PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — James
Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 40,177 words · 86 reading sections
James 1:1
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. James 1:1 INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES This epistle is called "general", because not written to any particular person, as the epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon are; nor to any particular churches, as the epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, &c. but t…
1,852 wordsSECTION 2James 1:2
James 1:2 Ver. 2. My brethren,.... Not only according to the flesh, he being a Jew as they were; but in a spiritual sense, they being born again of the same grace, belonging to the same family and household of faith, and having the same Father, and being all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus: count it all…
464 wordsSECTION 3James 1:3
James 1:3 Ver. 3. Knowing this,.... By experience; as everyone that is trained up in the school of affliction does: the apostle appeals to the saints, to whom he writes, for the truth of what he was about to say; and which he gives as a reason why they should rejoice in afflictions, because it is a known fact, that t…
213 wordsSECTION 4James 1:4
James 1:4 Ver. 4. But let patience have her perfect work,.... Or effect; or be brought unto perfection; which may denote both the sincerity and continuance of it unto the end, with constancy: patience may be said to be perfect, when it appears to be real and sincere, and not dissembled; for as there may be a feigned f…
315 wordsSECTION 5James 1:5
James 1:5 Ver. 5. If any of you lack wisdom,.... This shows that the perfection before spoken of is not to be understood as in this life, since the apostle immediately supposes lack of wisdom in them; for this is not said in a form of doubting, whether they wanted it or not, but rather as supposing, and taking it for …
792 wordsSECTION 6James 1:6
James 1:6 Ver. 6. But let him ask in faith,.... Not only in the faith of the divine Being that God is; but in the faith of the promises he has made; and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them; and in the faith of this, that whatever is asked, according to the will of God, and is for his glory, and …
193 wordsSECTION 7James 1:7
James 1:7 Ver. 7. For let not that man think,.... Imagine, conclude, or please himself with such thoughts, that he shall receive anything from the Lord; wisdom, or anything else, he is seeking after; for wanting faith, he has nothing to receive with; faith is the grace, which receives the Lord Jesus Christ himself, a…
96 wordsSECTION 8James 1:8
James 1:8 Ver. 8. A double minded man,.... A man of two souls, or of a double heart, that speaks and asks with an heart, and an heart, as in Ps 12:2 who halts between two opinions, and is at an uncertainty what to do or say, and is undetermined what to ask for; or who is not sincere and upright in his requests, who as…
205 wordsSECTION 9James 1:9
James 1:9 Ver. 9. Let the brother of low degree,.... By "the brother" is meant, not one in a natural, but in a spiritual relation; one of Christ's brethren, and who is of that family that is named of him; of the household of faith, and is in church communion: and whereas he is said to be of "low degree", or "humble", …
378 wordsSECTION 10James 1:10
James 1:10 Ver. 10. But the rich, in that he is made low,.... That is, the rich brother; for there were rich men in the churches in those times, and which James often takes notice of in this epistle. Such an one should rejoice or glory in his lowness, or low estate; in the consideration of the low estate, out of which…
383 wordsSECTION 11James 1:11
James 1:11 Ver. 11. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat,.... As it is about the middle of the day, when it shines in its full strength, and its heat is very great and scorching, especially in the summer season, and in hot climates: but it withereth the grass; strikes it with heat, causes it to shrivel,…
295 wordsSECTION 12James 1:12
James 1:12 Ver. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation,.... Or affliction, which is designed by temptation, as in Jas 1:2 and the man that endures it is he that so bears it, and bears up under it, as not to be offended at it, and stumble in the ways of Christ, and fall away from the truth, and a profession of…
863 wordsSECTION 13James 1:13
James 1:13 Ver. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted,.... Here the apostle uses the word "tempted", in another sense than he did before. Before he speaks of temptations, as matter of joy and boasting, here of temptations, which are criminal, and issue in shame and death; the temptations he before makes mention of, be…
583 wordsSECTION 14James 1:14
James 1:14 Ver. 14. But every man is tempted,.... To sin, and he falls in with the temptation, and by it, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed; the metaphor is taken either from fishes, who are enticed by the bait, and drawn out by the hook; or from a lascivious woman, who meeting with a young man, entic…
263 wordsSECTION 15James 1:15
James 1:15 Ver. 15. Then when lust hath conceived,.... A proposal of pleasure or profit being made, agreeable to lust, or the principle of corrupt nature, sinful man is pleased with it; and instead of resisting and rejecting the motion made, he admits of it, and receives it, and cherishes it in his mind; he dallies an…
