Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 73:1 (NA 2022)
Article: The Perfect Law Of Liberty On Poverty And Wealth: A Precursor To Paul?
Author: Craig L. Blomberg

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The Perfect Law Of Liberty On Poverty And Wealth: A Precursor To Paul?¹

Craig L. Blomberg

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament
Denver Seminary
[email protected]

Abstract

Even as other tensions are resolved, some scholars continue to pit James against Paul with respect to their views on poverty and wealth. This paper first summarises the main contributions of James to the topic. It then asks how far back in the letter-writing ministry of Paul can parallels to James be found. Recognising that relative chronologies usually remain unaltered even if the deutero-Paulines are deemed pseudonymous, the survey looks at the key texts in the Pastorals, the Prison Epistles, 1–2 Corinthians and Romans, the Thessalonian letters, and Galatians. It finds the most striking and informative parallel at the earliest point in the sequence, in Galatians 2:10. While acknowledging other possibilities, the study suggests that the most natural source for most of Paul’s teaching on poverty and wealth is, or is mediated by, James. The two authors also agree on what may be the unifying theme of New Testament theology – fulfilment of the Law – expressed in both of these writers particularly in the command to love one’s neighbour, which directly affects matters of care for the impoverished. A wedge should not be inserted between Paul and James on poverty and wealth; rather, they demonstrate striking similarities.

1. Introduction1

Mentioning Paul and James together in the same phrase often makes many readers automatically recall the Reformation-era debate about faith and works. Do those two writers2 not fundamentally contradict one another on the way of

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salvation? While some scholars still make this affirmation,3 a large swathe today recognise that the terms are being used differently in each corpus and that rapprochement between the two can be achieved. Joachim Jeremias put it as simply and memorably as anyone in the mid-1950s when he explained that Paul was using the terms to refer to Christian faith and Jewish works, while James was referring to Jewish faith and Christian works.4 Despite the last half-millennium of scholarly preoccupation with this issue, today at last the recognition that several other topics prove even more central for James seems widespread.

The structure of the epistle, in fact, discloses the three main themes....