雅各书 2

不可重富轻贫

1 我的弟兄们，你们既然对我们荣耀的主耶稣基督有信心，就不应该凭外貌待人。2 如果有一个手戴金戒指、身穿华丽衣服的人，进入你们的会堂；又有一个衣衫褴褛的穷人，也进去了。3 你们就看重那穿华丽衣服的人，说：“请坐在这好位上。”又对那个穷人说：“你站在那里。”或说：“坐在我的脚凳下边。”4 这不是你们对人有歧视，成了心怀恶意的审判官吗？5 我亲爱的弟兄们，请听： 神不是拣选了在世上被认为贫穷的人吗？这些人却在信心上富足，而且是承受 神的国的人。这国是 神应许赐给爱他的人的。6 然而你们却侮辱穷人。其实，那些欺压你们，拉你们上法庭的，不就是富足的人吗？7 难道不是他们亵渎那召你们的尊名吗？8 你们若照着圣经所说“要爱人如己”这话，去完成这至尊的律法，你们就作对了。9 如果你们凭外貌待人，就是犯罪，律法就要裁定你们是犯法的。10 因为凡是遵守全部律法的，只要在一条上失足，就违犯所有的了。11 就像那说“不可奸淫”的，也说“不可杀人”；你纵然不奸淫，却杀人，还是犯法的。12 你们既然按着使人自由的律法受审判，就应照着这律法说话行事。13 因为对不行怜悯的人，审判他们的时候就没有怜悯；怜悯胜过审判。
信心没有行为是死的14 我的弟兄们，人若说他有信心，却没有行为，有甚么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？15 如果有弟兄或姊妹缺衣少食，16 而你们中间有人对他们说：“平平安安地去吧！愿你们穿得暖，吃得饱。”却不给他们身体所需用的，那有甚么用处呢？17 照样，如果只有信心，没有行为，这信心就是死的。18 也许有人要说，你有信心，我有行为；请把你没有行为的信心指给我看，我就藉着我的行为，把我的信心指给你看。19 你信 神只有一位，你信的不错；就连鬼魔也信，却是战兢。20 愚昧的人哪，你愿意知道没有行为的信心是没有用的吗？21 我们的祖先亚伯拉罕，把他的儿子以撒献在祭坛上，不是因行为称义吗？22 你看，他的信心与行为是一致的，信心就因着行为得到完全了；23 这正应验了经上所说的：“亚伯拉罕信 神，这就算为他的义。”他也被称为 神的朋友。24 可见人称义是因着行为，不仅是因着信心。25 照样，妓女喇合接待了探子，又从另一条路把他们送走，不也是因行为称义吗？26 身体没有灵魂是死的，照样，信心没有行为也是死的。

James 2

Prejudice and the Law of Love

1 My brothers and sisters,t do not show prejudicet if you possess faitht in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.t2 For if someonet comes into your assemblyt wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say,t “You sit here in a good place,”t and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?t4 If so, have you not made distinctionst among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?t5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters!t Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?6 But you have dishonored the poor!t Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?t8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture,t “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”s you are doing well.9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.t10 For the one who obeys the whole law but failst in one point has become guilty of all of it.t11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”s also said, “Do not murder.”s Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.t

13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs overt judgment.

Faith and Works Together

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,t if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faitht save him?s15 If a brother or sistert is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs,t what good is it?17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”t Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith byt my works.

19 You believe that God is one; well and good.t Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.t
20 But would you like evidence,t you empty fellow,t that faith without works is useless?s21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,”s and he was called God’s friend.s24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.