The Rich Man in James 2

Abstract

"The episode of the gold-fingered man in splendid clothes and the filthy pauper in Jas 2:2-4 is typically used to show God's preference for the poor and condemnation of the wealthy.' Some authors disagree, seeing it instead as an illustration of "proper relations of rich and poor in Christian society" as outlined in Jas 2:1-13.2 Because the section begins with a prohibition of npotro?rohqp1C/icw, "favoritism," the passage is also considered an "argument against the sin of prejudicem3 or a condemnation of "snobbery""