Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
2 1 He sayeth, that to have respect of persons is not agreeable to Christ’s faith, 14 which to profess in words is not enough, unless 15 we show it also in deeds of mercy and charity, 21 after the example of Abraham.
1 My [a]brethren, have not the faith of our [b]glorious Lord Jesus Christ (A)in respect of persons.
2 For if there come into your company a man with a gold ring, and in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
3 And ye have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing; and say unto him, Sit thou here in a [c]goodly place, and say unto the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool,
4 Are ye not partial in [d]your selves, and are become Judges of evil thoughts?
5 [e]Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the [f]poor of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. [g]Do not the rich oppress you by tyranny, and do they not draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme the worthy Name after which ye be [h]named?
8 [i]But if ye fulfill the [j]royal Law according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.
9 But if ye regard the persons, ye commit sin, and are rebuked of the Law, as transgressors.
10 [k]For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet faileth in one point, he is guilty of [l]all.
11 [m]For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now though thou doest none adultery, yet if thou killest, thou art a transgressor of the Law.
12 [n]So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judgeth by the Law of liberty.
13 For there shall be condemnation merciless to him that showeth not [o]mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against condemnation.
14 [p]What availeth it my brethren, though a man saith, he hath faith, when he hath no works? can that faith save him?
15 [q]For if a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace: warm yourselves, and fill your bellies, notwithstanding ye give them not those things, which are needful to the body, what helpeth it?
17 Even so the faith, if it have no works, is dead in itself.
18 But [r]some man might say, Thou hast the faith, and I have works: show me thy faith out of thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 [s]Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well: the devils also believe it, and tremble.
20 [t]But wilt thou understand, O thou vain man, that the faith which is without works, is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father [u]justified through works, (B)when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou not that the faith [v]wrought with his works? and through the works was the faith made [w]perfect.
23 And the Scripture was [x]fulfilled which saith, (C)Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
24 [y]Ye see then how that of works a man is [z]justified, and not of [aa]faith only.
25 [ab]Likewise also was not (D)Rahab the harlot justified through works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
26 [ac]For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so the faith without works is dead.
3 2 To show that a Christian man must govern his tongue with the bridle of faith and charity, 6 he declareth the commodities and mischiefs that ensue thereof: 15 and how much man’s wisdom 17 differeth from heavenly.
1 My [ad]brethren, be not many masters, [ae]knowing that we [af]shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we [ag]sin all. [ah]If any man sin not in word, he is a perfect man, and able to bridle all the body.
3 [ai]Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths, that they should obey us, and we turn about all their body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth of great things: [aj]behold, how great a thing a little fire kindleth.
6 And the tongue is fire, yea, a [ak]world of wickedness: so is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and [al]setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For the whole nature of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and things of the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed of the nature of man.
8 But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 [am]Therewith bless we God even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the [an]similitude of God.
10 [ao]Out of one mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing: my brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at one place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bring forth olives, either a vine figs? so can no fountain make both salt water and sweet.
13 [ap]Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, rejoice not, neither be liars against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is sedition, and all manner of evil works.
17 But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of [aq]mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without hypocrisy.
18 [ar]And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that make peace.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.