James 2 #catechesis/bible/james
[!abstract] Against respect of persons. The danger of transgressing one point of the law. Faith is dead without works.
Book: James · ← James 1 · James 3 →
1
GR Ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ ἐν προσωπολημψίαις ἔχετε τὴν πίστιν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς δόξης.
LA Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Jesu Christi gloriæ.
EN My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, with respect of persons.
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2
GR ἐὰν γὰρ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς συναγωγὴν ὑμῶν ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ, εἰσέλθῃ δὲ καὶ πτωχὸς ἐν ῥυπαρᾷ ἐσθῆτι,
LA Etenim si introierit in conventum vestrum vir aureum annulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,
EN For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel; and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire:
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GR ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν καὶ εἴπητε, σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε, σὺ στῆθι ἢ κάθου ἐκεῖ ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου,
LA et intendatis in eum qui indutus est veste præclara, et dixeritis ei: Tu sede hic bene: pauperi autem dicatis: Tu sta illic; aut sede sub scabello pedum meorum:
EN And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel and shall say to him: Sit here well: but say to the poor man: Stand there, or: Sit under my footstool:
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GR οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;
LA nonne judicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis judices cogitationum iniquarum?
EN Do you not judge within yourselves, and have become judges of unjust thoughts?
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GR ἀκούσατε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί. οὐχ ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν;
LA Audite, fratres mei dilectissimi: nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et hæredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?
EN Hearken, my dearest brethren: Hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to them that love him?
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GR ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠτιμάσατε τὸν πτωχόν. οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια;
LA vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad judicia?
EN But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? And do not they draw you before the judgment seats?
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GR οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς;
LA nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?
EN Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?
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GR εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν κατὰ τὴν γραφήν, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε:
LA Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:
EN If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures: You shall love your neighbour as yourself; you do well.
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GR εἰ δὲ προσωπολημπτεῖτε, ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεσθε, ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ὡς παραβάται.
LA si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores.
EN But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.
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GR ὅστις γὰρ ὅλον τὸν νόμον τηρήσῃ, πταίσῃ δὲ ἐν ἑνί, γέγονεν πάντων ἔνοχος.
LA Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.
EN And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, has become guilty of all.
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[!note]- Guilty of all…
That is, he becomes a transgressor of the law in such a manner, that the observing of all other points will not avail him to salvation; for he despises the lawgiver, and breaks through the great and general commandment of charity, even by one mortal sin. For all the precepts of the law are to be considered as one total and entire law, and as it were a chain of precepts, where, by breaking one link of this chain, the whole chain is broken, or the integrity of the law consisting of a collection of precepts. A sinner, therefore, by a grievous offence against any one precept, incurs eternal punishment; yet the punishment in hell shall be greater for those who have been greater sinners, as a greater reward shall be for those in heaven who have lived with greater sanctity and perfection.
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GR ὁ γὰρ εἰπών, μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, εἶπεν καί, μὴ φονεύσῃς: εἰ δὲ οὐ μοιχεύεις, φονεύεις δέ, γέγονας παραβάτης νόμου.
LA Qui enim dixit: Non mœchaberis, dixit et: Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.
EN For he that said: You shall not commit adultery, said also: You shall not kill. Now if you do not commit adultery, but shall kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
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GR οὕτως λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.
LA Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes judicari.
EN So speak you and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.
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13
GR ἡ γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος: κατακαυχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως.
LA Judicium enim sine misericordia illi qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia judicium.
EN For judgment without mercy to him that has not done mercy. And mercy exalts itself above judgment.
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[!note]- With respect of persons…
The meaning is, that in matters relating to faith, the administering of the sacraments, and other spiritual functions in God’s church, there should be no respect of persons; but that the souls of the poor should be as much regarded as those of the rich. See Deuteronomy 1:17.
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GR Τί ὄφελος, ἀδελφοί μου, ἐὰν πίστιν λέγῃ τις ἔχειν, ἔργα δὲ μὴ ἔχῃ; μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν;
LA Quid proderit, fratres mei, si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? numquid poterit fides salvare eum?
EN What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he has faith, but has not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
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GR ἐὰν ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἀδελφὴ γυμνοὶ ὑπάρχωσιν καὶ λειπόμενοι τῆς ἐφημέρου τροφῆς,
LA Si autem frater et soror nudi sint, et indigeant victu quotidiano,
EN And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food:
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GR εἴπῃ δέ τις αὐτοῖς ἐξ ὑμῶν, ὑπάγετε ἐν εἰρήνῃ, θερμαίνεσθε καὶ χορτάζεσθε, μὴ δῶτε δὲ αὐτοῖς τὰ ἐπιτήδεια τοῦ σώματος, τί ὄφελος;
LA dicat autem aliquis ex vobis illis: Ite in pace, calefacimini et saturamini: non dederitis autem eis quæ necessaria sunt corpori, quid proderit?
EN And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?
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GR οὕτως καὶ ἡ πίστις, ἐὰν μὴ ἔχῃ ἔργα, νεκρά ἐστιν καθ’ ἑαυτήν.
LA Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.
EN So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
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18
GR ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις, σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις κἀγὼ ἔργα ἔχω. δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων, κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν.
LA Sed dicet quis: Tu fidem habes, et ego opera habeo: ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus: et ego ostendam tibi ex operibus fidem meam.
EN But some man will say: You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without works; and I will show you, by works, my faith.
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GR σὺ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἷς θεός; ἐστιν; καλῶς ποιεῖς: καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καὶ φρίσσουσιν.
LA Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.
EN You believe that there is one God. You do well: the devils also believe and tremble.
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GR θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ, ὅτι ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν;
LA Vis autem scire, o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?
EN But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
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GR Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ἀνενέγκας Ἰσαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον;
LA Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus justificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?
EN Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
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GR βλέπεις ὅτι ἡ πίστις συνήργει τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ἡ πίστις ἐτελειώθη,
LA Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est?
EN Do you see that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?
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GR καὶ ἐπληρώθη ἡ γραφὴ ἡ λέγουσα: ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην, καὶ φίλος θεοῦ ἐκλήθη.
LA Et suppleta est Scriptura, dicens: Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam, et amicus Dei appellatus est.
EN And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
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GR ὁρᾶτε ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος καὶ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως μόνον.
LA Videtis quoniam ex operibus justificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?
EN Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?
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GR ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ὑποδεξαμένη τοὺς ἀγγέλους καὶ ἑτέρᾳ ὁδῷ ἐκβαλοῦσα;
LA Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus justificata est, suscipiens nuntios, et alia via ejiciens?
EN And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers and sending them out another way?
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GR ὥσπερ τὸ σῶμα χωρὶς πνεύματος νεκρόν ἐστιν, οὕτως καὶ ἡ πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν.
LA Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.
EN For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead.
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