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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

James 1:1-27

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 earthly relationship. Scattered abroad] RV 'of the Dispersion.' Jews were found (sometimes in great numbers) in all the cities of the Roman empire. They kept up their connexion with the mother-country by going up to the great Jewish feasts. Greeting] better, 'joy be with you.' This form of salutation is found elsewhere only in Acts 15:23.

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See also James 1:1-27 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle_. -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the Byzantine historians, and other eastern writers, 5...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD - On the meaning of the word “servant” in this connection, see the note at Romans 1:1. Compare the note at Philemon 1:16. It is remarkable that James does not call himself an a...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JAMES 1:1. The greeting is in one of the ordinary forms with which public or private letters open (_cf._ Acts 15:23). Like his brother Judas (Jude 1:1), James calls himself servant of. Jesus Christ: h...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SERVANT. App-190. GOD. App-98. LORD. App-98. JESUS CHRIST. App-98. Only here and James 2:1 in this epistle. TWELVE. No suggestion of the separate houses of Judah and Israel. Note the complete numb...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Trials and their Purpose 1. _a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ_ The description which the writer gives of himself throws no light on his identity. The term "servant," better SLAVE, as one...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CH. James 1:1. INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 1. ΘΕΟΥ͂ ΚΑῚ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ͂. καὶ is here disjunctive. James (or Jacob) is the δοῦλος of God and also of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grammatically it would be pos...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF GOD, SELF AND BRETHREN -- JAMES 1:1:_ The epistle of James begins, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting....

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΙΆΚΩΒΟΣ (G2385) Иаков. Этот Иаков был сводным братом Иисуса (_см._ Mark 6:3-5; Mayor; Martin, xxxi-lxix; JMM; DLNT, 545-47). Он вырос в бедной семье, в которой было по меньшей мере 7 детей, но до воск...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO THE TWELVE TRIBES, &C.— It is well known, that the Jews were dispersed abroad, and to be found in great multitudes in almost all parts of the world, as well at the time of writing this epistle, as...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER I James 1:1 SALUTATION _Text 1:1_ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting. _Queries_ 1. Is there more than one J...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. The last subject discussed in James 3:13; James 4:7. JAMES - an apostle of the circ...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 1. A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The expression is not identical with those of the apostle Paul to be found in his Epistle to the Romans, wherein he called himself a servant of...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    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...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    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...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    JAMES, A SERVANT (or _slave,_ or _bond-servant_) _OF_ GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. — Bound to Him, _i.e.,_ in devotion and love. In like manner, St. Paul (Romans 1:1, _et seq._)_,_ St. Peter (2 P...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Ἰάκωβος : A very common name among Palestinian Jews, though its occurrence does not seem to be so frequent in pre-Christian times. Some noted Jewish Rabbis of this name lived in the earliest centuries...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    STEADFAST FAITH James 1:1 This Epistle is marked by the austere features of the Jerusalem church, which refused to be affected by that wider contact with the Gentile world, by which the life and teac...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND HIS READERS Rather than relying upon his physical kinship with our Lord to get himself a hearing, James calls himself "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." The Greek wo...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the (a) twelve tribes which are (b) scattered abroad, greeting. (a) That is, written to no one man, city, or country, but to all the Jews gene...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    James, a servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some have doubted whether the author of this epistle was St. James, the apostle, because he does not call himself an apostle. By the same weak ar...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Epistle opens with a general, Salutation. Various Directions are given to the Church. God's Grace and Love to the Church are very blessedly set forth. James 1:1 James, a servant of God...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    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...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1_To the twelve tribes_. When the ten tribes were banished, the Assyrian king placed them in different parts. Afterwards, as it usually happens in the revolutions of kingdoms (such as then took place,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    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...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD,.... That is, of God the Father; not by creation only, as every man is; nor merely by calling grace, as is every regenerate person; but by office, as a preacher of the Gospel,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Ver. 1. _To the twelve tribes_] Once very devout, Acts 26:7; still the most nimble and...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _James, a servant of Jesus Christ_ Whose name the apostle mentions but once more in the whole epistle, namely, James 2:1, and not at all in his whole discourse, Acts 15:14, &c., or Acts 21:20. It migh...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS AND THEIR ENDURANCE. The address: JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SCATTERED ABROAD, GREETING. Unlike the salutations which cha...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    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...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Which James is the author of this book? What is a “bond servant”? Is this book addressed to Jews or Christians? Who are the “12 tribes” mentioned here? Where do they live?...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    'James,. bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings.' 'James,. bond-servant of God' -Some have contended that if the brother of Jesus had...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now, and our crown at last. Let us take care...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    JAMES CHAPTER 1 JAMES 1:1 The apostle's address to the dispersed Jews. JAMES 1:2 He recommendeth patience and joy in afflictions. JAMES 1:5 and prayer with faith....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    James 1:1 James G2385 bondservant G1401 God G2316 and G2532 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 twelve G1427 tribes...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    INTRODUCTION. Note here the standard formula for a letter, that is, name of the sender, name of the recipient, and greeting. This was a typical opening to a letter in ancient times. ‘James, a servan...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    James 1:1. JAMES: the same name as the Hebrew Jacob. The James who is the author of this Epistle is the Lord's brother, known in ecclesiastical history as the bishop of Jerusalem, and was either a son...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    JAMES (Ιακωβος). Grecised form (nominative absolute) of the Hebrew Ιακωβ (so LXX). Common name among the Jews, and this man in Josephus (_Ant_. XX.9.1) and three others of this name in Josephus als...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    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...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    FROM JAMES. Both Paul (Galatians 1:19), and Josephus, the Jewish Historian, call this James _the Lord's brother._ See the introduction to this Letter. A SERVANT. He was not an apostle in the same sens...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _James, a servant of God_ ST. James and his Epistle This Epistle, although Luther stigmatised it as “an epistle of straw,” has many claims on our regard. It is the first Christian document that was...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 1:1 Greeting. Jesus chose 12 disciples to symbolize the TWELVE TRIBES of Israel. Thus he identified the church as the new Israel (see M

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    COUNSELS FOR THE TEMPTED AND TRIED _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ James 1:1. Salutation. JAMES.—Greek Ἰάκωβος, a familiar Jewish name. Two so named were in the apostolic company. James the son of Ze...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    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...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    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...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 18:31; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; 2 Timothy 4:21; Acts 1:13;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    A servant of Jesus Christ — Whose name the apostle mentions but once more in the whole epistle, James 2:1. And not at all in his whole discourse, Acts 15:14, &c.; or Acts 21:20. It might have seemed,...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The author and penman of this epistle described by his name, James; by his office, A SERVANT OF GOD, AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: that is, by special office, as. dispenser of his gos...

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