In James 2:14-26 the apostle presents a four part argument. He begins by arguing from a logical perspective (James 2:14-18). Secondly, he shows that even the believers’ enemies believe as the disciples of Christ do concerning God (James 2:19-20). Third, he argues from a near to God perspective (James 2:21-24), and, fourth, he argues from the perspective of being afar off from God (James 2:25). He, then sums up his argument with a comment about life and death (James 2:26). I’ll deal with the first two parts of James’ argument in this study and the final two in my next study.
In James 2:14 the author of this epistle tells his readers faith that has no works is worthless, referring to faith that amounts to nothing more than what one says he believes. It is dormant and produces nothing. It neither furthers the Gospel, nor is it able to save the one who possesses it. In fact, the Greek has the ‘article’ before the second mention of faith in some of the ancient manuscripts at this verse. However, it can’t be read to say: “can the faith save him?” as though this faith were real faith. Rather, it must be read as the Revised Version has it: “can that faith save him?” It other words that faith is no faith at all, because it has no power to produce any results. It stands alone, like the hearer of the word, who is not a doer (James 1:22-25).[1] A medical doctor who never practices on a patient is more like a library, certainly knowledgeable, but hardly a medical practitioner. Moreover, an auto mechanic couldn’t be a mechanic in the truest sense of the word, if he never works on vehicles. Such would be a logical incongruity, i.e. we are led to conclude one thing but reality surprises us, like a joke. Of course, James isn’t joking. Instead, he is letting us know that such faith isn’t what it claims to be.
So, if a believer sees a brother or sister who lacks the necessary requirements of daily living, but doesn’t share what he has with them, how could he ever say he loves them (James 2:15-16)? His words: “Be warmed, be filled,” come as though the ‘believer’ has “faith” the destitute brother or sister would be provided for by God, but such faith lacks the works necessary to show the believer is acting in the image of God. When Jesus said: “Go in peace!” he had already provided for the needs of those who had come to him (cp. Matthew 5:34; Luke 7:50; 8:48). If the believer wishes to do as Jesus did, that is, be his disciple, he must express the same love and concern for others that Christ had in his heart for those in need. Faith isn’t expressed in mere words alone, but in works. It must be practiced, if it is real faith (James 2:17-18).
According to my understanding of the subject, a demon is a human being who is overcome or ruled by his passions or another human being, dead or alive. That is, the demoniac so models his life after another person (dead or alive), that he is ruled by what he perceives his ‘hero’ would say or do. The Jews of the first century AD were ruled by their dead elders or the authors of the Oral Law (cp. Matthew 15:2), and even allowed their traditions to nullify the word of God (cp. Matthew 15:3-9).
James 2:19 is probably a reference to the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4). James said: ‘you believe this’ fine, but so do your enemies,[2] so what do you do more than they? Certainly, they wouldn’t help the destitute believer. More than likely, it was the persecution initiated by the believers’ enemies that brought the needy to their, then, present state of affairs. So, if help would come at all, it must come from the believing community. That’s how the Lord works—through his covenant people.
James refers to the believer who sent his needy brother away empty of the worldly goods required for daily living, calling him a vain man. The word vain (G2756) means empty in the Greek, and the picture James offers is that that man is empty of his daily requirement of saving faith (James 2:20). Where is the faith of such a believer? Where is the image of Christ in his life? How does he show anyone he is a disciple of Christ?
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[1] See my previous study: Pure and Undefiled Religion
[2] The Jews place so much emphasis upon the Shema, that the ancients had recorded in their Talmud in a commentary of Deuteronomy 6:4: “It has been taught: Symmachus says: Whoever prolongs the word ehad [one]. has his days and years prolonged” (Babylonian Talmud; Berachoth 13b).
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