“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
My Notes
What Does James 2:1 Mean?
James commands the church not to hold the faith of Jesus Christ "with respect of persons" (prosopolempsia — favoritism based on appearance, partiality toward the impressive). Faith in the "Lord of glory" is incompatible with treating people differently based on their social standing.
The pairing of "the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ" with "respect of persons" creates a deliberate collision: Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory — the most glorious being in existence. If you truly believe in him, you already have the ultimate glory in your community. Fawning over wealthy visitors while ignoring poor ones is a theological contradiction — you're chasing lesser glory while claiming to hold the greatest.
The practical example (verses 2-4) makes the principle concrete: a rich person in fine clothes gets the best seat; a poor person gets the floor. James calls this judging with "evil thoughts" (verse 4). The discrimination isn't just rude — it's spiritually corrupt.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where does your church or community practice favoritism based on appearance, wealth, or status?
- 2.How does believing in the 'Lord of glory' logically eliminate the basis for being impressed by human glory?
- 3.What would it look like to treat every person who walks through your door with equal dignity?
- 4.Why does James call favoritism 'evil' rather than merely 'unfortunate' or 'insensitive'?
Devotional
Don't hold your faith in the Lord of glory while playing favorites with people of lesser glory. James says it directly: favoritism and genuine faith are incompatible.
The logic is precise: if you believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you already have the ultimate glory in your midst. The richest person who walks through your church door brings less glory than what's already present. So why do you give the rich person the best seat and make the poor person stand? Your favoritism reveals that you're more impressed by human glory than by divine glory.
The practical example James gives (gold ring, fine clothes → best seat; poor clothes → sit on the floor) is painfully familiar because it still happens. In every era, in every culture, in every church — the impressive get better treatment. The wealthy, the attractive, the connected, the powerful — they get attention that the poor, the plain, the disconnected, and the powerless don't.
James calls this evil. Not insensitive. Not unfortunate. Evil. "Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?" (verse 4). The favoritism isn't a personality flaw. It's a moral failure. It contradicts the faith you claim to hold.
The Lord of glory doesn't play favorites (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11). If you hold faith in him while showing partiality, the faith and the favoritism are in open war. One of them has to go. James says: the favoritism.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
My brethren,.... As the apostle is about to dissuade from the evil of having respect to persons, this is a very fit…
My brethren - Perhaps meaning brethren in two respects - as Jews, and as Christians. In both respects the form of…
My brethren, have not - This verse should be read interrogatively: My brethren, do ye not make profession of the faith…
The apostle is here reproving a very corrupt practice. He shows how much mischief there is in the sin of prosōpolēpsia…
Jas 2:1-13. Respect of Persons
1. have not the faith Better, do not hold. The Greek for "respect of persons" (better,…
Cross References
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