Counsel of James

James of Nazareth, half-brother of Jesus, is attributed to writing the Book of James with the following counsel:

Counsel against favoritism

 *  James 2:1-13 

[1] My brothers, you are not holding to the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ while showing favoritism, are you? [2] For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in splendid clothing comes into your meeting, but a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, [3] do you look with favor on the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, “You take this seat here in a fine place,” and do you say to the poor one, “You keep standing” or, “Take that seat there under my footstool”? [4] If so, do you not have class distinctions among yourselves, and have you not become judges rendering wicked decisions?

Faith without works is dead
See also: Faith


 *  James 2:14-24 

[14] Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? [15] If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing* and enough food for the day, [16] yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? [17] So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.

[24] You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone. [25] In the same manner, was not Ra′hab the prostitute also declared righteous by works after she received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? [26] Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.