James 2
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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Overview James continues his series of tests that validate whether our salvation is real. He starts with the test of favoritism.
We fulfill the royal law when we love like God loves. James also shows us what dead faith looks like and here he addresses the
role of works and faith. This has confused many in the church and some have said that Paul and James are at odds with each other.
Calvin went as far as saying that James was an epistle of straw and rejected it as part of the canon of scripture.
The Evil of Favoritism (2:1-13)
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
Q: Think of God’s attributes. Do we consider impartiality?
Attributes Holiness, Righteousness, Omnipotence (all-powerful)
Omniscience (all-knowing), Omnipresence (all-being)
Impartiality (Deut 1:17)
17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’
Jehoshaphat King Jehoshaphat instructed the judges he appointed to show impartiality (2 Chron 19:7)
One of the good kings of Judah along with Abijah, Uzziah, Jotham (co-regent), Hezekiah and Josiah
— Only 6 good kings out of 20!
7 Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
Partiality Do not show partiality in judgment (Prov 24:23) It is not good to show partiality
— NT is also clear (Rom 2:9-11) For there is no partiality with God
23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
A series of Tests 1. How we respond to Trials (1:3-12)
2. How we respond to Temptation (1:13-18)
3. How we respond to God’s Word (1:19-27)
4. How we respond to Favoritism (2:1-13)
Inconsistent with our faith
Serious sin Favoritism is a serious sin
— It is in conflict with Salvation (Lev 19:15; Prov 24:23, 28:21; James 2:9)
Favoritism is different than honoring someone
Q: Who should we honor?
We should honor the elderly
— Those that are elderly (Lev 19:32)
— Those in church and society; pastors and elders (1 Tim 5:17)
— Governing authorities (Rom 13:1-5)
32 ‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
(2:1) with partiality
προσωπολημψία (prosōpolēmpsia), partiality, judging on outward appearance without respect to merit, ability, character
Impartial Impartial about the time of salvation
— Parable of the workers in the field (Matt 20:1-16)
— Time, wealth, status does not matter with respect to salvation (Matt 20:16)
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Impartial about the place of Christ’s birth
— Not born in the great city of Jerusalem
— Born in Nazareth the city of Bethlehem
— Nathaniel's question "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46)
Impartial about His lineage
— The Great: Abraham, David, Solomon
— Incestuous: Tamar the prostitute who seduced Judah (Gen 38:13-30)
— Prostitute: Rehab
— The outcast: Ruth
— Adulteress: Bathsheba with David
Everyone has a Story
2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
χρυσοδακτύλιος (chrysodaktylios), with a gold ring
— Lit. gold-fingered
λαμπρός (lampros), bright; shining, brilliant
Visitor An imaginary man
— unbeliever who is asked to sit in the front
— The sin is not in wearing nice clothes or old clothes
Most people sat on the floor or stood as there was limited number of seats
— We all have the same new clothes in Christ (Gal 3:26-28)
Footstool (2:3) sit her at my footstool
— A double sign of disrespect
4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
(2:4) evil thoughts
— Not implying poor hospitality
— based on evil motives
— strongest word for evil
Evil (1:21) κακία (Kakia) wickedness
(3:26) φαῦλος (phaulos), worthless; bad; evil
(2:4; 4:16) πονηρός (ponēros) strongest vicious evil, wicked
Is there ever a good form of Favoritism?
Good The only type of favoritism that is good favors others above ourselves (Phil 2:3)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Partiality is inconsistent with God’s choosing the Poor
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
The poor God choose the poor to be rich in faith; heirs of the kingdom
— Take care of the poor and God will take care of you (Ps 41:1)
1 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
Elect God’s elect are predominately poor (Ps 113:7-8)
7 He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, 8 That He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people.
Disdain If we disdain the poor, we disdain God (Prov 21:13, Prov 28:27)
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
Q: Do we give to beggars?
Yes Give to everyone who asks of you (Luke 6:30)
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Salvation Kingdom and Salvation
— Present sense and future sense
— No poor in heaven; no second class
— All spiritually blessed, all rich in what matters
— cf. Matt 19:23-24, 28-30, 16-17
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
καταδυναστεύω (katadynasteuō), oppress; exploit, tyrannize, inordinate power over others
— The rich take advantage of you financially
— drag you into civil court; take all your money and cause misery
— belittle you; mock your faith in Christ
Review Partiality 1. Contrary to God’s character
2. Inconsistent with our Christian Faith (2:11)
3. And inconsistent with God choosing the poor
4. Inconsistent with the royal law
The Royal Law
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;
Supreme The Royal law is supreme; binding and authoritative
— His Word and the Royal law are synonymous
Love When you love God you don’t break any commandments
— Assumes perfect devotion; obedience
Neighbor Love your neighbor perfectly (Lev 19:18)
— You’ll never offend your neighbor
— Love one another (John 13:34)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Royal Law Jesus called it the second greatest commandment (Matt 22:37-39)
— Royal law (Lev 19:18)
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
(2:8) you do well;
— better translated, you do excellently
— Loving this way loves the way that God loves
— Entertain angels (Heb 13:2)
— One day the Lord will say, “well done”
2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
What does your habitual favoritism say about you
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
(2:9) but if
“if “ could be translated “since” which would change the meaning
Evidence for Loving one’s neighbor is evidence for salvation
Against Habitual partiality is evidence against salvation
Q: To ponder: Is partiality linked to racism ?
