James 2
King James Version
2 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Sin of Favoritism
2 My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.(A) 2 For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. 3 If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world(B) to be rich in faith(C) and heirs(D) of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him? 6 Yet you dishonored that poor man.(E) Don’t the rich oppress you and drag(F) you into the courts? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism?(G)
8 Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself,(H)[a] you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism,(I) you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all.(J) 11 For He who said, Do not commit adultery,[b] also said, Do not murder.(K)[c] So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom.(L) 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy.(M) Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith and Works
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith[d] save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?(N) 17 In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”[e] Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.[f](O) 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.(P)
20 Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.(Q) 23 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,(R)[g] and he was called God’s friend.(S) 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route?(T) 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Footnotes
- James 2:8 Lv 19:18
- James 2:11 Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18
- James 2:11 Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17
- James 2:14 Or Can faith, or Can that faith, or Can such faith
- James 2:18 The quotation may end here or after v. 18b or v. 19.
- James 2:18 Other mss read Show me your faith from your works, and from my works I will show you my faith.
- James 2:23 Gn 15:6
James 2
Darby Translation
2 My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:
2 for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,
3 and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?
5 Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?
6 But *ye* have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] *they* drag you before [the] tribunals?
7 And [do not] *they* blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?
8 If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.
9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.
11 For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.
12 So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;
13 for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
14 What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?
15 Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?
17 So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.
18 But some one will say, *Thou* hast faith and *I* have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and *I* from my works will shew thee my faith.
19 *Thou* believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God.
24 Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.
25 But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?
26 For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
James 2
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
2 My egō brothers adelphos, stop mē showing echō favoritism prosōpolēmpsia as you live out en your ho faith pistis in ho our hēmeis glorious doxa Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos. · ho 2 For gar if ean a man anēr comes eiserchomai into eis your hymeis congregation synagōgē wearing a gold ring chrysodaktylios and en fine lampros clothes esthēs, and de a poor man ptōchos in en dirty rhyparos clothes esthēs also kai comes in eiserchomai, 3 and de you pay special attention epiblepō to epi the ho one wearing phoreō the ho fine lampros clothes esthēs · ho and kai say legō, “ You sy sit kathēmai here hōde in a good place kalōs,” but kai to the ho poor ptōchos man you say legō, “ You sy stand histēmi over there ekei, or ē sit kathēmai down here at hypo · ho my egō feet hypopodion,” 4 have you not ou made distinctions diakrinō among en yourselves heautou and kai become ginomai judges kritēs with evil ponēros motives dialogismos? 5 Listen akouō, my egō dear agapētos brothers adelphos! Did not ou · ho God theos choose eklegomai those ho whom the ho world kosmos considers poor ptōchos to be rich plousios in en faith pistis and kai to inherit klēronomos the ho kingdom basileia, which hos he promised epangellomai to those ho who love agapaō him autos? 6 But de you hymeis have dishonored atimazō the ho poor ptōchos! Is it not ou the ho rich plousios who oppress katadynasteuō you hymeis? And kai are not they autos the ones who drag you hymeis into eis court kritērion? 7 Are they autos not ou the ones who are blaspheming blasphēmeō the ho honorable kalos name onoma by which ho you hymeis were called epikaleō? 8 If ei you teleō really mentoi fulfill teleō the royal basilikos law nomos as set forth in kata this ho scripture graphē, “ You shall love agapaō · ho your sy neighbor plēsion as hōs yourself seautou,” you are doing poieō well kalōs. 9 But de if ei you show favoritism prosōpolēmpteō, you are committing ergazomai sin hamartia and are convicted elenchō by hypo the ho law nomos as hōs transgressors parabatēs. 10 For gar whoever hostis keeps tēreō the ho entire holos law nomos yet de fails ptaiō at en a single point heis has become ginomai guilty enochos of the law as a whole pas. 11 For gar he ho who said legō, “ Do not mē commit adultery moicheuō,” also kai said legō, “ Do not mē commit murder phoneuō.” Now de if ei you do not ou commit adultery moicheuō but de do commit murder phoneuō, you have become ginomai a transgressor parabatēs of the law nomos. 12 So houtōs speak laleō and kai so houtōs act poieō as hōs those who are mellō to be judged krinō by dia the law nomos that brings freedom eleutheria. 13 · ho For gar judgment krisis will be without mercy aneleos for one ho who has shown poieō no mē mercy eleos; mercy eleos triumphs katakauchaomai over judgment krisis.
