Discussion for Monday 20th September

This Monday's discussion will be led by Ernest Baker. He writes:

Epistle of James ( “Faith” & “Works” )

I suggest we look at/read:

James 2:14-26;

James 3:13-18

We might ask ourselves:

• What do we understand by “Faith” and “Works”?
• What relevance does such consideration have for us today?

Notes:

James is regarded as the most “Jewish” of the Christian Scriptures. The mere 2 references to “jesus Christ” may be interpolations.

It is an early writing, possibly preceding Paul’s letters.

Its canonicity was disputed up to the C6th CE, though Athanasius (367CE), included it. Origen (185-255 CE) was the earliest writer to quote it.

Luther, for whom “Salvation by Faith” (more properly “Salvation by Grace through Faith”, I think!) was dictum, labelled it “The Epistle of Straw!”

Much favoured by Unitarians, certainly of an earlier generation. See, c.f., James Freeman Clarke (q.v.), whose C19thCE contra-Calvinist “Five Principles” (q.v.), including “Salvation by Character”, used to adorn many a Unitarian chapel.

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