Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 2:1

"My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons." — James 2:1 (ASV)

James begins his discussion of partiality by a prohibition: “Don’t show favoritism” (lit., “stop showing favoritism”). That the recipients of this letter were guilty of practicing discrimination is apparent from v.6. Partiality is inconsistent with faith “in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” To say that practicing favoritism contradicts one’s profession of faith is another way of saying that one’s action does not measure up to the truth one professes to believe. The stress on Christ as “glorious” heightens the gross inconsistency of allowing favoritism and discrimination to be associated with faith in such an exalted person as Christ.