrews. Not even a careful study of Hebrews and James is necessary to discover that Paul{assuming that he wrote Hebrews} and James are in complete agreement. In Hebrews chapter 11 Paul addresses faith. Hebrews 11:1 begins:
--> 1 Now faith is the *substance* of things hoped for, the *evidence* of things not seen. -KJV
The Greek for *substance* is ὑπόστασις [hupostasis/G5287] and is indicative of a foundation upon which something rest secure. The Greek for *evidence* is ἔλεγχος [elegchos/G1650] and means "proof." So a faithful rendering of Hebrews 11:1 would also be:
--> "Faith is the foundation for which all that we believe rests upon; it is the proof of our conviction which cannot otherwise be seen."
Paul continues by giving examples of rewards from faith and fruit/works from faith:
--> 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain... [an example of motivation from faith]
--> 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated [an example of reward from faith]
--> 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house [an example of motivation{"moved with fear"(that is, reverent fear)} working with hope for reward{"saving of [Noah's] house"} producing obedience{ [Noah] "prepared an ark"}]
--> 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. [an example of hope for reward{"receive[ing]... an inheritance"} working with obedience{"obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went"} producing perseverance despite hardships{cf vs.9}].
From the examples Paul gives we can conclude that "faith" is much more than belief/trust/hope. Faith also consists of the "evidences"; the visible good works as proof of faith. Perhaps part of James' epistle was in response to schisms that surfaced teaching that one is saved on the merits of belief alone despite, or irrespective of, the existance/non-existance of good works. This assumption would seem to be supported by James' statement in 2:19
--> 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
As well, perhaps James in chapter 2 was drawing upon Paul's letter to the Hebrews to show that what he was saying was in total agreeance with Paul when James reiterated the examples of Abraham and Rahab{cf. Hebrews 11:8/James 2:21 and Hebrews 11:31/James 2:25}.
In conclusion, we can well see that Paul's intent was never to teach that works have nothing to do with being saved. In context, we must understand Ephesians 2:8-9 to teach that salvation is purely a gift from God... nothing we can do can ever merit deserving being saved- it is solely a work of God's grace. This grace is received{note: a gift must be received or rejected} through faith. Although good works do not save, our works manifest that we have faith; which is otherwise invisible to the world around us.
Funny{actually, NOT!}; that many who contest this doctrine of "works evidences faith=grace unto salvation" based upon Ephesians 2:8-9 seem to totally neglect Eph2:10
--> 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. -HCSB
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