Last updated on November 19th, 2018 at 05:50 am

James, a Bible Study – Chapter 2

1. Read James 2

2. V1: My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 

1. What are the dangers of showing favoritism within the church?
2. Look at Luke 20:21; Mark 12:14; Matthew 22:16. What does Jesus teach about showing partiality?
3. Have you ever shown favoritism to other believers? What was your motivation?

3. V2-4: Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

1. Note: There must have been a certain initial awkwardness when a master found himself sitting next to his slave or when a master arrived at a service in which his slave was actually the leader. The gap between the slave, who in law was nothing more than a living tool, and the master was so wide as to cause problems of approach on either side. Further, in its early days, the Church was predominantly poor and humble; and therefore if a rich man was converted and came to the Christian fellowship, there must have been a very real temptation to make a fuss of him and treat him as a special trophy for Christ.
2. Why are earthly distinctions of wealth and social class irrelevant in the face of the Gospel?
3. Why was it so important for the Early Church to root out snobbery?
4. Why is this passage especially important as the church and its members have, over time, become more affluent?
5. ow is showing favoritism related to being judgmental?

4. V5-7: Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

1. While all people are of value to God, what evidence do we have that he had a special heart for the poor?
2. One of the primary messages of Christianity is that those who mattered to no one else mattered intensely to God. Why would poor people find this so attractive?
3. What do you think of the statement that “It was a simple fact that the gospel offered so much to the poor and demanded so much from the rich?”

5. V8-11: If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

1. James continues his discussion on favoritism by introducing and defining “the royal law.” Look at Matthew 22:36-40. How does this royal law compare/contrast with the great commandment?
2. What point is James making in v10?
3. Why is v10 so troubling?

6. V12-13: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1. Summarize in your own words the point James is making.
2. We have seen this idea before. Forgive to be forgiven. Show mercy to be shown mercy. Judge not lest you be judged. What is the larger principle in play here?
3. Why is mercy so much more important than judgment?

7. V14-26:  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

1. How does James tie faith to works in this passage?
2. While we are not saved by works, why is it important that works should be an extension or manifestation of our faith?
3. James appears to be saying that if your faith does not produce works then your faith is not genuine. What do you think of this observation?
4. One commentator says we are not saved by work, but saved for work. What do you think of this statement?
5. How has God equipped us to work (have deeds?)
6. The one thing that James cannot stand is profession without practice, words without deeds. He chooses a vivid illustration (v15-17) of what he means. What use is sympathy/empathy without some attempt to address the need?
7. How were the faiths of both Abraham and Rahab “proved?”

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