383 wordsSECTION 16James 1:16
James 1:16 Ver. 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. For to make God the author of sin, or to charge him with being concerned in temptation to sin, is a very great error, a fundamental one, which strikes at the nature and being of God, and at the perfection of his holiness: it is a denying of him, and is one of those …
96 wordsSECTION 17James 1:17
James 1:17 Ver. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift,.... Whether of nature, providence, or grace, and especially the latter; spiritual gifts given along with Christ, or spiritual blessings in him; every such gift is; as the Vulgate Latin version reads, the "best" gift; better than those which only relate to the…
349 wordsSECTION 18James 1:18
James 1:18 Ver. 18. Of his own will begat he us,.... The apostle instances in one of those good and perfect gifts, regeneration; and he pitches upon a very proper and pertinent one, since this is the first gift of grace God bestows upon his people openly, and in their own persons; and is what involves other gifts, and…
3,663 wordsSECTION 19James 2:1
James 2:1 INTRODUCTION TO JAMES 2 In this chapter the apostle dissuades from a respect of persons, on account of outward circumstances; shows that the law is to be fulfilled, and that mercy is to be exercised, as well as justice done; and exposes the folly of such who boast of faith without works: he dissuades the sa…
1,024 wordsSECTION 20James 2:2
James 2:2 Ver. 2. For if there come unto your assembly,.... The place of religious worship where saints are assembled together for that purpose; though some think a civil court of judicature is intended, and to which the context seems to incline; see Jas 2:6 a man with a gold ring; on his finger, which shows him to b…
302 wordsSECTION 21James 2:3
James 2:3 Ver. 3. And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing,.... Take notice of him, and show favour to him, to the neglect and contempt of the other. This is an instance of respect of persons condemned and dissuaded from: and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; the best place; whether it be in …
174 wordsSECTION 22James 2:4
James 2:4 Ver. 4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves,.... That is, guilty of such partiality as must appear to yourselves, and your own consciences must accuse you of; or do not ye distinguish, or make a difference among yourselves, by such a conduct, towards the rich and the poor: and are become judges of evil th…
95 wordsSECTION 23James 2:5
James 2:5 Ver. 5. Hearken, my beloved brethren,.... As to a matter of importance, and worthy of attention and regard; being an instance of the divine conduct towards the poor, and carries in it a strong argument against respect of persons: hath not God chosen the poor of this world? this interrogative is equal to a s…
920 wordsSECTION 24James 2:6
James 2:6 Ver. 6. But ye have despised the poor,.... Or dishonoured, and reproached them, by showing respect of persons, in preferring the rich to them, and in distinguishing them in such a manner as was to their contempt and injury; which is a reproaching not only of them, but their Maker; and is in effect saying, th…
356 wordsSECTION 25James 2:7
James 2:7 Ver. 7 Do they not blaspheme that worthy name,.... Of Christ, or Christians; by the which ye are called? and which, as before, may design either unbelieving rich men, whether among Jews, or Gentiles, who blasphemed and cursed the name of Christ, and compelled others to do so likewise; or such who professed …
111 wordsSECTION 26James 2:8
James 2:8 Ver. 8. If ye fulfil the royal law,.... Which is the law of love to men, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it is the law of the King of kings; hence the Syriac version renders it, "the law of God", it is the law of Christ, who is King of saints; and …
411 wordsSECTION 27James 2:9
James 2:9 Ver. 9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, &c] This is not doing well, but is a transgression of the law, as every sin is; hence it follows, and are convinced of the law as transgressors; which carries on a formal process against such persons; it accuses them of sin, and charges them with it;…
112 wordsSECTION 28James 2:10
James 2:10 Ver. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law,.... Or the greatest part of it, excepting only in one point, as follows: Adam, in a state of innocence, was able to keep the whole law, but by sin he lost that power, nor can any of his posterity now keep it perfectly: they are all transgressors of it, and li…
745 wordsSECTION 29James 2:11
James 2:11 Ver. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery,.... That same lawgiver, who is but one, and is God, that gave out the seventh command, and forbids adultery, said also, Do not kill; delivered the sixth command, which forbids murder. Now if thou commit no adultery; do not break the seventh command; yet …
205 wordsSECTION 30James 2:12
James 2:12 Ver. 12. So speak ye, and so do,.... Both words and actions should be taken care of; it becomes men to observe what they say, and what they do; for both sinful words and works are transgressions of the law, and will be brought to judgment; every idle word, as well as every evil work, both open and secret, m…
