Favoritism Like the Lord, the Lord’s people are not to show partiality or ____ (Jas 2:1; cf. Ex 23:1-3; Lev 19:15; Dt 1:17, 10:17-19; 1 Sam 16:7; Pr 24:23, 28:21; Ac 10:34-35; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25 1 Pet 1:14-17).
Footstool In Scripture, a _____ often indicates submission and subordination (Jas 2:3; cf. Ps 110:1; Is 66:1; Ac 2:34-35, 7:49)
Appearances Like God, those who are godly should not judge by mere _______ (Jas 2:1-4; cf. 1 Sam 16:7) but judge correctly (Jn 7:24; 1 Cor 6:1).
Beloved Again, James exhorts his ____ brothers and sisters (Jas 2:5; cf. 1:16, 19). Deception can lead to destruction. So, he gives caring correction for their construction.
Chose Though they look weak to the world, God ___ (Jas 2:5; cf. Eph 1:4; 2 Th 2:13) the lowly who love Him to be rich in faith. Those whom God has elected should not be disrespected.
Poor James says God has elected those who are materially ___ to be spiritually rich (Jas 2:5; cf. Lk 6:20; 1 Cor 1:26f.; Jas 1:9-11). Throughout Scripture, the Lord shows special concern for the ___ (cf. Dt 15:9; Ps 35:10; Pr 19:17) – especially the ___ in spirit (i.e., humbly dependent on God) (cf. Is 61:1-2; Num 12:3; Mt 5:3; Lk 4:18).
Inherit Though a Christian may not have much on earth, those who are truly faithful will ___ the heavenly riches of the promised (cf. Jas 1:12) Kingdom of God (Jas 2:5; cf. Lk 18:23-25, 29; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Eph 5:3-5; Gal 5:19-21) (i.e., eternal life, salvation: Lk 10:25, 18:18, 26, 30; Col 3:24; Tit 3:7; 1 Pet 3:7, 9; Rev 21:7).
Obey Those who truly love the Lord will ___ the Lord’s commands (Ex 20:6; Dt 7:9-10; Jn 14:15, 21, 23; 1 Jn 5:2-3).
Oppress Old Testament prophets also spoke against the rich who would ____ the poor (Amos 4:11, 8:4; cf. Jas 2:6) – including the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow (Jer 7:5-8; 22:3; cf. Jas 1:27).
Name Those who have had the ___ of the Lord called upon them (cf. Dt 28:10; Ac 5:41; 1 Pet 4:14-16) – like during their baptism (cf. Ac 2:38, 10:48, 19:5) – belong to the Lord. Thus, those who slander them bring shame on His ___ (Jas 2:7).
Bibliography
Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [BDAG]
Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
Davids, Peter H. “James.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1354–68. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.[NBC]
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Loh, I-Jin, and Howard Hatton. A Handbook on the Letter from James. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1997. [UBS]
Lockett, Darian R., and Craig A. Evans. “James.” In John’s Gospel, Hebrews–Revelation, edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck, First Edition., 257–87. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary. Colorado Springs, CO; Paris, ON; Eastbourne: David C Cook, 2005. [BKBC]
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
Moo, Douglas J. “James”. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Edited by Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hill. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012. [BIBC]
Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Vol. 1–5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
