Title: Faith and Works (James 02:14-18)
Content Luther's contemptuous nailing of James as "that straw epistle" stemmed primarily from his response to the discussion of faith and practice in 2:14-26. Perhaps Luther's position was due to the excessive aspects of the Catholic Church, especially the rejection of the sale of indulgences (later abolished by the Council of Trent) and the confusion between the act of Jewish law and the act of love of God and neighbor. This is very high.
James is opposed to the kind of piety that only belief or pistis is important. Advocates of such piety bestowed cheap spiritual blessings while muttering only "Peace, make it warm, fill it up." I was trying to get rid of what I couldn't. James aptly rejects such faith as "dead" (2:17). Even if it were John, Paul, or Jesus, he would have hit James' thoughts. “If someone has the goods of this world and sees his brother in need and blocks his heart to help, how can the love of God dwell in him?
Children, let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed (ergo) and truth” (1 John 3:17-18). For Paul, grace and faith were fundamental. I could have said, "I have all the faith that can move, but without love I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2). Love is the greatest spiritual gift. As Karl Barth said in his commentary on Matthew 7:21 and Luke 6:46, it is not enough just to say “Lord, Lord” or to memorize the Apostles’ Creed.
"If a brother or sister is naked (gumnoi gumnoi)..." (v. 15) and "clothed in shabby clothes" (ill-clad) is also possible, but it weakens the original intention. The problem is not with any appearance, but with the cold (v. 16).
The same word is also used in the Great Judgment scene in Matthew 25, where it is simply translated "when naked." As in James 2 and Matthew 25, the question is whether to respond to the needy or not. In Matthew 25:44, those who turn away from their neighbors who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, and imprisoned, call the King who is the Judge earnestly, “Lord” (cf. Matt. 7:21). However, such piety would not be able to save them.
“Go in peace, keep warm, fill yourself up…” (verse 16). So-called Christians who proclaim these "blessings" are eager to turn those who seek help out. The word "peace" suggests that it is best for these difficult people to disappear somewhere before the officials are summoned. In any case, it is God's job to provide for their needs.
It is left to others or to themselves, cold and hungry. "What good will it be?". Literally, it means "of what help (ophlos) will it be". It is of no benefit to those in need. Or it may be the meaning shown in 2:14.--What good is it to one who claims to have such a belief? It goes without saying that what matters is action (cf. Mark 8:36; Luke 6: 33-35, Romans 2:13, 1 Corinthians 3:14, Gal. 6:7-9).
Fakes who only pretend to be interested in the needy are not really asserting this. Where there is only one gift Some people have the gift of faith, while others have the gift of works (verse 18). James counters that it is futile for faith and works to play separately. If it is true faith, it must be manifested in the actions of those who have it. Faith must be confessed with our lips, but at the same time expressed in our lives.
Topic 2: James 2:14-18 James is indeed a passionate preacher. His example (例示) is terrifyingly poignant. He must have had experience seeing something similar to that happen. And, that memory would not have left his mind with a little sieve. We must consider the argument of James in this very practical place of life.
In any argument, each other's positions tend to go to extremes, especially in contention. This seems to have been the background of James' writings of his epistle. That is, it is the opposite of “I have faith” and “I have works” (verse 18). Theoretically, such polarization seems inevitable, and from the standpoint of a theology that values faith, it seems very necessary. That is why James and Paul are thought to be "polar opposites" (兩極).
However, in real life, such a phenomenon of polarization is both ridiculous and counterproductive (“What good will it be...” v. 14).
On the "I have faith" side, we must be deeply awakened to the fact that the naked neighbor will be able to benefit much more from the "I have works" side (cf. v. 18). . Likewise, the “I have works” side should be deeply awakened to the fact that the naked neighbor is nothing more than a nail on which to do good works (cf. Bipolarity is neither beneficial to the needy neighbor nor to the Christian (vv. 14, 16).
James, who must have been well acquainted with the path of "works righteousness," also seems particularly sensitive to "fideism", an abuse of faith with subtle and disastrous results. James points out that demons also outwardly "believe" and have at least a trembling courtesy (v. 19). The "faith alone" sects always run the risk of falling back into the very quagmire from which Christ rescued them. They unknowingly reduce their faith to an act of justification. It's easy to be like that. From the tyranny of righteousness by deeds
For Christians freed by Christ's help, "faith alone" means gratefully accepting salvation as God's free gift to the undeserving. However, that "faith alone" is "just believe!" If it is changed to the sulyujo (說喩調), then faith is reduced to an act for justification. Therefore, trust in God ("Do not be anxious...", Matt. 6:25ff) eventually becomes an imputation to God ("God, you do it!"), and the exhortation to faith is You become a favoritism to your neighbors in need ("God Himself will provide for all your needs. Just believe"). Only then would the poor naked neighbor still be left unhelped.
After all, we cannot make our neighbor in difficult circumstances disappear from our sight. In that neighborhood, both faith and deeds correcting each other and discovering reality. he is poor Therefore, no matter how serious, intense, and full of faith he may be, he cannot improve his condition with tens of thousands of words or a greeting to say good-bye. action is required. And he is a neighbor. He's not a good opportunity for us to take advantage of to get better (ie, it's not a good way to dispel his guilt). He is a human being with whom we should relate. Faith is required here.