james-2:8-bsb

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:8-11

Stumbling in one point. In these verses James takes the high ground that "respect of persons" is a transgression of the law by which we are to be judged; anal one which, like every other, involves the guilt of breaking the whole law. I. TO RESPECT PERSONS IS TO COMMIT SIN . (Verses 8, 9) It involves disobedience to " the royal law. " This is a noticeable expression. Any Divine commandment may be described as "royal," seeing that it emanates from the supreme... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:8

If ye fulfil the royal law - That is, the law which he immediately mentions requiring us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is called a “royal law,” or kingly law, on account of its excellence or nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it has some such prominence and importance among other laws as a king has among other men; that is, it is majestic, noble, worthy of veneration. It is a law which ought to govern and direct us in all our intercourse with men - as a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 2:8-11

James 2:8-11. If ye fulfil the royal law The supreme law of the great King, which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich; ye do well The phrase, νομος βασιλικος , royal law, here admits of three interpretations. 1st, As the Greeks called a thing royal which was excellent in its kind, it may mean an excellent law. 2d, As the same Greeks, having few or no kings among them, called the laws of the kings of Persia, βασιλικοι νομοι , royal laws, the expression here may... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 2:1-13

Favouritism destroys love (2:1-13)Standards of judgment in the church are not the same as those in the society round about. People ought not to be given important places in the church merely because they have important places in the society. Likewise poor people should not be ignored (2:1-4). God welcomes people into his kingdom regardless of wealth or social position, and gives his riches to them equally. James notes how strange it is that the Christians should show special favour to the rich,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 2:8

royal . Greek. basilikos. See John 4:46 . according to . App-104 . Scripture . Greek. graphe. The quotation is from Leviticus 19:18 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:8

Howbeit if ye fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:The royal law ... It is impossible to view "royal law" as a reference to the Law of Moses, because Moses was never a king. Furthermore, James mentioned the "law of liberty" a moment later (James 2:12); and he is presenting not two laws but one. In addition, the reference to the "kingdom" (James 2:5) leads naturally to the conclusion that it is the law of that kingdom to which... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:8-11

James 2:8-11. If ye fulfil the royal law— The whole of the apostle's argument depends upon that sacred maxim so frequently introduced in a direct or indirect manner by the infallibly inspired writers of the New Testament, That love is the fulfilling of the law. St. James considers the whole duty of man to man as contained in one law, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: and then of course he argues rightly, James 2:10. He who offends in one point, is guilty of the whole law: for... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:8

8. The Greek may be translated, "If, however, ye fulfil," c., that is, as ALFORD, after ESTIUS, explains, "Still I do not say, hate the rich (for their oppressions) and drive them from your assemblies if you choose to observe the royal law . . . well and good; but respect of persons is a breach of that law." I think the translation is, "If in very deed (or 'indeed on the one hand') ye fulfil the royal law . . . ye do well, but if (on the other hand) ye respect persons, ye practice sin." The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:1-13

A. The Problem of Favoritism 2:1-13James’ previous reference to hypocritical religiosity (James 1:26-27) seems to have led him to deal with one form of this problem that existed among Christian Jews of his day. It is still with us today. It is the problem of inconsistent love for other people that manifests itself in how we treat them. James wrote this chapter to exhort his readers to deal with this very basic inconsistency in their lives and so progress toward spiritual maturity."The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:8

James did not mean Christians should avoid honoring the rich but that we should love everyone and treat every individual as we would treat ourselves (Matthew 7:12; cf. Leviticus 19:18). The "royal" (Gr. basilikos) law is royal in that it is the law of the King who heads the kingdom (Gr. basilikon) that believers will inherit (James 2:5). [Note: Motyer, pp. 96-97.] It is also royal in that it is primary; it governs all other laws dealing with human relationships (Matthew 22:39; cf. Leviticus... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:8-11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 2:8-11

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 2:1-13

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 2:8

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:8

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:8-11

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:1-13

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:8

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