1 It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich, and to despise the poor brethren;
13 rather we are to be loving and merciful;
14 and not to boast of faith where no deeds are;
17 which is but a dead faith;
19 the faith of the devils;
21 not of Abraham;
25 nor Rahab.

the faith. Ac 20:21 24:24 Col 1:4 1Ti 1:19 Tit 1:1 2Pe 1:1 Re 14:12

the Lord. Ps 24:7-10 1Co 2:8 Tit 2:13 Heb 1:3

with. 3,9 3:17 Le 19:15 De 1:17 16:19 2Ch 19:7 Pr 24:23 28:21 Mt 22:16 Ro 1:11 1Ti 5:21 Jude 1:16

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;

assembly. Gr. synagogue. gold. Es 3:10 8:2 Lu 15:22

goodly. Ge 27:15 Mt 11:8,9

in vile. Isa 64:6 Zec 3:3,4

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:

ye. Jude 1:16

in a good place. or well, or, seemly. to the. See on ver. 6 Isa 65:5 Lu 7:44-46 2Co 8:9

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

partial. See on ch. 1:1-27 Job 34:19 Mal 2:9 Judges. 4:11 Job 21:27 Ps 58:1 82:2 109:31 Mt 7:1-5 Joh 7:24

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?

Hearken. Jud 9:7 1Ki 22:28 Job 34:10 38:14 Pr 7:24 8:32 Mr 7:14 Ac 7:2

Hath not. 1:9 Isa 14:32 29:19 Zep 3:12 Zec 11:7,11 Mt 11:5 Lu 6:20 9:57,58 16:22,25 Joh 7:48 1Co 1:26-28 2Co 8:9

rich. Pr 8:17-21 Lu 12:21 1Co 3:21-23 2Co 4:15 6:10 Eph 1:18 3:8 1Ti 6:18 Heb 11:26 Re 2:9 3:18 21:7

heirs. Mt 5:3 25:34 Lu 12:32 22:29 Ro 8:17 1Th 2:12 2Th 1:5 2Ti 4:8,18 1Pe 1:4 2Pe 1:11

the. or, that which. See on ch. 1:12 Ex 20:6 1Sa 2:30 Pr 8:17 Mt 5:3 Lu 6:20 12:32 1Co 2:9 2Ti 4:8

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

ye. 3 Ps 14:6 Pr 14:31 17:5 Ec 9:15,16 Isa 53:3 Joh 8:49 1Co 11:22

Do. 5:4 Job 20:19 Ps 10:2,8,10,14 12:5 Pr 22:16 Ec 5:8 Isa 3:14,15 Am 2:6,7 4:1 5:11 8:4-6 Mic 6:11,12 Hab 3:14 Zec 7:10

and. 5:6 1Ki 21:11-13 Ac 4:1-3,26-28 5:17,18,26,27 13:50 16:19,20 Ac 17:6 18:12

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

blaspheme. Ps 73:7-9 Mt 12:24 27:63 Lu 22:64,65 Ac 26:11 1Ti 1:13 Re 13:5,6

worthy. Ps 111:9 So 1:3 Isa 7:14 9:6,7 Jer 23:6 Mt 1:23 Ac 4:12 Php 2:9-11 Re 19:13,16

by. Isa 65:15 Ac 11:26 Eph 3:15

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

the royal. 12 1:25 1Pe 2:9

Thou. Le 19:18,34 Mt 22:39 Mr 12:31-33 Lu 10:27-37 Ro 13:8,9 Ga 5:14 6:2 1Th 4:9

ye do. 19 1Ki 8:18 2Ki 7:9 Jon 4:4,9 Mt 25:21,23 Php 4:14

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

if. See on ver. 1-4 Le 19:15

are. Joh 8:9,46 16:8 *marg: 1Co 14:24 Jude 1:15

transgressors. Ro 3:20 7:7-13 Ga 2:19 1Jo 3:4

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For. While the Jews taught that 'he who transgresses all the precepts of the law has broken the yoke, dissolved the covenant, and exposed the law to contempt; and so has he done who has only broken one precept;' they also taught, 'that he who observed any principal command was equal to him who kept the whole law,' and gave for an example the forsaking of idolatry. To correct this false doctrine was the object James had in view.

whosoever. De 27:26 Mt 5:18,19 Ga 3:10

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.

