Galatians 5 vs James 2

Do Galatians 5:4 and James 2:24 Contradict?

In Paul's epistle to the Galatians, it is said: "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace," (Galatians 5:4 NASB1995). In James, it is written: "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone," (James 2:24 NASB1995).

Paul seems to state that we are not justified by our works; however, James says we are, so what is happening here? Simply, Paul and James are speaking of "law" in different contexts. Before the verse quoted in Galatians, we read: "Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you," (Galatians 5:2 NASB1995). Paul tells us that circumcision, a requirement under the Torah (Genesis 17:10-14), is of no spiritual benefit. Paul is telling us of Jews who try to be justified under the law, the law of the Torah. James is not speaking of laws under the Torah; rather, he is speaking of good works more generally. There is no contradiction, merely different points are being made.

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