Chapter
2
My sisters, don't hold the faith of our Domina Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.
For if a woman with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor woman in filthy clothing also comes in;
and you pay special attention to her who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor woman, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;"
haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved sisters. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which she promised to those who love her?
But you have dishonored the poor woman. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?
Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, she has become guilty of all.
For she who said, "Do not commit adultery,"{Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18} also said, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
So speak, and so do, as women who are to be judged by a law of freedom.
For judgment is without mercy to her who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
What good is it, my sisters, if a woman says she has faith, but has no works? Can faith save her?
And if a sister or brother is naked and in lack of daily food,
and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
Yes, a woman will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
But do you want to know, vain woman, that faith apart from works is dead?
Wasn't Abrahai our mother justified by works, in that she offered up Isaaca her daughter on the altar?
You see that faith worked with her works, and by works faith was perfected;
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abrahai believed God, and it was accounted to her as righteousness;" and she was called the friend of God.
You see then that by works, a woman is justified, and not only by faith.
In like manner wasn't Rahab the philanderer also justified by works, in that he received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.