PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — James
Edgar Charles Sumner Gibson [1848-1924] · 88,660 words · 96 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY TilE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOOCESTltl<; AND BY THB REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. JAMES. @xpositfon anb Ji1omfletics BY REV. E. C. S. GIBSON, M.A., i'l\lNCll'AL OF WEJ.LS THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, ANlJ l'REBENVARY IN WELLS OATHEDRAL, l!"!omilies b12 1-iatious ~utb…
993 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 2
that his brethren did not believe on him. This, however, is not conclnsi-ve, for St. John only speaks in general terms, and one of the brethren may have been an exception. (It must be remembered that there is no sufficient reason for supposing Simon Zelotes to have been a. brother of James, and that Judas the apostle w…
1,066 wordsSECTION 3The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 3
"And when the Lord had given his linen cloth to the servant of the priest, he went to James, and appeared unto him. "For James bad sworn, that be would not eat bread from that hour wherein he had drunk the cup of the Lord, until he saw him rising again from the dead. " . . . bring a table and bread. " . • . [ and ? …
1,072 wordsSECTION 4The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 4
are distributed after the manner of the Old Testament writers; the place of worship ie the eynagogne ( eh. ii. 2) ; the definition of the faith they possessed is the Jewish creed, the Bh'ma Israel, that 'God is one,' ( eh. ii. 19) ; the oaths prohibited are Jewish ( eh. v. 12, etc.); the sins denounced are those to wh…
1,085 wordsSECTION 5The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 5
Ch. I. 1. Salutation. 1. Ch. i. 2-27. (1) Vera. 2-18. The subject of temptation. (2) Vers.19-27. Exhortation (a) to hear rather than speak; (b) not only to hear, but to do. 2. Ch. ii.-iv. 12. (1) Cb. ii. Warnings against (a) respect of persons (vers. 1-13); (b) a mere barren orthodoxy (vers. 14-26). (2) Ch. iii…
1,039 wordsSECTION 6The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 6
jl,nd perfection of the old; the Christian's highest hononr i11, not that he is 11,member of the nniversal Church, but that he is the genuine type of the ancient Israelite; it instils no new principles of spiritual life, such as those which were to 'turn the world upside down,' in the teaching of Paul or of John, but o…
1,110 wordsSECTION 7The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 7
quotations of Prov. iii. 34 and x. 12 in eh. xxx. and xlix. agree closely with St. Jamee'e version of these passages, differing from both Hebrew and LXX. There appear also to be reminiscences of Jas. i. 8 in eh. xi., a.nd of iv. 1 in eh. xlvi. (see farther Charterie, 'Ca.nonicity,' p. 292). So strong did these coincide…
1,038 wordsSECTION 8The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 8
(1) Syriac; the Peschito (second century); and Philoxenian of the fifth or sixth. (2) The Memphitic and Thebaic (second or third century) Egyptian Versions. (3) As has been already mentioned, it was not in the original old Latin Version, as made in Africa. It is found, however, in Codex Corbeiensis (ff), which appare…
897 wordsSECTION 9The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 9
tafiam. thu.t the proof of your faith (.-b that the me11 were mCLde perfect (,rv<1h.u,<r1 lio1elµ,01· llµow -rii• ,..,.,...,.,,) . . . might be '1!11,clo,v .-,r,7'•10,µ.lvo,•), and that not in e. found unto praise," etc. The coincirlence future ste.te, but here on earth, where olone is too close to be &00identa.l, u.l…
1,101 wordsSECTION 10The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 10
in omm'bus lliis. (The Clementine Vulgate, l(l1r•cr• ••• 4,rdill.,-ro. Obsel'Ve the o.oriet11 by reo.ding est after inconstans, o.greee with here o.nd in ver. 24. The illustration or A.V.) Another possible rendering ie tho.t c11,11e mentioned by way of example is taken of tho Il.V. margin, "Let not th11t man think o.…
1,085 wordsSECTION 11The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 11
hu in hi~ mind the oonoeption of a direct Ver. 18.-Begat; literally, brought forth; temp~tion from God. AuTO< is flmphatic. l.:,r•rco11u.v. 'l'he word has been e.lree.dy used Render with R.V., And he himsJelj tem1iteth of sin in ver. 15, The recurrence of it here no man. points to the conneetion of thought. The Ver. l…
1,074 wordsSECTION 12The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 12
of G11me.liel (who muet, therefore, he.ve been Ver. 25.-Application of the illustration in o. contompore.ry of St. Je.mee): "All my the form of a contrast. Looll:eth into ( ,rapc.· de.ye I he.ve grown up e.mongst the wise, 1<6,/,a• ). l<'or the literal sense of the word, o.nd ho.ve not found ought good for a me.n see J…
