Section 6 of 162:1–13James

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King James VersionJames 2:1–13

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.

Scripture text: King James Version, Standardized 1769 text. Public domain in the United States.About this Bible text

James 2:1–13

The Faith of the Lord of Glory Rejects Partiality

The assembly is not a showroom for the well-dressed

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, cannot share a pew with wealth-based favoritism. James watches a gold-ringed guest seated in honor and a poor guest parked in shame, then names that seating chart as evil judgment. God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith. That does not mean every poor person is morally superior, or that every rich person is beyond repentance. It means you may not rank worshipers by net worth.

The royal law is 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Partiality violates that law. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Do not turn this into class rage, and do not protect a donor culture that humiliates the poor. Love of neighbor is the measure. Let the honor pattern of your life match the mercy you hope to receive.

How this should shape us

Watch who gets the good seat in your gatherings, invitations, and attention. If money is doing the honoring, change the seating chart and practice neighbor-love that does not humiliate the poor.

Teach it back

Explain James 2:1–13 in your own words. Include its place in James's movement, the unit's logic, one material uncertainty, and one misuse the context rules out.

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Go deeper

The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.

Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties

Where do careful interpreters disagree?

Why it fits:

Difficulty:

Best judgment: Interpreters debate the grammar of glory, whether the rich visitor is Christian, the exact meaning of chosen poor 'rich in faith,' and how mercy triumphs. The central condemnation of status-based partiality and call to merciful neighbor love are explicit.

How certain? probable

Research trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.

James 2:1–13, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, and base text for original-language discussion.

Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Jas.txt, 2:1–13

NET Bible — James with translators' and textual notes

Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.

NET Bible official six-page James PDF, 2:1–13 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes

James course: summary, outline, background, introductory issues, and theological themes

Supports: Historical-critical orientation, authorship and audience alternatives, structure, wisdom, social ethics, and theology.

Enter the Bible James course, Summary, Outline, Background, Introductory Issues, and Theological Themes; applied to James 2:1–13

James

Supports: Current confessional whole-letter flow, verse exposition, theological synthesis, and application.

Doriani, 'James,' section covering 2:1–13, with introduction, outline, bibliography, and endnotes

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle of St. James

Supports: Full-letter historical exegesis, Greek and KJV-language notes, unit boundaries, alternatives, and verse-level interpretation.

Ropes, ICC James, introduction printed pp. 1–115 and commentary printed pp. 185–202

Commentary on James 2:1–10 [11–13] 14–17

Supports: Partiality, rich and poor, royal law, mercy, necessities, and living faith.

Rodenbiker, 'Commentary on James 2:1–10 [11–13] 14–17,' complete commentary

STEP Bible Data

Supports: Independent morphology, form, and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.

STEP Bible Data repository, Greek morphology and lexical records for James 2:1–13

Sources for This Section

These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.

Biblical text

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society

USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.

Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.

Exact location: James 2:1–13, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus

Open source ↗

Greek textual evidence

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos

Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010

Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, and base text for original-language discussion.

Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Jas.txt, 2:1–13

Open the James Greek text file ↗

Translation and textual notes

NET Bible — James with translators' and textual notes

Biblical Studies Press

Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition

Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.

Exact location: NET Bible official six-page James PDF, 2:1–13 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes

Open the official NET James PDF ↗

modern scholarly book introduction

James course: summary, outline, background, introductory issues, and theological themes

James L. Boyce; revised by Mary Hinkle Shore

Enter the Bible, Luther Seminary, 2023 revision

Supports: Historical-critical orientation, authorship and audience alternatives, structure, wisdom, social ethics, and theology.

Exact location: Enter the Bible James course, Summary, Outline, Background, Introductory Issues, and Theological Themes; applied to James 2:1–13

Open source ↗

modern open commentary

James

Dan Doriani

The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023

Supports: Current confessional whole-letter flow, verse exposition, theological synthesis, and application.

Exact location: Doriani, 'James,' section covering 2:1–13, with introduction, outline, bibliography, and endnotes

Open source ↗

public domain critical commentary

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle of St. James

James Hardy Ropes

T&T Clark, International Critical Commentary, 1916

Supports: Full-letter historical exegesis, Greek and KJV-language notes, unit boundaries, alternatives, and verse-level interpretation.

Exact location: Ropes, ICC James, introduction printed pp. 1–115 and commentary printed pp. 185–202

Open source ↗

modern scholarly pastoral commentary

Commentary on James 2:1–10 [11–13] 14–17

Kelsie G. Rodenbiker

Working Preacher, Luther Seminary, 2024

Supports: Partiality, rich and poor, royal law, mercy, necessities, and living faith.

Exact location: Rodenbiker, 'Commentary on James 2:1–10 [11–13] 14–17,' complete commentary

Open source ↗

Lexical and grammatical evidence

STEP Bible Data

Tyndale House Cambridge

Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026

Supports: Independent morphology, form, and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.

Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, Greek morphology and lexical records for James 2:1–13

Open source ↗

James 2:1–13, King James Version

The assembly is not a showroom for the well-dressed

How this should shape us

Teach it back

Go deeper

Where do careful interpreters disagree?

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

NET Bible — James with translators' and textual notes

James course: summary, outline, background, introductory issues, and theological themes

James

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle of St. James

Commentary on James 2:1–10 [11–13] 14–17

STEP Bible Data