THE POWER OF FAITH UNDER TEMPTATION 1. Servant] better, 'slave.' The word does not suggest any degradation, but only absolute surrender to the Master. St. James's humility prevents the mention of the earthly relationship. SCATTERED ABROAD] RV 'of the Dispersion.' Jews were found (sometimes in great... [ Continue Reading ]
TEMPTATIONS] better, 'trials' (from without). Trials, rightly borne, bring joy. The Christian is bidden to pray 'lead us not into temptation' (= trial); but for him, trial, when it comes, may be made to yield 'peaceable fruit' (Hebrews 12:11). Out of bitter may come sweet.... [ Continue Reading ]
TRYING] RV 'proof,' or 'process of testing.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PERFECT AND ENTIRE] better, 'full grown' (Ephesians 4:13), and 'complete' (1 Thessalonians 5:23).... [ Continue Reading ]
WAVERETH] RV' doubteth.' WAVE] RV 'surge.' St. James is thinking of the sudden storms on the lake of Galilee. This is the first of the eleven metaphors drawn from the natural phenomena of Palestine which recall our Lord's earlier parables, and show St. James as a keen observer of nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN _is_ UNSTABLE] better, 'he is a double-minded man, unstable,' etc. 'Double-minded' is one of the key-words of the Epistle. It implies half-hearted allegiance—an attempt to combine the service of God with the service of self and the world (Matthew 6:24). 9, REJOICE] better, 'exul... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNING HEAT] better, 'sirocco,' the hot wind of Palestine which parches vegetation. WAYS] better, 'goings'; perhaps used of the journeyings of rich merchants (James 4:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE IS TRIED] RV' when he hath been approved.' CROWN] the wreath that crowns the victor (2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 2:10). 13-15. Trials from within (= temptations). The Jews seem to have sometimes believed (from a mistaken interpretation of passages like 2 Samuel 24:1) that God sent temptations,... [ Continue Reading ]
God is the source of good, and of good only. Every good gift and every perfect boon (not' gift,' as AV) comes from Him, who is the creator of the sun, moon, and stars. But, while they change and vary, and, as they revolve, are sometimes in shadow, He is always the same. SHADOW OF TURNING] RV 'shadow... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAT] RV 'brought forth.' It seems at first sight natural to see in this v. a reference to the new birth of baptism, or to the regenerating power of the gospel (1 Peter 1:23). But such ideas are foreign to the simplicity of St. James's theological thought. The WORD OF TRUTH is the divine word which... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE] RV 'ye know this.'... [ Continue Reading ]
The bitter words and angry passions of men will never bring about that righteousness—that entire and loving obedience to His divine will—which God requires from His children.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS] better, 'overflowing of malice.' The much-speaking of the Jews often ended in evil-speaking. ENGRAFTED] RV 'implanted.' The Word is like a seed lying in the heart, which, under favourable conditions, would grow and bear fruit in life. 22-25. Hearing without doing is use... [ Continue Reading ]
RELIGION] better, 'religious observance, the outward service of God.' In order that the service and worship of God may be acceptable, the man who offers it must (1) show practical love and sympathy, and (2) strive after personal holiness (Psalms 40:6; Psalms 51:16; Isaiah 1:10); otherwise he is inco... [ Continue Reading ]