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14–26. The relation between πίστις and ἔργα:—a subject suggested by the preceding paragraph, but also probably by one of the questions referred to St James for solution. Such questions were frequently put to Rabbis as to our Lord (see Mat 18:21; Mat 19:3; Mat 22:17; Mat 22:36). So St Paul decides the relations between πίστις, ἐλπίς and ἀγάπη 1 Corinthians 13, assigning the leading position to ἀγάπη which is closely akin to ἔλεος.
Probably as a reaction from justification by works of the law a fallacy had sprung up among the Jewish Christians that faith in Christ existing as an inactive principle, a mere speculative belief, would suffice without works. St James shews what an impossible position this is. ἔλεος is regarded as the practical result and test of πίστις as it is in Mat 25:34-40, a passage probably in the Apostle’s mind here. The works of which St James speaks are works of πίστις not of the Mosaic law. Such ἔργα Christ himself sets forth as required in the Christian life in the Sermon on the Mount and in such passages as Mat 7:20, ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς; Mat 26:10, γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Τί κόπους παρέχετε τῇ γυναικί; ἔργον γὰρ καλὸν ἠργάσατο εἰς ἐμέ, and others. It is noticeable also that when our Lord enjoins keeping of the commandments Mat 19:18-20 the instances of observances are taken from the second table only, comp. with this Rom 13:8 ὁ γὰρ ἀγαπῶν τὸν ἔτερον νόμον πεπλήρωκεν. St James’s teaching here is the teaching of Christ and of St Paul.