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== Thomas Aquinas on the Epistle of James ==

== Thomas Aquinas on the Epistle of James ==

[[Image:Saint Thomas Aquinas.jpg|right|thumb|200px|St. Thomas Aquinas]]

[[Image:Saint Thomas Aquinas.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Thomas Aquinas]] ]]

In Christian theology, "the [[doctrine]] of [[justification]] concerns [[God]]’s [[Grace|gracious]] judicial verdict in advance of the day of [[judgment]], pronouncing guilty [[sin]]ners, who turn in self-despairing trust to [[Jesus Christ]], [[Forgiveness|forgiven]], acquitted of all charges and declared morally upright in God’s sight."<ref>[https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-doctrine-of-justification/#:~:text=The%20biblical%20doctrine%20of%20justification,place%20when%20a%20person%20believes. The Doctrine of Justification], The Gospel Coalition website</ref>

In Christian theology, "the [[doctrine]] of [[justification]] concerns [[God]]’s [[Grace|gracious]] judicial verdict in advance of the day of [[judgment]], pronouncing guilty [[sin]]ners, who turn in self-despairing trust to [[Jesus Christ]], [[Forgiveness|forgiven]], acquitted of all charges and declared morally upright in God’s sight."<ref>[https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-doctrine-of-justification/#:~:text=The%20biblical%20doctrine%20of%20justification,place%20when%20a%20person%20believes. The Doctrine of Justification], The Gospel Coalition website</ref>

St. Thomas Aquinas saw the Book of James, especially  its emphasis on faith and works, through the prism of his [[understanding]] of Christian [[faith]] and justification. Aquinas viewed James's teachings as being complementary to the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]]'s, emphasizing that saving faith is not merely intellectual assent but is demonstrated and perfected through works of [[love]] and charity. Aquinas understood that true faith  will invariably lead to actions that demonstrate that faith.  

[[Thomas Aquinas]] saw the Book of James, especially  its emphasis on faith and works, through the prism of his [[understanding]] of Christian [[faith]] and justification. Aquinas viewed James's teachings as being complementary to the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]]'s, emphasizing that saving faith is not merely intellectual assent but is demonstrated and perfected through works of [[love]] and charity. Aquinas understood that true faith  will invariably lead to actions that demonstrate that faith.  

Aquinas addressed any asserted tensions between Paul's emphasis on faith and James's emphasis on works in his theological work [[Summa Theologica]]. He reconciled these emphasis by indicating that while justification is by faith alone, that faith is not truly saving unless it is "formed by [[love]]". Thus, this means that a true, saving faith will necessarily lead to good works.  

Aquinas addressed any asserted tensions between Paul's emphasis on faith and James's emphasis on works in his theological work [[Summa Theologica]]. He reconciled these emphasis by indicating that while justification is by faith alone, that faith is not truly saving unless it is "formed by [[love]]". Thus, this means that a true, saving faith will necessarily lead to good works.  

Faith Completed by Works:

Faith Completed by Works:

Aquinas interpreted James 2:24 ("A man is justified by works and not by faith alone") not as being contradictory of Paul's teachings, but as an explanation of what bona-fide, saving faith looks like in actuality. He believed that works are not a separate requirement for salvation, but rather the outward manifestation of an inward and truly living faith.  

Aquinas interpreted James 2:24 ("A man is justified by works and not by faith alone") not as being contradictory of Paul's teachings, but as an explanation of what bona-fide, saving faith looks like in actuality. He believed that works are not a separate requirement for salvation, but rather the outward manifestation of an inward and truly living faith.

== Martin Luther and the Epistle of James ==

== Martin Luther and the Epistle of James ==