When Latter-day Saints emphasize the importance of exhibiting faith in Christ by works, we commonly refer to the second chapter of the Epistle of James. James considers works to be the lifeblood principle of faith: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).
Throughout his epistle, James uses the Greek terms pistis for "faith" and ergon for "works." Identifying these Greek words and defining them helps us see that James's use of pistis and ergon varies from the generally accepted view in Christianity. Christian faith in its subjective sense as a "childlike and trusting acceptance" likely emerges from the Greek word pistis, which has both the sense of "trusting" and "worthy of trust." (F.L. Cross, ed., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985, p. 499.)
Latter-day Saints also recognize faith as a spiritual gift (see Moroni 10:11). However, an important difference emerges regarding the emphasis on obedient activity, which grows out of faith.
The Greek term ergon . . is to "denote action or active zeal in contrast to idleness." (Gerhard Friedrich, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1968; 2:635.)
Faith as obedience is an idea found in the New Testament, particularly in Hebrews 11, which cites examples of many Old Testament prophets who exhibited their faith through obedience. (Ibid., 6:205; see also Ether 12:7-22.)
The epistle of James clearly teaches that faith and works complement each other and belong together. In fact, it is impossible to separate them. Our service in the Church, our enduring of trials and tests, our obedience to commandments — these works are all expressions of our faith. Faith and works are of the same compound. They are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. In other words, good works are to faith as steam and ice are to water. This is the essence of the epistle of James. James discusses two kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits" (3:13-15, 17).
James inextricably ties wisdom to good works. Like true faith that leads to righteous works, true knowledge, correctly applied is wisdom that will lead to appropriate action. Nowhere is this portrayed more vividly than in the account of the First Vision. After reading James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," Joseph Smith recorded, "Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine." (Joseph Smith—History 1:12-13.)
Joseph Smith's willingness to act on his faith, "as James directs," produced consequences beyond what even the Prophet himself could understand at that time.
James exposes some common manifestations of pride that the spiritually alert should avoid. These sins of pride are opposite of the fruits or works that grow out of true faith. James identifies some of these vices as coveting and killing (4:2), adultery (4:3), and greed (5:1-5). James clearly ties these acts to pride with the question, "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" (4:4) President Ezra Taft Benson observed that the meaning of pride is enmity or hostility towards God or our neighbor. (President Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1989, p. 3.)
James counseled: "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (4:13-15). This verse points out that the time we are given in this life will eventually pass like a vapor and that we should focus our attention on the things that are most worthy — things that bring us closer to God.
This article was excerpted from Brian M. Hauglid's address at the 2002 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium at BYU. Brother Hauglid is assistant professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU.
