Step by Step, Letter of First John From the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 The Apostle John, (John the Beloved), wrote First John, and Second John, and Third John, and the Gospel of John, and the Book of Revelation. We will present here the letter of First John. Afterward, there will be some words from this author. Here is the letter of First John from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version-- ___1 John chapter 1 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life, 2 (For the life was made clear, and we've seen it, and testify, and show you that eternal life, that was with the Father, and was made clear to us.) 3 That which we've seen and heard we tell you, so that you also will have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you, so that your joy will be full. 5 This then is the message that we've heard from him, and tell you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we're lying, and not doing the truth, 7 But if we walk in the light, like he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ___1 John chapter 2 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you won't sin. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And he is the payment for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. 6 He that says he lives in him ought to walk like He walked. 7 Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment that you've had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you've heard from the beginning. 8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness has past, and the true light now shines. 9 He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loves his brother lives in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and doesn't know where he's going, because that darkness has blinded him. 12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you've known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you've overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you've known the Father. 14 I've written to you, fathers, because you've known him that is from the beginning. I've written to you, young men, because you're strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you've overcome the wicked one. 15 Don't love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away and its lust, but he that does the will of God lives forever. 18 Little children, it is the last time, and as you've heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, so that they'd be made clear that they were not all of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I haven't written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son doesn't have the Father, but he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Let that therefore live in you that you've heard from the beginning. If that which you've heard from the beginning remains in you, you'll also continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he has promised us, eternal life. 26 I've written these things to you concerning those who try to seduce you. 27 But the anointing that you've received from him lives in you, and you don't need any man to teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you about all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, you'll live in him. 28 And now, little children, live in him, so that, when he appears, we'll have confidence, and not be ashamed in his presence when he comes. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone that does righteousness is born of him. ___1 John chapter 3 1 Observe what kind of love the Father has loved us with, that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him. 2 Beloved, we are now the sons of God, and it doesn't yet appear what we'll be, but we know that when he appears, we'll be like him, for we'll see him as he is. 3 And every man that has this hope in himself purifies himself, just as he is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also violates the law, for sin is the violation of the law. 5 And you know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him there's no sin. 6 Whoever lives in him doesn't sin, whoever sins hasn't seen him, nor known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you, he that does righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He that commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, so that he'd destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, for his seed remains in him, and he can't sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this, the children of God are made clear, and the children of the devil, whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, nor he that doesn't love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love each other. 12 Not like Cain, who was of that wicked one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we've passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He that doesn't love his brother remains in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life living in him. 16 By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and won't show compassion on him, how does the love of God live in him? 18 My little children, let's not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart doesn't condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love each other, like he commanded us to do. 24 And he that keeps his commandments lives in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that he lives in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. ___1 John chapter 4 1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 And every spirit that doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is that spirit of antichrist, about which you've heard that it would come, and even now already it's in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world, therefore they speak about the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are of God. He that knows God listens to us, he that is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love each other, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He that doesn't love, doesn't know God, for God is love. 9 In this, the love of God was made clear toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we would live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love each other. 12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we live in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he that lives in love, lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this our love is made perfect, so that we'll have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws out fear, because fear has torment. He that's in fear hasn't been made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he that doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he hasn't seen? 21 And we have this commandment from him, that he that loves God should love his brother also. ___1 John chapter 5 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone that loves him that fathered loves him also who was fathered by him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments don't cause grief. 4 For whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith. 5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 He's the one that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that testifies, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God that he has testified about his Son. 10 He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself, he that doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he doesn't believe the record that God gave about his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life, and he that doesn't have the Son of God doesn't have life. 13 I've written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God so that you'll know that you have eternal life, and so that you'll believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, 15 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we requested from him. 16 If any man sees his brother sin a sin that's not to death, he shall ask, and he'll give him life for those who don't sin to death. There is a sin to death, I don't say that he should pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not to death. 18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he that's begotten by God keeps himself, and that wicked one doesn't touch him. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, so that we'll know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. Chapter 2 From chapter 1-- That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life, (I believe the Apostle John is talking here about Jesus.) (For the life was made clear, and we've seen it, and testify, and show you that eternal life, that was with the Father, and was made clear to us.) That which we've seen and heard we tell you, so that you also will have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you, so that your joy will be full. (The Apostle John wants our joy to be full.) This then is the message that we've heard from him, and tell you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we're lying, and not doing the truth, But if we walk in the light, like he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (We are told in Rom 3:23 that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Even the Apostle Paul, in the book of Romans talks about the sin problem, and how he does the things he doesn't want to do.) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I confess my sins directly to God, and not to some priest, who is also a sinner, and really has no authority to forgive my sins.) 10 If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. From chapter 2-- My little children, these things I write to you, so that you won't sin. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (Jesus is our advocate, in other words, Jesus is like an attorney for us with the Father.) And he is the payment for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Jesus paid for our sins by his death on the cross.) And by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. He that says he lives in him ought to walk like He walked. Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment that you've had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you've heard from the beginning. (But now), I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness has past, and the true light now shines. He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother lives in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and doesn't know where he's going, because that darkness has blinded him. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you've known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you've overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you've known the Father. I've written to you, fathers, because you've known him that is from the beginning. I've written to you, young men, because you're strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you've overcome the wicked one. (Now, what follows is a very important passage of scripture for Christians. Don't love the world.) Don't love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away and its lust, but he that does the will of God lives forever. Little children, it is the last time, and as you've heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, so that they'd be made clear that they were not all of us. (It is the last time. We are in the end time. One way that we can tell is that God told the Prophet Daniel that at the end time, knowledge would be increased. And knowledge surely has increased very much in the last couple of centuries.) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I haven't written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son doesn't have the Father, but he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Let that therefore live in you that you've heard from the beginning. If that which you've heard from the beginning remains in you, you'll also continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he has promised us, eternal life. (God has promised eternal life for the born again Christians. You get born again by obeying Romans 10:9,10-- That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart, man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation.) I've written these things to you concerning those who try to seduce you. But the anointing that you've received from him lives in you, and you don't need any man to teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you about all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, you'll live in him. And now, little children, live in him, so that, when he appears, we'll have confidence, and not be ashamed in his presence when he comes. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone that does righteousness is born of him. From chapter 3-- Observe what kind of love the Father has loved us with, that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him (Jesus). Beloved, we are now the sons of God, and it doesn't yet appear what we'll be, but we know that when he appears, we'll be like him, for we'll see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in himself purifies himself, just as he is pure. Whoever commits sin also violates the law, for sin is the violation of the law. And you know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him there's no sin. Whoever lives in him doesn't sin, whoever sins hasn't seen him, nor known him. Little children, let no man deceive you, he that does righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, so that he'd destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, for his seed remains in him, and he can't sin, because he is born of God. (God wants his people to break off from sinning.) In this, the children of God are made clear, and the children of the devil, whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, nor he that doesn't love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love each other. Not like Cain, who was of that wicked one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we've passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He that doesn't love his brother remains in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life living in him. (Notice this previous passage that says no murderer has eternal life living in him. But Muslim suicide bombers think they're going to go to heaven for murdering non-Muslims. This passage shows that those suicide bombers aren't going to heaven.) By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and won't show compassion on him, how does the love of God live in him? My little children, let's not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart doesn't condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. (If you want to get your prayers answered, keep God's commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.) And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love each other, like he commanded us to do. (Believe on Jesus, and love each other.) And he that keeps his commandments lives in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that he lives in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. From chapter 4-- Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (There are spirits that are not of God. There are demons, which are fallen angels, who rebelled against God when Satan did.) By this you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, And every spirit that doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is that spirit of antichrist, about which you've heard that it would come, and even now already it's in the world. (If a spirit speaks to you, ask that spirit whether Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. If that spirit says, “No,” that spirit is not of God, so command it to go, in Jesus' name.) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore they speak about the world, and the world listens to them. We are of God. He that knows God listens to us, he that is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love each other, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that doesn't love, doesn't know God, for God is love. In this, the love of God was made clear toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we would live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love each other. No man has seen God at any time. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we live in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he that lives in love, lives in God, and God in him. In this our love is made perfect, so that we'll have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws out fear, because fear has torment. He that's in fear hasn't been made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. (God doesn't want us to be afraid. But we should fear God. But we should reject spirits of fear that may come at us, and command them to go in Jesus' name.) If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he that doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he hasn't seen? And we have this commandment from him, that he that loves God should love his brother also. From chapter 5-- Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone that loves him that fathered loves him also who was fathered by him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments don't cause grief. For whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? He's the one that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that testifies, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God that he has testified about his Son. He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself, he that doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he doesn't believe the record that God gave about his Son. And this is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life, and he that doesn't have the Son of God doesn't have life. I've written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God so that you'll know that you have eternal life, and so that you'll believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we requested from him. (If you pray according to the will of God, He hears you, and you get what you're asking for.) If any man sees his brother sin a sin that's not to death, he shall ask, and he'll give him life for those who don't sin to death. There is a sin to death, I don't say that he should pray for it. (There is a sin to death. I think I know a man who committed a sin to death. But before that, he got sloppy as a Christian.) All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not to death. We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he that's begotten by God keeps himself, and that wicked one doesn't touch him. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, so that we'll know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (Please notice this last statement about staying away form idols.) I believe that people who use pornography are committing the sin of idolatry, which the Apostle John says to keep yourself away from. Using porn lets demons into people, and they will be there to steal, to kill, and to destroy, like in John 10:10 John was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, and brother of James. Jesus called them Boanerges, which is, “The sons of thunder.” I thank God that we have the writings of John. ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, 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 seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever 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," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.