1,047 wordsSECTION 13The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 13
JRmes's C'hok.e of 6,nitrrtos e.nd 6p'l'/tr1<<(4 ! should not be sepe.rated, as in the A.V. To • If Rny mRn.' be won Id sny, 'seem to him• visit the fe.therle11 . . . and to keep him- irelf to he 6f'iirr1<os, a diligent observer of the self unspotted. Observe that our duty offices of religion, if e.ny me.n would renrle…
936 wordsSECTION 14The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 14
Vers. 9-12.-The only true _ground for boasting. High and low, rich and poor, can glory in their Christian exaltation. "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," said St. Paul; o.nd, referring to that same cross, the Saviour said," I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." Thus…
875 wordsSECTION 15The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 15
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-4.-.A joyfrd salutation for a time of adversity. James, in the opening sentence of his letter, "wisheth joy " to the Christian Jews who were scattered over the Roman world (ver. 1). He knew that they were environed with adversity; they suffered from the persecution of the heathe…
687 wordsSECTION 16The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 16
to increase his power of holy endurance is unspeakably a gainer by his calamities, and should receive tho congratulations (" greeting ") of bis brethren rather than their sympathy. 3. It contri'butes to moral perfection. (Ver. 4.) This is the end which ",od has in view in all his dealings with his people. He wants them…
856 wordsSECTION 17The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 17
liberally. It is his way "to do exceedinii: abundantly above all that we aek or think." When Solomon iu;ked only for wisdom, God gave him riches and honour too. When ~he _prodigal requests only the place of a hired servant, his Father assures him of the station and honour of & beloved son. The Lord always gives libe…
873 wordsSECTION 18The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 18
mind, by placing obstacles in the way of his acquiring knowledc,e, It tries bis heart, by limiting narrowly his enjoyment of the luxury of giving. It° tries his temper, by wearing out his patience and inclining him to be fretful and satirical. But "the rich brother" hag his trials also, arising out of his riches. The t…
1,012 wordsSECTION 19The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 19
Vers. 12-15.-7?ze natural history of evil. In the previous pa.rt of the chapter ,Tames has spoken of " temptation " in the general sense of " trial " and as coming mainly i~ c.onnection with outward circumstances. In this passage he proceeds to 8peak of it m the sense in which the word is now ordinarily used, as mea…
786 wordsSECTION 20The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 20
fasten; and no one but he could say, "The prince of the world cometh, and he halh nothing in me." II. 'l'm: GENEALOGY OF BIN. (Ver. 15.) "Lust" is throughout this passage per• eonified in allegorical fashion as a harlot, ever striving, like the harlot Folly of Prov. ix. 13-18, to allure and captivate the will. First, …
809 wordsSECTION 21The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 21
is supreme. But especially he is the Author of all spiritual blessings-every good gift of grace, and every perfect boon of glory. Jesus Christ came down from heaven, The Holy Spirit is from above. Ministering angels descend the stairway" whoso top reacheth t-0 heaven." The regenerated are born from above (ver. 18; John…
907 wordsSECTION 22The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 22
Ill. TnuTH·LIGIIT, This givos us the light or knowledge. Every useful book which tells us truth about nature, or the world, or our own bodies and minds, is a light from God. But the highest and best kind of truth is about God himself and abont tho way to him. We have this truth in the Bible; and so the Bible is,; a lam…
1,187 wordsSECTION 23The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 23
\'ers. 19-21.-The recepti()'TI, of the Word. "The Word of truth" being within our reach, as the means of conveying to us the great gift of regeneration, it is most important that we cultivate those dispositions which are most favourable to the realization of its sa,·ing power. These three verses accordingly contain …
533 wordsSECTION 24The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 24
and tenderness. The hearer must not listen in a captious spirit, or quarrel with the truth when it comes to him in practical form. For an angry heart will destroy edifica- tion (ver. 20). Scolding from the pulpit will not " work the righteousness of God" in the hearts of the hearers; 11,nd, on the other hand, resentful…
