Martin Luther had a problem with James and the teachings in his epistle. At his point in time and life, Luther had just come into an understanding of Paul's teachings concerning justification by faith, solo ! The strength of the Reformation movement was the teachings of Paul as found in Romans and Galatians for that time period and the need of that period. It is said that Luther called the epistle of James, an epistle of straw.
Fortunately or otherwise, he did not remove James from the Bible of his day (as far as I know) However, in my judgment, Luther and his followers even now, just do not have all the wrinkles out of the theological jacket they wear. On the one hand there is the justification by faith theme running through their teachings. But on the other hand they have the watered-down teachings of liturgical grace through a baptismal washing away of sins plus the presence of Christ in, around, up, over and through the bread and wine of communion which is a 'protestant' version of the Roman Mass.
Did James have a problem with Paul? Probably not, since more than likely, James wrote before Paul had written Romans and Galatians, which deal in the main with justification. Did Paul have a problem with James' teaching ? No! The problem lies with the students and readers of James and Paul. What looks to be conflict and contradiction between Paul and James in the eyes of many, can be resolved through a continued effort to gain more understanding and insight in the teachings of James and Paul. This effort includes prayer, meditation and a desire to know the truth. This effort would also include research into the study results of fellow believers.
Although there are really no real contradictions between James and Paul ( in my opinion), there are contrasts and viewings that are significant and distinct. They had different purposes in mind and therefore the emphasis would be different as well as the conclusions.
James writes to fellow Jewish believers, of the twelve tribes, scattered abroad. James 1:1
He writes to those, who are encouraged to keep the Law. James 1:25; 2:2-12 & 4:11. The problem that James was dealing with concerned the ' faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the lord of Glory with respect of persons. James 2:1 . In 2:14, James begins a discussion of life situations on how a believer with faith will respond. This is a horizontal situation- a believer's faith in the world of mankind. A faith of the heart that cannot be seen by the world. The consideration is this : What is profitable for a man who says he has faith and he has no works ? ( that anyone can see, which would demonstrate to anyone that these works are motivated by a faith in the heart of a man) If a man has a faith, but nobody ever saw an action of any kind that might indicate a faith in his heart, it raises another question, like, can this be a faith that can save such a man as this ? Can this kind of faith feed the hungry or cloth the naked ? A conclusion : A faith without works is dead, being alone. 2:17.
There is a contest in 2:18. Again, this is a horizontal situation. A man says, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 2:19- You may believe that there is one God. You do well. The devils believe that too and they tremble. ( But they remain devils that kind of faith ).
2:20- But, will you know, o vain man, that faith without works is dead ?
2:21-Was not Abraham justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar ?
But James continues in 2:22, so we should not get an impression that James is talking about justification by works, alone. Remember he spoke about a dead faith, dead because it was alone. James states that faith worked-with the works and that it was by his works that faith was brought along to perfection or fulfillment or fullness.
James states that the Scripture was also brought to a fullness, the one that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness'. 2:23
2:24- You can see that how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only !! There is a hinge that joins these two together. Like love and marriage and a horse and a carriage, in this context, faith and works are like Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. You may claim to have Mr. Inside (Faith). The only way (horizontally) that others can see/know about this Mr. Inside is to see Mr. Outside.
Rahab is also used as an illustration of a faith that was demonstrated by her works. She was justified by works. The spies could see her faith by her works and could put faith in her to help them. 2:25
James' conclusion : 2:26- For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. If there is a spirit in a body, we can be sure that the body is alive.
We cannot see this spirit, but if the body moves, we know the body is alive and not dead, and that the body has that spirit within. Even so, faith and works complement one another.
Paul writes mainly to Gentile believers at Rome.[ This is true, even though Paul taught that 'in Christ' there was neither Jew nor Gentile. Cf. Gal. 3:28, Eph. 2:15, 3;6 and 3:1
This is the interplay between what they were-their state, as Gentiles and their standing since becoming believers In Christ, where there is no recognition of one as a Gentile. In the world, they are seen by the world as Gentiles. God, however, sees them as in Christ, without the worldly identity as Gentiles.]
Paul teaches his readers that they are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14-15, 7:4, 8:2-4. Some of Paul's converts were considering placing themselves under law. Cf. Gal. 3:2-5. Paul taught that to be led of the Spirit, you are not under law. Gal. 5:18
Paul is teaching with a vertical emphasis. This is justification before God. James speaks about the fruit of faith, the works which begins to flower from the seed that is planted in the heart. Paul is speaking about the root of the fruit deep in the heart of a believer.
This is faith at its inception.
Paul uses Abraham as an illustration of one justified by faith before God. Genesis 15:6.
(Romans 4:3) Here, He (God) counted it (faith) to him (Abraham) for righteousness.
James uses Gen. 22 as a proof text that Abraham's action here, demonstrates a justification by these very actions. For James, Gen. 22 is the fulfillment of Gen. 15:6. now cf. Hebrews 11:17-19.
Paul speaks about a living faith which God can see, that generates an imputed righteous- ness before God. This is a standing before God. James is dwelling on our state before the world.
The Approach of James and Paul to Faith/Works/Justification
The writings of Jerry Sterchi
JAMES
Synthesis
Before Men
Inclusive
Dead Faith
Target
Buckshot
A Film
PAUL
Analysis
Before God
Exclusive
Living Faith
Bulls eye Only
Bullet
One Frame
Justification can be said to be :
Not by works – Eph. 2:8,9
Not by faith and works – Rom 4:5-6
Not by faith alone – exclusively James 2:20,24; Eph. 2:10
But by a faith that works- Eph. 2:10; Gal. 5:6
This is my enlargement on a theme first heard by me from a message by a great Bible teacher, S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. formerly of Dallas Theological Seminary