who are contentious rebuke.” The Rev. rendering better suits what follows.
93. Snatching them out of the fire. The writer has in mind Zech. iii. 2, @ brand plucked from the burning. Com- pare Amos. iv. 11.
With fear (év $é8w). Lit., in fear; ie., of the contagion of sin while we are rescuing them.
Spotted (éo7iAwpévov). Only here and Jas. ili. 6. See on 2 Petes.
24. To keep you from falling (furafas buds arraiorovs). Lit., “to keep you wéthout stumbling. Only here in New Tes- tament. See the kindred word offend. Rev., stwmble, Jas. ii. 103 iii,-2. |
Exceeding joy (aya\ndoe). See on 1 Pet. 1. 6. 25. Both now and ever (kal viv xal eis Tavtas TOUS al@vas).
Lit., both now and unto all the ages. The best texts add zpo mavros Tov ai@vos, before all teme.
arodtopi¢w, to separate, 19 erappite, to foam out, 13 amraoros, without falling, 24 pepryipoupos, complainer, 16 yoyyvorns, murmurer, 16 maperodi@, to creep in unawares, 4 detypa, example, 7 mAavyTns. & Wanderer, 13 exropvetw, to give over to fornica-| omAas, rock, 12
tion, 7 uréexo, to suffer, undergo, 7 evurvma¢w, to dream, 8 PYworwpwe6s, autumnal, 12
énayovigoum, earnestly contend, 3 ‘ guakas, naturally, 10
CHAP Tlie
1. Jesus Christ. Only here and in ch. ii. 1; nowhere in the speeches of James (Acts xv. 14,15; xxi. 20 sq.). Had he used Jesus’ name it might have been supposed to arise from vanity, because he was the Lord’s brother. In all the addresses of epistles the full name, Jesus Christ, is given.
Servant (dovd0s). Properly, hired servant. Compare Phil- ip. i. £5 Jude 1.
That are scattered abroad (é€v 77 dvacropa). Lit., in the dispersion ; on which see on 1 Pet i. 1. Rev., which are of the dispersion.
Greeting (ya/pew). Lit., rejotce. The ordinary Greek salu- tation, hail! welcome! Also used at parting : joy be with you. Compare the same expression in the letter from the church at Jerusalem, Acts xv. 23; one of the very few peculiarities of style which connect this epistle with the James of the Acts. It does not occur in the address of any other of the Apostolic Epistles.
2. All joy (racav yapav). Joy follows up the rejoice of the greeting. The ail has the sense of wholly. Count it a thing wholly joyful, without admixture of sorrow. Perhaps, as Bengel suggests, the a// applies to ald kinds of temptations.
724 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. L.
When (érav).’ Lit., whenever : better, because it implies that temptation may be expected all along the Christian course.
Ve fall into (sepuméonre). The preposition mepi, around, suggests falling into something which surrounds. Thus Thu- cydides, speaking of the plague at Athens, says, “The Athe- nians, having fallen into (aepemecovtes) such affliction, were pressed by it.”
Divers (srovxidous). Rev., manifold. See on 1 Pet. i. 6.
Temptations (ce:pacuots). In the general sense of trials. See on Matt. vi.13; 1 Pet. 1. 6.
3. Trying (So«uov). Rev., proof; but the American Re- visers insist on proving, and rightly. See on 1 Pet. i. 7.
Worketh (xatepydferat). The compound verb with KAT, down through, indicates accomplishment. The proving will work successfully and thoroughly. This harmonizes with a perfect work, ver. 4.
Patience (d7opovnv). See on 2 Pet. i. 6, and Jas. v. 7.
4. Perfect work (épyov rédeov). “This is followed by a perfect man. The man himself is characterized from his con- dition and work” (Bengel). Work (épyov) is the word with which catepyaverar, worketh, is compounded. It is the accom- plished result of patience in moral purification and ennobling. Compare work of faith, 1 Thess. i. 3.
Perfect and entire (réXevor kal oAdKANpoL). The two words express different shades of thought. Teérevor, perfect, from téros, fulfilment or completion (perfect, from perfectus, per Jfactus, made throughout), denotes that which has reached its maturity or fulfilled the end contemplated. ‘Odoxdnpot, from dros, entire, and «KrAfpos, a lot or allotment ; that which has all which properly belongs to it ; its entire allotment, and is, there-