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James 2
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Do Not Show Partiality Based On Earthly Status

2 My brothers, do not be holding the faith of [a] our Lord Jesus Christ of [b] glory with respect-of-persons[c]. 2 For if a gold-ringed man in shining clothing enters into your gathering, and a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, 3 and you look-upon[d] the one wearing the shining clothing and say “You be sitting here honorably[e]”, and you say to the poor man “You stand there, or be sitting under[f] my footstool”, 4 did you not make-distinctions among yourselves and become judges with[g] evil thoughts?

God Does Not Base His Actions On Human Distinctions. Love Your Neighbor

5 Listen, my beloved brothers— did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and inheritors of the kingdom which He promised to the ones loving Him? 6 But you dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and themselves drag you into courts? 7 Do not they blaspheme the good name having been called[h] upon you? 8 If indeed[i] you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture [in Lev 19:18], “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ”, you are doing well[j]. 9 But if you are showing-respect-of-persons you are working[k] a sin, being convicted[l] by the Law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one thing has become guilty of all. 11 For the One having said “Do not commit-adultery” also said “Do not murder”. Now if you do not commit-adultery, but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. 12 So speak and so do as ones going to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to the one not having done[m] mercy. Mercy vaunts[n] over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What is the profit, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works[o]? The[p] faith is not able to save him, is it? 15 If brother or sister are naked and lacking daily food 16 and one of you says to them “Go in peace; be warmed and filled”, but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what is the profit[q]? 17 In this manner also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by[r] itself.

Faith Cannot Be Seen Apart From Works

18 But someone will say “You have faith, and I have works”. Show me your faith without[s] the works, and I will show you the faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one[t]? You do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!

Faith Is Perfected By Works

20 But do you want to know[u], O empty[v] person, that faith without works is useless[w]? 21 Abraham our father— was he not declared-righteous by works[x], having offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you[y] see that faith was working-with his works, and the faith was perfected[z] by the works? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled, the one saying [in Gen 15:6] “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness”. And he was called a friend of God. 24 Do you[aa] all see that a person is declared-righteous by works, and not by faith alone[ab]? 25 And likewise also Rahab the prostitute— was she not declared-righteous by works, having received the messengers and sent-them-out by a different way? 26 For just as the body without spirit[ac] is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Footnotes

  1. James 2:1 That is, in; or, originated by.
  2. James 2:1 That is, characterized by glory (our glorious Lord Jesus Christ); or, from glory; or, Christ, [the Lord] of glory.
  3. James 2:1 Or, partiality, favoritism.
  4. James 2:3 That is, look with favor upon.
  5. James 2:3 Or, fitly, well, appropriately.
  6. James 2:3 Or, at. That is, under the shadow cast by it.
  7. James 2:4 Or, characterized by.
  8. James 2:7 Or, named. That is, the good name your Owner has given you, Christian.
  9. James 2:8 Or, however.
  10. James 2:8 Or, acting commendably.
  11. James 2:9 Or, carrying-out.
  12. James 2:9 Or, exposed, rebuked.
  13. James 2:13 That is, shown.
  14. James 2:13 Or, boasts, exults; that is, in triumph.
  15. James 2:14 That is, works, actions, deeds, as the fruit of the faith.
  16. James 2:14 That is, the faith just mentioned; That faith. A negative answer is expected.
  17. James 2:16 Or, use, benefit.
  18. James 2:17 That is, being by itself. Or, faith by itself is dead.
  19. James 2:18 Or, apart-from. This could only be done by pointing to one’s beliefs, which James addresses next.
  20. James 2:19 Or, this may be a statement. ‘Believe’ is the same root word as ‘faith’. Even the demons have this kind of faith.
  21. James 2:20 Or, are you willing to recognize, or acknowledge.
  22. James 2:20 Or, senseless.
  23. James 2:20 Or, inactive, unproductive, idle.
  24. James 2:21 That is, by faith with works, the subject under discussion. A ‘Yes’ answer is expected.
  25. James 2:22 Or, You see (a statement). That is, you empty person.
  26. James 2:22 Or, completed, fulfilled, brought to its goal.
  27. James 2:24 This ‘you’ is plural. Or, You all see (a statement).
  28. James 2:24 Or, only. That is, by faith with works, and not by faith alone. Faith alone is the faith of hearers only (1:22) and demons (2:19). Works as the inevitable fruit of genuine faith are in view here, not works done to earn salvation (as in Romans).
  29. James 2:26 Or, breath.
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James 2
New International Version

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious(A) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.(B) 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges(C) with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:(D) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world(E) to be rich in faith(F) and to inherit the kingdom(G) he promised those who love him?(H) 6 But you have dishonored the poor.(I) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?(J) 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a](K) you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism,(L) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.(M) 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles(N) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.(O) 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b](P) also said, “You shall not murder.”[c](Q) 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(R) by the law that gives freedom,(S) 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.(T) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(U) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(V) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(W) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(X)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,(Y) and I will show you my faith(Z) by my deeds.(AA) 19 You believe that there is one God.(AB) Good! Even the demons believe that(AC)—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]?(AD) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(AE) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(AF) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(AG) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e](AH) and he was called God’s friend.(AI) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(AJ) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. James 2:8 Lev. 19:18
  2. James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
  3. James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17
  4. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
  5. James 2:23 Gen. 15:6
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