16. 1 Mji K\ava<sk, do not err) It is a great error to attribute to God the evils which we receive, and not the goods. It is the part of love, to lead us away from this error. A faithful admonition. Comp. ch. v. 19.
17. Tla# a, every2) The connection of the discourse is evident, when thus resolved : doffig, a u gift ” (a giving ), wThich is altogether good ; dupri/j, a, a boon , which is altogether perfect. No evil things come from above, but only things good and perfect. The words “good” and “ perfect ” form the predicate of the sentence; “ gift” and “boon” are the subject.3 “ Every,” in both clauses, if the meaning is considered, belongs to the subject.4 Comp. “ all,” ver. 2, note. — doffig, a giving, a gift) A “ good gift,” as opposed to “ sin,” denotes those things which, from the beginning and by daily increase, tend to righteousness and piety. A “perfect boon,” as opposed to “ when it is finished ” and “ death,” denotes those things which relate to perfection of character and a happy life : comp. 2 Pet. i. 3. — uvuO'ev effr/ xura(3a?vov) is that which descends from above . Comp. “ descend- ing,” iii. 15. — arth, from) namely, “from the Father of lights? The expression, from above, is hereby explained. — roD Uarpbg ruv <puruv, the Father of lights) The title of Father is here used with great pro- priety. There follows, in the next verse, anzxvriffzv, “He begat us.” He stands in the place of father and mother. He is the Father even of spiritual lights in the kingdom of grace and glory. Much more then is He Himself “Light” 1 John i. 5. Immediately on mention of “ light,” there is added, as usual, mention of life, by regeneration, ver. 18. — ‘Trap uj ovx s vi ‘rrapaXXayri r\ rporrrig d'rroffv.iaffiia, with whom is no variableness, or shadow of turning) I lapaXXayri denotes a change in the understanding (see 2 Kings ix. 20,5 Septuagint) ; rpoxri, a
J M>j ovv is the reading of the Alexandr. and the Lat. Vers. This one example will show that I do not attribute too much weight to the agreement of these two, when unsupported by other evidence ; for I have not wished to indi- cate this various reading in the margin of the text.
Vulg. has “Nolite itaque err are.” — E.
2 %a.aa seems to be used like the Latin merits, in the sense of nothing but. See Raphelius on the passage. — T.
3 By loan, we may understand the gift or act of giving ; by lupnptu, the fulness of the benefit bestowed. — T.
Agois, the act of giving, the gift in its initiatory act : bapn/uet , the thing given, the boon when perfected. — E.
4 “ The giving and gift that comes from above is all perfect not as Engl. Vers. — E.
6 iv 'rupuXhuyy iyivzro. is used to denote the violence of Jehu’s driving. — T.