JAMES OR PAUL

WORKS, OR LAW OR FAITH

John Stone

 

Many bible scholars say that the author of the Book of James describes the actual teachings of Jesus. If James were indeed the brother of Jesus the Jew, that would appear to validate this claim. However, James addressed Jews, who were under the law for over 1,300 years. Paul addressed non-Jews.

The author of James stated that in his opinion, Jews ("Abraham our father ") could not be justified1 by faith alone. This stands in direct conflict with Paul who was teaching and recruiting non-Jews. So under Jesus new theology, Jews will have yet another (new) "covenant" which is different than non-Jews ― who are considered heathens by Jews? Doesn’t the Christian creed state that the Holy Spirit was the author of “everything” in the New Testament? 2 Therefore, how can James and Paul both be speaking the word of the  Christian God―Invisible Man in the Sky?

The answer is really simple. James was simply following Jesus direct charge;

" ... Jesus ... commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not;  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 10:5-6 KJV)

Whereas Paul, in his ganja induced visions, expanded his sales route, eh mission:

 "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Study the following verses and then ask yourself:

·       Did the author of James make it seem that the theology he discussed is more in line with that of Jesus, as quoted in Matthew, than Paul?

·       Did Paul invent a proselytizing mission which was the exact opposite of Jesus'?

These verses show that James did not advocate doing away with the Hebrew Law, but went out of his way to claim that without the Law, “faith” is dead. Whereas, Paul, preaching to Jews and non-Jews, stated that “faith” was all that was needed and the Law was dead. We Report―You Decide!

Paul writes:
”Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20    (KJV)

James, in contradiction, writes:
”If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:8-12 (KJV)

James believed in these Laws and was warning Jews against not keeping them.

James continues more plainly when speaking about works vs. faith, but he was speaking to the JewsAbraham our father not gentiles:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:14, 17-18 (KJV)

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:20-26 (KJV)

What did Paul, addressing all men, say about faith and the law?

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28 (KJV)

On the other hand, if James was really Jesus’ brother, logically you would think he spent enough time with Jesus to hear what was  supposedly taught to the Jews:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV)

History has shown that James concepts of Jesus’ theology to the Jews lost out to Paul’s all encompassing mission. This is a direct result of two Roman emperors:

·       Constantine the Great, who in 313 CE, sold Christianity to the Romans in the Edict of Milan. and

·       Theodosius I who made "Catholic" Christianity the "official" state religion of the Roman Empire on February 27, 380 CE.

 

"If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss Bank." -Woody Allen (1935-)

 

DISCLAIMER:

Citation of Hebrew scripture and sources in articles or analyses is not in any way an acceptance, approval or validation of the Jewish religion, its works or scriptures. The Hebrew bible, like the Christian New Testament, is fictitious; From a 6-day creation of the universe; a cunning, walking, talking snake; big fish tales; world flood and an "Invisible Man in the Sky" ― it is all fiction, a bold sham perpetrated on mankind.

 

FOOTNOTES:

1.  Justification, in Christian theology, is god's (Invisible Man in the Sky) act of rendering a sinner righteous before (s)he/it.

2. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:12 )

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)

 

 

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