Download Does James Contradict Paul - Faith Bible Ministries Blog

Biblical Tools of Interpretation
Does James contradict Paul
Introduction
Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of us do not understand koiné Greek we
are unaware of many grammatical principles which alter the understanding of some verses
when translated into the English vernacular.
An Important Greek Grammar Insight
In Koiné Greek, verbs ending in "oo" indicate that what is already on the inside is
then displayed on the outside (which is not the same as asserting that what is seen on
the outside creates what is on the inside, in fact it is antithetical to this). Due to not being
aware of this Greek grammatical principle divisions have been created within the English
speaking church, to the extent that denominations have been severed concerning such
teaching as “works as a part of faith,” as opposed to “faith alone” regarding salvation, as well
as the Christian walk.
One of the main texts that have been used to assert that works are necessarily a part of faith is
taken from James 2:21, which would appear to indicate that Abraham was saved not by faith
alone, but when works were added, as seen in:
James 2:21 ~ "Was not Abraham our father justified [Greek: dikaioo] by
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar"
James is not saying that Abraham's works made him justified before God, but that Abraham's
works were the outside manifestation of what had already taken place on the inside, Abraham
was already justified by God prior to this event.
In this passage, James is referring to Abraham's offering of Isaac as proof of his faith which is
referred to in Genesis chapter 22, when Abraham was over 125 years old, perhaps even 130
years old (making Isaac at least thirty years old, and as far as some topologists are concerned,
Isaac would've had to been thirty-three years old to fit the typology of Christ’s crucifixion).
Yet, we understand that Abraham's saving faith in which God counted it “for righteousness”
occurred over at least forty years prior to this as recorded in:
Genesis 15:6 ~ “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for
righteousness.”
Therefore, it is impossible for James to be stating that Abraham was saved by faith when he
offered up Isaac more than forty years after Genesis 15:6, which is when he displayed saving
faith (in which God counted it as righteousness) by believing God's promise concerning
becoming a mighty nation, by first having a physical son of his own. What is easily
understood especially in light of the Greek grammatical principle concerning Greek verbs
ending in “oo”, is that James is stating that what was already on the inside of Abraham,
1
P.O. BOX 1986, DENISON, TEXAS 75021
saving faith in God, was fully displayed in the act of him being prepared to take the life of his
son according to God's direction.
This also clears up the misunderstanding that somehow presupposes that James teaching on
faith is opposed to Paul's teaching on faith. By example, Paul states in:
Romans 4:3-5 ~ "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth [Greek: dikaioo] the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness."
Here, Paul is quoting from Genesis 15:6, when Abraham was around 85 years old, and is
being justified according to his faith by God. Paul uses the same Greek verb for justifieth,
indicating that he then was exercising that faith that had already dwelt on the inside concern
in God and his promises. We must remember that it was God that ten years before had
instructed Abram to leave his home and relatives to go to a new land that God would later
show him. Abram delayed his departure until his father had died (according to Stephen ~
Acts 7:4), then disobeyed God by taking his nephew Lot with him. So though Abraham had
faith in God, it had not matured to the place of confidence that would mandate obedience.
Yet, the scripture is quick to tell us that it was his belief in God's promise, not Abrams works
wherein God saw his heart and imputed righteousness to him.
We understand that justification is God's declaration that a person be treated as if he is
innocent of the charges made against them. It is a declaration of immunity, being acquitted,
not a pronouncement based upon evidence, but in spite of it. In reference to justification,
Paul declares in:
Romans 4:1-8 ~ “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as
pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he
hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to
him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him
that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth [Greek: dikaioo] the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also
describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness
without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute
sin.”
Therefore, what James says in James 2:21; agrees with Paul says in Romans 4:1-8 (as well
as Ephesians 2:8-9); whereas James states that Abraham displayed (what was on the inside
was exhibited on the outside) his saving faith by his work (deed), of trusting God when he was
preparing to present his son as a sacrifice, this was 40-50 years after he was already saved by
his faith in God as recorded in Genesis 15:6 (Paul states in Romans 4:3; 4:9; Galatians 3:6,
that Abraham received his salvation when he first exercised faith back at Genesis 15:6), and
Paul stated Abraham it was this same faith that was counted for righteousness unto
salvation.
2
P.O. BOX 1986, DENISON, TEXAS 75021
James says the act displayed what was already on the inside, and Paul that the inside created
the act that was displayed on the outside.
Other Examples of this Type of Verb
Another example concerning Greek verbs ending in "oo" (which indicate that what is already
on the inside is then displayed on the outside) can be found concerning the Transfiguration of
Christ as recorded in:
Matthew 17:2, regarding the Transfiguration of Christ, where the word: "transfigure"
(Greek: metamorphoo), means to change the appearance or form, yet it does not denote
the change of the substance of that thing, but simply its appearance (with the use of this word,
transfigure, we are forced to focus on Christ's physical appearance). And with the
verb utilizing the “oo,” ending we further understand that the change referred to here is to
display the radiance of his glory physically, exhibiting what is already on the inside, to the
outside, which is Christ's Divinity in visible form.
