A common challenge presented by skeptics or atheists to prove a biblical contradiction regarding salvation is, “How is a person saved? Compare Paul’s writings (salvation is by faith apart from works) with those from James (salvation is by faith and works) and tell me which one is correct?”

On the surface, skeptics seem to have a valid argument since Paul specifically stated that salvation and justification are gifts received by faith exclusively apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but James appears to convey that salvation is obtained through faith and works (James 2:14-26). However, when these passages are viewed and interpreted in context, these authors do not contradict one another but describe two sides of the same coin.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul provided one of the most explicit, straightforward passages on salvation—establishing it as a gift obtained and sustained exclusively through faith apart from works. He wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Consequently, Paul’s statement cannot mean salvation is by grace through faith and not of works but also of works. Neither can it mean salvation is by grace through faith and not of works after the required works are done, nor not of some works but certainly of others. Those interpretations are internally contradictory and false.

Likewise, Paul described salvation and justification as gifts of God’s mercy and grace in Titus 3:4-7 and Romans 5:1-2, which are never acquired by righteous deeds but solely by faith. Titus 3:4-7 states, “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” In Romans 5:1-2, Paul wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”

Paul further validated this truth when he distinguished the exclusivity of, and incompatibility between, grace and works. In Romans 11:6, he wrote, “if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” Therefore, Paul's statements and many other passages throughout Scripture authenticate salvation as a gift.

James did not contradict or oppose salvation through faith apart from works in James 2:14-26, as skeptics claim. Rather, he boldly disputed the claim of one’s salvation without any accompanying works verifying its authenticity. In other words, James distinguished genuine salvation (saving faith) from pretense or charades (dead faith), using the evidence of good works as a determining factor. He used Abraham’s offer of Isaac on the altar to illustrate this theological truth.

Suppose the correct interpretation of James 2:14-26 was that faith and works generate salvation. In that case, James would contradict passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:1-24, Galatians 3:6-9, and multitudes of others that state the opposite.

When reading and interpreting the Bible, we must always remember that it is not a collection of fragmented passages with each verse understood and interpreted at face value apart from its immediate context, chapter, the entire book, and Scripture as a whole. It is divinely inspired by a perfect, all-knowing God who is incapable of deception. As such, the doctrines taught in His Word are consistent and reliable and fit together within a logical framework. They are not contradictory, misleading, or false in any way. Therefore, correctly understood verses will never contradict correctly understood verses but harmonize with the rest of Scripture and its overall message. Such is the case with Paul’s and James’ statements.