James Chapter 2

10 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

11 do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

12 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world

13 to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

14 But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

15 Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?

16 Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

17 but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

18 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one

19 point, he is become guilty of all.

20 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

21 So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.

22 For judgment

23 is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

24 What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?

25 If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,

26 and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:

2 for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,

3 and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?

5 Hear, my beloved brethren: Has notGod chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?

6 But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals?

7 And [do not] they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

8 If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.

11 For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.

12 So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

13 for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

14 What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

15 Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?

17 So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.

18 But some one will say, Thou hast faith and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and I from my works will shew thee my faith.

19 Thou believest thatGod is one. Thou doest well. The demons even 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 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believedGod, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend ofGod.

24 Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.

25 But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?

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

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriæ.

2 Etenim si introierit in conventum vestrum vir aureum annulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,

3 et intendatis in eum, qui indutus est veste præclara, et dixeritis ei: Tu sede hic bene: pauperi autem dicatis: Tu sta illic; aut sede sub scabello pedum meorum:

4 nonne iudicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis iudices cogitationum iniquarum?

5 Audite fratres mei dilectissimi, nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et heredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?

6 Vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad iudicia?

7 Nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?

8 Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:

9 si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores:

10 Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.

11 Qui enim dixit, Non mœchaberis, dixit et, Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.

12 Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes iudicari.

13 Iudicium enim sine misericordia illi, qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia iudicium.

14 Quid proderit fratres mei si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? Numquid poterit fides salvare eum?

15 Si autem frater, et soror nudi sint, et indigeant victu quotidiano,

16 dicat autem aliquis ex vobis illis: Ite in pace, calefacimini et saturamini: non dederitis autem eis, quæ necessaria sunt corpori, quid proderit?

17 Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.

18 Sed dicet quis: Tu fidem habes, et ego opera habeo. ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus: et ego ostendam tibi ex operibus fidem meam.

19 Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: Bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.

20 Vis autem scire o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?

21 Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus iustificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?

22 Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est?

23 Et suppleta est Scriptura, dicens: Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad iustitiam, et amicus Dei appellatus est.

24 Videtis quoniam ex operibus iustificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?

25 Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus iustificata est, suscipiens nuncios, et alia via eiiciens?

26 Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

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

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

3 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”

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

5 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 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?

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

18 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 αδελφοι μου μη εν προσωπολημψιαις εχετε την πιστιν του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου της δοξης

2 εαν γαρ εισελθη εις συναγωγην υμων ανηρ χρυσοδακτυλιος εν εσθητι λαμπρα εισελθη δε και πτωχος εν ρυπαρα εσθητι

3 επιβλεψητε δε επι τον φορουντα την εσθητα την λαμπραν και ειπητε συ καθου ωδε καλως και τω πτωχω ειπητε συ στηθι η καθου εκει υπο το υποποδιον μου

4 ου διεκριθητε εν εαυτοις και εγενεσθε κριται διαλογισμων πονηρων

5 ακουσατε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι ουχ ο θεος εξελεξατο τους πτωχους τω κοσμω πλουσιους εν πιστει και κληρονομους της βασιλειας ης επηγγειλατο τοις αγαπωσιν αυτον

6 υμεις δε ητιμασατε τον πτωχον ουχ οι πλουσιοι καταδυναστευουσιν υμων και αυτοι ελκουσιν υμας εις κριτηρια

7 ουκ αυτοι βλασφημουσιν το καλον ονομα το επικληθεν εφ υμας

8 ει μεντοι νομον τελειτε βασιλικον κατα την γραφην αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον καλως ποιειτε

9 ει δε προσωπολημπτειτε αμαρτιαν εργαζεσθε ελεγχομενοι υπο του νομου ως παραβαται

10 οστις γαρ ολον τον νομον τηρηση πταιση δε εν ενι γεγονεν παντων ενοχος

11 ο γαρ ειπων μη μοιχευσης ειπεν και μη φονευσης ει δε ου μοιχευεις φονευεις δε γεγονας παραβατης νομου

