This chapter is evidently made up of three parts, or three subjects
are discussed:
I. The duty of impartiality in the treatment of others, James 2:1.
There was to be no favoritism on account of rank, birth, wealth, or
apparel. The case to which the apostle refers for an illustration of
this, is tha... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BRETHREN - Perhaps meaning brethren in two respects - as Jews, and
as Christians. In both respects the form of address would be proper.
HAVE NOT THE FAITH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - Faith is the
distinguishing thing in the Christian religion, for it is this by
which man is justified, and hence,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THERE COME INTO YOUR ASSEMBLY - Margin, as in Greek,
“synagogue.” It is remarkable that this is the only place in the
New Testament where the word “synagogue” is applied to the
Christian church. It is probably employed here because the apostle was
writing to those who had been Jews; and it is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE HAVE RESPECT TO HIM THAT WEARETH THE GAY CLOTHING - If you show
him superior attention on account of his rich and gay apparel, giving
him a seat by himself, and treating others with neglect or contempt.
Religion does not forbid proper respect to rank, to office, to age, or
to distinguished ta... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE YE NOT THEN PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES? - Among yourselves. Do you not
show that you are partial?
AND ARE BECOME JUDGES OF EVIL THOUGHTS - There has been considerable
difference of opinion respecting this passage, yet the sense seems not
to be difficult. There are two ideas in it: one is, that they s... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN, MY BELOVED BRETHREN - The apostle now proceeds to show that
the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the
poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. For
a view of the arguments by which he does this, compare the analysis of
the chapter.
HATH NO... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE DESPISED THE POOR - Koppe reads this as an interrogation:
“Do ye despise the poor?” Perhaps it might be understood somewhat
ironically: “You despise the poor, do you, and are disposed to honor
the rich! Look then, and see how the rich treat you, and see whether
you have so much occasion... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THEY NOT BLASPHEME THAT WORTHY NAME? - This is another argument to
show that the rich had no special claim to the honor which they were
disposed to show them. The “worthy name” here referred to is,
doubtless, the name of the Saviour. The thing here affirmed would, of
course, accompany persecution... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE FULFIL THE ROYAL LAW - That is, the law which he immediately
mentions requiring us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is called
a “royal law,” or kingly law, on account of its excellence or
nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it
has some such prominence and i... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE HAVE RESPECT TO PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN - You transgress the
plain law of God, and do wrong. See the references on James 2:1.
AND ARE CONVINCED OF THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS - Greek “By the
law.” The word convinced is now used in a somewhat different sense
from what it was formerly. It now co... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW - All except the single point
referred to. The apostle does not say that this in fact ever did
occur, but he says that if it should, and yet a man should have failed
in only one particular, he must be judged to be guilty. The case
supposed seems to be that of o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT SAID, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, SAID ALSO, DO NOT KILL -
That is, these are parts of the same law of God, and one is as
obligatory as the other. If, therefore, you violate either of these
precepts, you transgress the law of God as such, and must be held to
be guilty of violating it as a wh... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SPEAK YE, AND SO DO, AS THEY THAT SHALL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW OF
LIBERTY - On the phrase, “the law of liberty,” see the notes at
James 1:25. Compare the notes at James 4:11. The meaning is, that in
all our conduct we are to act under the constant impression of the
truth that we are soon to be brou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SHALL HAVE JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY, THAT HATH SHOWED NO MERCY -
This is obviously an equitable principle, and is one which is
everywhere found in the Bible. Proverbs 21:13. “Whoso stoppeth his
ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself but will not be
heard.” 2 Samuel 22:26, “with... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT, MY BRETHREN, THOUGH A MAN SAY HE HATH FAITH? -
The apostle here returns to the subject adverted to in James 1:22, the
importance of a practical attention to the duties of religion, and the
assurance that men cannot be saved by a mere speculative opinion, or
merely by holding cor... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A BROTHER OR SISTER BE NAKED ... - The comparison in these verses
is very obvious and striking. The sense is, that faith in itself,
without the acts that correspond to it, and to which it would prompt,
is as cold, and heartless, and unmeaning, and useless, as it would be
to say to one who was des... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, A MAN MAY SAY ... - The word which is rendered “yea”
(ἀλλὰ alla) would be better rendered by “but.” The apostle
designs to introduce an objection, not to make an affirmation. The
sense is, “some one might say,” or, “to this it might be urged
in reply.” That is, it might perhaps be said that r... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU BELIEVEST THAT THERE IS ONE GOD - One of the great and cardinal
doctrines of religion is here selected as an illustration of all. The
design of the apostle seems to have been to select one of the
doctrines of religion, the belief of which would - if mere belief in
any doctrine could - save the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WILT THOU KNOW - Will you have a full demonstration of it; will
you have the clearest proof in the case. The apostle evidently felt
that the instances to which he was about to refer, those of Abraham
and Rahab, were decisive.
O VAIN MAN - The reference by this language is to a man who held an
op... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER - Our progenitor, our ancestor; using the
word “father,” as frequently occurs in the Bible, to denote a
remote ancestor. Compare the notes at Matthew 1:1. A reference to his
case would have great weight with those who were Jews by birth, and
probably most of those to whom... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEST THOU - Margin, “Thou seest.” Either rendering is correct,
and the sense is the same. The apostle means to say that this was so
plain that they could not but see it.
HOW FAITH WROUGHT WITH HIS WORKS - συνήργει sunērgei.
Cooperated with. The meaning of the word is, “to work together with
anyon... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED WHICH SAITH - That is, the fair and
full meaning of the language of Scripture was expressed by this act,
showing in the highest sense that his faith was genuine; or the
declaration that he truly believed, was confirmed or established by
this act. His faith was shown t... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SEE THEN - From the course of reasoning pursued, and the example
referred to.
HOW THAT BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY - Not by a
cold, abstract, inoperative faith. It must be by a faith that shall
produce good works, and whose existence will be shown to men by good
works. As j... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE ALSO WAS NOT RAHAB THE HARLOT JUSTIFIED BY WORKS? - In the
same sense in which Abraham was, as explained above - showing by her
act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not a mere cold and
speculative assent to the truths of religion. Her act showed that she
truly believed God. If th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD - Margin, “breath.” The
Greek word πνεύμα pneuma is commonly used to denote spirit or
soul, as referring to the intelligent nature. The meaning here is the
obvious one, that the body is animated or kept alive by the presence
of the soul, and that when that... [ Continue Reading ]