Kretzmann's Popular Commentary
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
JAMES 1:17 parallagh. h' troph/j avposki,asma {B} The obscurity of the passage has led to the emergence of a variety of readings. The reading of a* B (parallagh. h troph/j avposkia,smatoj) makes sens...
Verse 17. _EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE_] Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself. As from the _sun_, which is the _father_ or fountain of _light_,...
EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT - The difference between good and perfect here, it is not easy to mark accurately. It may be that the former means that which is benevolent in its character and...
ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. TRIALS AND THE EXERCISE OF FAITH CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Trials and the power of faith (James 1:1)_ 2. The resources of faith (James 1:5) 3. The realization of faith (James 1:9...
The Beatitude on Endurance (_cf. James 5:11_ and note). Trial is still neutral: it is affliction which tests and develops loyalty. But since human nature has a bias towards evil, a trial exerted upon...
My dear brothers, do not he deceived. Every good gift and every perfect boon comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is none of that changeableness which comes from changing shadows. Of...
GREETINGS (James 1:1) _ 1:1 James, the slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes who are scattered throughout the world._ At the very beginning of his letter Ja...
GIFT. Greek. _dosis._ Only here and Philippians 1:4; Philippians 1:15. GIFT. Greek. _dorema._ Only here and Romans 5:16. FROM ABOVE. Greek. _anothen._ See...
_Every good gift and every perfect gift_ The two nouns are different in the Greek, the first expressing the abstract _act of giving_, the second the _gift_as actually bestowed. The perfection of the o...
God and His perfect gifts 16. _Do not err_ The absolute goodness of God had been presented so far on its negative side as excluding all origination of evil. But the writer feels that that is but a pa...
א*B have the curious error τροπῆς�. 17. ΠΑ͂ΣΑ ΔΌΣΙΣ, κ.τ.λ. Note the hexameter rhythm here, πᾶσα … τέλειον; for similar instances see Hebrews 12:13; John 4:35. ΔΌΣΙΣ, strictly an act of giving. Comp....
2–18. (_a_) TEMPTATION FROM WITHOUT, 2–4; (1) WISDOM, PRAYER, STEDFASTNESS, THE DIVINE HELPS IN TEMPTATION, 5–8; (2) A SPECIAL FORM OF TEMPTATION—OPPRESSION BY THE RICH—THE OLD TESTAMENT PROBLEM OF T...
_SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF TRIALS -- JAMES 1:2-17:_ Christians must be "positive" when trials come their way. The man who properly reacts to trials must not react as a pessimist. "My brethren, count it all j...
ΔΌΣΙΣ (G1394) даяние, ΔΏΡΗΜΑ (G1434) то, что дается, дар. ΤΈΛΕΙΟΣ (G5046) совершенный, в смысле завершенный, ΆΝΩΘΕΝ (G509) свыше, ΚΑΤΑΒΑΪ́ΝΟΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΚΑΤΑΒΑΊΝΩ (G2597) нисходить. P...
DISCOURSE: 2358 GOD THE ONLY SOURCE OF ALL GOOD James 1:16. _Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with who...
EVERY GOOD GIFT, &C.— The first part of this verse is in the Greek an _hexameter,_ and possibly was quoted by St. James from some of the Greek poets. See Acts 17:28. 1 Corinthians 15:33.Titus 1:12. _F...
CHAPTER III _RECEIVING FROM GOD_ James 1:16-27 _Introduction_ After fourteen verses of showing the Way of the Wise, James has concluded that our trials are good for us, producing steadfastnessthat...
THE SOURCE OF ALL GOOD THINGS _Text 1:16-18_ 16. Be not deceived, my beloved brethren. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom c...
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. GIFT ... GIFT, [ dosis (G1394) ... doorema...
VERSE 17. EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT. Gifts are here designated (1) good; (2) perfect. The same qualities in the gifts, whether applied to this life in temporal affairs or are related to our spiritu...
1 James is never called an apostle and does not write this epistle in that character. Rather, he puts himself in the place of a slave. Hence the epistle is not concerned with authoritative teaching so...
1:17 gift (b-3) gift (b-7) _ Dosis_ , then _ dorema_ ; the words are nearly the same. strictly _ dosis_ is 'the giving,' _ dorema_ 'the thing freely given.' In English 'gift' is both the giving and th...
THE POWER OF FAITH UNDER TEMPTATION 1. Servant] better, 'slave.' The word does not suggest any degradation, but only absolute surrender to the Master. St. James's humility prevents the mention of the...
God is the source of good, and of good only. Every good gift and every perfect boon (not' gift,' as AV) comes from Him, who is the creator of the sun, moon, and stars. But, while they change and vary,...
WHAT *FAITH SHOULD DO JAMES _IAN MACKERVOY_ The word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. INTRODUCTION 1 THE WRITER James is the writer of the letter. But he does not tell us...
EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE. — This beautiful sentence, more musical still in the Greek, is thought to be the fragment of some Christian hymn. Two words are translated by our...
(12-18) The Apostle returns to the consideration of the afflicted Christian. Such a one has a blessedness, greater infinitely than any earthly happiness, already in possession, and the promise of a fu...
(2-27) Immediately after the salutation, and with more or less a play upon the word which we translate “greeting” (“rejoice,” James 1:1; “count it all joy,” James 1:2) there follow appeals on behalf o...
CHAPTER 8 THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATIONS AND THE REALITY OF SIN THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE DETERMINIST. James 1:12 AFTER the slight digression respecting the short-lived glory of the rich man, St. James ret...
The following saying of R. Chaninah (first century, A.D.) is preserved: א״ר חנינא אין דבר רע יורד מלמעלה׃ (“R. Chaninah said, ‘No evil thing cometh down from above' ”.). On the possible connection bet...
