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| 2:1 MyR56
brethren, doR57 not hold your faith in our gloriousR58
Lord Jesus Christ with {an attitude of} personalR59 favoritism.
2:2 For if a man comes into your assemblyF30 with a gold ring
and dressed in fineF31 R60 clothes, and there also comes in
a poor man in dirtyR61 clothes, 2:3 and you payF32
special attention to the one who is wearing the fineR62 clothes,
and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You
stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 2:4 have you not made distinctions
among yourselves, and become judges withR63 evil motives?F33
2:5 Listen, myR64 beloved brethren: did not GodR65 choose the poor ofF34 this world {to be} richR66 in faith and heirsR67 of the kingdom which He promisedR68 to those who love Him? 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personallyF35 dragR69 you into court?F36 2:7 DoR70 they not blaspheme the fair name byF37 which you have been called? 2:8 If, however, you areR71 fulfilling the royalF38 law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. 2:9 But if you showR72 partiality, you are committing sin {and} are convicted by the lawF39 as transgressors. 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole lawF40 and yet stumblesR73 in one {point,} he has become guiltyR74 of all. 2:11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.F41 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by {the}R75 law of liberty. 2:13 For judgmentR76 {will be} merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphsF42 over judgment. FOOTNOTES: F30: Or {synagogue} F31: Or {bright} F32: Lit {look at} F33: Lit {reasonings} F34: Lit {to the} F35: Lit {they themselves} F36: Lit {courts} F37: Lit {which has been called upon you} F38: Or {law of} our {King} F39: Or {Law} F40: Or {Law} F41: Or {Law} F42: Lit {boasts against} CROSS REFERENCES: R56: Matthew 12:32; Ephesians 2:2; Titus 2:12; James 4:4; 2 Peter 1:4; 2:20; 1 John 2:15-17 R57: James 1:16 R58: Hebrews 12:2 R59: Acts 7:2; 1 Corinthians 2:8 R60: Acts 10:34; James 2:9 R61: Luke 23:11; James 2:3 R62: Zechariah 3:3f R63: Luke 23:11 R64: Luke 18:6; John 7:24 R65: James 1:16 R66: Job 34:19; 1 Corinthians 1:27f R67: Luke 12:21; Revelation 2:9 R68: Matthew 5:3; 25:34 R69: James 1:12 R70: Acts 8:3; 16:19 R71: Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16 R72: Matthew 7:12 R73: Leviticus 19:18 R74: Acts 10:34; James 2:1 R75: James 3:2; 2 Peter 1:10; Jude 24 R76: Matthew 5:19; Galatians 5:3 |
2:1 My brethren, show no
partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
glory. 2:2 For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into
your asembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 2:3 and
you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "Have
a seat here, please," while you say to the poor man, "Stand there," or,
"Sit at my feet," 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves,
and become judges with evil thoughts?
2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court? 2:7 Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you? 2:8 If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment. |
2:1 My
dear brothers and sisters,F5 how can you claim that you have
faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than
others? 2:2 For instance, suppose someone comes into your meetingF6
dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who
is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. 2:3 If you give special attention
and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can
stand over there, or else sit on the floor" – well, 2:4 doesn't this discrimination
show that you are guided by wrong motives?
2:5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 2:6 And yet, you insult the poor man! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 2:7 Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? 2:8 Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord's royal command found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself."F7 2:9 But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law. 2:10 And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God's laws. 2:11 For the same God who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder."F8 So if you murder someone, you have broken the entire law, even if you do not commit adultery. 2:12 So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. 2:13 For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God's mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you. FOOTNOTES: F5: Greek brothers; also in 2:5, 14. F6: Greek synagogue. F7: Lev 19:18. F8: Exod 20:13-14; Deut 5:17-18. |
2:1 My
friends, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you
must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance.
2: 2Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your
meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. 2:3 If you show more
respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, "Have this best seat here,"
but say to the poor man, "Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by
my feet," 2:4 then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves
and of making judgments based on evil motives.
2:5 Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him. 2:6 But you dishonor the poor! Who are the ones who oppress you and drag you before the judges? The rich! 2:7 They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you. 2:8 You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."R7 2:9 But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker. 2:10 Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all. 2:11 For the same one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder.R8 2:12 Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free. 2:13 For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment. COSS REFERENCES: R7: 2.8 Lv 19.18. R8: 2.11 a Ex 20.14; Dt 5.18; b Ex 20.13; Dt 5.17. |
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