Preface To Luther

Hakeem Rhodes

Dr. Eric Lowdermilk

Exploring The Bible

28 February 2015

Understanding Works and Faith

In the “Preface to James”, Luther makes a claim that the epistle was not written by an apostle. This is proven when the teaching states that Abraham was justified by his works when he attempted to sacrifice his only son Isaac to the Lord. This is in fact wrong because in Romans 4:3 it reads that Abraham was justified without his works, but by faith alone. He also explains how it cannot be written by an apostle because a true apostle would preach to others about the works and deeds of Christ (Luther, “Preface”). In John 15:27 it states “You shall all be my witnesses.” If these followers of Jesus did not teach of the passion, resurrection, and

Paul strictly states in Galatians that justification, or “to be placed in a covenant relationship with God,” is done by faith alone. Paul refers to faith as “a person’s acceptance of God's free gift of relationship.” In Gal. 3:2 and verse 6, Paul asks rhetorical questions to the Church of Galatia about faith, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? … Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham ‘believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” God gave the church of Galatia the Spirit based off of their belief. In verse 6 of Galatians chapter 3, it talks about how Abraham became righteous because he accepted God’s free gift of

The answer to this problem, Luther admits in his preface, “Although it would be possible to ‘save’ the epistle by a gloss giving a correct explanation of justification here ascribed to works.” Works, in the context of Galatians, refers to following the Law rather than having faith. For example, in Galatians 3:2, it provides a rhetorical question to the people of Galatia to remember that their faith with God, “I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?” While in the book of James, works are thought to be actions based off of faith. James defines his ideas of works in chapter 2, verse 18, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” In other words, faith can not be shown to others without