James
Summary
James addresses the sin of partiality, warning against showing favouritism to the wealthy while despising the poor. He argues that if one fails to keep the "royal law" of loving one's neighbour as oneself, they are guilty of breaking the whole Law. The chapter then transitions into a seminal discussion on the relationship between faith and works, declaring that "faith without works is dead." James uses the examples of Abraham and Rahab to show that true, saving faith is inherently accompanied by an active response of obedience. He concludes that just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
My brothers, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
For if there come into your assembly a person with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor person in vile clothing;
And you have respect to him who wears the fine clothing, and say to him, "Sit you here in a good place"; and say to the poor, "Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool":
Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Hearken, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?
But you have despised the poor. Do not rich people oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seats?
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which you are called?
If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself," you do well:
But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law.
So speak you, and so do, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty.
For he shall have judgement without mercy, who has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgement.
What does it profit, my brothers, though a person say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say to them, "Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled"; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
Yes, a person may say, "You have faith, and I have works": show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
But will you know, O vain person, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Do you see how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness": and he was called the Friend of God.
You see then how that by works a person is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.