12 ουτως λαλειτε και ουτως ποιειτε ως δια νομου ελευθεριας μελλοντες κρινεσθαι

13 η γαρ κρισις ανελεος τω μη ποιησαντι ελεος κατακαυχαται ελεος κρισεως

14 τι οφελος αδελφοι μου εαν πιστιν λεγη τις εχειν εργα δε μη εχη μη δυναται η πιστις σωσαι αυτον

15 εαν αδελφος η αδελφη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν και λειπομενοι της εφημερου τροφης

16 ειπη δε τις αυτοις εξ υμων υπαγετε εν ειρηνη θερμαινεσθε και χορταζεσθε μη δωτε δε αυτοις τα επιτηδεια του σωματος τι οφελος

17 ουτως και η πιστις εαν μη εχη εργα νεκρα εστιν καθ εαυτην

18 αλλ ερει τις συ πιστιν εχεις καγω εργα εχω δειξον μοι την πιστιν σου χωρις των εργων καγω σοι δειξω εκ των εργων μου την πιστιν

19 συ πιστευεις οτι εις θεος εστιν καλως ποιεις και τα δαιμονια πιστευουσιν και φρισσουσιν

20 θελεις δε γνωναι ω ανθρωπε κενε οτι η πιστις χωρις των εργων αργη εστιν

21 αβρααμ ο πατηρ ημων ουκ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη ανενεγκας ισαακ τον υιον αυτου επι το θυσιαστηριον

22 βλεπεις οτι η πιστις συνηργει τοις εργοις αυτου και εκ των εργων η πιστις ετελειωθη

23 και επληρωθη η γραφη η λεγουσα επιστευσεν δε αβρααμ τω θεω και ελογισθη αυτω εις δικαιοσυνην και φιλος θεου εκληθη

24 ορατε οτι εξ εργων δικαιουται ανθρωπος και ουκ εκ πιστεως μονον

25 ομοιως δε και ρααβ η πορνη ουκ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη υποδεξαμενη τους αγγελους και ετερα οδω εκβαλουσα

26 ωσπερ το σωμα χωρις πνευματος νεκρον εστιν ουτως και η πιστις χωρις εργων νεκρα εστιν

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 My brethren, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 for if there may come into your synagogue a man with gold ring, in gay raiment, and there may come in also a poor man in vile raiment,

3 and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, `Thou--sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, `Thou--stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' --

4 ye did not judge fully in yourselves, and did become ill-reasoning judges.

5 Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him?

6 and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats;

7 do they not themselves speak evil of the good name that was called upon you?

8 If, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, `Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' --ye do well;

9 and if ye accept persons, sin ye do work, being convicted by the law as transgressors;

10 for whoever the whole law shall keep, and shall stumble in one <FI>point<Fi> , he hath become guilty of all;

11 for He who is saying, `Thou mayest not commit adultery,' said also, `Thou mayest do no murder;' and if thou shalt not commit adultery, and shalt commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law;

12 so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,

13 for the judgment without kindness <FI>is<Fi> to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.

14 What <FI>is<Fi> the profit, my brethren, if faith, any one may speak of having, and works he may not have? is that faith able to save him?

15 and if a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of the daily food,

16 and any one of you may say to them, `Depart ye in peace, be warmed, and be filled,' and may not give to them the things needful for the body, what <FI>is<Fi> the profit?

17 so also the faith, if it may not have works, is dead by itself.

18 But say may some one, Thou hast faith, and I have works, shew me thy faith out of thy works, and I will shew thee out of my works my faith:

19 thou--thou dost believe that God is one; thou dost well, and the demons believe, and they shudder!

20 And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead?

21 Abraham our father--was not he declared righteous out of works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 dost thou see that the faith was working with his works, and out of the works the faith was perfected?

23 and fulfilled was the Writing that is saying, `And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him--to righteousness;' and, `Friend of God' he was called.

24 Ye see, then, that out of works is man declared righteous, and not out of faith only;

25 and in like manner also Rahab the harlot--was she not out of works declared righteous, having received the messengers, and by another way having sent forth?

26 for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from the works is dead.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).