Masters [δ ι δ α σ κ α λ ο ι]. Literally, and better, teachers, with a reference to the exhortation to be slow to speak (ch. 1 19). Compare 1 Corinthians 14:26-34. Jas. is warning against the too eager and general assumption of the privilege of teaching, which was not restricted to a particular clas... [ Continue Reading ]
Offend [π τ α ι ο μ ε ν]. Lit., stumble, as Rev. Compare ch. 2 10. To bridle. See on ch. James 1:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold. Following the old reading, ide. All the best texts read eij de, now if. So Rev. Bits [χ α λ ι ν ο υ ς]. Only here and Revelation 14:20. It may be rendered either bit, as A. V., or bridle, as Rev., but bridle is preferable because it corresponds with the verb to bridle (ver. 2) which is comp... [ Continue Reading ]
The ships. See Introduction, on James' local allusions. Dean Howson observes that "there is more imagery drawn from mere natural phenomena in the one short epistle of James than in all St. Paul's epistles put together." So great. As the ship which conveyed Paul to Malta, which contained two hundred... [ Continue Reading ]
Boasteth great things [μ ε γ α λ α υ χ ε ι]. The best texts separate the compound, and read megala aujcei, of course with the same meaning. Aujcei, boasteth, only here in New Testament. How great a matter a little fire kindleth [η λ ι κ ο ν π υ ρ η λ ι κ η ν υ λ η ν α ν α π τ ε ι]. The word ulh (on... [ Continue Reading ]
World of iniquity [κ ο σ μ ο ς τ η ς α δ ι κ ι α ς]. Kosmov, primarily, means order, and is applied to the world or universe as an orderly system. A world of iniquity is an organism containing within itself all evil essence, which from it permeates the entire man. World is used in the same sense as... [ Continue Reading ]
Kind [φ υ σ ι ς]. Wrong. Jas. is not speaking of the relation between individual men and individual beasts, but of the relation between the nature of man and that of beasts, which may be different in different beasts. Hence, as Rev., in margin, nature. Beasts [θ η ρ ι ω ν]. Quadrupeds. Not beasts ge... [ Continue Reading ]
No man [ο υ δ ε ι ς α ν θ ρ ω π ω ν]. A strong expression. Lit., no one of men. Unruly [α κ α τ α σ χ ε τ ο ν]. Lit., not to be held back. The proper reading, however, is ajkatastaton, unsettled. See on kaqistatai, hath its place, ver. 6. Rev., correctly, restless. Deadly [θ α ν α τ η φ ο ρ ο υ].... [ Continue Reading ]
God, even the Father [τ ο ν θ ε ο ν κ α ι π α τ ε ρ α]. The proper reading, is ton Kurion, the Lord, and the kai, and, is simply connective. Read, therefore, as Rev., the Lord and Father. This combination of terms for God is uncommon. See ch. James 1:27. Which. Not who, which would designate person... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth a fountain, etc. The interrogative particle, mhti, which begins the sentence, expects a negative answer. Fountain has the article, "the fountain," generic. See Introduction, on James' local allusions. The Land of Promise was pictured to the Hebrew as a land of springs (Deuteronomy 8:7; Deuteron... [ Continue Reading ]
So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. The best texts omit so can no fountain, and the and between salt and fresh. Thus the text reads, oute aJlukon gluku poihsai udwr. Render, as Rev., neither can salt water yield sweet. Another of James' local allusions, salt waters. The Great Salt Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Wise and endued with knowledge [σ ο φ ο ς κ α ι ε π ι σ π η μ ω ν]. A rendering needlessly verbose, yet substantially correct. Probably no very nice distinction was intended by the writer. It is somewhat difficult to fix the precise sense of sofov, since there is no uniformity in its usage in the Ne... [ Continue Reading ]
Envying [ζ η λ ο ν]. The word is used in the New Testament both in a bad and a good sense. For the latter, see John 2:17; Romans 10:2; 2 Corinthians 9:2. From it is our word zeal, which may be either good or bad, wise or foolish. The bad sense is predominant in the New Testament. See Acts 5:17; Roma... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom [σ ο φ ι α]. See on sofov, ver. 13. From above. Compare ch. 1 17. Sensual [ψ υ χ ι κ η]. See on Jude 1:19. Devilish [δ α ι μ ο ν ι ω δ η ς]. Or demoniacal, according to the proper rendering of daimwn (see on Matthew 4:1). Only here in New Testament. Devilish, "such," says Bengel, "as even... [ Continue Reading ]
Confusion [α κ α τ α σ τ α σ ι α]. See on restless, ver. 8. Evil [φ α υ λ ο ν]. An inadequate rendering, because it fails to bring out the particular phase of evil which is dominant in the word : worthlessness, good - for - nothingness. In classical Greek it has the meanings slight, trivial, paltry... [ Continue Reading ]
First. Emphasizing its inner quality, pure, as distinguished from its outward expressions. The idea is not first numerically, but first essentially. The other qualities are secondary as outgrowths of this primary quality. Gentle [ε π ι ε ι κ η ς]. See on 1 Peter 2:18. Easy to be intreated [ε υ π ε... [ Continue Reading ]