The sinfulness of partiality
James 2:1-13
Partiality shows a lack of love for the brother and disrespect for God. Get rid of it and be merciful.
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#partiality
#law
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Published April 7th, 2016; Updated April 11th, 2016
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James 2:1-13
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My brothers, 1 w show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, x the Lord of glory.
Ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ ἐν προσωπολημψίαις ἔχετε τὴν πίστιν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς δόξης.
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly,
ἐὰν γὰρ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς συναγωγὴν ὑμῶν ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ,
and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
εἰσέλθῃ δὲ καὶ πτωχὸς ἐν ῥυπαρᾷ ἐσθῆτι,
series
and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing
ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν
and say, “You sit here in a good place,”
καὶ εἴπητε • σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς,
situationresponse
y while you say to the poor man,
καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε •
“You stand over there,”
σὺ στῆθι
or, “Sit down at my feet,”
ἢ κάθου ἐκεῖ ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου,
alternative
ideaexplanation
have you not then made distinctions among yourselves
καὶ οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς
and become z judges with evil thoughts?
καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;
actionresult
conditional
Listen, my beloved brothers,
Ἀκούσατε , ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί•
concessive
a has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be b rich in faith and heirs of c the kingdom,
οὐχ ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας
d which he has promised to those who love him?
ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν;
But you e have dishonored the poor man.
ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠτιμάσατε τὸν πτωχόν.
Are not the rich the ones who oppress you,
οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν
and the ones who f drag you g into court?
καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια;
progression
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable h name
οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα
by which you were called?
τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς;
If you really fulfill the royal law
Εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν
according to the Scripture, i “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”
κατὰ τὴν γραφήν• ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν,
comparison
you are doing well.
καλῶς ποιεῖτε •
But if you j show partiality,
εἰ δὲ προσωπολημπτεῖτε ,
you are committing sin
ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεσθε
and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ὡς παραβάται.
For whoever keeps the whole law
ὅστις γὰρ ὅλον τὸν νόμον τηρήσῃ
but fails in one point
πταίσῃ δὲ ἐν ἑνί,
k has become accountable for all of it.
γέγονεν πάντων ἔνοχος.
For he who said, l “Do not commit adultery,” also said, l “Do not murder.”
ὁ γὰρ εἰπών • μὴ μοιχεύσῃς , εἶπεν καί• μὴ φονεύσῃς •
If you do not commit adultery
εἰ δὲ οὐ μοιχεύεις
but do murder,
φονεύεις δέ,
you have become a transgressor of the law.
γέγονας παραβάτης νόμου.
inference
ground
So speak
Οὕτως λαλεῖτε
and so act
καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε
as those who are to be judged under m the law of liberty.
ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι .
actionmanner
For n judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.
ἡ γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος•
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
κατακαυχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως.
bilateral
This is the reaction to what they see externally, not just a result. That is why I chose Sit/R, though there is no counter-intuitive aspect.
Let me restate this by giving you an example.
vs. 2-4 is provided as an example of what James is writing in vs. 1.
Rhetorical question #1 - You know that God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.
Rhetorical question #2 - You know that the rich oppress you, and not only that, they also drag you to the cout.
Rhetorical question #3 - You know that the rich blaspheme the honorable name of our Lord.
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Comments
Andy Hubert
as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
Josué Pineda
Nohea
Nohea
Josué Pineda
Chris Thomas
Josué Pineda
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