THE 1GENERAL 2EPISTLE
OF
3JAMES
James 2 ©
1 The apostle reproves accepting of persons among christians. 2 The honoring of the rich only for his riches and fine garment, and fine garment, and the despising of the believer because he is poor and sordidly clad. 5 Proves that this is unfitting, considering the dignity of believers with God, and the wickedness of many rich men. 8 That it is also contrary to the love of our neighbor, and makes a man a transgressor of the law. 10 Yea though he kept all other commandments. 13 And declares that such a one shall have an unmerciful judgment to expect. 14 Teaches further against superficial christians, that a faith which brings forth no good works, is no saving faith. 15 Even as love is no true love, when it is shown only with words, and not in deed. 17 Because such a faith is dead. 18 And cannot be shown. 19 That the devils also have such a faith. 20 And testifies that men cannot be justified by such a faith, which he proves by the example of Abraham. 25 And of Rahab. 26 And by the similitude of a dead body without a soul.
MY brethren, have not 1the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2the Lord of glory, 3witha respect of persons.
For if there come unto your 4assembly 5a man with a gold ring, in 6goodly apparel,b and there come in also a 7poor man 8in vile raiment;
And ye have 9respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here 10in a good place; and say to 11the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
12Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become 13judges of evil thoughts?
Hearken,c my beloved brethren, 14Hath not God 15chosen 16the poor of this world 17rich in faith, and heirs 18of the kingdom which he hath promisedd to them 19that love him?
But ye have 20despised the poor. Do not rich men 21oppress you, and draw you 22before the judgment seats?
Do not they blaspheme 23that worthy name by 24the which ye are called?
If ye 25fulfil 26the royal law according to the scripture, Thoue shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
But if ye have respect 27to persons, ye 28commit sin, and are convinced of 29the law as transgressors.
Forf30whosoever shall keep 31the whole law, and yet 32offend in one point, he 33is guilty of all.
For he that said, Dog not commit adultery, 34said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
So 35speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged 36by the law of liberty.
Forh he shall have 37judgment without mercy, 38that hath shewed no mercy; and 39mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
40Whatidoth it profit, my brethren, though a man 41say he hath faith, and have not works? can 42faith 43save him?
Ifj a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you 44say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; 45what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, 46is dead, being alone.
Yea, 47a man may 48say, 49Thou hast faith, and 50I have works: 51shew me thy faith 52without thy works, and I will shew thee 53my faith 54by my works.
Thou believest 55that there is one God; 56thou doest well: thek devils also 57believe, and 58tremble.
But 59wilt thou know, 60O vain man, that faith 61without works is dead?
Was not Abraham 62our father 63justified by works, whenl he had 64offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
65Seest thou how faith 66wrought with his works, and by works was faith 67made perfect?
And 68the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abrahamm believed God, and 69it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and 70he was called the Friend of God.
71Ye see then how that 72by works a man is justified, and not by faith 73only.
Likewise also was not Rahabn74the harlot justified 75by works, when she 76had received 77the messengers, and had sent them out 78another way?
For as the body 79without the spirit is dead, so 80faith 81without works is dead also.