Faith and Belief (James 2:14–26)
1 WBS O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? BSB BSB: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
2 WBS This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? BSB BSB: I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
3 WBS Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? BSB BSB: Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
4 WBS Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it is yet in vain. BSB BSB: Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
5 WBS He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he this by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? BSB BSB: Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
6 WBS Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. BSB BSB: So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 WBS Know ye therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. BSB BSB: Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
8 WBS And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying , In thee shall all nations be blessed. BSB BSB: The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9 WBS So then they who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. BSB BSB: So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Christ Has Redeemed Us 10 WBS For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse: for it is written, Accursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. BSB BSB: All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
11 WBS But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. BSB BSB: Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
12 WBS And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live by them. BSB BSB: The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
14 WBS That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. BSB BSB: He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Purpose of the Law (Romans 7:1–6)
15 WBS Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it is but a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth to it. BSB BSB: Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
16 WBS Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. BSB BSB: The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
17 WBS And this I say, that the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of no effect. BSB BSB: What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18 WBS For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no more by promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. BSB BSB: For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
19 WBS What purpose then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. BSB BSB: Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
20 WBS Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one. BSB BSB: A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.
21 WBS Is the law then against the promises of God? By no means: for if there had been a law given which could give life, verily righteousness would have been by the law.BSB BSB: Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
22 WBS But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. BSB BSB: But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
23 WBS But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. BSB BSB: Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
24 WBS Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. BSB BSB: So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 WBS But after faith is come, we are no longer under a school-master. BSB BSB: Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Sons through Faith in Christ 26 WBS For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 WBS For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. BSB BSB: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
29 WBS And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. BSB BSB: And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.