The General Epistle of James

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons.(a)

For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing,

and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, “You may sit in this good place,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit below my footstool,”

are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts?

My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?

But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment?

Are not they the ones who blaspheme the good name which has been invoked over you?

So if you perfect the regal law, according to the Scriptures, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” then you do well.

But if you show favoritism to persons, then you commit a sin, having been convicted again by the law as transgressors.

Now whoever has observed the whole law, yet who offends in one matter, has become guilty of all.(b)

For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and act just as you are beginning to be judged, by the law of liberty.

For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment.

Faith and Works

(Galatians 3:1–9)

My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?

So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,

and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this?

Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.

Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.

So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?

Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?

And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.

Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone?

Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way?

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

Footnotes

(a)2:1 With respect of persons:The meaning is, that in matters relating to faith, the administering of the sacraments, and other spiritual functions in God’s church, there should be no respect of persons; but that the souls of the poor should be as much regarded as those of the rich. See Deut. 1:17.(Challoner)

(b)2:10 Guilty of all;:That is, he becomes a transgressor of the law in such a manner, that the observing of all other points will not avail him to salvation; for he despises the lawgiver, and breaks through the great and general commandment of charity, even by one mortal sin. For all the precepts of the law are to be considered as one total and entire law, and as it were a chain of precepts, where, by breaking one link of this chain, the whole chain is broken, or the integrity of the law consisting of a collection of precepts. A sinner, therefore, by a grievous offence against any one precept, incurs eternal punishment; yet the punishment in hell shall be greater for those who have been greater sinners, as a greater reward shall be for those in heaven who have lived with greater sanctity and perfection.(Challoner)

My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue,(a) and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,

and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”

haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?

Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”(b) you do well.

But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”(c) also said, “Do not commit murder.”(d) Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works

(Galatians 3:1–9)

What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.

But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.

So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,”(e) and he was called the friend of God.

You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.

In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

Footnotes

(a)2:2 or, meeting

(b)2:8 ℘ Leviticus 19:18

(d)2:11 ℘ Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17

(e)2:23 ℘ Genesis 15:6