The Biggest Contradiction in the Bible?

Some people reject God’s Word because they say it’s full of contradictions. Now, most people haven’t read enough of the Bible to know what those so-called contradictions are, but they still use them as an excuse not to believe the Bible.

However, we have to admit that some Scripture passages seem to be contradictory—at least on the surface. That’s true of Romans 4 and James 2. I call this the biggest contradiction in the Bible because it deals with the most important issue in life: How can a person be made right with God?

The Problem

In Romans 4:2–3, 5, Paul wrote, “If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ . . . To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.” 

Now look at what James wrote: “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? . . . Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (2:14, 21–24). 

Paul taught that salvation is by God’s grace through faith, apart from any works. James seems to have said the opposite—that salvation involves faith and works. So which is it? Getting it right can spell the difference between heaven and hell. 

The Solution

How do we reconcile these two passages? Let’s unravel this apparent contradiction. 

Composition

To interpret difficult passages of Scripture, we need to consider the key words. In James 2, the key word is “justified.” Verse 21 says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?” (emphasis mine). James was referring to Genesis 22 when Abraham obeyed God by offering Isaac as a sacrifice. At the last moment, God provided the sacrifice instead, but James said Abraham was justified by his actions.

Paul used the same word in Romans 4:2–3: “If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’” (emphasis mine). Paul was referring to Genesis 15 when God reaffirmed His promise to give Abraham many descendants. Genesis 15:6 says, “[Abraham] believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” Paul said Abraham was justified when he believed God—it had nothing to do with his works. 

So which is it? Was Abraham justified in Genesis 15:6 when he believed God’s promises, or was he justified decades later when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice?

In fact, he was justified each time, but in a different sense. The Greek word translated as “justified” can mean two things:

1. Made or declared righteous

2. Shown or proven to be righteous

Paul was using the first definition. In Genesis 15, Abraham believed God’s promises, and as a result of his faith, God declared Abraham to be in right standing with Him. James was using the second definition. In Genesis 22, Abraham obeyed God, and as a result of his actions, he proved that he was righteous.

Abraham was made righteous by his faith and shown to be righteous by his obedience.

Comparison

How does this interpretation compare with other passages of Scripture? In Acts 15, we find a clue as to what James thought about the relationship between salvation and works. James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. Soon after the formation of the church, a council was held to decide whether Gentile Christians had to follow the Jewish law. Peter said, “We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as [Gentiles] also are” (v. 11). 

When James delivered his decision, he agreed that salvation is by God’s grace alone.

In the same way, we can look at Ephesians 2:8–10 to learn what Paul thought about the relationship between salvation and works. Paul wrote, “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Paul made it clear that works are important for living out our salvation, not for securing our salvation. We are saved for good works, not by good works.

When we compare James 2 and Romans 4 to other passages of Scripture, we realize that James and Paul were saying the same thing: We are made right with God by His grace alone through faith, but we are shown to be righteous by our actions.

Saving Faith

The story goes that a girl became a Christian and presented herself to the local church for membership. A deacon asked her, “Has your faith in Christ made a difference in your life?” She said, “Oh, it most certainly has. Before I was saved, I ran after sin. But now that I’m a Christian, I run from it, though sometimes it still overtakes me.” 

Where there is genuine faith, there will be visible fruit in a Christian’s life—a hatred for sin, a hunger for God’s Word, and a desire to be with God’s people. These are the results of a saving faith that guarantees our entrance into heaven.