GOD REWARDS, NOT TEMPTS James 1:12 The word _temptation_ may stand for trial and testing, without implying that there is any necessary impulse toward evil; or it may stand for the direct impulse of t...
James wrote to Christians in the midst of temptation and trial. He showed first that the issue of testing is that they "may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." It is therefore to be looked upo...
GOD IS THE SOURCE OF GOOD Do not make the mistake of believing that God tempts us to do evil. He would not give man two such unwanted offspring. Instead, God is the source of everything that is good ...
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the (o) Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither (p)shadow of turning. (o) From him who is the fountain and a...
_Do not err, nor deceive yourselves by yielding to temptation; beg God his supporting grace, for every good gift is from him. (Witham)_...
Do not err, my beloved brethren. (17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (18) Of...
To the reader who enters on the consideration of the epistle of James from the epistles of Paul, the change is great and sudden, and by no means least of all from the epistle to the Hebrews, which, in...
_THE GIFTS OF GOD_ ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ James 1:17 Thus does t...
This reasoning is far different from that of Plato, who maintained that no calamities are sent on men by God, because he is good; for though it is just that the crimes of men should be punished by God...
The Epistle of James is not addressed to the assembly, and does not take the ground of apostolic authority over the persons to whom it is sent. It is a practical exhortation which still recognises the...
EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT,.... Whether of nature, providence, or grace, and especially the latter; spiritual gifts given along with Christ, or spiritual blessings in him; every such gift...
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Ver. 17. _Every good gift, &c._] A hexameter...
_Do not err_, &c. By supposing that God is the author of sin, or that any thing which is sinful in the heart or conduct of man can, with truth, be ascribed to him: as well might darkness and coldness...
EVERY GOOD GIFT-IS FROM ABOVE; God is the author of every thing in men which is good, and they are the authors of every thing in them which is evil....
This chapter has a very close relationship to the Old Testament, for all is seen in connection with God; and Christ is not yet spoken of as the center and essence of all blessing and of all direction...
Where do all good things come from? What is “good” in this verse? Explain how God is the “Father of lights”? What is meant by the expression “no variation”? What is the significance of having no “shad...
'Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.' 'Every good thing bestowed and every perf...
12-18 It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our...
EVERY GOOD GIFT; Greek, giving; and so it may be distinct from _gift_ in the next clause; to show, that whereas men sometimes give good gifts in all evil way, and with an evil mind, God's giving, as w...
James 1:17 Every G3956 good G18 gift G1394 and G2532 every G3956 perfect G5046 gift G1434 is G2076 ...
‘All good (beneficial) giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.' For the source of all...
ALL THINGS COME TO MEN THROUGH THE UNCHANGING CREATOR INCLUDING OUR BEGETTING THROUGH THE WORD OF TRUTH. THUS MEN SHOULD BE SILENT BEFORE HIM AND, RATHER THAN SPEAKING ANGRILY AND UNBEFITTINGLY, RECEI...
James 1:17. EVERY GOOD GIFT. A positive proof of the assertion that God tempteth no man. Not only does evil not proceed from Him, but He is the source only of good. All good is from God. Our higher an...
GIFT (δοσις)--BOON (δωρημα). Both old substantives from the same original verb (διδωμ), to give. Δοσις is the act of giving (ending -σις), but sometimes by metonymy for the thing given like κτισις...
GIFT Two words are used in the original for "gift": the first meaning the act of giving; the second meaning the thing given....
James 1:17 The Uniformity of Nature. I. The uniformity of nature rebukes man's faint-heartedness. When we are crushed with many a bereavement, ought it to be a matter of complaint to us that nature,...
James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was an apostle,...
James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ «Where are the lost ten tribes?» asks somebody. They never were lost. Tha...
James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ According to the teaching of some in the present day, the apostle should...
James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ The apostle James evidently believed in no lost ten tribes, as some nowad...
CONTENTS: Testing of faith. Solicitation to evil not of God. Obedience as a test of true faith. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, James. CONCLUSION: Such as have a true title in Jesus Christ through faith may...
James 1:1. _James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ._ He does not style himself an _apostle,_ because he would not assume any superiority; yet the majesty of his address is the language...
EVERY GOOD GIFT. "To demonstrate that God cannot seduce people with sin and evil, I tell you that God himself is the source of every _good gift_ that blesses us (such as a sound mind, health, good for...
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 1:17 Nothing in this world is truly good unless it comes FROM ABOVE, heaven, DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS (see...
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 1:13 James turns to the other side of trials, when testing becomes temptation. ⇐ ⇔...
JAMES 1:2 The Testing of Faith. Trials are part of God’s “good gifts” (v. James 1:17) to his people, to strengthen them in their faith....
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ James 1:17. FATHER OF LIGHTS.—The luminaries of heaven; as symbols of all kinds of lights, natural, intellectual, spiritual. SHADOW OF TURNING.—Or shadow that is cast b...
EXPOSITION JAMES 1:1 SALUTATION. JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. (On the person who thus describes himself, see the Introduction) It is noteworthy that he keeps entirely out of...
Let's turn to James chapter one. James introduces himself as the bondslave of God and of Jesus Christ. It's a title that most of the apostles delighted to take. Renouncing any claim for any rights, tu...
1 Chronicles 22:12; 1 Chronicles 29:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4; 1 Corinthians 4:7;...
The first words of this verse form a hexameter line, thus Pasa dosiv ajgaqh kaipan dwrhma teleion Such verses, or parts of verses, occur occasionally in the New Testament. Sometimes they are quotation...
No evil, but every good gift — Whatever tends to holiness. And every perfect gift — Whatever tends to glory. Descendeth from the Father of lights — The appellation of Father is here used with peculiar...