JAMES OR PAUL
WORKS, OR LAW OR FAITH
Hugh
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, that would appear
to validate this claim. Therefore, one would think James would know more than
Paul about Jesus.
The
author of James clearly stated that you could not be justified by faith alone.
This stands in direct conflict with Paul and brings up another problem. Doesn’t the Christian creed state that the Holy Spirit was
the author of “everything” in the New Testament? 1 Therefore, how can James and Paul both be speaking the word of God?
Study
the following verses and ask yourself, did the author of James make it seem
that the theology he discussed is much more in line with that of Jesus than
Paul? Did Paul have the exact opposite position regarding Jesus than the author
of James? These verses make it clear that James did not advocate doing away
with the Law, the Torah, but went out of his way to claim that without the Law,
“faith” is dead. Whereas, Paul stated that “faith” was all that was needed and
the Law was dead. As you study this, please remember our motto here on
Christianity Revealed: 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
James,
in complete 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)
Even
though the author of James was not correct in his interpretation of the Law,
the point is, James believed in the Law of the Torah. James was warning against
not keeping God’s Laws – his Torah.
James
continues more plainly when speaking about works vs. faith:
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 say about Faith?
Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans
Another
New Testament author joins in with James against Pauls preaching of faith,
faith, faith. The author of Revelation wrote that man is judged by his works –
NOT faith!
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation
Why
would a logically thinking Christian honestly believe that Paul was taught by
Jesus AFTER Jesus’ death? How can one even begin to think that Paul’s writing
were guided by the Holy Ghost?. Other than in Paul’s writings, where in the
Christian bible is this “justification by faith” theology mandated?
On
the other hand, if James was really Jesus’ brother, you would logically think
he spent time with Jesus to hear what he taught on various topics. James’
Christianity should be far more compatible with Jesus’ teachings, than the
theology of Paul who never knew Jesus. James’ writings certainly seem more in
line with what Jesus said and in line with what Jesus thought. See below:
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)
So,
if you accept Jesus’ words as recorded by Matthew, Paul “shall be called the least
in the kingdom of heaven.” And that friends, is
straight from the horses’ mouth.
If
James concepts of Jesus’ theology had won out over Paul’s, Christianity would
be very different today. It actually would be a lot closer to the doctrine of
Judaism.
Christians
should think for themselves. Do not be blindly led by your clergy, think!
Should you believe James or Paul, knowing that Paul never met Jesus and was
never one of Jesus’ disciples?
But
we know the final results. Thanks to the ex-pagan Roman Emperor Constantine,
Paul’s pagan theology was adopted, forcing out any remaining Jews in the
Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.
FOOTNOTES:
1. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what
ye ought to say. (Luke
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
Copyright © 2003, Hugh