James sought to impart his passionate concern for the poor to his readership in a forceful way.  Rhetoric is the art of giving life to lifeless words, and irony is a powerful rhetorical skill.

There are two typical senses to the world %u201Cirony.%u201D  As used in a course on literature, the term %u201Cirony%u201D usually means something like sarcasm.  It is gentler than sarcasm in that it is not a direct taunt in the face of someone, but presents facts in a sarcastic manner to drive home a point.  In the more %u201Cevery-day%u201D use of the term %u201Cirony,%u201D the term refers to unlikely contrasts, and unlikely coincidences.  In truth, the academic sense of the term, and the %u201Cevery day%u201D sense of the term overlap, and hold more in common than disparate.  Whichever definition one adopts, James appears to use irony more frequently than any other book in Scripture.

Consider the following eight examples of irony in James.

James 1:9-10 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:  But the rich, in  that he is made low.

It is ironic that one who is lowly should rejoice in his exaltation, but one who is rich should rejoice in that he is made low.  These are unlikely contrasts, and it drives home with gentle sarcasm to the rich that they%u2019re money does not make them special in God%u2019s eyes.

James 2:10     For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

It is ironic that one should keep the entire law, save for one offense, and be found guilty of violating the entire law.

James 2:13     For he shall have judgment without mercy, on him that hath showed no mercy; and mercy triumphs against judgment.

In the jungle, the first to attack is most likely to survive.  All too often, this is true in the jungle of humanity.  And so, it is ironic that, by biblical standards, one who shows no mercy will work to his own destruction, but one who shows mercy shall triumph over judgment.

James 3:3-4   Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

It is ironic that tiny devices, such as a horses bridal, or a rudder, can control such massive and powerful objects, even when driven by fierce winds.

James 3:5-6   Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:  so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

It is ironic that the tongue is such a tiny member, and yet boasts great things, accomplishes great destruction, and can defile the entire body.

James 3:7-8   For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

It is ironic that man can control the great and powerful things, such as horses, or ships driven by fierce winds, but cannot control something as tiny as a tongue.

James 3:9       Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

It is ironic that the instrument by which we bless God is the same instrument with which we curse men, when men are made in the very similitude of God.

James 3:10-12           Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?  So can no  fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

It is ironic that fountains cannot bring forth two kinds of water, and plants cannot bring forth two kinds of fruit, and yet, the tongue can bring forth speech of opposing natures.

James 4:4       Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not  that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

It is ironic that we are physical beings living in a physical world created by God, and yet, if we are a friend of this  world, we become the enemy of God.

James 4:9-10   Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter  be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

It is ironic that laughter and joy should be turned into mourning and heaviness, but that those who humble themselves will be lifted up.

And so, when addressing the subject of poverty in James 2:14-26, James cloaks his discussion in rather ironic terms.

And it is indeed the ultimate irony that one is eternally saved by faith alone, apart from any works of charity or obedience to God's laws, and yet, in virtually every other aspect of life, one saves their own life, or the lives of others, by their works.

And it is a further irony that one is justified before God by honoring His Son, believing on Him alone as the Savior of the world, and yet, before his fellow man, one is justified by works alone, and apart from faith.  Who among us could not be held captive by such rich irony?  Least of all, could we expect James, the master of irony, to fail to draw upon this ironic contrast?   Indeed, it would have been odd (dare we say . . . even a bit ironic?) if James, the master of irony, had failed to do so.

Irony is a sophisticated literary device that requires not only a Highly intelligent writer, but a readership that is both intelligent and literate.  And, as we have noted, James uses irony as a literary device more frequently than any other book in the Bible!

Because of this, those unskilled in such biblical literature should not imagine themselves to be teachers of passages.

Perhaps this is one reason why James 2:14-26 is the most abused text in Scripture, used by simple minded teachers to defend a preconceived commitment to salvation-by-works.

Perhaps this is also why James exhorts that not every one is fit to be a teacher of God's Word, and if the unfit suppose themselves fit, and pervert God's Word, they will answer for it (James 3:1).