James 2
1 My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons.2 For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing,3 and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, You may sit in this good place, but you say to the poor man, You stand over there, or, Sit below my footstool,4 are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts?5 My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?6 But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment?7 Are not they the ones who blaspheme the good name which has been invoked over you?8 So if you perfect the regal law, according to the Scriptures, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, then you do well.9 But if you show favoritism to persons, then you commit a sin, having been convicted again by the law as transgressors.10 Now whoever has observed the whole law, yet who offends in one matter, has become guilty of all.11 For he who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.12 So speak and act just as you are beginning to be judged, by the law of liberty.13 For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment.14 My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?15 So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,16 and if anyone of you were to say to them: Go in peace, keep warm and nourished, and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this?17 Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.18 Now someone may say: You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.20 So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?21 Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?23 And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice. And so he was called the friend of God.24 Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone?25 Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way?26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
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.