James 2

King James Version

Full text for James Chapter 2

1¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.

2For 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;

3And 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:

4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5Hearken, 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?

6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7Do 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:

9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.

11For 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.

12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13For 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?

15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16And 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?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, 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.

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23And 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.

24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

James 2 strongly condemns showing partiality to the rich over the poor, asserting that such favoritism is sin and violates the royal law of loving one's neighbor. The chapter then transitions to emphasize that genuine faith must be accompanied by good works, declaring that faith without works is dead. It illustrates this principle with examples like Abraham and Rahab, demonstrating that true belief is evidenced through action.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by admonishing believers against showing partiality or respect of persons, particularly favoring the wealthy over the poor within the assembly. It argues that such discrimination makes one a "judge of evil thoughts" and contradicts God's choice of the poor to be rich in faith. James then connects this partiality to a transgression of the "royal law" to love one's neighbor, stating that breaking one commandment makes one guilty of the whole law. The epistle then shifts focus to the relationship between faith and works, asserting that merely professing faith is insufficient for salvation if not accompanied by practical deeds of charity and obedience. It uses the analogy of a body without a spirit to declare that faith without works is dead, citing Abraham and Rahab as examples of individuals whose faith was made perfect and justified by their actions.

Long Summary

James chapter two delivers a dual admonition concerning the practical outworking of Christian faith. Firstly, it sternly warns against the sin of showing partiality or "respect of persons" within the Christian assembly, specifically condemning the practice of favoring the wealthy while despising the poor. The apostle argues that such discrimination is a manifestation of "evil thoughts" and contradicts God's divine election of the poor to be "rich in faith" and heirs of His kingdom. He reminds his brethren that the rich often oppress them and blaspheme the name of Christ, further highlighting the hypocrisy of such favoritism. James then declares that showing partiality violates the "royal law" of loving one's neighbor as oneself, asserting that even a single transgression of the law renders one guilty of all. He stresses that believers are to speak and act as those who will be judged by the "law of liberty," emphasizing that "judgment without mercy" awaits those who have shown no mercy, while mercy triumphs over judgment. Secondly, the chapter transitions to a profound discourse on the indispensable relationship between faith and works. James questions the profit of a professed faith that lacks corresponding actions, illustrating with the example of offering only empty words to the naked and hungry. He unequivocally states that "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." The apostle challenges the notion of a solitary faith, asserting that true faith is demonstrated through works, much like the devils who believe in God and tremble. He cites the patriarch Abraham, who was "justified by works" when he offered Isaac, showing how faith "wrought with his works" and was "made perfect" by them. Similarly, Rahab the harlot is presented as another example of justification by works through her actions of receiving and protecting the messengers. The chapter concludes with the powerful analogy that "as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also," firmly establishing that genuine faith is active and evidenced through righteous deeds.

Core Concepts

  • Partiality/Respect of PersonsThe sin of showing favoritism based on outward appearance or wealth, particularly in the assembly, which is condemned as a transgression of God's law and a sign of "evil thoughts."
  • Royal LawThe commandment to "love thy neighbour as thyself," which James identifies as the supreme law that, when violated by partiality, makes one a transgressor of the entire law.
  • Law of LibertyThe standard by which believers will be judged, implying a freedom from sin's bondage but also a responsibility to act with mercy and righteousness.
  • Faith without WorksA central theme asserting that a mere intellectual assent to belief, unaccompanied by corresponding actions of obedience and charity, is "dead" and cannot save.
  • Justification by WorksThe concept illustrated by Abraham and Rahab, demonstrating that genuine faith is evidenced and perfected through righteous deeds, thereby showing the reality of one's belief and being accounted righteous.
  • Mercy and JudgmentThe principle that those who show no mercy will receive judgment without mercy, while mercy itself triumphs over judgment, emphasizing the importance of compassionate action.
  • God's Choice of the PoorAn idea that God has chosen the poor of this world to be "rich in faith" and heirs of His kingdom, contrasting with human tendencies to despise and discriminate against them.