Chris Bruno - Paul vs. James: What Weve Been Missing in the Faith and Works Debate

The relationship of faith and works is one of the most important and yet disputed topics in the history of the church. In this book, Chris Bruno, who is a careful biblical scholar with a heart for the church, dismantles the false dichotomy between believing in justification by faith alone and being zealous for good works. I hope many read this book and learn the profound and yet practical truth that we are saved by faith alone but that saving faith never remains alone. Real faith produces good works.

Jeremy Treat

Pastor for preaching and vision at Reality LA

Adjunct professor of theology at Biola University

Author of Seek First and The Crucified King

Chris uses a conversational format to walk through background information and current scholastic thought on the issues surround James and Pauls alleged conflict on works and faith. In an easy to understand fashion, Chris explains that Paul and James dont conflict, but complement each other, more fully explaining both sides of the coin.

Mark Lanier

Author, Christianity on Trial

Lawyer and Bible teacher

Chris Bruno tackles the perennial yet parochially Protestant problem of aligning the apostle Paul and James the Just when it comes to faith and works. What Bruno shows is that if the letter of James is an epistle of straw, then Pauls letter to the Galatians too is stuffed with straw. Through a meticulous description of the life and context of Paul and James and a concerted comparison of their respective letters, Bruno succeeds in demonstrating how these two pillars of the church are really singing off the same sheet of gospel music.

Michael F. Bird

Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia

Christ Bruno has shown in this very accessible but profound book that James and Paul cohere in their theology of justification. Bruno demonstrates that faith and works in both Paul and James are not enemies but friends, but at the same time he carefully explains what Paul and James mean by the key terms faith, works, and justification. I am confident that many will come to a clear understanding of how Paul and James fit together by reading this work.

Thomas Schreiner

Professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

In Paul vs. James, Chris Bruno gives readers an engaging, faithful, and practical way to understand what is often portrayed as a major source of tension in the New Testament. Instead of seeing conflict between how Paul and James understand justification and the relationship between faith and works, Bruno argues that there is exegetical, canonical, and theological unity in what they say about this vital topic. This is an excellent introduction to the debate and to a way forward in it that retains historically orthodox and Protestant commitments.

Matthew Y. Emerson

Dickinson Associate Professor of Religion

Director, Master of Arts in Christian Studies and Intercultural Studies Programs

Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry

Many pit the Old Testament against the New, the Gospels against Paul, and James against Paul. Bruno argues that the two apostles, in reality, reinforce each other. The brilliance of this book lies in its accessibility and wholistic understanding of Paul and James. This project will serve the church well in its informed theology, responsible handling of biblical texts, and application for today. Well done.

Benjamin L. Gladd

Associate Professor of New Testament

Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS

2019 by CHRIS BRUNO

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All Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Edited by Kevin P. Emmert
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ISBN: 978-0-8024-1912-5
eBook ISBN: 978-0-8024-9782-6

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To
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Thank you for pushing me toward faithful works.

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I n a sermon I heard as a seminary student over forty years ago, the great British preacher John R. W. Stott advocated for what we called BBC: Balanced, Biblical Christianity. He warned us that one of the quickest routes to heresy in our ministries was imbalance. Not many of us, he noted, were in danger of denying a key biblical truthwe werent about to teach that Jesus was not divine or that there was no day of judgment to come. But we were in danger of stressing one side of biblical truth so strongly that the other side of the truth got lostlike warning people so often and so insistently about final judgment that they forgot that Gods Spirit was active in their lives to keep them in their faith.