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bddsxa tpvXaTg, to the twelve tribes ) of Israel. — hat'Kopy, in their disper- sion) 1 Pet. i. 1 ; Acts viii. 1 ; (Septuagint) Deut. xxviii. 25, xxx. 4. — yaipsiv, to rejoice) A word of frequent use in salutations, and espe- cially adapted to this passage. Xapdv, “joy” in the next verse. The design of the apostle is, amidst the distress of those times, to exhort to patience , (ucro^ovsh), and to check their Jewish pride (infla- tion), which was aggravated by the abuse of Christian faith : in fewer words, to commend moderation, or, if the expression is pre- ferred, a spiritual calmness of soul. See notes on ver. 19 : comp. Heb. xii. 1. For in many particulars the Epistle of James corre- sponds with the Epistle to the Hebrews, and also with the First Epistle of Peter. We will point out the agreement at the passages in question. Oft-times have prophets and apostles, apart from each other, used the same sentiments and expressions, to confirm the minds of their hearers.1
2. JJaffav yapav, all joy) The meaning is, Every trial ought to be esteemed a joy. Hence the word “ all” is transferred from the sub- ject to the predicate, while this meaning is retained. A trial ought not to be esteemed otherwise than a joy.2 Comp. Heb. xii. 11. So 1 Pet. v. 10, crdffyjg ydpirog, of all grace; Is. lx. 21, 6 Xaoc <rov crag d/xaiog , u Thy people ( shall be) all righteous.” So Num. xiii. 2, 3 ; Dan. xii. 1, compared with the Apocalypse, xx. 1 5. The other degrees of patience are contained in joy , which is the highest. — ade\<po /, brethren) James frequently uses this address, especially at the beginning of a new section. — crupaGgoTg croixtXoig, various temp- tations) So ver. 12 ; 1 Pet. i. 6 ; various of soul and body ; for in- stance, diseases: ch. v. 16. — crspicrsfirirs, ye fall into) The same word is used Luke x. 30, compared with 36.
3. To boxi/jjiov vfAuv) your proving , or trial. So ro boxigiov v/Jjuv rrig cr/areojg, the trial of your faith, 1 Pet. i. 7 ; Prov. xxvii. 21 (Sep- tuagint), boxigiov dpyvp/w, xai ypuffti crvpuftg' uvrip ds doxigd^srai did
1 St James makes frequent use of the figure Anadiplosis, which properly
signifies the use of the same word at the end of one sentence and at the beginning of the next. When used, as here, in a wider sense, it denotes the using of cognate words in the same way ; for instance, y,u,ipuv at the end of this verse, and xotpoiv at the beginning of the next verse : and so in the word ver. 3,4 ; ’heixoy.euot,
ver. 4, 5 ; btaxpivopavog, twice, ver. 6. Add ver. 13, etc., 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27.
2 Thus Luther : eitel Freude ( all joy, nothing hut joy) ; and ch. iii. 16, eitel b'ose Ding, a completely had thing. (Thus also omnis is sometimes used for menus. See note on ver. 17. — T.)
“ Every evil work,” for u every work flowing from thence is evil the every being transferred from the subject to the predicate. — E.
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JAMES I. i, 5.
crofjjctrog syjiu/juoc^cvT uv avriv, u 'The fining-pot for silver , and the fur- nace for gold; and so a man has his character tested by the month of those who praise him” Herodian, doxi/uov ffrpanwruv (adde ypurr/uvuv) /ca/x«ro£, aXX’ ou rpuQtj, a The test of (Christian) soldiers is not luxury , but toil,” Zosimus, evvoiag doxl/xia, ‘Trapce.ayJjUivog, u Affording proofs of good-will.” The meaning of the word doxtpiov is therefore trial patiently undergone. Were I not withheld b}^ the parallelism m Peter,1 I should more readily embrace in James the reading rr,g T/'mwj, of your faith, supported as it is by so many witnesses.2 As it is, trial) spoken of in general terms, embraces the trial of faith, love, and hope. And though there is no special mention of faith in this verse, yet J ames, as well as other apostles, esteems faith as all in all. See ver. 6, and v. 15. And the trial of faith , in particular, is firmly established, on the authority of Peter. — zarspyd^srai vnofiovriV) worketh patience) The same expression is used, Rom. v. 3, with the addition, 55 d's v-Tof&ovvi V) and patience (worketh) experience. See below, ver. 12. — patience) See ver. 12, and the note on Luke viii. 15. So Psalm Ixii. 6 (Septuagint), or/ crap auroD 57 t/cr o/xovij /xou, u for my patient expectation is from Him.”