The Letter of James (The Pillar New Testament Commentary)

by Douglas J. Moo

Somewhat ironically, no one has captured the basic message of Jas. 2:14-26 more forcefully than Luther (from his preface to Romans): O it is a living, busy active mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good things incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done this, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works.