Cu. LJ THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. 725
fore, intact in all its parts. Thus Peter (Acts iii. 16) says of the restored cripple, “faith has given him this perfect sound- ness (ooxAnptav). Compare the familiar phrase, an accom- plished man. Note,-also, James’ repetition of the key-words of his discourse, rejoice, joy, patience, perfect.
Wanting nothing (é pndevi Aevropevor). Rev., more liter- ally, Zacking in nothing. Note James’ characteristic corrobora- tion of a positive statement by a negative clause: entire, lack- ing in nothing ; God that giveth and upbraideth not; in faath, nothing doubting. The conditional negative wydevi, nothing, is used, rather than the absolute negative oddevi, as implying noth- ing which may be supposed ; no possible thing.
5. But. Omitted in A. V. In pursuing this perfection you will find yourselves lacking in wisdom. One may say, “I know not how to become perfect ;” but, if any man, ete.
Lack. Note the repetition.
Of God that giveth (700 dud0vtos Ocod). The Greek puts it so that giving is emphasized as an attribute of God. Lit., “ Ask of the giving God,” or of “ God the giver.” .
Liberally (dmAds). Only here in New Testament. Liter- ally the word means simply, and this accords with the following negative clause, wpbraiding not. It is pure, simple giving of good, without admixture of evil or bitterness. Compare Rom. xii. 8, where a kindred noun is used: “He that giveth let him do it with simplicity (€v dmddryt1).” Compare, also, Prov. x. 22. Men often complicate and mar their giving with reproach, or by an assumption of superiority.
6. Doubting (Svaxpwopevos). Compare Matt. xxi. 21. Not equivalent to unbelief, but expressing the hesitation which balances between faith and unbelief, and inclines toward the latter. This idea is brought out in the next sentence.
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726 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. I.
A wave (kAvdwr). Rev., surge. Only here and Luke viii. 94; though the kindred verb occurs at Eph. ‘iv. 14. The word is admirably chosen, as by a writer who lived near the sea and was familiar with its aspects. The general distinction between this and the more common kbpa, wave, is that KAvdov describes the long ridges of water as they are propelled in horizontal lines over the vast surface of the sea; while ciua denotes the pointed masses which toss themselves up from these under the action of the wind. Hence the word cvdwv here is explained, and the picture completed by what follows: a billow or surge, driven by the wind in lines, and tossed into waves, Both here and in the passage in Luke the word is used in connection with the wind. It emphasizes the idea of eaten- sion, while the other word throws forward the idea of concen- trating into a crest at a given point. Hence, in the figure, the emphasis falls on the dossing ; not only moving before the im- pulse of the wind, but not even moving in regular lines ; tossed into rising and falling peaks.
Driven by the wind (dvewsfouév@). Only here in New Tes- tament.
Tossed (fumefouévm). Only here in New Testament. From puris, a fam. Anyone who has watched the great ocean-swell throwing itself up into pointed waves, the tops of which are caught by the wind and fanned off into spray, will appreciate the vividness of the figure.
7. That man (éxeivos). Emphatic, and with a slightly con- temptuous force.
Anything, ¢.¢., which he asks for.
8. A double-minded man is unstable, ete. The A. V. puts this as an independent apophthegm, which is wrong. The sentence is a comment and enlargement upon that man. “ Let not that man think,” ete., “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” So Rev.
Cu. LJ THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. W27
Double-minded (SApuyos). Peculiar to James, here and ch. iv. 8. Not deceitful, but dubious and undecided.
Unstable (d«atdoratos). Only here in New Testament. The kindred dxatactacla, confusion, is found ch. iii, 16, and elsewhere.