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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:1-26

Warnings Against Respect of Persons. Belief and Practice1. Another instance of inconsistency. Jesus Christ the Lord of glory] better, ’Jesus Christ the glory,’ or ’the glorious one,’ One of the rare passages in which St. James breaks through his habitual reserve in speaking of the Master, and shows us something of his devotion to Christ. Such reserve was natural to a Jew. 2. In the Jewish-Christian Church the place for worship is still the synagogue (Hebrews 10:25). At first strangers would be... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 2:8

(8) If ye fulfil the royal law.—Better paraphrased thus, If, however, ye are fulfilling the Law, as ye imagine and profess ye are doing, the royal law, according to the Scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye are doing well; but . . . . Mark the touch of irony in the defence which St. James puts into the mouths of his hearers. It were certainly a sweet proof of neighbourly affection, that exemplified in James 2:3. The “royal,” or “kingly law,” is, of course, God’s, in its... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 2:1-26

James 2:1 The sermon was chiefly occupied with proving that God is no respecter of persons; a mark of indubitable condescension in the clergyman, the rank in society which he could claim for himself duly considered. But, unfortunately, the church was so constructed, that its area contained three platforms of position, actually of differing level; the loftiest, in the chancel, on the right hand of the pulpit, occupied by the gentry; the middle, opposite the pulpit, occupied by the tulip-beds of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - James 2:5-10

Chapter 11THE INIQUITY OF RESPECTING THE RICH AND DESPISING THE POOR-THE SOLIDARITY OF THE DIVINE LAW.James 2:5-10ST. JAMES is varied in his style. Sometimes he writes short, maxim-like sentences, which remind us of the Book of Proverbs; sometimes, as in the passage before us, he is as argumentative as St. Paul. Having condemned worldly respect of persons as practical infidelity, he proceeds to prove the justice of this estimate; and he does so with regard to both items of the account: these... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - James 2:1-26

II. THE ROYAL LAW: FAITH AND WORKS CHAPTER 2 1. The faith of Christ with respect to persons (James 2:1-5 ) 2. The royal law (James 2:6-13 ) 3. Faith must be manifested by works (James 2:14-26 ) James 2:1-5 Here we have the synagogue mentioned, sufficient evidence that these Jewish believers were still gathering together in the Jewish fashion, and were not an ecclesia, an assembly, gathered out. The Epistle to the Hebrews, written many years after the Epistle of James, exhorted them to... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - James 2:8

2:8 {4} If ye fulfil the {f} royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:(4) The conclusion: charity which God prescribes cannot agree with the respecting of people, seeing that we must walk in the king’s highway.(f) The law is said to be royal and like the king’s highway, in that it is simple and without changes, and that the law calls everyone our neighbour without respect, whom we may help by any kind of duty. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:1-26

The first 13 verses of this chapter form a second division of the book, dealing with the faith of Christ as being above all personal considerations, perfectly true and impartial. To mix the faith of Christ therefore with a partial respect for persons, is a matter here strongly reproved. For Christ is Lord of glory, and we answerable directly to Him, not to mere men, wealthy or otherwise. Verse 2 shows that Jewish believers were at that time still connected with the synagogue, for the word... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - James 2:1-26

RESPECT OF PERSONS ; FAITH AND WORKS We next have some admonition concerning respect of persons, or the relation of the rich and the poor (James 2:1 ; James 2:13 ). This would seem to be connected with the trials of the poor mentioned in chapter 1. It not infrequently happens that the people who complain of the abundance of the rich, are the most obsequious in their conduct, as if they expected something from them as a result. Perhaps it was so here. Or it may be, that this instruction... read more

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