James 2

(1)  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
(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;
(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:
(4)  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
(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?
(6)  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
(7)  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
(8)  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
(9)  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, said also, Do not kill. 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 shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
(14)  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
(15)  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
(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?
(17)  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: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
(19)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(21)  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
(22)  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
(23)  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
(24)  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?
(26)  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

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Study Questions

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1. What is a test of faith in this verse? In what way are we to be like God with reference to people? Verse 1.

2. What may we infer about the man with the “gold ring and goodly apparel”? What does the “vile raiment” of the other tell us about him? Verse 2.

3. What was the “good place” of the one as opposed to the place of the other? Is such deference likely to happen in an assembly today? Verse 3.

4. What were the brethren doing that showed doubt in the teaching of the Lord? What caused them to have conflict or “become judges of evil thoughts”? Verse 4.

5. Why are the poor chosen to be “heirs of the kingdom”? Is the choice of the poor without regard to their character? Verse 5.

6. How did they despise or dishonor the poor? Why did it not make good sense to show favoritism to the rich? Verse 6.

7. Who spoke evil or blasphemed the “worthy name”? What name was it and when was it given? Verse 7.

8. What is “the royal law”? What was James’ response to those who justified their treatment of the rich as merely fulfilling “the royal law”? Verses 8-9.

9. How does someone become “guilty of all” by violating one precept of the law? Verse 10.

10. Why is it wrong to keep the law when we approve of what God has said and violate it when we disapprove or regard it as of little consequence? Verse 11.

11. What is important in view of the fact that we shall be judged by a law of liberty? What is the paradox or contrast in “a law of liberty”? Verse 12.

12. Can those who have shown no mercy expect mercy at the judgment seat? How does mercy “rejoice” (glory or triumph) over judgment? Verse 13.

13. What two questions are posed by James and what are the answers? Verse 14.

14. Does “naked” mean “utterly without clothing”? What would be the modern equivalent of saying “go in peace”? Verses 15-16.

15. What is it that is dead and without profit? What kinds of works are excluded? Verse 17.

16. What must the person who disparages works resort to in order to prove that he has any faith at all? Can faith be seen without works? Verse 18.

17. There are three kinds of works: (1) works of the law of Moses; (2) works of human merit; (3) works of faith, that is, the commandments of the Lord. What is included and what is excluded? Verse 19.

18. Is faith in God disparaged by James? How much do demons believe? What is a “vain” man? Will a dead or barren faith save? Verse 20.

19. When was the time and place that Abraham was justified, that is, pronounced to be in a right relationship with God? Verse 21.

20. What was it that made Abraham’s faith perfect or complete? Verse 22.

21. Although Abraham’s faith was “reckoned” or “imputed” to him for righteousness, when was his faith consummated or made perfect? Verse 23.

22. Did Paul contradict James in Romans 3:28? Verse 24.

23. In what way was Rahab justified by works? Verse 25.

24. What is death? What two things in this verse are dead? Verse 26.