A Warning against Favoritism

1My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons: 2for 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, 3and 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: 4have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts? 5Hear, 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? 6But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals? 7And [do not] they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

8If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. 9But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all. 11For 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. 12So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty; 13for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

Faith and Works

(Genesis 15:1-7; Romans 4:1-12; Galatians 3:1-9; Hebrews 11:8-19)

14What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him? 15Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and 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? 17So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.

18But 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. 19Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even 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? 22Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected. 23And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God. 24Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only. 25But 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? 26For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.