134 wordsSECTION 31James 2:13
James 2:13 Ver. 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy,.... Strict justice, and no mercy shown him: that hath showed no mercy; to the poor brethren, and distressed members of Christ, but has shown respect of persons to the hurt of the poor, and has despised and oppressed them, instead of relieving and comfortin…
258 wordsSECTION 32James 2:14
James 2:14 Ver. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren,.... The apostle having finished his discourse on respect of persons, and the arguments he used to dissuade from it, by an easy transition passes to treat upon faith and works, showing that faith without works, particularly without works of mercy, is of no profit an…
342 wordsSECTION 33James 2:15
James 2:15 Ver. 15. If a brother or sister,.... A Christian man or woman, a fellow member of a church of Christ; for this relation is to be understood in a spiritual sense, though it does not exclude such who are in this relation in a natural sense: be naked; or clothed in rags, or in very mean and sordid apparel, su…
118 wordsSECTION 34James 2:16
James 2:16 Ver. 16. And one of you say unto them,.... That is, one of the same faith, and in the same communion and church fellowship. Depart in peace; wishing them all prosperity and happiness, inward and outward: be ye warmed and filled; clothed and fed; signifying, that they wished them all the accommodations of …
3,459 wordsSECTION 35James 3:1
James 3:1 INTRODUCTION TO JAMES 3 In this chapter the apostle cautions against censoriousness, and reproving others with a magisterial air; advises to bridle the tongue, and guard against the vices of it; and shows what true wisdom is, and from whence it comes. He advises the saints not to arrogate too much to themse…
1,126 wordsSECTION 36James 3:2
James 3:2 Ver. 2. For in many things we offend all,.... Or "we all offend", slip and fall; no man lives without sin; in many, in most, if not in all things, a good man himself does, he sins; and this extends to the most solemn services, and best works of a good man; there is sin in his holy things, imperfections in al…
543 wordsSECTION 37James 3:3
James 3:3 Ver. 3. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths,.... By this, and the following simile, the apostle not only expresses the smallness of that member of the body, which is like the bit in the horse's mouth, and the helm of a ship, but the good use of it, and the great influence it has over the whole body. Ho…
201 wordsSECTION 38James 3:4
James 3:4 Ver. 4. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great,.... Of so large a bulk, of such a prodigious size, and are such unwieldy vessels: and are driven of fierce winds; with great vehemence, rapidity, and swiftness: yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth…
323 wordsSECTION 39James 3:5
James 3:5 Ver. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member,.... Like the bit in the horse's mouth, or like the helm of a ship. And boasteth great things: and does them; for this word may be taken in a good sense: a bridled and sanctified tongue, that is influenced by the grace of God, and directed by the Spirit of God, …
244 wordsSECTION 40James 3:6
James 3:6 Ver. 6. And the tongue is a fire,.... It is like to fire, very useful in its place, to warm and comfort; so is the tongue in Christian conversation, and in the ministry of the word; the hearts of God's children burn within them, while they are talking together, and while the Scriptures of truth are opening t…
946 wordsSECTION 41James 3:7
James 3:7 Ver. 7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds,.... Or the "nature" of them, as it is in the Greek text; however fierce, as beasts of prey are, or shy, as the fowls of the air be: and of serpents and things in the sea; the fishes there: is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind, or "by human nature": by the…
167 wordsSECTION 42James 3:8
James 3:8 Ver. 8. But the tongue can no man tame,.... Either his own, or others; not his own, for the man that has the greatest guard upon himself, his words and actions; yet, what through pride or passion, or one lust or another in his heart, at one time or another, bolts out vain, idle, angry, and sinful words: and …
322 wordsSECTION 43James 3:9
James 3:9 Ver. 9. Therewith bless we God, even, the Father,.... Of Jesus Christ, and of spirits, and of mercies: this is the instrument that is used in blessing God daily every meal that is eaten; and in joining with the saints, though only verbally and outwardly, in blessing God for all spiritual blessings in Christ,…
152 wordsSECTION 44James 3:10
James 3:10 Ver. 10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing,.... Which is not only a contradiction, but unnatural, as well as wicked and sinful: my brethren, these things ought not so to be: in any, and much less in professors of religion: such things are unbecoming men, are a scandal upon human nature,…
68 wordsSECTION 45James 3:11
James 3:11 Ver. 11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place,.... "Or hole"; for at divers places, and at different times, as Pliny {m} observes, it may send forth sweet [water] and bitter: and it is reported {n}, there is a lake with the Trogloditae, a people in Ethiopia, which becomes thrice a day bitter, and t…
115 wordsSECTION 46James 3:12
