Journal: Chafer Theological Seminary Journal
Volume: CTSJ 06:2 (Apr 2000)
Article: Faith Without Works: A Definition
Author: John Niemelä

CTSJ 6:2 (April 2000) p. 2

Faith Without Works: A Definition 1

John Niemelä*

[*Editor's note: John Niemelä received a B.A. (University of Minnesota), and earned the Th.M. and Ph.D. degrees in New Testament Literature and Exegesis from Dallas Theological Seminary. John is Professor of Hebrew and Greek at Chafer Theological Seminary. His email address is [email protected].]

Introduction

Since Martin Luther’s time, the second chapter of James has been a source of more theological firestorms than almost any other chapter or book of the Bible. Evangelicals have generally recognized the need to avoid saying that faith plus works yields eternal justification before God. Nevertheless, most efforts to reconcile the seeming contradiction between the writings of Paul and James have introduced an inconsistent and conflicting theology into the book of James.

Numerous passages from Paul indicate that works have nothing to do with eternal justification: Compare the following Scriptures from Paul and James.

The apostle Paul writes:

Romans 3:20, 28: Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin…. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Galatians 2:16: … knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Ephesians 2:8–9: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

CTSJ 6:2 (April 2000) p. 3

However, the apostle James writes:

James 2:21–22: Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

James 2:14 and 2:24: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? … You see then that a man is justified by works, and not

only