Scofield Reference Bible Notes
James 2

Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

the Lord of glory

the Glory, i.e. in the sense of Heb 1:3 as taking the place of the shekinah.

with respect of persons

In the presence of Christ the Glory, earthly distinctions disappear.

Jas 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Are ye not then partial in yourselves

Have ye not made a difference among yourselves.

of

with.

Jas 2:5 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?

Hath not God chosen the poor

Jhn 7:48; 1Co 1:26, 28.

world

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

rich in faith

Luk 12:21; 1Ti 6:18.

Jas 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

worthy

excellent or, beautiful.

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

Lev 19:18.

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

respect to persons

Jas 2:1.

sin

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

the whole law

Law (of Moses). Rev 12:17. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).

offend in one point

Mat 5:19; Gal 3:10.

Jas 2:11 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.

Do not commit adultery

Exo 20:13-14.

transgressor

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

the law of liberty

Jas 1:25; 1Pe 2:16.

Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

mercy

Mic 7:18.

rejoiceth against

glorieth over.

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

can faith save him?

can [that] faith save him?

save

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

notwithstanding ye give them not those things

1Jo 3:18.

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

faith

Faith. Jas 2:17-18, 20; Jas 5:15. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

hath not works, is dead

Jas 2:26; cf. Jhn 15:2.

Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

I will shew thee my faith by my works

Col 1:6; 1Th 1:3; Heb 6:10.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

there is one God

God is one.

devils

demons. Mat 8:29; Mar 1:24; Act 16:17; 19:15.

Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

faith without works is dead

Jas 2:17, 26.

Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

justified

Scofield Romans 4:2, note.

Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

perfect

Scofield Matthew 5:48, note.

Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

God

Jehovah. Gen 15:6.

imputed

Imputation. (Lev 25:50.)

Imputation is the act of God whereby He accounts righteousness to the believer in Christ, who has borne the believer's sins in vindication of the law. See Scofield Philemon 1:17-18, note.

righteousness

Scofield Romans 3:21, note.

Friend of God

2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8.

Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Rahab the harlot

Jos 2:1; Heb 11:31.

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

body without the spirit is dead

Jas 2:17, 20.