The Skeptics Annotated Bible (975 page)

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and
sin
, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death.

(1.15) “Sin … bringeth forth death.”
157 Does hell exist?

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

(1.17) “The Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”
32 Does God repent?

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

(1.19) “Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

27
Pure religion
and undefiled before God and the Father
is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

(1.27)
“Pure religion … is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
If this is pure religion, I am all for it.

2
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

(2.2-4) The rich should not be treated better than the poor.

2 For
if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

(2.2)
“If there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;”

3
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

(2.3)
“And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:”

4
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

(2.4)
“Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself
, ye do well:

(2.8) “Love thy neighbour as thyself.”
128 How should nonbelievers be treated?

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For
whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

(2.10)
“Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For
he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy
; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

(2.13)
“He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy.”