96 Andrew M. Bowden sections is marked by a recognizable pattern, since each is introduced by a vocative plus a prohibitory present imperative using the Greek μή and in contexts discussing judgment33. This pattern, which also introduces the body-conclusion, is depicted as follows: 2,1 Ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ ἐν προσωπολημψίαις ἔχετε … ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ 3,1 μὴ πολλοὶ διδάσκαλοι γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί μου … μεῖζον κρίμα λημψόμεθα 4,11 μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί … κρίνων τὸν ἀδελφὸν, κρίνει νόμον 5,9 μὴ στενάζετε, ἀδελφοί … ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε The first section of the body, beginning in 2,1, emphasizes the inevitability of believers bearing the fruit of righteousness. The second section follows closely on this thought, discounting an illusory good deed (the tongue, 3,1-12) before explaining what genuine fruit really looks like (3,13-18), and then issuing a call to repentance for not only the lack of such fruit, but the complete opposite manifestation in the readers’ lives. Finally, the third division, beginning in 4,11, exposes three specific ways the readers have failed to bear this kind of righteous fruit. 2.2.2.1 Section One: Believers’ Actions towards the Poor Demonstrates a Failure to Bear the Fruit of Righteousness (2,1-26) In this text-sequence James explains the utter foolishness of claiming that as God’s firstfruits believers need not display righteousness in their actions. James will argue that the fruit of righteousness is only sown by those who put their faith into action. Within the span of vv. 1-26 there are four major paragraphs. In the first paragraph of this section (2,1-7), James argues that it is inconsistent for God’s firstfruits to act contrary to God’s nature and character. Believers are showing favoritism to the rich and dishonoring the poor and thereby acting in an opposite manner to the way God treats the poor. His attitudes should prompt believers to treat others, including the poor, with righteousness. In confronting this sin, James shows that favoritism is evil and contradicts God’s action. Furthermore, their actions are foolish, since the rich are the ones harming believers. In this first paragraph, James begins an argument that runs throughout this section in which he seeks to prove that his readers are in need of repentance. To add force to his argument, James uses four 33 This structuring pattern has been noted by Johnson, who bases a portion of his outline on it (James, 326), and by Cheung (Genre, 67, 71). That the theme of judgment occurs at each major transition gives credibility to Baasland’s statement: “James views everything from the perspective of judgment” (“Weisheit”, 122, author’s trans.).