1,143 wordsSECTION 25The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 25
Vers. 26, 27.-The true ritualism. These two verses enforce by an exe.mple what those immediately preceding illustrate by a simile. The words "religious" and "religion" denote external religious service--the body, or outward attire of godliness, rather than its inward spirit. 'l'he apostle indicates in these two sente…
941 wordsSECTION 26The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 26
Ver. 1.-The writer and his work. Our bnsiness to identify writer, trace life and character, consider special aim in Epistle, and note its main characteristics. (See especially Plumptre.) I. IDENTIFY WRITER. Four men of this name come before us in New Testament: (1) James son of Zebedee; (2) James soll of Alphreus; (3)…
547 wordsSECTION 27The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 27
martyr's death. For this e.n outline of the subsequent history of JBmes. But more fnlly. During the waiting in the upper room "these all contiuued in prayer . . . with his bret,hren '.' (Acts i. 14). 'l'hcy took pa.rt in the election of Matthias; they, with the rest, received the Holy Ghost. Natural promiuence now amo…
832 wordsSECTION 28The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 28
literBlly, wished them "joy." Wos this a. bitter irony? For in what condition were they? Persecuted, as Jews e.nd especially as Christian Jews; oppressed, the poorer by the richer; and all, in the common heritage of human woe, afflicted in a hundred ways. And does he wish" joy" to these? Yes, even so. And, as though su…
928 wordsSECTION 29The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 29
Vere. 5-S.-The prayer of faith. In the former verses the writer, after the apparent paradox of wishing "joy" (ver. 1) to those so persecuted and tried, proceeded (,_ers. 2--4) to urge, not merely joy in spite, but joy by reason, of these Lthings. For, 1111.1d he, by these things the faith, which is of so great price…
821 wordsSECTION 30The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 30
possessors of spiritual blessings, we must possess ourselves of them. If God gives grace freely to free beings such as we are, his giving is conditional upon our asking, and asking in faith. In the nature of things this is reasonable and right. "Let him llBk;" that he may realize more fully his own dependence and need;…
852 wordsSECTION 31The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 31
befouled, a human soul is a jewel of the rarest worth. Listen: "The Spirit of the Lord ie upon me, because be hath anointed me to pre.1ch the gospel to the poor" (Luko Iv. 18); and, "Go and show John those things which ye do bear and see: .. , tho poor have !-he !!OSP_Cl preached to them" (Matt. xi. 4, 5); and again…
903 wordsSECTION 32The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 32
should accord wilh their carnal life. cc Blessed are "-the proud, the stron;-;, the conquer- ing? Nay; but" tha poor in s1,irit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful ones." So now. Not," How blessed are they tho.t escape the multiplied ills of life I" but," Blessed is the man that endureth." Here, of course, is a retur…
1,241 wordsSECTION 33The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 33
Vers. 19-2i.-The law of the new life. "Ye know this, my beloved brethren;" ,iz. that ye have been begotten again by God. But now, from this vantage-ground, he presses the necessity of a consistent life. They have espoused, by God's grace, a new ideal of character and conduct; let their whole life show forth its powe…
1,230 wordsSECTION 34The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 34
CHAPTER II. view, which is on the whole preferable, it is parallel to eh. iii. I. The faith of our Vere. 1-13.-WARNING AGAINST RESPECT Lord. "The faith" here may be either (1) OF P1'RSONS. objective (fides quai creditur), as in the Ver. 1.-The transl(ltion is doubtful, two Epistle of St. J.ude, 3, 20; or (2) subject…
1,299 wordsSECTION 35The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 35
to oxcludo II direct reference to the words or llvoµa); the honourable Name; probo.bly the Christ, RB iu Luke vi. 20; xii. 31, 32; and Name of Christ, liy which the disciples were BO we get indirect proof of e. nurrent know- known ( Acts xi. 2G), and for which they ledge, o.t the e11.rly poriod o.t which St. Je.me8 suf…
1,056 wordsSECTION 36The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 36
false inference from St, Jamee'11 teaching in St. Jamee refers to her 11.11 an example of thie verse tbBt led the Judaizere of Acts xv. justification by ~orl'8 (ver. 25), The oppo- to l&y down the law "Except ye be oircum- sition, however, ie only nppa.rent: for: (1) oised after the customs of Moses ye cannot The tw…
