James 1:25 - Exposition

Application of the illustration in the form of a contrast. Looketh into ( παρακύψας ). For the literal sense of the word, see John 20:5 , John 20:11 ; Luke 24:12 . The figurative meaning occurs only here and in 1 Peter 1:12 . Properly it signifies to "peep into." See its use in the LXX ., Genesis 26:8 ; Proverbs 7:6 ; Ecclesiasticus 21:23. When used figuratively, it conveys the idea of looking into, but scarcely with that intensive force which is often given to it and for which ἐγκύπτειν would be required. Its use in St. Peter, loc. cit. , is easy enough to explain. Angels desire even a glimpse of the mysteries. But what are we to say of its use hero? Is it that, though the man took a good look at himself in the glass ( κατανοεῖν , consider, is a very strong word; cf. Romans 4:19 ), yet he forgot what he was like, while the man who only peeps into the law of liberty is led on to abide ( παραμείνας ) and so to act? The perfect law of liberty ; rather, the perfect law , even the law of liberty ; νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας . The substantive is anarthrous, yet the attributive has the article. This construction serves to give greater prominence to the attributive, and requires the rendering given above (see Winer, § 20.4). The conception of the gospel as a "law" is characteristic of St. James (cf. James 2:8 , "the royal law," and James 4:11 ). A forgetful hearer ( ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονής ); i.e. a hearer characterized by forgetfulness, contrasted with ποιητὴς ἐργοῦ , a doer characterized by work.