Paragraph 2:8–11
This paragraph indicates that showing favor to rich people is breaking God’s law. God told us to love everyone as we love ourselves. If we do not treat poor people as well as we treat rich people, we are not loving poor people. So we are not loving everyone as we love ourselves. As a result, we break God’s law.
2:8a
If you really fulfill the royal law: There are at least three ways to interpret the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as really:
(1) It indicates a contrast with 2:9. It means “2:8if, on the one hand, you keep the royal law…. 2:9But if, on the other hand, you show favoritism….” Some versions show this contrast only at the beginning of 2:9. For example, the Good News Translation says:
8dYou will be doing the right thing 8aif you obey the law of the Kingdom,…9aBut if you…
(2) It indicates that something is true, and it indicates it with emphasis. It can be translated as “really,” “truly,” or “in fact.”
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
(3) It indicates a contrast with what comes before. In this context, it contrasts with showing partiality against poor people as described in 2:1–7 and explicitly noted in 2:6a, “you have insulted the poor.” It can be translated as “but” or “however.” For example, the New American Standard Bible says:
If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law…
(New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, NET Bible)
In the case of interpretations (2) and (3), some scholars also think that this conjunction indicates some irony. In other words, James implies that people are not really keeping the royal law. (See, for example: Davids (1982), page 114; McCartney, pages 147–148; Tasker, page 60.)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is certain that the conjunction shows contrast with 2:9. It may also show contrast with what goes before or emphasize the truth of the statement (or show irony), but this is less certain. And these should be clear from the context with or without a conjunction.
In most languages, it will be enough to mark the contrast at the beginning of 2:9. So it may not be necessary to translate the conjunction here. Or you may have a way to show that a pair of things are being contrasted. For example:
on the one hand,…on the other hand
fulfill: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fulfill means “obey.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
If you obey the royal law
-or-
If you do what God said in the royal law
the royal law: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the royal law is literally “kingly law.” This law comes from a king and is the law of the kingdom. Here the king is God.
This phrase refers to the whole of God’s law, and it consists of many commands. It does not refer specifically to the command that follows (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) though that is one very important command within God’s law.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
the law of the Kingdom (Good News Translation)
-or-
the law of God the/our King
-or-
law from the highest authority (God’s Word)
2:8b
stated in Scripture: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stated in Scripture is literally “according to the Scripture” (as in the Revised Standard Version). The royal law is written in the Scripture.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
in the Scripture
-or-
written in Scripture
-or-
as God said in the Scripture
-or-
by keeping in particular God’s command which says
Scripture: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Scripture is used in a special way in the New Testament. It refers to words that God directed someone to write. Such writings had authority because God guided a person to write them. In the New Testament the word Scripture almost always refers to something that was written in the Old Testament. Here it refers to the verse which follows, quoted from Leviticus 19:18.
Some other ways to translate Scripture are:
God’s written words
-or-
this word of God that someone/Moses wrote
-or-
God’s written command
2:8c
Love your neighbor as yourself: In Greek, the word Love is singular. The word neighbor is also singular. However, this command was intended for everyone. It was also intended to command us to love all our neighbors, not just one. In many languages, it will be more natural to use plurals here. For example:
Love(sing) your neighbors as yourself
-or-
Love(plur) your neighbors as you(plur) love yourselves
-or-
People should love their neighbors as they love themselves
This command also occurs in Matthew 19:19; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; and Romans 13:9. You should translate it here as you did in these other passages.
Love: In this context, Love refers to seeking the well-being of others. It does not refer to having warm feelings towards them. It also does not refer to romantic love.
Some other ways to translate this are:
Do what is best for
-or-
Act lovingly toward
-or-
Do good things that show you care for
neighbor: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as neighbor literally refers to someone who lives nearby. It also refers to someone of the same social group or someone who speaks the same language. It can also refer to anyone you interact with.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
person who is near you
-or-
fellow human being
-or-
people you interact with
General Comment on 2:8a–d
In some languages, it is more natural to change the order of 2:8a–d. For example:
8bIn Scripture, 8athe royal law is/says, 8c“Love your neighbor as yourself.” 8aIf you really keep this law, 8dyou do well.
-or-
8bThe Scripture says, 8c“Love your neighbor as yourself.” 8aThis is the royal law. If you keep this law, 8dyou do well.
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.