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 generally, being now dispersed. (b) To all the believing Jews, whatever tribe they are from, dispersed... [ Continue Reading ]
(1) My brethren, (c) count it all joy (2) when ye fall into divers temptations; (1) The first place or part concerning comfort in afflictions, in which we should not be cast down and be faint hearted, but rather rejoice and be glad. (c) Seeing their condition was miserable because of the scatterin... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) Knowing [this], that the (d) trying of your faith worketh patience. (3) The second, because patience, a surpassing and most excellent virtue, is brought about in us by this means. (d) That by this your faith is tried, that is, those various temptations.... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (4) The third argument, proposed in manner of an exhortation, that true and lasting patience may be discerned from false and temporary. Affliction is the instrument God uses to polish and refine us. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) If any of you lack (e) wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (5) An answer to a private objection; It is easily said, but not so easily done. He answers that we need, in this case, a different type of wisdom than the wisdo... [ Continue Reading ]
But let him ask in faith, (f) nothing wavering. (6) For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (f) Why then, what need is there of another mediator or priest? (6) A digression or going aside from his matter, as compared to prayers which are conceived with a doub... [ Continue Reading ]
A double minded man [is] unstable in (g) all his ways. (g) In all his thoughts and his deeds.... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) Let the brother of (h) low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: (7) He returns to his purpose repeating the proposition, which is, that we must rejoice in affliction, for it does not oppress us, but exalt us. (h) Who is afflicted with poverty, or contempt, or with any kind of calamity.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) But the (i) rich, in that he is made low: (9) because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. (8) Before he concludes, he gives a doctrine contrasted to the former: that is, how we ought to use prosperity, that is, the abundance of all things: that is, so that no man pleases himself, but... [ Continue Reading ]
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his (k) ways. (k) Whatever he purposes in his mind or does.... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) Blessed [is] the man that endureth (l) temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (10) The conclusion: Therefore we must patiently bear the affliction: and he adds a fourth argument, which comprehends the sum of all... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) Let no man say when he is (m) tempted, I am tempted of God: (12) for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (11) The third part of this epistle, in which he descends from outward temptations, that is, from afflictions by which God tries us: to inward, that is, to those l... [ Continue Reading ]
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth n) sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (n) By sin, in this place, he means actual sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) Do not err, my beloved brethren. (13) Another reason taken from opposites: God is the author of all goodness, and so, since he is always like himself; how then can he be thought to be the author of evil?... [ Continue Reading ]
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 author of all goodness. (p) He goes on in the metaphor: for the sun by his many and various kinds of... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) Of his own (q) will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of (r) firstfruits of his creatures. (14) The fourth part concerning the excellency and fruit of the word of God, The sum is this: we must listen to the word of God most carefully and diligently, seeing it is the... [ Continue Reading ]
For the wrath of man worketh not the (s) righteousness of God. (s) That which God appoints.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with (t) meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (t) By meekness he means modesty, and anything that is contrary to a haughty and proud spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, (16) deceiving your own selves. (15) Another admonition: therefore God's word is heard, that we may model our lives according to the laws it contains. (16) He adds reasons, and those most weighty: first, because they that do otherwise seriousl... [ Continue Reading ]
(17) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his (u) natural face in a glass: (17) Secondly: because they lose the most important use of God's word, if they do not use it to correct the faults that they know. (u) He alludes to that natural stain, which i... [ Continue Reading ]
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his (x) deed. (x) Behaviour: for works show faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
(18) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his (y) own heart, this man's religion [is] vain. (18) The third admonition: the word of God lays down a rule to not only do well, but also to speak well. (y) The fountain of all babbling, cursed speaking, a... [ Continue Reading ]
(19) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To (z) visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world. (19) The fourth: the true service of God exists in charity towards our neighbours, especially those who need the help of ot... [ Continue Reading ]