Bible Question: "The book of Romans speaks of faith, not works. But the book of James says faith without works is dead. Please explain." --Lillie H., Rockingham.

Bible Answer: This is one of those theological debates that has continued for centuries, but I don't believe it is a contradiction.

The father of the Protestant church, the German theology professor Martin Luther, was so disturbed by this particular passage that he called the book of James "an epistle of straw." See www.luther.de.

Here's the passage, James 2:14, in the New King James Version: "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?"

And here's the same passage in the New American Standard Bible: "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?"

The key difference in these two translations is a single word, "that" as in "Can faith save him?" vs. "Can that faith save him?"

I believe what James is saying is genuine faith will produce good works, but a faith of words only without deeds is dead.

That kind of faith talks about works, but does no good works.

The book of James is believed to be one of the earliest books of the New Testament. James was one the first leaders of the newly formed church in Jerusalem, martyred in a persecution.

Paul's writings, which clearly illuminate the doctrine of grace, came along some years after the book of James was written.

Perhaps the clearest passage on grace is Romans 5:1-2, where Paul writes, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

And Ephesians 2:8-9 is even clearer: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

But in an indication there is no contradiction in judging true believers by their works, Jesus says He will do so in Matt. 25:31-46 where He describes His final judgment of the nations.

Jesus speaks of feeding the hungry, taking in and clothing strangers, visiting the sick and those in prison, all good works.

Then He concludes in Matt. 24:40, "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"

Submit Bible questions by email to writeme@johnwmyers.com

(John Myers has been a Christian lay speaker, Sunday School adult teacher and newspaper Bible study columnist for more than 20 years.)