James 2:1

James 2:1. My brethren. The connection appears to be: As the true service of God consists in active benevolence, exercised especially toward the poor and afflicted, St. James takes occasion to reprove his readers for a practice which was in direct contradiction to this, namely, showing partiality to the rich, and despising the poor.

have not, or hold not, the faith the profession of Christianity, or the belief in Jesus as the true Messiah. Do not hold it in such a manner, as that respect of persons should constitute a part of it.

of our Lord Jesus Christ: of Him who, although rich, yet for our sakes became poor, in whom there is neither rich nor poor, and with whom there is no respect of persons.

the Lord of glory. The words ‘the Lord' are in italics, and not in the original; all that is in the Greek are the words ‘of glory.' Accordingly, different meanings have been attached to this phrase. Some construe it with ‘respect of person,' and translate it ‘according to your estimate or opinion;' thus Calvin: ‘Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons, on account of esteem;' that is, placing a false and unchristian value on riches. Others attach it to Christ: ‘the faith of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, or the Messiah, of glory.' Others consider it as governed by faith, but give different meanings: ‘the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ;' or ‘faith in the glory or exaltation of Christ;' or ‘the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in the glory,' namely, in that glory which is reserved for the saints. Others suppose that glory is a personal appellation of Christ: ‘our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glory,' equivalent to the Shechinah of the Jewish Church. This is certainly the simplest reading; but there is no proof from the New Testament that such an epithet was applied to our Lord. Our version, by supplying the words ‘the Lord' from the former clause, is the least objectionable: ‘the Lord of glory.' The clause is inserted to show the vanity of earthly riches, as contrasted with the glory of Christ.

with respect of persons: a caution against showing undue preference to any on account of external circumstances. The word in the Greek is in the plural, as St. James had several instances of such respect of persons in view. We must, however, beware of perverting this maxim. We must show due respect where respect is due: as St. Paul says, ‘Render to all their due, honour to whom honour is due' (Romans 13:7). There is a respect due to a man in office on account of his official character. Servants must honour their masters, and subjects their rulers; but we are not called to honour a man merely on account of his wealth. And in spiritual matters all are equal. In the house of God, the rich and the poor meet on the same footing of equality. The same exhortations are addressed to both; and the vices of the rich must be rebuked with the same sharpness as the vices of the poor.