- Catholic Epistle of St. James the Apostle
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chapter 2
1
My
brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of
persons.
2 For 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,
3 And 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:
4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become
judges of unjust thoughts?
5 Hearken, 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?
6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the
rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked
upon you?
8 If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the
scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.
9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin,
being reproved by the law as transgressors.
10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend
in one point, is become guilty of all.
11 For 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.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the
law of liberty.
13 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done
mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.
14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he
hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily
food:
16 And 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?
17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in
itself.
18 But 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost
well: the devils also believe and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without
works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his
works; and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham
believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the
friend of God.
24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not
by faith only?
25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not
she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another
way?
26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so
also faith without works is dead.
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