James 1:5-6 ESV

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:5

But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.Oesterley said, "There is no thought connection between this verse and the preceding";[15] but such a comment is due to a failure to discern the theme of the epistle, which is "Perfection," one of the most common impediments to perfection being ignorance. It is the word of God only which is able to make one "wise unto salvation"; and, without doubt, James' reference to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:6

But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.Again, James gives the teaching of Christ, who said, "Whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24).Therefore, it is not merely faith in God which James had in view here, but faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was writing to Christians who, like himself, were servants of God and of Jesus Christ; and he had already... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:5

James 1:5. If any of you lack wisdom— That is, wisdom in general. But if the word be particularly applied to sufferings and trials, as many commentators do apply it, the passage may be paraphrased thus: "But if any of you should be deficient in wisdom, or at a loss what method to take, or how to behave in a time of such general distress and perplexity, let him addresshimself by fervent prayer unto that gracious God, who is so ready to bestow liberally and bountifully on all men, and upbraideth... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:6

James 1:6. But let him ask in faith, &c.— "But then let him take care that he ask in steadyfaith, nothing wavering, nor divided by the desires of obtaining, and the fears of not obtaining, the grace he asks, or doubting of God's readiness to bestow it; for he that wavers, and has not a firm confidence in the Divine goodness and faithfulness, can have no other solid and substantial support; but is like a billow of the sea, driven on and tossed by the sea, in a restless and unsettled... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:5

5. English Version omits "But," which the Greek has, and which is important. "But (as this perfect entireness wanting nothing is no easy attainment) if any," c. lack—rather, as the Greek word is repeated after James's manner, from :-, "wanting nothing," translate, "If any of you want wisdom," namely, the wisdom whereby ye may "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations," and "let patience have her perfect work." This "wisdom" is shown in its effects in detail, :-. The highest... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:6

6. ask in faith—that is, the persuasion that God can and will give. James begins and ends with faith. In the middle of the Epistle he removes the hindrances to faith and shows its true character [BENGEL]. wavering—between belief and unbelief. Compare the case of the Israelites, who seemed to partly believe in God's power, but leaned more to unbelief by "limiting" it. On the other hand, compare Acts 10:20; Romans 4:20 ("staggered not . . . through unbelief," literally, as here, "wavered not"); 1... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-11

A. The Value of Trials 1:2-11The writer pointed out the value of trials to encourage his readers to adopt a positive attitude toward these experiences, to endure them, and to view them as God’s tools. God uses trials to shape believers into people that will glorify Himself. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-27

II. TRIALS AND TRUE RELIGION 1:2-27James began his letter, which is in many ways a lecture, by dealing with the problem of trials that all believers encounter. Jews who became Christians in the early history of the church experienced much antagonism and persecution from their unbelieving fellow Jews, as is clear in the Book of Acts. All Christians who take a stand for the Lord continue to have to deal with such trials. Thus James’ inspired advice is perennially relevant. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:5

What James just explained is divine wisdom, God’s view of life. However the world, which does not have or accept this revealed wisdom, generally fails to appreciate the value of enduring trials. The Christian is apt to take the world’s view toward his or her trials rather than God’s and try to escape them at any cost. An evidence of this is that the divorce rate among Christians is about the same as the divorce rate among non-Christians, at least in the United States. Most people count it all... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:5-8

3. Help in adopting this attitude 1:5-8James’ reference to "lacking" nothing (James 1:4) led him to digress briefly from his discussion of trials to explain (through James 1:8) the wisdom necessary to deal with trials appropriately. read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:5

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:6

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:5

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:6

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:5

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:6

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-11

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:5-8

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