1,035 wordsSECTION 37The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 37
writings, it seoms scarcely possible to resist faith save him 1 ro.tber, with R.V., that faith the impression tho.t St. Jo.mes is 11t.t11cking ('/1 ,r{<1•rn); the faith in question. the teaching, if not of St. Po.ul himself, at Vere. 15, 16.-Observe the practical chn- lea.et of tl10se who exaggerated 11nd perverted rnc…
1,025 wordsSECTION 38The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 38
In Gen. X>'. 6 we read of Abraham that "ho by Olement of Rome (' Ad Cor.,' x.: xvii.), belie>'ed in the Lord; 11.nd he e.ccounted it 11.nd was evidently o. standing one among to him for righteousness" (LXX., 'E..-(,r-r,vu,v the Jews. Philo a~turL!ly in one instnnco 'A/3paµ. -r,ii 0,,ii 1<al 111.o-y(ullr, ab-r,i, ,ls…
944 wordsSECTION 39The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 39
Vor; 10.-The obedience which God requires is absolute. "Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Why, since the breach of but one command is certainly not as sinful as the breach of all? Because (1) "the principle of duty and of obedience to all the commandments is one; so…
920 wordsSECTION 40The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 40
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1--7.-Respect of persons. In the closing sentences of the preceding chapter James has been speaking of the true rultus or ritual of the Church ; and here he warns his readers against a violation of it which they were in danger of committing, and of which indeed they had· been alre…
549 wordsSECTION 41The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 41
were it possible, abridge his liberty in the exercise of his ordinary ri!:,:hts as a member of the congregation. In these and many other ways Christian people have often shown themselves to be "evil-thinking judges," and have thereby entailed upon the Church much mischief and damage. III. THE GROUNDS OF THE CONDEMNATI…
858 wordsSECTION 42The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 42
practise it 11re not guilty of I\ trifling impropriety, but of direct and palpable sin both against the Old Testament law and "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus:" II. To TRAN8GRE8S IN mm POINT JS TO TRANSGRi;;i!l! TIIE WHOLE LAW. (Vere. 10 11.) Let no one plead that regpect of persons in the Church is so…
847 wordsSECTION 43The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 43
shall be judged without Jaw. Those who possess the Bible shall be tried by the higher standard of that written revelation. Believers in Christ, however, shall be "judged by a law of liberty" (ver. 12). '£his law is, of course, just the moral law viewod in the light of gospel privilege. In the Decalogue, the form which …
830 wordsSECTION 44The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 44
fact that it is unproductive. It does not stir up its possessor to any habit of self-denial or of sympathetic benevolence. This faith coexists, perh8ps, with respeot of porsone (vers. 1-13); or with an unbridled toniue, or a pa~sionate temper, or a disposition to decline &eeepting the blame of one's own sins (eh. i.). …
857 wordsSECTION 45The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 45
James are just the "faith" of Paul developed in action. In the verses before us, Ja.mes continues his illustration of the operative fruit-bea_ring nature of justifying faith. He adduces two examples from the Old 'l'estament Scriptures. I. THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM, (Vers. 21-23.) It is remarkable that Paul empl0p the …
845 wordsSECTION 46The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 46
point5 him to a remote place in the building, or bids him elt below the rloh man's foot- stool on the ground. So did the Christian Church do homage to the pomp and wealth of the world, and despise the poor. Against this practice James levels hie rebuke, and shows the inconsistency and the sin of such respect of persons…
859 wordsSECTION 47The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 47
-------------------------------- the " worke " to which the one refers &re works done with e. view to salvation, that God's favour mriy be won by them; the works to which the other refers are works springing out of salvation, because God's favour has been so freely and graciously bestowed. Let ue etudy James's pres…
891 wordsSECTION 48The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 48
EXPOSITION, OHAPTER III. 'Antigone,' l. 470, lµurp,; xa71.w,; II' 01311 To01 8v,uovµl11ovi 4'1r1rous ,ca:r4PTu6l11T,u, Bo Ve!'B. ·t-12.-WARNING AGAINST O,ER• also l'hilo, 'De Op. Munrli,' p. 19, Tb 6uµ,- READINESS TO TEAOII, LEADING TO A D1scounsE 1tdrra-rov (~o., 1,r1ros ~q6lo,s lt;,e-ra, ,ca,.,va,6,ls. OX THE IM…
