Evidence · Case 12 · Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 8 to 9
One exhibit from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.
Paul writes that salvation is by grace through faith, and that “it is the gift of God, not a result of works,” so that no one can boast.
Sources
Objections & responses
- James 2:24 says a person is justified by works and not by faith alone, and Jesus says whoever endures to the end will be saved. Isn’t this a Protestant reading of Paul presented as what the New Testament says?
The relation of faith and works is debated among Christians, and a Witness will cite James and Matthew 24:13. The reply is that James argues against a faith that produces nothing, and Paul against works as the ground of standing before God, and that the two meet in Ephesians 2:10, the verse right after the ones quoted: created in Christ Jesus for good works. Works are what the saved are made for, not what saves. The specific Witness position, that loyalty to an organization and the preaching work are conditions, is what this claim contrasts, not all works language as such.