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 Zebedee, and James the son of Alphæus. This is thought to be a
third James, known as the “brother of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:2. TEMPTATIONS.—As so often in the New Testament, trials
which take the form of suffering, and serve the purposes of Divine
discipline.
James 1:3. TRYING.—Testing, proving. “The proof to which your
faith is put works out endurance.” PATIENCE.—ὑπομονήν;
the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:5. WISDOM.—Here, the wisdom of the book of Proverbs;
practical skill in the ordering and management of life (Proverbs
19:20). LIBERALLY.—With single heart, frankly, freely; without
searchingly taking account of our dulness, or slowness, or limited
anxiety con... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:9. HE IS EXALTED.—Or, “in his exaltation”; “in his
high estate.” LOW DEGREE does not suggest _caste_, but _poverty_
involving humiliation.
James 1:10. MADE LOW.—Or, “in his humiliation.” These
experiences being especially adapted to each, can be rejoiced in... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:12. IS TRIED.—Better, “hath been approved.”
δόκιμος is properly spoken of money as having been tried and
refined. CROWN OF LIFE.—See figure in Isaiah 28:5; and compare 2
Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4. “Crown of life” is peculiar to St.
James.
James 1:13. TEMPTED.—... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 by turning. The terms
“variableness” and “shadow of turning” distinctly refer to the
movements of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:19. WRATH.—ὀργήν; an abiding, settled habit of mind
with the purpose of revenge.
James 1:21. FILTHINESS.—Not limited to sensualities, but including
everything that defiles the soul. SUPERFLUITY OF
NAUGHTINESS.—“Overflow of mental wickedness,” or of malice. Or... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:23. NATURAL FACE.—Lit. “face of his birth”; “the face
he has by corporeal birth.” γενέσεως is used in distinction
from the notion which follows of spiritual features. The tenses of the
verbs (aorist) imply, “looks at himself once for all”; “has
taken his depa... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_
James 1:26. SEEM TO BE.—Imagine himself to be _religious_; a
difficult term, because its meanings have been subject to change.
“The Greek adjective is one which expresses the outward, ritual side
of religion, answering to ‘godliness’ as the inward.” Seem to be
a prof... [ Continue Reading ]