Jesus Christ. Only here and in ch. 2 1; nowhere in the speeches of James (Acts 14:14; Acts 14:15; Acts 21:20 sq.). Had he used Jesus ' name it might have been supposed to arise from vanity, because he was the Lord's brother. In all the addresses of epistles the full name, Jesus Christ, is given. Ser... [ Continue Reading ]
All joy [π α σ α ν χ α ρ α ν]. Joy follows up the rejoice of the greeting. The all has the sense of wholly. Count it a thing wholly joyful, without admixture of sorrow. Perhaps, as Bengel suggests, the all applies to all kinds of temptations. When [ο τ α ν]. Lit., whenever : better, because it impl... [ Continue Reading ]
Trying [δ ο κ ι μ ι ο ν]. Rev., proof; but the American Revisers insist on proving, and rightly. See on 1 Peter 1:7. Worketh [κ α τ ε ρ γ α ζ ε τ α ι]. The compound verb with kata, down through, indicates accomplishment. The proving will work successfully and thoroughly. This harmonizes with a perf... [ Continue Reading ]
Perfect work [ε ρ γ ο ν τ ε λ ε ι ο ν]. "This is followed by a perfect man. The man himself is characterized from his condition and work" (Bengel). Work [ε ρ γ ο ν] is the word with which katergazetai, worketh, is compounded. It is the accomplished result of patience in moral purification and ennobl... [ Continue Reading ]
But. Omitted in A. V. In pursuing this perfection you will find yourselves lacking in wisdom. One may say, "I know not how to become perfect;" but, if any man, etc. Lack. Note the repetition. Of God that giveth [τ ο υ δ ι δ ο ν τ ο ς θ ε ο υ]. The Greek puts it so that giving is emphasized as an a... [ Continue Reading ]
Doubting [δ ι α κ ρ ι ν ο μ ε ν ο ς]. Compare Matthew 21:21. Not equivalent to unbelief, but expressing the hesitation which balances between faith and unbelief, and inclines toward the latter. This idea is brought out in the next sentence. A wave [κ λ υ δ ω ν ι]. Rev., surge. Only here and Luke 8:2... [ Continue Reading ]
That man [ε κ ε ι ν ο ς]. Emphatic, and with a slightly contemptuous force. Anything. i e. which he asks for.... [ Continue Reading ]
A double - minded man is unstable, etc. The A. V. puts this as an independent apophthegm, which is wrong. The sentence is a comment and enlargement upon that man. "Let not that man think," etc., "a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways." So Rev. Double - minded [δ ι ψ υ χ ο ς]. Peculiar to Jam... [ Continue Reading ]
But. Omitted in A. V. Introducing a contrast with the double - minded. The brother of low degree [ο α δ ε λ φ ο ς ο τ α π ε ι ν ο ς]. Lit., the brother, the lowly one. Not in the higher Christian sense of tapeinov (see on Matthew 11:29), but, rather, poor and afflicted, as contrasted with rich. Rejo... [ Continue Reading ]
In that he is made low [ε ν τ η τ α π ε ι ν ω σ ε ι α υ τ ο υ]. A form of expression similar to the preceding. Lit., in his humiliation. Both the A. V. and Rev. preserve the kinship between tapeinov and tapeinwsei, by the word low. Flower [α ν θ ο ς]. Only here, ver. 11, and 1 Peter 1:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the sun is no sooner risen, etc. [α ν ε τ ε ι λ ε ν γ α ρ ο η λ ι ο ς]. By the use of the aorist tense James graphically throws his illustration into the narrative form : "For the sun arose - and withered," etc. With a burning heat [τ ω κ α υ σ ω ν ι]. Rev., with the scorching wind. The article... [ Continue Reading ]
Is tried [δ ο κ ι μ ο ς γ ε ν ο μ ε ν ο ς]. Lit., having become approved. See on trial, 1 Peter 1:7. The meaning is not, as the A. V. suggests, when his trial is finished, but when he has been approved by trial. Rev., rightly, when he hath been approved. The crown [σ τ ε φ α ν ο ν]. See on 1 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
