“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism — the rebuke against prosōpolēmpsia (partiality/respect of persons, literally 'lifting the face') opens the second major section on faith's practical expression. The modifier 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' stands in deliberate contrast to the partiality about to be discussed, establishing that faith in the exalted Christ necessarily entails breaking free from the world's status hierarchies. To show favoritism contradicts one's confession of faith in Christ.
Church Fathers on James 2:1
But we must remember whence that sentence is taken, and what goes before it, and in what connection it occurs. My brethren, he says, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons. For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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