he said that. or, that law, which said. Do not commit. Ex 20:13,14 De 5:17,18 Mt 5:21-28 19:18 Mr 10:19 Lu 18:20 Ro 13:9

Now. Le 4:2,13,22 Ps 130:3,4

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

speak. Php 4:8 Col 3:17 2Pe 1:4-8

the. 8

See on ch. 1:25

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

he. 5:4 Ge 42:21 Jud 1:7 Job 22:6-10 Pr 21:13 Isa 27:11 Mt 5:7 6:15 7:1,2 18:28-35 25:41-46 Lu 16:25

and. Ps 85:10 Jer 9:24 Eze 33:11 Mic 7:18 Eph 1:6,7 2:4-7 1Jo 4:8-16,18,19

rejoiceth. or, glorieth.

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

What. 16 Jer 7:8 Ro 2:25 1Co 13:3 1Ti 4:8 Heb 13:9

though. 18,26 1:22-25 Mt 5:20 7:21-23,26,27 Lu 6:49 Ac 8:13,21 15:9 1Co 13:2 16:22 Ga 5:6,13 1Th 1:3 1Ti 1:5 Tit 1:16 3:8 Heb 11:7,8,17 2Pe 1:5 1Jo 5:4,5

can. 1Co 15:2 Eph 2:8-10

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

5 Job 31:16-21 Isa 58:7,10 Eze 18:7 Mt 25:35-40 Mr 14:7 Lu 3:11 Ac 9:29 Heb 11:37

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?

one. Job 22:7-9 Pr 3:27,28 Mt 14:15,16 15:32 25:42-45 Ro 12:9 2Co 8:8 1Jo 3:16-18

what. See on ver. 14

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

so. 14,19,20,26 1Co 13:3,13 1Th 1:3 1Ti 1:5 2Pe 1:5-9

alone. Gr. by itself.

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.

Thou. 14,22 Ro 14:23 1Co 13:2 Ga 5:6 Heb 11:6,31

without thy works. Some copies read, by thy works.

and I will. 22-25 3:13 Mt 7:17 Ro 8:1 2Co 5:17 7:1 1Th 1:3-10 1Ti 1:5 Tit 2:7,11-14

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

De 6:4 Isa 43:10 44:6,8 45:6,21,22 46:9 Zec 14:9 Mr 12:29 Joh 17:3 Ro 3:30 1Co 8:4,6 Ga 3:20 Eph 4:5,6 1Ti 2:5 Jude 1:4

thou doest. 8 Jon 4:4,9 Mr 7:9

the. Mt 8:29 Mr 1:24 5:7 Lu 4:34 Ac 16:17 19:15 24:25 Jude 1:6 Re 20:2,3,10

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

O vain. 1:26 Job 11:11,12 Ps 94:8-11 Pr 12:11 Jer 2:5 Ro 1:21 1Co 15:35,36 Ga 6:3 Col 2:8 1Ti 1:6 Tit 1:10

that. See on ver. 14

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Abraham. Jos 24:3 Isa 51:2 Mt 3:9 Lu 1:73 16:24,30 Joh 8:39,53 Ac 7:2 Ro 4:1,12,16

justified. 18,24 Ps 143:2 Mt 12:37 25:31-40 Ro 3:20

when. Ge 22:9-12,16-18

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Seest thou. or, Thou seest. faith. 18 Ga 5:6 Heb 11:17-19

faith made. 1Jo 2:5 4:17,18

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.

the scripture. Mr 12:10 15:28 Lu 4:21 Ac 1:16 Ro 9:17 11:2 Ga 3:8-10,22 2Ti 3:16 1Pe 2:6

Abraham. Ge 15:6 Ro 4:3-6,10,11,22-24 Ga 3:6

the Friend. Ex 33:11 2Ch 20:7 Job 16:21 *marg: Isa 41:8 Joh 15:13-15

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

15-18,21,22 Ps 60:12

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

was. Jos 2:1 Mt 1:5

Rachab. the harlot. Mt 21:31

justified. 18,22

when. Jos 2:19-21 6:17,22-25 Heb 11:31

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

as. Job 34:14,15 Ps 104:29 146:4 Ec 12:7 Isa 2:22 Lu 23:46 Ac 7:59,60

spirit. or, breath. so. See on ver. 14,17,20