A Warning against Favoritism

1My brothers (and sisters), as you⁺ hold out your faith in our glorious Lord {Kyriou} Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One), do not show favoritism.

2Suppose a man comes into your⁺ meeting \your synagogue/a wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you⁺ lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” 4have you⁺ not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my beloved {agapētoi} brothers (and sisters): Has not God {Theos} chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love {agapōsin} Him? 6But you⁺ have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you⁺ and drag you⁺ into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you⁺ have been called (the noble name invoked upon you)?b

8If you⁺ really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love {Agapēseis} your neighbor as yourself <Lev 19:18>,”c you⁺ are doing well. 9But if you⁺ show favoritism, you⁺ sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery <Exo 20:14>,”d also said, “Do not murder <Exo 20:13>.”e If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom (liberty). 13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy (compassion) triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works
(Galatians 3:1–9)

14What good is it, my brothers (and sisters), if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds (acts)? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you⁺ tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action \if it does not have works/,f is dead.

18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds (acts).” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that God {Theos} is one (that there is one God).g Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds (acts) is worthless [dead]?h 21Was not our father {patēr} Abraham (father of many) justified (rendered innocent) by what he did when he offered his son Isaac (he will laugh) on the altar? 22You see that his faith was working with his actions (acts), and his faith was perfected by what he did. 23And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham (father of many) believed (had faith) God {Theō}, and it was credited to him as righteousness <Gen 15:6>,”i and he was called a friend of God <Isa 41:8>.j 24As you⁺ can see, a man is justified by his deeds (acts) and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab (spacious) the prostitute justified (rendered innocent) by her actions when she welcomed the spies \messengers/k and sent them off on another route? 26As the body without the spirit {pneumatos} is dead, so faith without deeds (acts) is dead.