Of God [α π ο θ ε ο υ]. Lit., from God. Not by God, as the direct agent, but by agency proceeding from God. Compare Matthew 4:1, where the direct agency, "by the spirit," " by the devil, "is expressed by uJpo. Cannot be tempted [α π ε ι ρ α σ τ ο ς ε σ τ ι]. Lit., is incapable of being tempted. But... [ Continue Reading ]
Drawn away [ε ξ ε λ κ ο μ ε ν ο ς]. Only here in New Testament. This and the following word are metaphors from hunting and fishing. Drawn away, as beasts are enticed from a safe covert into a place beset with snares. Note the present participle, as indicating the progress of the temptation : "is bei... [ Continue Reading ]
The lust. Note the article, omitted in A. V. The peculiar lust of his own. Hath conceived [σ υ λ λ α β ο υ σ α]. Lit., having conceived. Bringeth forth [τ ι κ τ ε ι]. Metaphor of the mother. Rev. beareth. When it is finished [α π ο τ ε λ ε σ θ ε ι σ α]. Better, Rev., when it is full grown. Not wh... [ Continue Reading ]
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 quotations from the Greek poets; sometimes the writer's words unconsciously fall into metrical form. Poetical... [ Continue Reading ]
Begat [α π ε κ υ η σ ε ν]. Rev., brought forth. See on ver. 15, and compare 1 John 3:9; 1 Peter 1:23. A kind of first fruits [α π α ρ χ η ν τ ι ν α]. A kind of indicates the figurative nature of the term. The figure is taken from the requirement of the Jewish law that the first - born of men and cat... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore. The A. V. follows the reading wste. But the correct reading is iste, ye know, and so Rev. Others render it as imperative, know ye, as calling attention to what follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
Filthiness [ρ υ π α ρ ι α ν]. Only here in New Testament, but James uses the kindred adjective (ch. 2 2), "vile raiment." 'Rupov, filth, occurs in 1Pe 3:21 - on which see notes; and the verb rJupow, to be filthy, is found in Revelation 22:11. Superfluity of naughtiness [π ε ρ ι σ σ ε ι α ν κ α κ ι α... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearers [α κ ρ ο α τ α ι]. Used by James only. Deceiving [π α ρ α λ ο γ ι ζ ο μ ε ν ο ι]. From para, beside, contrary to, and logizomai, to reckon, and hence to conclude by reasoning. The deception referred to is, therefore, that into which one betrays himself by false reasoning - reasoning beside... [ Continue Reading ]
Beholding [κ α τ α ν ο ο υ ν τ ι]. With the notion of attentively considering (kata, down into, or through; compare eijv, into, ver. 25). Compare Luke 12:24; Luke 12:27; Hebrews 3:1. So that the contrast is not between a hasty look and a careful contemplation (ver. 25, looketh). It is not mere carel... [ Continue Reading ]
He beholdeth [κ α τ ε ν ο η σ ε ν]. The aorist tense, throwing the sentence into a lively, narrative form : he beheld himself and forgot. Compare ver. 11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso looketh [ο π α ρ α κ υ ψ α ς]. Rev., more strictly, he that looketh. See on 1 Peter 1:12. The verb is used of one who stoops sideways [π α ρ α] to look attentively. The mirror is conceived as placed on a table or on the ground. Bengel quotes Wisdom of Sirach 14 23 : "He that prieth in at her ... [ Continue Reading ]
Seem to be [δ ο κ ε ι]. Rev., correctly, thinketh himself to be. A man can scarcely seem to be religious, when, as Trench observes, "his religious pretensions are belied and refuted by the allowance of an unbridled tongue." Religious [θ ρ η σ κ ο ς]. Only here in New Testament, and nowhere in classi... [ Continue Reading ]
Undefiled [α μ ι α ν τ ο ς]. See on 1 Peter 1:4. The two adjectives, pure and undefiled, present the positive and negative sides of purity. To visit [ε π ι σ κ ε π τ ε σ θ α ι]. See on Matthew 25:36. James strikes a downright blow here at ministry by proxy, or by mere gifts of money. Pure and undefi... [ Continue Reading ]