| The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000. |
The General Epistle of |
| James | | 2 |
Warning against Partiality |
| 1 |
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
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| 2 |
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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| 3 |
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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| 4 |
are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
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| 5 |
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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| 6 |
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
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| 7 |
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
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| 8 |
¶ 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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| 9 |
but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
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| 10 |
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
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| 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.
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| 12 |
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
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| 13 |
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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Faith without Works Is Dead |
| 14 |
¶ 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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| 15 |
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
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| 16 |
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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| 17 |
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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| 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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| 19 |
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
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| 20 |
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
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| 21 |
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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| 22 |
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
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| 23 |
And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith,
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Abraham believed God, |
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and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: Gen. 15.6 |
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| | | and he was called the Friend of God. 2 Chr. 20.7 · Is. 41.8 |
| 24 |
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
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| 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
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| 26 |
For as the body without the spirit 1 is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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