[Between the Lines]

I have always thought that either Paul or James wrote these passages in an attempt to clarify the other's statements on this subject. The fact that they both use Abraham and Moses as examples tends to verify this.

Perhaps someone can help me. Which of these was written first and could it be that the second was expounding upon the first?

[ChurtleDawg]

I tend to think that James and Paul balance each other out. Paul teaches that legalism and strict obediance to Judaic laws are not nessecary, while James points out that the faithful, if they are truly faithful, will use their faith to promote the greater good.

The right balance has to be found between legalism and anti-nominalism (the absence of law altogether). That is why James and Paul should be read together, to keep balance between the two.

[ChurtleDawg]

btw-—James and Paul’s letters are considered among the earliest writings of the NT. James is dated anywhere from AD 47-48 to the early AD 60s and Paul’s letters date from the same periods, with Thessalonians usually considered the earliest.