A Warning against Favoritism

1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons. 2For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire, 3And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool: 4Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts? 5Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him? 6But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats? 7Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?

8If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well. 9But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors. 10And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all. 11For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.

Faith and Works

(Genesis 15:1-7; Romans 4:1-12; Galatians 3:1-9; Hebrews 11:8-19)

14What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him? 15And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: 16And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? 17So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

18But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. 19Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God. 24Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? 25And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way? 26For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.