James 1:9-11 - Exposition

A very difficult passage, three interpretations of which are given, none of them entirely satisfactory or free from difficulties.

(a) that the "rich" are never elsewhere spoken of as "brothers" in this Epistle. See James 2:6 ; James 5:1 , and cf. the way in which they are spoken of in other parts of the New Testament ( e.g. Luke 6:24 ; Matthew 19:23 ; Revelation 6:15 ); and in Ecclesiasticus 13:3;

(b) that in verse 11 the thought is, not of riches which make to themselves wings and fly away, but of the rich man himself , who fades away;

(c) that ταπείνωσις is elsewhere always used for external lowness of condition, not for the Christian virtue of humility (see Luke 1:48 ; Acts 8:33 ; Philippians 3:21 ). On the whole, therefore, it is best to adopt (2) and to supply the indicative: "but the rich man [not ' brother'] glories in his humiliation;" i.e. he glories in what is really lowering. Because as the flower, etc. A clear reference to Isaiah 40:6 , which is also quoted in 1 Peter 1:24 .