Keep the whole law
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Keep the whole law (2:10) We are obligated to keep the whole law
— The law is not proportional; you’re not “good” if you break a little and bad if you break a lot
— Break one point and you have broken all of it
— All of us are guilty of breaking the law; only takes one sin to become a law breaker
— The illustration in 2:11
The illustration (2:11)
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Two sins Adultery & Murder; very serious sins
— Both carried death sentence
— God’s standard for perfection (Matt 5:48)
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Law of liberty
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
Imputed The law of liberty frees us from bondage, judgment
— Frees us to obey and live faithfully
— imputed righteousness
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
No Mercy No mercy = no saving faith
— Your mercy towards others testifies to your saving faith
Forgiveness Greatest illustration is the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
— Father represents God
— He forgives totally, eagerly, lavishly
Corollaries Two (2) important corollaries:
#1 if God is never more like Himself when He forgives, man is never more like God when he forgives
— We are like God when we forgive others (Prov 19:11)
#2 (2:13) God’s forgiveness of us is based on our forgiveness of others (James 2:13, Matt 6:14-15)
No Forgiveness God will not forgive you if you do not forgive others
Paradox We are fully forgiven (Eph 1:7)
But still need ongoing forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
Result We forfeit blessings and invite chastening when we do not forgive others
Dead Faith (2:14-20)
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
Q: How do you define faith?
Q: How would you explain to a child why we do “good works”?
NT Examples NT examples of Dead Faith
— Pharisees and Sadducees counted on their heritage (Matt 3:7-9)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Inner Light Your inner light will shine out as good deeds (Matt 5:16)
— He did not entrust himself to some men (John 2:23-25)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
Fake Disciple A disobedient life is proof of a fake disciple (cf. John 8:24, 31)
24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
Works don’t save You cannot be saved by works (Eph 2:8-9)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Dead Faith But faith without works is dead faith
(2:17) Thus also faith by itself if it does not have works is dead
— It costs us nothing to become a Christian but everything to live fully as one
3 Characteristics of Dead Faith
1. Empty confession (2:14)
2. False compassion (2:15-17)
3. Shallow conviction (2:18-20)
Empty Confession (2:14)
(2:14) he has faith
— Person believes the basic truths about salvation
— Orthodoxy is not the question
— Has no works
— Continually lacks evidence to support their claim of faith
(2:14) but does not have works?
— No particular kind of work is mentioned
— Obviously refers to righteous works
— Behavior conforming to God’s word
Works Works already mentioned by James:
(1:3) Endurance
(1:12) Perseverance under trials
(1:21) Purity of life
(1:22-23) Obedience to scripture
(1:27) Compassion for the needy
(2:1-9) Impartiality
(2:15) Acts of compassion
(3:2-12) Control of the tongue
(4:6,10) Humility
(4:11) Truthfulness
(5:8) Patience
(2:14) Can faith save him?
No! You cannot add works to faith to save him
— The other way around
— Genuine faith will result in good works
— Jesus said, Take the branch that has no fruit, cut it down, tie it up, and throw it in the fire (John 15:6)
Fruitless That fruitless branch is a Judas Branch
— Outwardly attached but no life flow
— Can that kind of faith save him?
Q: Are James and Paul in conflict ?
No Paradox Not in conflict
— Not standing face to face
— Standing back to back
— Paul opposes works-righteousness legalism
— James opposes easy believism
— Both say that we will be judged based on what we have done
Agreement Paul and James are in agreement; judged based on works (Rom 2:6-10; 13-16)
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Jesus said Jesus said, don’t marvel at this (John 5:28-29)
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Paul do good Paul said, we are saved but should do good works (Eph 2:10; Eph 2:8-10; Titus 2:7)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Deny Christ You deny Christ by your works! (Titus 1:6)
6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
False Compassion (2:15-17)
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
False Compassion Dead faith is like false words of compassion
— May sound nice but empty, no genuine sincerity
(2:15) naked and destitute
— naked, poorly clothed
— destitute, not starving but just enough food
Same thing Jesus said the same thing (1 John 3:17)
— How can you call yourself a new man, a Christian
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
(2:16) Depart in peace, be warmed and filled
— Totally heartless
— Equivalent of “God bless you!”
