3 οι πιστενοντες
ὃπαρ AKLP; απ WB, edd.
Epistle commends Him. Itis a supple- ment to the Gospel, a personal applica- tion and appeal. ἔγραψα, “I wrote,” looking back on the accomplished task. εἰδῆτε, “know,” not γινώσκητε, “ get to know”. Full and present assurance.
Ver. 14. Ἀπαρρησία, see note on ii, 28. As distinguished from αἰτεῖν the middle αἰτεῖσθαι is to pray earnestly as witha personal interest (see Mayor’s note on James iv. 3). The distinction does not appear her-, since αἰτεῖν αἰτήματα (cog- nate accusitive) i is a colourless periphrasis for αἰτεῖσθαι. A large assurance : our prayers always heard, never unanswered. Observe two limitations ; (1) κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, which does not mean that we HHonld first ascertain His will and then pray, but that we should pray with the proviso, exp:ess or implicit, ‘If it be Thy will”. Matt. xxvi. 39 is the model prayer. (2) The promise is not ‘‘ He granteth it” but ‘‘ He hearkeneth to us ”. He answers in His own way.
Ver. 15. An amplification of the second limitation. ‘We have our τε- quests ”’ not always as we pray but as
we would pray were we wiser. God gives not what we ask but what we really need. re Shak., Ant. and Cleop. Toit
‘‘ We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit, By losing of our prayers ”
Prayer is not dictation to God but dva- βασις vod πρὸς Θεὸν καὶ αἴτησις τῶν προσηκόντων παρὰ Θεοῦ (Joan. Damasc. De. Fid. Orthod., iii. 24). Clem. ΑΙεχ.: ‘* Non absolute dixit quod petierimus sed quod oportet petere ”
Ver. 16. After the grand assurance
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f Matt. xiii. 6/7 sae θάνατον, Heb. vi. 4-6.
g ili. 4.
b iii. 9.
+ JOB xvii. πρὸς θάνατον.
θάνατον.