John 1:14, which speaks about Jesus incarnation, states that he "tabernacled" (Greek:
skennoo), also translated: "dwelt among us." As seen from above, with this Greek verb
(such as tabernacled) ending in "oo", it indicates that "what is on the inside is displayed on
the outside." The verb is used here concerns Jesus being made flesh, in regards to Him
displaying in His behavior (on the outside ~ in regards to the use of the word tabernacled
among men, we are forced to focus Christ's behavior), that which had already existed
in His essence, His Holiness as the only begotten Son of God, the "Word (Greek: Logos: “the
literal communication”) of God, Personified."
Ephesians 3:16, concerning the word: strengthened (Greek: krataioo), concerning the
believers who have been strengthened on the inside by the Holy Spirit which should be
exhibited on the outside. What we must also understand concerning this word,
strengthened (noticed that it is past tense in the English), is that in the Greek grammar, it is
in the passive voice, meaning that the person receives the power from another, not from
themselves; and that it is in the aorist tense, meaning that the action occurred in the past (it
occurred "Once & for all." The action occurred or was made possible when Jesus died on the
cross, giving the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to indwell the believers according to salvation
as adopted sons of God) and it is in the indicative mood, meaning that it is a complete
certainty (A reality ~ it is a done deal, completed).
Back to our texts - therefore, with this in mind, what these verses (James 2:21 and Romans
4:1-8) indicate is that by becoming a believer and therefore having the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit, there is power available to the believer which indwells on the inside and should be
displayed on the outside.
(This is what true witnessing is all about; this is what 1 Peter 3:15 also alludes to as well.)
These types of passages which use Greek verbs ending in "oo" are simply stating
the fact that the outside is showing what is already going on the inside (they
are not saying that there is only an exterior application, but that there is an interior meaning
that is expressed in the exterior as well).
3
P.O. BOX 1986, DENISON, TEXAS 75021
Endnote
If you use a Greek Parallel Interlinear New Testament, you will notice that the spelling for the
verbs referenced above (justification, transfigured, dwelt, and strengthened) in the Greek
language do not display two "oo," just one. This is because in a Greek Parallel Interlinear New
Testament, the Greek words are combined into cognates and not distinguished individually.
However, if you utilize a Bible Dictionary on Greek (Such as: Vine’s Expository Dictionary of
Old and New Testament Words; Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Larry Richards;
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown; Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Kenneth S. Wuest;
Word Meanings in the New Testament, Ralph Earl; Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible & Word
Studies, Spiros Zodhiates), as well as any of the current computer dictionary programs; the
spelling of the individual words will be with the double "oo" ending. Thayer's Greek
Dictionary is used concerning the above translation (This may not apply to certain
deviant Alexandrian Codex utilized in a few of the modern translations; these text also modify
passages concerning the Deity of Christ, and other Orthodox doctrines, yet they are unable to
delete all scriptural basis for these doctrines, as even these deviant translations cannot
completely change the Greek wording. If any of your current Bible translations omit the
double "oo", please forward this to me, and I will personally give you background information
for greater clarity, and also I am doing ongoing research concerning these deviant
Alexandrian Codices, as well as any Word Studies or Dictionaries which utilize them for their
source material New Testament translations).
Concerning grammatical reference to the utilization of “oo” in Greek verbs wherein its usage
“indicates that what is already present on the inside is then displayed on the outside;” Dr.
Wayne A. Barber’s book, “The Surrendered Walk," page 28 gives reference, as well as other
books and manuals which teach Koiné Greek.
bb
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."
All Scripture verses listed, unless otherwise noted, refer to the King James Version.
Biblical Tools of Interpretation is an ongoing topical series that examines diverse aspects of interpretation through the
vantage point of the Greek and Hebrew languages. Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Several of the sub-fields
of linguistics are: phonetics, which is concerned with the sounds of languages; phonology, with the way sounds are used in
individual languages; morphology, with the structure of words; syntax, with the structure of phrases and sentences; and
semantics, which is the study of meaning of words. It is the semantics, or meaning of words on which this series primarily
focuses. Other tools of grammar, such as figures of speech and other rhetorical devices shall also be examined to clarify the
nuances of God’s Word, the Bible. We believe that by digging through the layers of Holy Scripture, that Christ becomes
more clearly seen as the focus of all of creation. It has been said that by analyzing the original languages of the Bible, it is
like adding color to the black and white picture of the English translation of God’s Word. Our main focus is always on Jesus
Christ as the Lord and Savior of the world, God incarnate, He alone deserves preeminence in God’s Word. God’s Word, the
Holy Bible stands alone as our source of guidance and direction, and is our singular foundation for and of faith. Biblical
Tools of Interpretation is an outreach ministry of Faith Video Ministries Inc. You may contact us at our e-mail address:
[email protected]
4
P.O. BOX 1986, DENISON, TEXAS 75021