— Middle, passive voice; Lit. Go warm yourself, I hope someone will feed you
— Even more cruel
Samaritan The good Samaritan taught
— Help anyone until their needs are meet
— Jesus taught a special obligation to help unbelievers; Sheep and Goat (Matt 25:31-41; 45)
Shallow Conviction
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Practical (2:18) True faith has practical evidence
— You can’t show faith without works
— Faith without works is not saving faith (2:14)
False confidence Jesus warned against false confidence in salvation (Matt 7:21)
— Warned against easy believism
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
(2:19) You believe that there is one God.
— Similar to Deut 6:4-5
— Without obedience Deut 6:5 is just empty words
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
(2:19) Even the demons believe—and tremble!
φρίσσω (phrissō), shudder, tremble
— At least the demons are realistic
— They know what’s coming; more sensible than many with false faith
— Eternal torment awaits (Matt 8:29-31; Mark 5:7; Acts 19:15)
Orthodoxy
You believe basic orthodoxy, “you do well”
— sarcastic
— The demons believe - and tremble!
— Many give mental assent to God, Christ, facts of the gospel
— Demons believe everything orthodox
What the Demons believe
— Deity of Christ
— Death on the cross for the sins of the world
— Earth created in 6 days
— Deity of God and a coming day of judgment
— All demons could sign the doctrinal statement of Journey of Faith
— There are no heretical demons
— They believe everything orthodox and they shudder; bristle, hair stands on end
— Men have intellectual faith; demons have emotional faith
— Men have no fear of God (Rom 3:18) ; Demons fear God
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
(2:20) Dead faith
Simon, the Magician (Acts 8:18-23)
— Believed Philip’s preaching about the kingdom but did not have saving faith
— His knowledge about God was right, but Philip warned him that his heart was not right before God
— His faith was dead
Living Faith James (2:21-24)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Both James and Paul use Abraham as examples of Faith and thus this has lead many into confusion about the role of works and faith
(2:21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
— This verse was a stumbling block for Martin Luther
Luther — He called James “an epistle of straw”
I think highly of the epistle of James, and regard it as valuable although it was rejected in early days. It does not expound human doctrines, but lays much
emphasis on God's law. …I do not hold it to be of apostolic authorship. (William Barclay)
— For Luther some books had more doctrinal value than other; he placed Hebrews, Revelation, James and Jude (disputed books) at the end of his
1522 translation
Paul vs James
Paul Paul talked wrote about the means of salvation
James James is referring to the outcome of salvation; the proof; tests of salvation
OT vs NT Salvation
Both saved the same way through Faith
— Gen 15:6 And he believed in the Lord and He accounted it to him for righteousness
— Hebrews 11:4 - by Faith
— Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Walls of Jericho fell
Confusion This has confused many in the church
— Justification by faith pertains to our standing before God
— Justification by works pertains to our standing before men
— James says that salvation is God’s gracious gift (James 1:17-18) ; of his own will He brought us forth
— James 1:23 quotes Gen 15:6 - imputed righteousness
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Paul Paul taught justified by grace through Faith
— Rom 4:1-15; Gal 3:6-9
— Offering Isaac vindicated his faith; Paul agreed
— Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
Common Enemy Isn’t Paul saying “no works” and James saying “works”
— Both are fighting a common enemy
— Paul addresses those who say that salvation is by works says that salvation is only by grace through faith
— James is saying that salvation by grace through faith produces good works
— James addressing those who say that Salvation demands nothing
— Paul is against legalism
— James is against libertinism
Calvin Faith alone justifies but the faith that justifies is never alone
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
(2:22) NIV and NASB are better translations; KJV, NKJV have confused many
— You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did (NIV)
— You see that faith was working with his works, and [a]as a result of the works, faith was [b]perfected; (NASB)
— You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works (ESV)
— Not salvation + Works
— Faith is perfected, complete when it produces godly fruit for which it was designed (Eph 2:10)
Abraham believed Without Christ no one is saved (Matt 10:32; John 8:56; Ro 10:9-10; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21)
— Abraham believed that God would send a savior (John 8:56; Heb 11:13)
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(2:25) Rahab; immoral women was also justified (Josh 2:9-12)
— She reported the spies had left
— She trusted God; obedient; therefore justified by works
— When she has an opportunity to trust in the Lord, she placed her life on the line
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
(2:24) You see Applies to Abraham
— Abraham acted on Faith
— James does not say that Abraham was justified by works
— God justifies the sinner; the sinner never justifies himself by works (here the RCC entangles itself)
— James cannot mean that Abraham justified by works for reasons already given
1) Salvation is a gracious gift (1:17; 1:18)
2) He quotes Gen 15:6
3) The work was his offering Isaac (Gen 22:9) which happened many years after he was declared righteous (Gen 12:1-7)
Additional Resources
Martin Luther, as quoted by William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series, The Letters of James and Peter, Revised Edition, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 1976, p. 7.