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Background
Background
Jesus died in around 33 AD. He was executed by the Romans for sedition. His followers continued to spread his message, led by the apostles James and Peter.
Initially, St Paul was part of a group of people who persecuted Jesus’ followers, and he had approved of the execution of the apostle Stephen. However, whilst travelling to Damascus, Paul experienced a conversion to Christianity. Thereafter, he made it his life’s mission to spread Jesus’ message far and wide. He journeyed around the Mediterranean, making four journeys depicted in the map below.
The Council of Jerusalem
The Council of Jerusalem
The 12 apostles of Jesus and St Paul met in Jerusalem in AD 50 to sort out some arguments they were having.
The question: Should new Christians follow all the Jewish laws? Should they be circumcised? Should they follow the Jewish food rules? St Paul thought they didn’t have to, the apostles thought they should.
In the end, the two sides came to a compromise. The outcome is described in ‘The Acts of the Apostles’, where St James says:
‘It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.’
–The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15The disagreement continued, and still continues today amongst Christians. What is more important? The acts that we do, or having faith in God?
St. Paul’s position
St. Paul’s position
One of the central messages of Christianity was that we don’t need to worry, that we have been saved, that we are safe. If we are safe, then there is nothing that we need to do. Conversely, if there is something that we need to do, we are not safe (have not been saved).
Or we could put it this way: part of Jesus’ message is that the most beautiful thing about life, the most valuable thing is that we cannot manage on our own - that others and the world/nature/God will look after us. But if you think that ‘doing good works’ will achieve you happiness, then you obviously think that happiness is within your power, and you do not need others. We do good works, but only because that is what God has laid out for us.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
–From the Letter of St Paul to the EphesiansSt James’ position
St James’ position
St James’ worry was that ‘having faith’ may amount to nothing but empty words. We can give it all the chat, but if we don’t back it up with actions, then it’s worthless.
It would be very easy for someone to say, ‘I’ve been saved!’ but then act in a way that shows they don’t actually believe it - i.e. obviously worrying about the future, and thinking that things that aren’t important are.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
–From the Letter of St JamesTasks
Tasks
Explain St Paul’s argument in favour of faith over good works.
Explain St James’ argument in favour of good works.
What are your thoughts about this debate? Explain your point of view.
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