1,030 wordsSECTION 49The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 49
tongue la a fire: the worlu of iniquity among sage before us is the rmly rme in the Now our mombers is the tongue,which dellleth the Testament whero the word is used except whole body and setteth on fire the wheel ot by our Lord himself. The word itself is n(1tnre." (2) "And the tongue is a fire, that simply B Grreoise…
1,102 wordsSECTION 50The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 50
(H, A, B, 0, Coptic, Syriao, ft", and some his life " (Dr. Farrar, who aptly quotes mann~cripts of the Vulgate) for e,&v (Re- Tennyson's line, "Knowledge comes, but ooptns, ,vith K. L, end Vul.~te). Made IDiBdom lingers"). Ont ot a good oonversa- after the lrimilitude of God; better, likeMBB tion (l,c .-ijs 11a71.i\s c…
1,054 wordsSECTION 51The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 51
most depreciatory" (see I Oor. ii. 14), "The secured,even at the expense or peRCe. Gentle, nl\turnl ma.n receiveth not the things of the and ea1y to be entreated ( bm <Kt/, eb1rE19tJ, ). Spirit of God," and J u<le 19, 'l'ux11col, The for~er of these two terms signifies ,rveiiµa µIi, txavTu. The ,j,uxf, in general "for…
917 wordsSECTION 52The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 52
cvil-speakmg, lying, and slandering. 3. Sine against ourselves, infringlng sobriety, discN>tion, or modesty. (See Barrow's • Sermons,' vol. i. sermon xiii.) IV. l•PClBTANCE OF LITTLE THINGS. The bridle is a very little thing, but the rider c.annot do without it. The rudder is very small, but it enables the steersman t…
817 wordsSECTION 53The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 53
exhortation directs our thoughts to the responsibilities and dangers of the religious teacher. No one is under more constant temptation to sin with his lips; for it is the daily work of his life to speak regarding the most solemn themes. I, 'l'HE 0AUTION, "Be not many teachers, my brethren" (ver. 1). It would appear t…
1,112 wordsSECTION 54The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 54
" She seems to hold her home in view, And sa.ils as if the path she knew : So co.lm·and stately in her motion Aoross the unfathomed, trackless ocean." (John Wilson.) The merchantmen of the ancients were of considerable size (Acts xxvii., uviii.); but in our day naval architecture works on a colossal sea.le of whi…
530 wordsSECTION 55The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 55
lighted, hell-kindled. Satan loaded the human tongue at the Fall with dynamite; and every day he ignites the treacherous magazine from the unquenchable fire. Thue, as the spirited horse represents the flesh, and the fierce winds the world, the raging fire leads us to think of the devil-the power of" the evil one." CoN…
1,078 wordsSECTION 56The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 56
Vers. 13-16.-False wisdom. The apostle suggests here that those who aspired too h.1st1ly to become Christian teachers (ver. 1) showed themselves to be se.dly deficient in wisdom. They were unwise at once in their estimate of their own powers, and in their juclgment a.s to the kind of public discussions which would be p…
630 wordsSECTION 57The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 57
rather than the triumph of tho truth. While it may be sometimes dutiful to contenrl. earnestly in defence of the gospel, the love of controversy for its own ~rike, and the cherishing of a contentious spirit towards brethren, is always sinful, mucl, less a ground for" glorying." A professing Christian who lives to fo…
817 wordsSECTION 58The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 58
forbearing, court,eous, considerate. Gentleness is just the outward aspect of the 11race of peaceableness, the vesture in which the peaceable spirit should be clothed. "Easy to be entreated;" accessible, compliant, open to conviction, and willing to listen to remonstrance. The wise me.n thinks more about his duties tha…
852 wordsSECTION 59The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 59
know this e.leo from your experience? Let loose the word, and you have let loose the feeling; conquer the word, and you have conquered the feeling. So, then, the illustra- tions: the bridle, the helm. And the tongue, a little member, boasteth great things. 2. For harm. (Vere. 5-8.) The remarks under this head have been…
853 wordsSECTION 60The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 60
EXPOSITION, OHAPTER IV. whence it pMsed into tho.t or Deza and others. Tho Greek <J>8011,rr, appears, how• Vel'II. 1-12. - REBUKE OF QuARRET,S ever, in o. few later editions, e.g. threo ARnrrNG FROM PRIDE AND GREED. A terribly editions published o.t Basle, 1524 (Bebelius), sudden transition from the "peace" with 154…
948 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.