Jam 2 | BSB | STEP | My brothers, as you hold out [your] faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, {do} not [show] favoritism.

James 2

A Warning against Favoritism

1 My brothers, as you hold out [your] faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, {do} not [show] favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting [wearing] a gold ring [and] fine clothes, and a poor [man] in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 [If] you lavish attention on the [man] in fine clothes and say, “ - Here [is] a seat of honor,” [but] say to the poor [man] “You must stand,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges [with] evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers: {Has} not God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. [Is it] not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 {Are} they not the ones who blaspheme the noble Name by which you have been called? ^{▼▼Or Name invoked upon you} 8 If you really keep [the] royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” ^{▼▼Leviticus 19:18} you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin [and] are convicted by the Law as transgressors. 10 Whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles at just one [point] is guilty of [breaking] all of it. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” ^{▼▼Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18} also said, “vvv Do not murder.” ^{▼▼Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17} If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by [the] law that gives freedom. 13 For judgment without mercy [ will be shown to ] anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works

14 What good [is it] , my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 [If] one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but {does} not provide for [his] physical needs, what good [ is that ] ? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you [my] faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that God is one. ^{▼▼or that there is one God} Good for you! Even the demons believe [that] — and shudder. 20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? ^{▼▼BYZ and TR dead} 21 {Was} not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that [his] faith was working with his actions, and [his] faith was perfected by what he did. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “ - Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” ^{▼▼Genesis 15:6} and he was called a friend of God. 24 As you can see, a man is justified by [his] deeds and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, {was} not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent [them] off on another route? 26 As the body without [the] spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.