James 2:8-16

2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, ¹  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” ²  you are doing well. 2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators. ³  2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails ⁴  in one point has become guilty of all of it. ⁵  2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” ⁶  also said, “Do not murder.” ⁷  Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law. 2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. ⁸  2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over ⁹  judgment.

Faith and Works Together

2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, ¹⁰  if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith ¹¹  save him? ¹²  2:15 If a brother or sister ¹³  is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, ¹⁴  what good is it?

¹ tn Grk “according to the scripture.”

² sn A quotation from Lev 19:18 (also quoted in Matt 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14).

³ tn Or “transgressors.”

⁴ tn Or “stumbles.”

⁵ tn Grk “guilty of all.”

⁶ sn A quotation from Exod 20:14 and Deut 5:18.

⁷ sn A quotation from Exod 20:13 and Deut 5:17.

⁸ tn Grk “a law of freedom.”

⁹ tn Grk “boasts against, exults over,” in victory.

¹⁰ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

¹¹ tn Grk “the faith,” referring to the kind of faith just described: faith without works. The article here is anaphoric, referring to the previous mention of the noun πίστις (pisti") in the verse. See ExSyn 219.

¹² sn The form of the question in Greek expects a negative answer.

¹³ tn It is important to note that the words ἀδελφός (adelfos) and ἀδελφή (adelfh) both occur in the Greek text at this point, confirming that the author intended to refer to both men and women. See the note on “someone” in 2:2.

¹⁴ tn Grk “what is necessary for the body.”