This chapter is evidently made up of three parts, or three subjects are discussed: I. The duty of impartiality in the treatment of others, James 2:1. There was to be no favoritism on account of rank, birth, wealth, or apparel. The case to which the apostle refers for an illustration of this, is tha... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BRETHREN - Perhaps meaning brethren in two respects - as Jews, and as Christians. In both respects the form of address would be proper. HAVE NOT THE FAITH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - Faith is the distinguishing thing in the Christian religion, for it is this by which man is justified, and hence,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THERE COME INTO YOUR ASSEMBLY - Margin, as in Greek, “synagogue.” It is remarkable that this is the only place in the New Testament where the word “synagogue” is applied to the Christian church. It is probably employed here because the apostle was writing to those who had been Jews; and it is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE HAVE RESPECT TO HIM THAT WEARETH THE GAY CLOTHING - If you show him superior attention on account of his rich and gay apparel, giving him a seat by himself, and treating others with neglect or contempt. Religion does not forbid proper respect to rank, to office, to age, or to distinguished ta... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE YE NOT THEN PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES? - Among yourselves. Do you not show that you are partial? AND ARE BECOME JUDGES OF EVIL THOUGHTS - There has been considerable difference of opinion respecting this passage, yet the sense seems not to be difficult. There are two ideas in it: one is, that they s... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN, MY BELOVED BRETHREN - The apostle now proceeds to show that the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. For a view of the arguments by which he does this, compare the analysis of the chapter. HATH NO... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE DESPISED THE POOR - Koppe reads this as an interrogation: “Do ye despise the poor?” Perhaps it might be understood somewhat ironically: “You despise the poor, do you, and are disposed to honor the rich! Look then, and see how the rich treat you, and see whether you have so much occasion... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THEY NOT BLASPHEME THAT WORTHY NAME? - This is another argument to show that the rich had no special claim to the honor which they were disposed to show them. The “worthy name” here referred to is, doubtless, the name of the Saviour. The thing here affirmed would, of course, accompany persecution... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE FULFIL THE ROYAL LAW - That is, the law which he immediately mentions requiring us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is called a “royal law,” or kingly law, on account of its excellence or nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it has some such prominence and i... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE HAVE RESPECT TO PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN - You transgress the plain law of God, and do wrong. See the references on James 2:1. AND ARE CONVINCED OF THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS - Greek “By the law.” The word convinced is now used in a somewhat different sense from what it was formerly. It now co... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW - All except the single point referred to. The apostle does not say that this in fact ever did occur, but he says that if it should, and yet a man should have failed in only one particular, he must be judged to be guilty. The case supposed seems to be that of o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT SAID, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, SAID ALSO, DO NOT KILL - That is, these are parts of the same law of God, and one is as obligatory as the other. If, therefore, you violate either of these precepts, you transgress the law of God as such, and must be held to be guilty of violating it as a wh... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SPEAK YE, AND SO DO, AS THEY THAT SHALL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW OF LIBERTY - On the phrase, “the law of liberty,” see the notes at James 1:25. Compare the notes at James 4:11. The meaning is, that in all our conduct we are to act under the constant impression of the truth that we are soon to be brou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SHALL HAVE JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY, THAT HATH SHOWED NO MERCY - This is obviously an equitable principle, and is one which is everywhere found in the Bible. Proverbs 21:13. “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself but will not be heard.” 2 Samuel 22:26, “with... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT, MY BRETHREN, THOUGH A MAN SAY HE HATH FAITH? - The apostle here returns to the subject adverted to in James 1:22, the importance of a practical attention to the duties of religion, and the assurance that men cannot be saved by a mere speculative opinion, or merely by holding cor... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A BROTHER OR SISTER BE NAKED ... - The comparison in these verses is very obvious and striking. The sense is, that faith in itself, without the acts that correspond to it, and to which it would prompt, is as cold, and heartless, and unmeaning, and useless, as it would be to say to one who was des... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, A MAN MAY SAY ... - The word which is rendered “yea” (ἀλλὰ alla) would be better rendered by “but.” The apostle designs to introduce an objection, not to make an affirmation. The sense is, “some one might say,” or, “to this it might be urged in reply.” That is, it might perhaps be said that r... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU BELIEVEST THAT THERE IS ONE GOD - One of the great and cardinal doctrines of religion is here selected as an illustration of all. The design of the apostle seems to have been to select one of the doctrines of religion, the belief of which would - if mere belief in any doctrine could - save the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WILT THOU KNOW - Will you have a full demonstration of it; will you have the clearest proof in the case. The apostle evidently felt that the instances to which he was about to refer, those of Abraham and Rahab, were decisive. O VAIN MAN - The reference by this language is to a man who held an op... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER - Our progenitor, our ancestor; using the word “father,” as frequently occurs in the Bible, to denote a remote ancestor. Compare the notes at Matthew 1:1. A reference to his case would have great weight with those who were Jews by birth, and probably most of those to whom... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEST THOU - Margin, “Thou seest.” Either rendering is correct, and the sense is the same. The apostle means to say that this was so plain that they could not but see it. HOW FAITH WROUGHT WITH HIS WORKS - συνήργει sunērgei. Cooperated with. The meaning of the word is, “to work together with anyon... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED WHICH SAITH - That is, the fair and full meaning of the language of Scripture was expressed by this act, showing in the highest sense that his faith was genuine; or the declaration that he truly believed, was confirmed or established by this act. His faith was shown t... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SEE THEN - From the course of reasoning pursued, and the example referred to. HOW THAT BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY - Not by a cold, abstract, inoperative faith. It must be by a faith that shall produce good works, and whose existence will be shown to men by good works. As j... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE ALSO WAS NOT RAHAB THE HARLOT JUSTIFIED BY WORKS? - In the same sense in which Abraham was, as explained above - showing by her act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not a mere cold and speculative assent to the truths of religion. Her act showed that she truly believed God. If th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD - Margin, “breath.” The Greek word πνεύμα pneuma is commonly used to denote spirit or soul, as referring to the intelligent nature. The meaning here is the obvious one, that the body is animated or kept alive by the presence of the soul, and that when that... [ Continue Reading ]