James 3:12 Ver. 12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?.... Every tree bears fruit, according to its kind; a fig tree produces figs, and an olive tree olive berries; a fig tree does not produce olive berries, or an olive tree figs; and neither of them both: either a vine, figs? or fig trees, grapes; or…
148 wordsSECTION 47James 3:13
James 3:13 Ver. 13. Who is a wise man. Meaning, not in things natural and civil, or merely moral, but in things spiritual: and he is a wise man, who is both wise to do good, and wise unto salvation; who has learned to know his own ignorance, folly, and stupidity; for the first lesson in the school of spiritual wisdom …
694 wordsSECTION 48James 3:14
James 3:14 Ver. 14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,.... Though these may not be expressed by words, or actions: envy at the happiness of others, whether at the external blessings of Providence, as riches and honours, or at the internal endowments of their minds, as their wisdom and knowledge, …
283 wordsSECTION 49James 3:15
James 3:15 Ver. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above,.... If it must be called wisdom, as it ought not; an envious, quarrelsome, and contentious spirit, does not deserve such a name; yet if any will call it so, or can think that a man of such a disposition is a man possessed of wisdom; it is such wisdom as does n…
246 wordsSECTION 50James 3:16
James 3:16 Ver. 16 For where envying and strife is,.... Where these are cherished in the heart, and especially where they break out into action, in families, neighbourhoods, states, or churches: there is confusion and every evil work; these occasion disturbances, raise uneasiness, make disquietude, and cause tumults …
66 wordsSECTION 51James 3:17
James 3:17 Ver. 17. But the wisdom that is from above,.... Which has God for its author; which is infused into the soul by the Spirit of God; and leads into the knowledge of things that are above, of heavenly things; and which only is true wisdom and knowledge; and those who are possessed of it are the only true Gnost…
610 wordsSECTION 52James 4:1
James 4:1 INTRODUCTION TO JAMES 4 In this chapter the apostle gives the true cause of contentions and strifes; and cautions against intemperance, covetousness, pride, detraction, and vain confidence. Having, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, inveighed against strife and contention, he here shows from whenc…
799 wordsSECTION 53James 4:2
James 4:2 Ver. 2. Ye lust, and have not,.... The apostle proceeds to show the unsuccessfulness of many in their desires and pursuits after worldly things; some might be like the sluggard, whose soul desireth all good things, and yet he has nothing, Pr 13:4 because he does not make use of any means, even of such as are…
274 wordsSECTION 54James 4:3
James 4:3 Ver. 3. Ye ask, and receive not,.... Some there were that did ask of God the blessings of his goodness and providence, and yet these were not bestowed on them; the reason was, because ye ask amiss; not in the faith of a divine promise; nor with thankfulness for past mercies; nor with submission to the will …
153 wordsSECTION 55James 4:4
James 4:4 Ver. 4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses,.... Not who were literally such, but in a figurative and metaphorical sense: as he is an adulterer that removes his affections from his own wife, and sets them upon another woman; and she is an adulteress that loves not her husband, but places her love upon another man…
288 wordsSECTION 56James 4:5
James 4:5 Ver. 5. Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain?.... Some think that the apostle refers to a particular passage of Scripture in the Old Testament, and that he took it from Ge 6:3 as some; or from Ex 20:5, as others; or from De 7:2 or from Job 5:6 or from Pr 21:10 others think he had in view some text in…
510 wordsSECTION 57James 4:6
James 4:6 Ver. 6. But he giveth more grace,.... The Arabic version adds, "to us"; the Ethiopic version, "to you"; and the Syriac version reads the whole thus; "but our Lord gives more grace to us"; or "greater grace"; than the world can give, whose friendship is courted by men; the least measure of grace, of faith, an…
726 wordsSECTION 58James 4:7
James 4:7 Ver. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God,.... To the will of God, with respect to worldly things, and be content with such things as are enjoyed, and be satisfied with the portion that is allotted; it is right and best for the people of God to leave themselves with him, to choose their inheritance for them,…
383 wordsSECTION 59James 4:8
James 4:8 Ver. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you,.... This must be understood consistently with the perfection of God's immensity and omnipresence: the saints draw nigh to God when they present their bodies in his sanctuary; when they tread in his courts, and attend his ordinances; where they always fi…
611 wordsSECTION 60James 4:9
James 4:9 Ver. 9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep,.... Not in a bare external way; not by afflicting the body with fastings and scourgings, by renting of garments, and clothing with sackcloth, and putting ashes on the head, and other such outward methods of humiliation; but afflicting the soul is meant, an inward mo…
154 wordsSource & rights
Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.