and some with both a key and a seal, for both locking and seal- ing a casket.
Goodly apparel (éc947. Xawrpa). Lit., bright or shining clothes. Rev., fine clothing.
Cu. IT.J THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. 739
Vile (6urapa). Compare ch. i. 21; and see on 1 Pet. iii. 21.
3. Ve have respect (ériBreyprre). Lit., ye look upon, with the idea of respectful consideration ; ye regard. Compare Luke 1,48 ix 88:
In a good place (cadas). Lit., honorably ; in a seat of honor.
Under. Not literally wnderneath, but down on the ground beside. Compare Matt. xxiii. 6, on the fondness of the Jews for the chief places in the synagogue.
4. Are ye not partial in yourselves ? (od SuexpiInre év éavtois). Wrong. The constant sense of the verb in the New Testament is doubt, except Acts xi. 2; Jude 9, where it means dispute. Compare ch. i. 6. The meaning here is, therefore, that, in making a distinction between the rich and the poor, they expressed a doubt concerning the faith which they professed, and which abolished such distinctions. Hence, Rey., rightly, Are ye not divided in your own mind ?
Judges of evil thoughts («pital Svadoyouav TOUNp@V). Better, as Reyv., “judges with evil thoughts.” The form of ex- pression is the same as in Luke xviii. 6, «puts tas aduclas, the judge of injustice, i.e., the unjust judge. So Jas. i. 25, a hearer of forgetfulness. The word thoughts is, rather, reason- ings. See on deceiving yourselves (ch. i. 22). Compare Luke v. 21. Their evil processes of thought lead to these unjust dis- criminations.
5. Hearken, my beloved brethren. Alford cites this phrase as one of the very few links which connect this epistle with the speech of James in Acts xv. 13.
The poor of this world (rods rrwyods Tod Kocpov). But the correct reading is 76 kdcpum, to the world y and the ex- pression is to be explained in the same way as doretos TO Oe,
74) WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. IL.
fair unto God, Acts vii. 20, and duvata TO Oew, mighty through (Rev., before) God, 2 Cor. x. 4. So Rev., poor as to the
world, in the world’s esteem. 00, see on Matt. v. 3.
Rich in faith. The Rev., properly, inserts ¢o be, since the words are not in apposition with poor, but express the object for which God has chosen them. Faith is not the gwalety in which they are to be rich, but the sphere or element ; rich in their position as believers. ‘ Not the measure of faith, in virtue of which one man is richer than another, is before the writer’s mind, but the swbstance of the faith, by virtue of which every believer is rich” (Wiesinger, cited by Alford).
6. Despised (jtywdcarte). Not strong enough. They had manifested their contempt ; had done despite to them. Rey., correctly, dishonored. From the use of the aorist tense, ye dis- honored, which the A. V. and Rev. render as a perfect, ye have dishonored, the reference would appear to be to a specific act like that described in vv. 2, 3.
Oppress (xatadvvactevovow). Only here and Acts x. 38. The preposition card, against, implies a power exercised for harm. Compare being lords over, 1 Pet. v. 8, and exercise do- minion, Matt. xx. 25, both compounded with this preposition.
Draw (édKxovow). Not strong enough. The word implies violence. Ience, better, as Rev., drag. Compare Livy’s phrase, “@ lictoribus trahi, to be dragged by the lictors to judgment ; ” Acts viii. 8, of Saul aling or hauling men and women to prison ; and Luke xii. 58.
Judgment-seats (xpitjpia). Only here and 1 Cor. vi. 24.
7. They (adrol). Emphatic. “Ts it not they who Dlas- pheme ?”
Worthy («ardv). Rev., better, becanse stronger, honorable.
By this epithet the disgracefulness of the blasphemy is empha- sized.
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