Don't Know Much About the Bible - Kenneth C. Davis [182]
Some modern scholars believe that James and Paul were not arguing over basic doctrine but using similar terms in different ways. James uses “works” to mean acts of charity, performed in the Jewish tradition. To Paul, “works” specifically referred to ritual aspects of Jewish Law, such as circumcision. To Paul, “faith” is a commitment to God, which inevitably produces good works. James was deriding a different kind of “faith,” which in his view was merely intellectual belief lacking true commitment. Modern scholars, unlike Martin Luther, acknowledge that Paul and James would both agree that “faith” that does not produce good deeds is false or empty faith.
In refuting that there is a difference between these two Christian leaders, historians also point out the author of James was writing out of concern that some Christians, comfortable with the idea of “faith alone,” weren’t doing their part in the nitty-gritty work of taking care of the less fortunate. But the letter raises a key question for many people. Can an evil person who gets “faith,” repents, and accepts Jesus find salvation? Or can a Nazi claim to be a Christian, as many Nazis did? The answer may lie in James’s statement “I by my works will show you my faith.” In other words, the true Christian must only do the right thing, not just pay lip service to the Lord. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. (James 1:22)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you say to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. (James 2:14-18)
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. (James 3:13-17)
• 1 & 2 Peter
In the first of two letters attributed to the apostle Peter, the author offers encouragement to “Exiles of the Dispersion,” or Jewish Christians, living in the Roman provinces in the northern part of Asia Minor and facing Roman persecution. Claiming he does not have long for this world, the author denounces false teachers and says that the expectation of Jesus’ Second Coming must never be abandoned. The Second Epistle of Peter is addressed “to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ,” or essentially to all Christians.
Did Peter really write them? Since they are written in excellent Greek, reflect knowledge of Paul’s Epistles, and cite the Greek Septuagint, instead of Hebrew scriptures, many scholars doubt that Peter, a Galilean fisherman, could have written them. The place of composition is commonly believed to have been Rome, chiefly because of the phrase, “he who is at Babylon sends you greetings.” “Babylon” was a Christian code name for Rome.
All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever. (1 Peter 1:24-25)
Abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. (1 Peter 2:11)
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
Johns’s Three Letters
These letters give biblical scholars major