2:1 Fellow believers, don’t withdraw your trust in our glorious Master Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ].
2:2 For should a man come into your presence wearing fine clothing and a golden ring, and a poor man arrives in dirty old clothes,
2:3 and you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and tell him, "Here's a good seat for you," yet you say to the poor man, "Stand over there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet" –
2:4 have you not become prejudiced, having become a judge with wicked intentions?
2:5 Listen, my dear fellow believers: Did God not choose the humble of this world to be full of faith and heirs to the sanctuary which He promised to those who love Him?
2:6 Yet you ignore the humble. Is it not the proud who exploit you and drag you into court?
2:7 Do they not blaspheme the Holy Name of Him you have called upon?
2:8 If however, you fulfill what is holy according to the instruction, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," then you are doing excellently.
2:9 But if you show prejudice, you perpetuate wickedness and by the instruction you will be charged guilty.
2:10 For whoever keeps all the instructions yet stumbles in one way is guilty of breaking all of them.
2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder.”1 If you don’t commit adultery but commit murder, you still become a criminal.
2:12 Therefore say and do like those who will be judged by the instruction that gives freedom.
2:13 For judgment without mercy will be given to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
2:14 What use is it, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but takes no actions? Can their faith save them?
2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and is in need of their daily food –
2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go with peace – be warmed and satisfied,” yet you don’t give them what they need to keep their body, what use is that?
2:17 Similarly, faith alone – if not supported by action – is dead.
2:18 Yet one might say, "You have faith and I take action." Show me your faith without action and I will show you my faith through my actions.
2:19 You believe there is one God. That is good! Yet even demons believe and tremble.
2:20 But will you recognize, oh foolish one, that faith without action is worthless?
2:21 Was not our master Abraham justified when he was prepared to offer his son Isaac on the Altar?
2:22 You can see that his faith with action worked together and his faith was made perfect by his actions.
2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "and Abraham trusted God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"2 and he was called the friend of God.
2:24 You see, one is considered righteous by their actions and not by faith alone.
2:25 Similarly, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she received the messengers and sent them out the back way?
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without actions is dead.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 2:11. Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18.
2. Verse 2:23.
2:2 For should a man come into your presence wearing fine clothing and a golden ring, and a poor man arrives in dirty old clothes,
2:3 and you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and tell him, "Here's a good seat for you," yet you say to the poor man, "Stand over there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet" –
2:4 have you not become prejudiced, having become a judge with wicked intentions?
2:5 Listen, my dear fellow believers: Did God not choose the humble of this world to be full of faith and heirs to the sanctuary which He promised to those who love Him?
2:6 Yet you ignore the humble. Is it not the proud who exploit you and drag you into court?
2:7 Do they not blaspheme the Holy Name of Him you have called upon?
2:8 If however, you fulfill what is holy according to the instruction, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," then you are doing excellently.
2:9 But if you show prejudice, you perpetuate wickedness and by the instruction you will be charged guilty.
2:10 For whoever keeps all the instructions yet stumbles in one way is guilty of breaking all of them.
2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder.”1 If you don’t commit adultery but commit murder, you still become a criminal.
2:12 Therefore say and do like those who will be judged by the instruction that gives freedom.
2:13 For judgment without mercy will be given to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
2:14 What use is it, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but takes no actions? Can their faith save them?
2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and is in need of their daily food –
2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go with peace – be warmed and satisfied,” yet you don’t give them what they need to keep their body, what use is that?
2:17 Similarly, faith alone – if not supported by action – is dead.
2:18 Yet one might say, "You have faith and I take action." Show me your faith without action and I will show you my faith through my actions.
2:19 You believe there is one God. That is good! Yet even demons believe and tremble.
2:20 But will you recognize, oh foolish one, that faith without action is worthless?
2:21 Was not our master Abraham justified when he was prepared to offer his son Isaac on the Altar?
2:22 You can see that his faith with action worked together and his faith was made perfect by his actions.
2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "and Abraham trusted God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"2 and he was called the friend of God.
2:24 You see, one is considered righteous by their actions and not by faith alone.
2:25 Similarly, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she received the messengers and sent them out the back way?
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without actions is dead.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 2:11. Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18.
2. Verse 2:23.
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to Him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 NIV)
