In regard to James 2:24, James is using the word “justified” here to mean, “To be found in the right, be free of charges,” to be “vindicated.” (BDAG lexicon, page 249). Hence,
James 2:24. You see that a person is”found to be in the right and free of all charges,” judiciously found to be innocent, “vindicated” by works and not by faith alone.
Moo, Second Edition, 2021; Giese, 2021; McKnight, 2011; McCartney, 2009; Blomberg and Kamell, 2008; Moo, 2000; Johnson, 1995, Martin, 1988; Davids, 1982; Laws, 1980; Adamson, 1976; Reicke, 1964; Ropes, 1916; and Mayor, 1913 in their commentaries on the Greek text of James all agree with what I have stated above, and disagree with your erroneous view.
I own and have here in my study all of the commentaries that I have cited in this post, and I can thus provide direct quotes from any or all of them as may be required.
(All quotations from Scripture are from the NRSV)
Well, I disagree with your erroneous view of James 2:24 that man is accounted as righteous by works in contradiction to Romans 4:2-6. None of your biased commentaries will ever convince me otherwise. Instead of allowing fallible man to interpret the Bible for you why don't you try reading James 2 in context and properly harmonizing Scripture with Scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine.
In James 2:14, we read of one who
says/claims (key word) he has faith but has
no works (to
evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James
does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith
professed by the individual (James 2:18) and
demonstrate that the faith
claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is
genuine. Simple!
The Greek word for justified is "dikaioo": -
Strong's #1344 - δικαιόω - Old & New Testament Greek Lexical Dictionary - StudyLight.org
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was
justified (accounted as righteous)
by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham
believed God, and it (faith, not works) was
accounted to him for righteousness.
1.
to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
*Fits the context.
James 2:24 - You see that a man is
justified (shown to be righteous) by works and not by (an empty profession of faith/dead faith) that remains alone "barren of works." (James 2:14)
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2.
to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
*Fits the context.
In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidence for, or against a man being in a state of righteousness.
God is said to have been
justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads,
“acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads,
“they declared God just.” This is the "sense" in which God was “justified.” He was
shown to be righteous.
Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is
justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds."
The harmony of Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:24 is seen in the differing ways that Paul and James use the term "justified." Paul, when he uses the term, refers to the
legal (judicial) act of God by which He
accounts the believer as righteous. James, however, is using the term to
describe those who would show the genuineness of their faith by the works that they do. *Perfect Harmony*
Conclusion: Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is
(evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-26).
*Jesus Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works. (Romans 3:24-28)
It is through faith "in Jesus Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Jesus Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone
(unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-26) *Perfect Harmony*
Scripture trumps commentaries.