14 What tis · ho good ophelos is it, my egō brothers adelphos, if ean someone tis claims legō to have echō faith pistis but de has echō no mē works ergon? Can dynamai that kind of ho faith pistis save sōzō him autos? 15 If ean a brother adelphos or ē sister adelphē lacks hyparchō adequate clothing gymnos and kai is in need leipō of ho daily ephēmeros food trophē, 16 and de one tis of ek you hymeis says legō to them autos, “ Go hypagō in en peace eirēnē; stay warm thermainō and kai eat your fill chortazō,” and yet de you do not mē give didōmi them autos what ho their ho body sōma needs epitēdeios, what tis · ho good ophelos is that? 17 In the same way houtōs · kai · ho faith pistis, if ean it has echō no mē works ergon, is eimi dead nekros, since it is by kata itself heautou. 18 But alla someone tis will say legō, “ You sy have echō faith pistis and I kagō have echō works ergon.” Show deiknymi me egō · ho your sy faith pistis without chōris · ho works ergon, and I kagō will show deiknymi you sy my ho faith pistis by ek · ho my egō works ergon. 19 You sy believe pisteuō that hoti God theos is eimi one heis; · ho you do poieō well kalōs. Even kai the ho demons daimonion believe pisteuō, and kai shudder phrissō.
20 Would you like thelō · de to be shown ginōskō, you ō shallow kenos person anthrōpos, that hoti · ho faith pistis without chōris · ho works ergon is eimi useless argos? 21 Was dikaioō not ou Abraham Abraam · ho our hēmeis father patēr justified dikaioō by ek works ergon when he offered anapherō his autos son hyios Isaac Isaak · ho on epi the ho altar thusiastērion? 22 You see blepō that hoti · ho faith pistis was at work along with synergeō · ho his autos works ergon and kai that his ho faith pistis was made complete teleioō by ek his ho works ergon. 23 And kai the ho scripture graphē was fulfilled plēroō that ho says legō, “ And de Abraham Abraam believed pisteuō · ho God theos, and kai it was credited logizomai to him autos as eis righteousness dikaiosynē,” and kai he was called kaleō the friend philos of God theos. 24 You see horaō that hoti a person anthrōpos is justified dikaioō by ek works ergon and kai not ou by ek faith pistis alone monon. 25 And de in the same way homoiōs was dikaioō not ou also kai Rahab Rhaab the ho harlot pornē justified dikaioō by ek works ergon when she took in hypodechomai the ho spies angelos and kai sent ekballō them out ekballō by another heteros way hodos? 26 For gar just as hōsper the ho body sōma without chōris the spirit pneuma is eimi dead nekros, so houtōs also kai · ho faith pistis devoid chōris of works ergon is eimi dead nekros.
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
- James 2:1 That is, in; or, originated by.
- James 2:1 That is, characterized by glory (our glorious Lord Jesus Christ); or, from glory; or, Christ, [the Lord] of glory.
- James 2:1 Or, partiality, favoritism.
- James 2:3 That is, look with favor upon.
- James 2:3 Or, fitly, well, appropriately.
- James 2:3 Or, at. That is, under the shadow cast by it.
- James 2:4 Or, characterized by.
- James 2:7 Or, named. That is, the good name your Owner has given you, Christian.
- James 2:8 Or, however.
- James 2:8 Or, acting commendably.
- James 2:9 Or, carrying-out.
- James 2:9 Or, exposed, rebuked.
- James 2:13 That is, shown.
- James 2:13 Or, boasts, exults; that is, in triumph.
- James 2:14 That is, works, actions, deeds, as the fruit of the faith.
- James 2:14 That is, the faith just mentioned; That faith. A negative answer is expected.
- James 2:16 Or, use, benefit.
- James 2:17 That is, being by itself. Or, faith by itself is dead.
- James 2:18 Or, apart-from. This could only be done by pointing to one’s beliefs, which James addresses next.
- 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.
- James 2:20 Or, are you willing to recognize, or acknowledge.
- James 2:20 Or, senseless.
- James 2:20 Or, inactive, unproductive, idle.
- James 2:21 That is, by faith with works, the subject under discussion. A ‘Yes’ answer is expected.
- James 2:22 Or, You see (a statement). That is, you empty person.
- James 2:22 Or, completed, fulfilled, brought to its goal.
- James 2:24 This ‘you’ is plural. Or, You all see (a statement).
- 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).
- James 2:26 Or, breath.
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Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
