Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

James 5:20

σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου, shall save his soul (i.e. the soul of the convert) from death.

καὶ καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν. Comp. Proverbs 10:12 ‘love covereth all transgressions’ R. V., where καλύψει is a literal rendering of the Hebr. חְּכַםֶּה ‘cover’ in the sense of ‘forgive.’ The LXX. translation of the passage is incorrect, but it is accurately cited 1 Peter 4:8 ἀγάπη καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν. Comp. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ἡ�) πάντα στέγει. The meaning here is, will cover the multitude of his convert’s sins, i.e. bring him through repentance within the range of divine forgiveness. The reference is undoubtedly to the passage in Proverbs, and ἀγάπη is virtually in thought the subject of καλύψει. Such an act as conversion is the highest act of ἀγάπη.

St James himself had this blessedness of converting many: ὅσοι δὲ καὶ ἐπίστευσαν, διὰ Ἰάκωβον. πολλῶν οὖν καὶ τῶν�, ἦν θόρυβος τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων λεγόντων ὅτι κινδυνεύει πᾶς ὁ λαὸς Ἰησοῦν τὸν χριστὸν προσδοκᾶν, Hegesip. ap. Eus. H. E. II. 23.

The abrupt termination of the Epistle may be accounted for by the character of the document. It may be regarded as a series of decisions on the duties, temptations and difficulties of the Christian life suggested by actual facts which had been brought to the Apostle’s notice; hence it takes the form of a charge or message to the Churches rather than that of an epistle in the ordinary sense of the word. The message ended, the conclusion comes without the usual epistolary greetings.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

James 5:20

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