Thematic Bible

James 2:1

My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

James 2:2

For if someone enters into your assembly in fine clothing with a gold ring on his finger, and a poor person in filthy clothing also enters,

James 2:3

and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, "Be seated here in a good place," and to the poor person you say, "You stand or be seated there by my footstool,"

James 2:4

have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:5

Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

James 2:6

But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?

James 2:7

Do they themselves not blaspheme the good name {of the one to whom you belong}?

James 2:8

However, if you carry out the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

James 2:9

But if you show partiality, you commit sin, [and thus] are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:10

For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one [point only] has become guilty of all [of it].

James 2:11

For the one who said "Do not commit adultery" also said "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

James 2:12

Thus speak and thus act as those who are going to be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13

For judgment [is] merciless to the one who has not practiced mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:14

What [is] the benefit, my brothers, if someone says [that he] has faith but does not have works? That faith [is] not able to save him, [is it]?

James 2:15

If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacking food for the day,

James 2:16

and one of you should say to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and {eat well}," but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what [is] the benefit?

James 2:17

Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

James 2:18

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 2:19

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder!

James 2:20

But do you want to know, O foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

James 2:21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works [when he] offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

James 2:22

You see that faith was working together with his works, and by the works the faith was perfected.

James 2:23

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

James 2:24

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James 2:25

And likewise was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works [when she] welcomed the messengers and sent [them] out by a different route?

James 2:26

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