James 2:5 (ASV)

Passage

Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

Nearby Context

James 2:3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

James 2:4 Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

James 2:6 But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "faith", "hearken", "beloved", "brethren", "choose", "poor", and "rich". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "faith", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves..." into verse 6's "But ye have dishonored the poor man...", so "world" and "faith" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "world" and "faith" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.