A Warning against Favoritism

JAS 2:1

KJV

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

BSB

My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

Koinōnos

My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

JAS 2:2

KJV

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;

BSB

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

Koinōnos

For if a man with a gold ring, in splendid apparel, shall come into your assembly, and a destitute man in shabby apparel shall also come in,

JAS 2:3

KJV

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:

BSB

If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

Koinōnos

and you may look upon the one wearing the splendid apparel and say, 'You sit here honorably,' and to the destitute man you may say, 'You stand there, or sit here under my footstool' —

JAS 2:4

KJV

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

BSB

have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Koinōnos

did you not discriminate among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

JAS 2:5

KJV

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?

BSB

Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Koinōnos

Listen, my beloved brothers: has not God chosen the destitute of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those loving him?

JAS 2:6

KJV

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

BSB

But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

Koinōnos

But you yourselves dishonored the destitute. Are not the rich oppressing you, and are they themselves not dragging you into court?

JAS 2:7

KJV

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

BSB

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

Koinōnos

Are they themselves not denigrating the good Name having been called upon you?

JAS 2:8

KJV

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

BSB

If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Koinōnos

If indeed you keep the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You will love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well.

JAS 2:9

KJV

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

BSB

But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Koinōnos

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

JAS 2:10

KJV

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

BSB

Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Koinōnos

For whoever may keep all the law yet may stumble in one point has become guilty of all.

JAS 2:11

KJV

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.

BSB

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Koinōnos

For the One having said, 'You may not commit adultery,' also said, 'You may not murder.' If however you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

JAS 2:12

KJV

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

BSB

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

Koinōnos

Thus speak and thus act as through the law of freedom you are to be judged.

JAS 2:13

KJV

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

BSB

For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Koinōnos

For the judgment is merciless to the one not having shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.