The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
The General Epistle ofJames
James 2
Warning against Partiality | |||||
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My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. | ||||
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For 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; | ||||
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and 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: | ||||
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are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? | ||||
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Hearken, 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? | ||||
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But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? | ||||
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Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? | ||||
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¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, Lev. 19.18 ye do well: | ||||
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but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. | ||||
10 |
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. | ||||
11 |
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, Ex. 20.14 · Deut. 5.18 said also, Do not kill. Ex. 20.13 · Deut. 5.17 Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. | ||||
12 |
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. | ||||
13 |
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. | ||||
Faith without Works Is Dead | |||||
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¶ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? | ||||
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If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, | ||||
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and 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? | ||||
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Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. | ||||
18 |
¶ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. | ||||
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Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. | ||||
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But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? | ||||
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Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Gen. 22.1-14 | ||||
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Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? | ||||
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And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith,
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and he was called the Friend of God. 2 Chr. 20.7 · Is. 41.8 | |||||
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Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. | ||||
25 |
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Josh. 2.1-21 | ||||
26 |
For as the body without the spirit 1 is dead, so faith without works is dead also. |
Note 1. Or, breath. [ back ]
Published by The American Bible Society
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